8 Days Wildebeest Migration River Crossing
An 8-day Serengeti migration safari through Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro
Overview
8-day Serengeti migration safari
An 8-day Serengeti migration safari follows the herds north from July, when the river crossings begin.
The wildebeest migration river crossing beginning July, moves north and passes through the Lobo and the Wagakuria area en-route to Kenya's Masai Mara Game Reserve. In September, the wildebeest herds are spread out over the northern Serengeti National Park and Kenya's Masai Mara Game Reserve. Several large herds of wildebeest remain behind in the area and weather changes may sometimes bring the herds back into the area from the Mara. In October, the herds move south towards the central Serengeti National Park via the Lobo area of the Serengeti National Park.
Travel logistics
Start / Finish
Start
- Arusha
- JROKilimanjaro International Airport
Finish
- Arusha
- JROKilimanjaro International Airport
Highlights
What Makes This Safari Special
Witness the Great Migration herds
Big Five game viewing
Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater
Search for tree-climbing lions
Explore Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Explore Serengeti National Park
Day by Day
8-day Serengeti migration safari itinerary
Begin your safari with a drive from Arusha to Tarangire National Park, renowned for its large elephant population and iconic baobab trees. Spend the day exploring this unique landscape and spotting wildlife, including elephants, lions, and a variety of bird species.
Overnight at Serian Tarangire Camp.
After breakfast, drive to Central Serengeti, home to diverse wildlife and iconic landscapes. Enjoy an afternoon game drive, where you’ll have a chance to see the Big Five along with other resident animals.
Overnight at Olkarien Eco Safari Lodge.
Depart Central Serengeti in the morning and drive to the Northern Serengeti, where you’ll witness the thrilling river crossings as part of the Great Migration. This area offers excellent opportunities to see large herds of wildebeest and zebras as they cross the Mara River, facing crocodiles and other predators.
Overnight at Acacia Migration Camp.
Spend a full day in the Northern Serengeti for an immersive game drive experience, focusing on the river crossing areas and the abundant wildlife. You’ll witness the Great Migration up close, with chances to see predator-prey interactions.
Overnight at Acacia Migration Camp.
After your time in the Northern Serengeti, today you travel back to the Central Serengeti rather than continuing straight on to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The drive is a comfortable one, and it leaves room for game drives and wildlife spotting along the way, so you can take the morning at an easy pace and let the landscape shift around you as you go.
You arrive in the Central Serengeti with the afternoon ahead of you, and the plains here offer good ground for further game viewing. Depending on the season, the migrating herds may be moving through this part of the park, and the resident wildlife is present year-round. You spend the night at Olkarien Eco Safari Lodge, with breakfast, lunch and dinner included, ready for tomorrow's drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
After breakfast, drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Here, you’ll enjoy views of the vast Ngorongoro Crater, one of the world’s largest inactive volcanic calderas and a sanctuary for a variety of wildlife.
Overnight at Lion’s Paw Camp.
After breakfast at Lion's Paw Camp, you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a morning game drive. The crater floor is known for its high density of wildlife, and you may come across rhinos, elephants, lions and flamingos as you explore the grasslands, swamps and soda lake. Your guide will find a quiet spot for a picnic lunch among the surroundings before you make your way back up the crater rim.
From there, you drive to Karatu, where you spend the evening at Karatu Acacia Farm Lodge. Settle in, enjoy dinner and rest ahead of tomorrow's final day, when you visit Lake Manyara National Park before returning to Arusha.
After breakfast in Karatu, you drive to Lake Manyara National Park for a morning game drive. The park is known for its tree-climbing lions, and you may also spot flamingos and hippos around the lake. The groundwater forest and open shoreline make for varied viewing as you move through the park.
Later you leave Lake Manyara behind and drive back to Arusha, where your safari comes to an end with your departure. Lunch is included along the way.
Gallery
Photographs
Where You Stay
Handpicked
Retreats
Every lodge and camp is chosen for its location, character and comfort, so the place you rest is as memorable as the adventure itself.
What's Included
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included
- Park fees
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation as stated in the itinerary
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- All Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
Not Included
- International flights (from/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (tipping guideline US$20.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Alcoholic drinks
Questions
Frequently Asked
The price covers park fees; all activities (unless labeled as optional); all accommodation as stated in the itinerary; a professional driver/guide; all transportation (unless labeled as optional). Budget separately for international flights (from/to home); additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour; tips (tipping guideline US$20.00 pp per day). Your personalized quote confirms the full breakdown line by line.
The prime months for this itinerary are June, July, August, September and October. That said, Tanzania rewards visitors in every season. Tell us your travel dates and we'll advise exactly what to expect.
This is a private, tailor-made safari for your own party of 2 to 12 guests. You won't be grouped with strangers. The itinerary, vehicle and guide are yours alone.
You'll stay at Serian Tarangire Camp, Olkarien Eco Safari Lodge, Enkutoto Migration Camp, Lion's Paw Camp and Karatu Acacia Farm Lodge, as laid out in the day-by-day itinerary. If availability requires it, we substitute properties of a similar or better standard and always confirm before you travel.
Send an inquiry through the form on this page and our safari experts will come back with a personalized quote within 24 hours, free and with no obligation. Once the plan feels right, we lock in your dates and lodges.
Absolutely. Treat the 8-day program as a starting point. We can adjust the pace, upgrade or change lodges, add days, or combine it with other destinations. Tell us what your ideal trip looks like and we'll shape it around you.
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