5-Day Serengeti Migration Safari in Tanzania with Ngorongoro Crater

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Explore the world's largest volcanic caldera at Ngorongoro Crater
• 02 Spot the Big Five: lion, rhino, leopard, buffalo, and elephant
• 03 Visit Serengeti National Park for rich wildlife and birdlife viewing
• 04 Enjoy multiple game drives across Serengeti and Ngorongoro

Explore Tanzania's lively nature on a thrilling safari through Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. Witness the wildebeest migration, a stunning life-and-death display of thousands of animals, and enjoy multiple game drives in search of wildlife and birdlife across the northern circuit. Descend into the crater for exceptional Big Five viewing, with chances to spot wildebeests, zebras, elephants, leopards, and critically endangered black rhinos.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Hours

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Arusha, Moshi, Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Arusha or Moshi to Central Serengeti via Ngorongoro

• On this day, depart from Moshi or Arusha, Tanzania's safari base town, for a magnificent journey through northern Tanzania along the Arusha-Dodoma highway to Serengeti National Park via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. If you wish, you can stop at a supermarket for any last-minute shopping for personal items you may require.
• You will arrive in the afternoon in Serengeti National Park, known for its boundless plains that stretch as far as the eye can see. We will head to the Lobo area, slightly north of Seronera in central Serengeti. Every year around July and August, the wildebeest migration passes through the Lobo area en route to Kenya's Masai Mara Game Reserve, and again in late October and November on its way back to the southern Serengeti.
• Arrive in the Serengeti late in the afternoon for an evening game drive before settling into a camp or lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Lunch is served at one of the picnic areas, most likely near Naabi Hill Gate, where you may stretch your legs while your guide completes the necessary registration and paperwork. All meals are provided.

2

Day 02

Central Serengeti to Eastern Serengeti

• After breakfast, depart for the eastern parts of Serengeti National Park, also known as the east of the Grumeti River, enjoying a game drive en route from Seronera to Eastern Serengeti.
• You will arrive at the lodge in time for lunch and then head out for an afternoon game drive in the surrounding area. Depending on rainfall patterns, the wildebeest migration can be found in Eastern Serengeti in November, December, and early January. They usually remain in the northeastern Serengeti until December, when they move further south. Dinner and overnight stay will be in the eastern Serengeti area, according to the standard and type of accommodation requested.

3

Day 03

Eastern Serengeti Game Drive and Return to Central Serengeti

• After breakfast, enjoy a full day of game viewing in Eastern Serengeti. Wildebeest normally remain in the northern reaches of the Serengeti until December, when they move south. During the wet season, the Gol Kopjes on the eastern plains have the highest number of cheetahs in Africa. Most Serengeti cheetahs are migratory, following the Thomson's gazelle migration to the eastern short-grass plains during the rainy season and then returning to the central Serengeti, along the plains-woodland border, during the dry season. The eastern grasslands of the Serengeti offer some of the best cheetah viewing in Africa during the rainy season, and several groups of cheetahs are likely to be encountered on a full-day game drive to the Gol Kopjes. Cheetahs are primarily diurnal hunters, and if you are lucky, you may see the world's fastest land mammal in action.
• During the green season, the eastern plains are also home to the highest densities of hyenas, in addition to cheetahs. Hyena clans of up to 30 members are routinely sighted from Naabi Hill east through the Gol Kopjes and Lemuta Hill. Hyenas, the most abundant predator in the ecosystem, are semi-nomadic and commute to the eastern plains from their den sites in central Serengeti during the rainy season. Lion numbers are also high on the eastern plains during the wet season. Most lions in the Serengeti are resident, although about 20% are nomadic and follow migratory animals to the plains during the rainy season. Lions are less frequently observed east of Lemuta and are much more common inside the Serengeti proper, especially around the Gol Kopjes area.
• After lunch, continue your Serengeti wildlife viewing before travelling back to Central Serengeti for the night. Dinner and overnight stay will be at a Serengeti camp or lodge. All meals are provided.

4

Day 04

Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater Rim

• Proceed with morning and afternoon game drives in Serengeti, with a mid-afternoon lunch and leisure break at the lodge. In the Masai language, Serengeti means "endless plains." Carnivores such as leopard, lion, hyena, and cheetah can be found in the central plains. The yearly migration of wildebeest and zebra between the Kenyan Mara and the Serengeti usually takes place in this park. Many bird species are also spotted here, including eagles, ducks, geese, egrets, vultures, secretary birds, ibis, storks, herons, kites, pelicans, cranes, and guinea fowl.
• Serengeti National Park is possibly the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world, with over 3 million large mammals. The Big Five - elephants, rhinos, lion, leopard, and buffalo - are among the 35 species of plains animals that can be observed here. Hippo, giraffe, eland, impala, other antelope species, baboons, monkeys, and over 500 bird species can also be found in the park. Huge herds of wildebeest, gazelle, and zebra begin their spectacular annual migration northwards in May or early June, followed by predators such as lions, cheetahs, and wild dogs, with vultures circling overhead.
• After lunch, continue with game viewing in Serengeti as you make your way to the park gate to check out, then proceed toward Ngorongoro Crater with more game viewing along the way. Dinner and overnight stay will be at a camp or lodge on the Ngorongoro Crater rim.

5

Day 05

Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive and Return to Arusha

• After breakfast, descend into the crater with a lunch box and enjoy a 7-hour game drive. Millions of years ago, a volcano the size of Mount Kilimanjaro emerged from the northern Tanzanian highlands, and its eruption created the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest unflooded caldera. The crater is now inactive and teeming with wildlife, making it an excellent place for game drives in search of the Big Five. The natural protection of its 600 m (1,968 ft) high walls allows many species to thrive. It is one of the world's most densely populated African wildlife habitats, home to an estimated 30,000 animals, and the best place in Tanzania to see critically endangered black rhinos.
• The crater hosts a diverse range of animals, including herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and enormous African elephants, supported by year-round water and fodder. Another major attraction of this beautiful national park is its large predator population, including lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and the elusive leopard on the crater floor.
• After a picnic lunch, continue with your game drive before driving back to Arusha or Moshi for the night.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Park fees, government fees, and taxes inclusive of 18% VAT
• Accommodation as stated in the itinerary
• Transport in 4x4 Toyota Land Cruisers
• English-speaking driver guide
• Meals as stated in the itinerary
• Bottled mineral water throughout the safari
• One night hotel accommodation in Moshi/Arusha

What's Not Included

• Tips for the driver guide
• Alcoholic beverages, sodas, and items of a personal nature
• Laundry service
• Pre- and post-safari accommodation in Moshi/Arusha
• Flights
• Travel insurance
• Safari add-ons
• Tanzania visa: USD 50 per person on arrival; USA and Canada passport holders pay USD 100

What to bring

• You should have enough money.

Know before you go

• Visa can be processed at the airport upon arrival.
• For a person who has already been vaccinated, there is no need for a negative RT-PCR certificate.
• The tour price per person decreases as the number of clients increases.
• Wheelchairs are available.
• Special filming and photography will incur an extra cost.
• Travellers can easily arrive and depart by public transport.
• Infants are required to sit on laps (seats are available for private safari).

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Arusha, Tanzania

Tour start

Arusha, Tanzania

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.