6-Day Serengeti Migration Safari with Mara River Crossing

6 Days Round trip from Arusha Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Witness the annual wildebeest migration at the Mara River Crossing
02 Explore the vast plains and diverse wildlife of Serengeti National Park
03 Enjoy a full-day game drive in the Seronera area of central Serengeti
04 Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater and observe its unique ecosystem
05 Spot a variety of animals, including the "Big 5" and over 500 species of birds

Experience the ultimate 6-day safari adventure through Tanzania's iconic national parks. Witness the annual wildebeest migration at the Mara River Crossing in the northern Serengeti, explore the vast plains and diverse wildlife of Serengeti National Park, and enjoy rewarding game drives in key wildlife areas. Descend into the unique ecosystem of Ngorongoro Crater, where you may spot the "Big 5" along with an impressive variety of birdlife, including over 500 species recorded in the region.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

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

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arusha to Serengeti via Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Early in the morning, you will leave Moshi or Arusha town and drive toward Serengeti National Park via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. After a few hours, you will stop at a supermarket and have a few minutes to shop for any personal items you may need. Later, you will arrive in Serengeti in the late afternoon.
Serengeti National Park is a large national park in northern Tanzania that stretches over 14,763 km2. It is located entirely in the eastern Mara Region, with its endless plains rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. We will proceed to the Lobo area, located north of the Seronera area and typified by green rolling hills in central Serengeti National Park. The Lobo area is where the wildebeest migration normally passes each year around July/August en route to Kenya's Masai Mara Reserve, and again in late October/November en route to southern Serengeti National Park.

Day 02

Full-Day Game Drive in Serengeti's Seronera and Lobo Areas

Early in the morning, you will enjoy a full-day game drive in Serengeti National Park after breakfast. We descend toward the Lobo area and the Grumeti River, located just north of the Seronera area in central Serengeti National Park. The wildebeest migration normally passes through the Lobo area and Grumeti River around July and October, and non-migrating animals such as elephants, buffalo, gazelle, zebra, lion, leopard, and cheetah can also be seen here. We will enjoy a game drive until the afternoon in Serengeti National Park.

Day 03

Central Serengeti to Northern Serengeti's Kogatende Area

After breakfast, we head toward northern Serengeti National Park, to the Wagakuria area. We follow the game drive route from the Lobo area to the Wagakuria area. As we head north, you can see many animals in Serengeti, including giraffes, plains game, herds of buffalo, and elephants. From mid-July to October, the movement of animals passing through the Mara River begins, as herds of wildebeest, gazelle, and zebra continue their spectacular annual migration northwards. In their wake follow predators such as lions, cheetahs, and wild dogs, with vultures circling overhead.
We arrive in time for lunch at the lodge, and after lunch, we will enjoy an afternoon game drive in the area. The wildebeest migration can normally be found in the Wagakuria area from mid-July to October, depending on rainfall patterns. A long stretch of the Mara River runs through northern Serengeti National Park.

Day 04

Kogatende Wildlife Viewing and Return to Central Serengeti

After breakfast, you will enjoy a game drive in the Kogatende area, where large numbers of resident wildlife are found. This camp is used for the Serengeti Mobile Green Camp from July until the end of November, when the migration is in northern Serengeti and hopefully crossing the Mara River. The camp is approximately 20 minutes from the Mara River and is set on a ridge under large evergreen trees, overlooking a large part of the northern Serengeti wilderness zone, where large groups of wildebeest cross the river and wildlife can be enjoyed in peace. You can also take a hot air balloon ride to enjoy the wildlife in this area.

Day 05

Central Serengeti Game Drives and Transfer to Ngorongoro

We continue with morning and afternoon game drives in central Serengeti, with lunch included, and after that, enjoy more game viewing in Serengeti. You may also take a break at the lodge in the mid-afternoon. Central Serengeti, whose name means "endless plain" in the Masai language, is home to different animals such as leopards, lions, hyenas, and cheetahs.
This park is normally the scene of the annual wildebeest and zebra migration between the Kenya Mara and Serengeti. It also includes a variety of bird species such as eagles, ducks, geese, egrets, vultures, secretary birds, ibis, storks, herons, pelicans, cranes, and guinea fowl. Serengeti National Park is arguably the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world, with over 3 million large mammals. About 35 species of plains animals can be seen here, including the "Big 5": elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, and buffalo. Other common species found here include hippo, giraffe, eland, impala and other antelope types, baboons, monkeys, and a profusion of over 500 species of birds.
After lunch, you will continue with the game drive to view wildlife in Serengeti. Thereafter, you will transfer to the Serengeti gate to check out of Serengeti National Park, then proceed with game viewing en route to Ngorongoro Crater. Dinner and overnight will be at a camp or lodge on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater.

Day 06

Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive and Return to Arusha

After breakfast, we descend into the crater and enjoy a game drive for over 7 hours while looking for wildlife. Here, you will explore the forest areas inhabited by monkeys and elephants, and may also see flamingos, wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, lion, and elephants. You will enjoy the game drive in Ngorongoro Crater while observing its rich wildlife. After a short period, you will drive back to Arusha/Moshi for overnight.

The route