Overview
Experience one of the most dramatic wildlife events on earth in the northern Serengeti. This nine-day safari is built around the Great Migration, with two days at Kogatende near the Mara River, where the tension builds as herds gather before crossing.
Tarangire's baobab country, the big cats of the central Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater complete the trip, making it a well-rounded northern circuit shaped by timing, movement and expert guiding.
Contact us to plan around the migration for your dates.
| Accommodation | Confirmed together with you — see the Rates tab for general comfort levels we work with. |
|---|---|
| Meals | Full board on safari days; meals as specified for any city/beach nights, per your final itinerary. |
Day by Day (9 days)
ARRIVAL AND TRANSFER TO ARUSHA
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) at any time. Get your tourist visa on arrival (US$100 per person for US and Canadian passport holders, paid in exact cash); you will also need a yellow fever certificate and a passport valid for six months beyond your return with blank pages. After immigration, our representative meets you and drives you to your Arusha hotel.
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
A game drive in Tarangire National Park, which comes alive in the dry season as birds and animals gather along the permanent Tarangire River, especially large herds of elephants, along with giraffe, zebra and buffalo. Lions and leopards are regularly seen. Your lodge inside the park has a lookout perfect for a sundowner over the plains.
OLDUVAI GORGE AND INTO THE CENTRAL SERENGETI
You head for the Serengeti, with the chance to visit Olduvai Gorge and its small museum of early human finds made by Louis and Mary Leakey. After lunch you spend the afternoon on the Serengeti plains, looking for resident giraffe, buffalo, elephant and predators such as lion, cheetah and leopard.
Overnight at a tented camp in the Serengeti.
NORTH TO KOGATENDE
After breakfast you drive north to Kogatende with a picnic lunch, game viewing much of the way and arriving at camp in the late afternoon.
Overnight at a tented camp in the northern Serengeti.
MARA RIVER CROSSINGS AT KOGATENDE
A full day following the migration around the Mara River, where resident wildlife is also plentiful in the Wagakuria area. Herds may cross northwards one day and return south a few days later. Crossings take patience and luck, as herds often wait on the bank for days before going. The landscape of kopjes, woodland, riverside forest and open plains is very like Kenya's Masai Mara.
Overnight at your northern Serengeti camp.
BACK TO THE CENTRAL SERENGETI
An early start gives you a full day in the park. Your guide chooses the best spots for the season, from the hippo pool and big lion prides to the migrating herds, and the rocky kopjes that shelter predators and offer wide views. Look for elephant, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, lion, and with luck leopard and cheetah, as well as birds from secretary birds to ostriches.
Overnight at a tented camp in the Serengeti.
SERENGETI TO THE NGORONGORO RIM
After a final morning game drive in the Serengeti, you drive into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and up to the crater rim for the night.
NGORONGORO CRATER
You descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, managed for both wildlife and the Maasai, who graze their cattle alongside wild animals. The crater walls form a natural sanctuary where lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and sometimes leopard can be seen; giraffe are absent because the slopes are too steep. In the late afternoon you drive to your lodge.
DEPARTURE
Depending on your flight time, you are transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Rates Per Person
The Overview tab explains the accommodation and meal options. Send us your dates and group size for an exact price.
Next: Inclusions →Inclusions
Included
- Private vehicle with your own driver-guide
- Park entry and conservation fees
- Accommodation as specified in your itinerary
- Meals as specified per day (full board on safari days)
- Airport pickup and drop-off
Excluded
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Getting There
Tour Start & End
This trip starts in Serengeti National Park and ends in Olduvai Gorge.
Airport Information
Kilimanjaro International Airport or Mwanza Airport is the most common arrival point for this trip.
Transfer Information
We meet you at the airport and handle every transfer between destinations throughout your trip.
Accommodation Before/After
Want an extra night in Arusha, Moshi or Zanzibar before or after your trip? Just ask and we will arrange it.