• Large herd of wildebeest in the dust they kicked up in the Serengeti

Eight Full Days: Following the Great Migration

Book this Safari

A full eight days on safari is one of the perfect trips you can take.  Many people come to Tanzania to visit the Serengeti National Park and see the marvel that is the Great Migration as millions of wildebeest traverse the plains and rivers, following the rains.  If that describes you, this itinerary, which varies depending on the season and where the most wildebeest will be found, is almost certainly the one for you!  This safari is eight full days, where you arrive in the afternoon or evening beforehand.  (You may discover that many ‘eight-day’ itineraries are actually seven full days plus your evening arrival…)

If you’ve dreamed of wide-open plains where wildebeest and zebras roam, where leopards and lions lie in wait for unwary gazelle, where nature is both raw and rich, then this is the trip for you.  The light ranges from golden to dazzling; animals live out the circle of nature, and photographers drool over the sights.  Join Destination Serengeti for the ultimate safari experience!

We have put together a few options for your eight to nine day safari to help you discover what appeals to you, but we are also more than happy to custom design a safari to fit exactly what you want to see. So read on to start dreaming, but don’t hesitate to reach out to finalize where you will go and what you will see.

Because the wildebeest travel great distances over the year, this itinerary varies by season:

Following the Great Migration January – March

This season is when you have a chance at seeing the wildebeest calving in the Ndutu plains.  During a three-week period (which varies year to year depending on the rains), hundreds of thousands of wildebeest drop calves on these wide-open plains.  If this is when you travel, Destination Serengeti will have arranged accommodation in the Ndutu plains area, or near Lake Masek in a carefully selected camp or lodge.

Following the Great Migration April – May

This season is an amazing time to see predators in the Ndutu/Lake Masek area (in the Southern Serengeti).  While it is technically low season and towards the end of Tanzania’s rainy season, there are some definite benefits to coming at this time of year.  Predators are out and very active; you have a great chance of seeing their babies (lion cubs – so cute!  cheetah young – even cuter!), there are fewer visitors so you get to enjoy your sightings in peace, and, for those who are birders, birding is amazing at this time of year!  If this is when you travel, Destination Serengeti will have arranged accommodation in the Ndutu plains area, or near Lake Masek in a carefully selected camp or lodge.

Following the Great Migration June – July

This season is when the Great Migration moves through the central Serengeti; also known as the Seronera area.  The central Serengeti is an amazing place at any time of year; with lots of viewing opportunities, watering holes galore, and generally lots of predators and game to spot.  But boy does it come into its own in the June – July period.  If this is when you are coming, you will most likely be based at one of the migratory tented camps, that move around following the herds.  But don’t be fooled by the name ‘tented camps’; these provide luxury accommodations and the middle of the wild and remote Serengeti plains; you will be amazed!  If you want to follow the Great Migration and come in June or July, you will end your fourth day of adventuring in a carefully selected camp or lodge in the Central Serengeti.

Following the Great Migration August – October

In this season, to find the Great Migration you want to be up in the Northern part of the Serengeti, in the Mara area.  If you travel at this time, your fourth day will see you make your way up to the Northern Serengeti so you awaken on the morning of the fifth day ready for a Great Migration river crossing!

Following the Great Migration November – December

In the early part of November, you still have a chance to see those amazing Mara River crossings in the Northern Serengeti.  The migratory herds of wildebeest slowly make their way towards the river, and then a pathfinder will gradually test the waters and decide whether it is safe to cross.  Once he makes up his mind, thousands of wildebeest will follow in a great explosion of dust and thundering herds.  With the right timing, you may get to see this once-in-a-lifetime explosive crossing, with crocodiles and hippos lurking in the shadows.  Then as November goes on and December begins, if the rains are good, you start to see small and then increasing sizes of herds in the Central Serengeti as the pregnant females move down first, later followed by the males, towards the area where the females will give birth in the Ndutu Plains.  If you come in this season, we will plan with you where in the Serengeti you will find the best Great Migration experience.

Following the Great Migration January to March

  • Arrival

     

    Welcome and overnight in Arusha

    On arrival, your friendly guide will welcome you and take you to your accommodation, and help you get settled in.  He or she will make sure you are all set for supper and will go over your planned itinerary with you to answer any questions you have.  He or she will also want to hear about any special dreams you may not yet have mentioned, as all our guides want your entire experience to be superb.  Once you are settled and comfortable, your guide will leave you to enjoy the evening and the sounds and smells of the Tanzanian night.

  • Full Day One

    Arusha to Tarangire Park

    Have a wonderful early breakfast at your hotel in Arusha and let the adventure begin on the road to Tarangire National Park (famous for its elephant population and baobab trees).  If this is your first trip to Africa, you’ll learn that the journey is half the fun!  Watch for donkeys, cattle and all sorts of new flora and fauna on your way to the Park, then enjoy your first afternoon game drive inside Tarangire.  You are likely to see elephants and birds of all stripes and colors.  Likely, too, to see giraffe, zebra, impala; and possibly even lions.  Dinner and overnight at a lodge at Tarangire.

     

    Full Day One

  • FULL DAY TWO

     

    Tarangire to Lake Manyara

    Enjoy a morning game drive in Tarangire.  Watch elephants thundering down the hillside towards you, or Zebra kicking up the river water with their hooves.  Watch giraffe running through the acacia, and see if you can spot a lion, just waiting for someone to come near.  See how many different varieties of birds you can spot, as your guide is quick to point them out if you are interested.  Then head out of Tarangire and up via the Rift Valley to Lake Manyara National Park, where you will look for the famous tree-climbing lions.  Drive along the lake and stop to stretch your legs at the hot springs, or the boardwalk.  Watch for hippos, warthogs, zebras, Cape buffalo – and the ever-present baboons!  By the lakeshore, you will find kingfishers, herons, spoonbills, storks, pelicans, bee-eaters, and many other species.  Overnight near Lake Manyara.

  • FULL DAY THREE

    Lake Manyara To Serengeti

    After breakfast today, you’ll head to the great Serengeti National Park, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.  Enter through the Naabi gate, then drive around the kopjes looking to spot the big cats, in particular lion and cheetah who often hang out on these huge stone outcrops.  Stop for a packed lunch at the visitor center and stretch your legs with a short educational walk that lays out much of the flora and fauna you will see in the coming days, then continue your game drive.   Your first day in the Serengeti is bound to be eye-opening, and wonderful. As the sun starts to descend (and it goes down quickly once it starts!), you will head to your camp to settle in and enjoy bush T.V. and a marvellous dinner in the wild.

     

    FULL DAY THREE

  • FULL DAY FOUR

     

    The Serengeti welcomes you

    Wake up excited to find yourself in the great Serengeti National Park.   Today will be a full day of game drives; sunrise to sunset if that suits you.  If you want the full day out, take a breakfast box and a breakfast lunch and head out just as the sun is coming up for as much adventure as you can handle.  If you would like to take the day more slowly, enjoy a delicious breakfast at your camp, and then head out with your lunchbox to see what the Serengeti has prepared to welcome you.

    Depending on the season, your guide may take you towards the central Serengeti (amazing game viewing !) or towards the Grumeti region (especially in June and July when the great migration passes through), or towards the North if you’re coming later in the dry season.  Whichever direction you go, you can expect to see lions, leopards, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, Cape buffalo, wildebeest, impala, and so many amazing birds!

  • FULL DAY FIVE

    Full Day Serengeti Exploration

    Wake with (or before) the sun in the Southern Serengeti.  Depending on the rainy season and exactly when you have come, you may find yourself in the Ndutu area, near the Nabi hill gate or as far south as Kasini.  The migratory herds of wildebeest move with the rains, so they might even be as far north as the Gol Kopjes – but wherever they are, you will find them with your expert guide.  Then travel with the herds or just sit and marvel at the experience of being surrounded by so many wildebeest at one time.  Sounds, smells, sights – all your senses will be engaged.  Watch for predators also seeking to enjoy this feast.  Enjoy lunch out in the Serengeti, and then return to your lodging as the sun sets to enjoy the evening feast and a well-deserved shower and time to relax and be pampered.

     

    FULL DAY FIVE

  • Full Day Six

     

    Full Day Serengeti Exploration

    Another full day of game drives inside the Serengeti gives you memories that will last a lifetime.  Explore the natural ecosystem and learn about the animals and nature with your experienced guide.  Enjoy sunrise and sunset in this great wilderness.  Decide if you want a hot breakfast or to pack your breakfast and get out on the trail first thing in the morning then later have a hot coffee and your packed breakfast while exploring the plains.  By taking a generous boxed lunch, you can spend the whole day discovering the wonders of the plains and kopjes and watering holes that run throughout the Serengeti.  Enjoy a second night at your camp, which will already be feeling like home.

  • Full Day Seven

    Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

    Enjoy another sunrise and your last full morning drive in the Serengeti before heading out through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.  What animals will bid you farewell and see you on your way?  Leaving the Serengeti, visit Maasai bomas to learn about the traditional culture of the Maasai society, then continue to your lodge for dinner and a good rest.  Enjoy the view, meal and luxuries from your accommodation perched high on the rim overlooking the world-famous Ngorongoro crater.

     

    Full Day Seven

  • Full Day Eight

     

    Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

    This morning will be spectacular.  After breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive and see the large numbers of animals that live in this (relatively) small space, which is a World Heritage Site.  The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest inactive, intact volcanic caldera formed when the Ngorongoro volcano exploded some 2 million years ago.  Some 25,000 animals live in the Crater, including Cape buffalo, hippopotamus, wildebeest, zebra, eland and many other species.  You may even have a chance to see the endangered black rhinoceros.  After lunch, head back to Arusha airport for your departure.

Back to Top

Following the Great Migration April to May

  • Arrival

     

    Welcome and overnight in Arusha

    On arrival, your friendly guide will welcome you and take you to your accommodation, and help you get settled in.  He or she will make sure you are all set for supper and will go over your planned itinerary with you to answer any questions you have.  He or she will also want to hear about any special dreams you may not yet have mentioned, as all our guides want your entire experience to be superb.  Once you are settled and comfortable, your guide will leave you to enjoy the evening and the sounds and smells of the Tanzanian night.

  • Full Day One

    Arusha to Tarangire Park

    Have a wonderful early breakfast at your hotel in Arusha and let the adventure begin on the road to Tarangire National Park (famous for its elephant population and baobab trees).  If this is your first trip to Africa, you’ll learn that the journey is half the fun!  Watch for donkeys, cattle and all sorts of new flora and fauna on your way to the Park, then enjoy your first afternoon game drive inside Tarangire.  You are likely to see elephants and birds of all stripes and colors.  Likely, too, to see giraffe, zebra, impala; and possibly even lions.  Dinner and overnight at a lodge at Tarangire.

     

    Full Day One

  • Full Day Three

     

    Tarangire to Lake Manyara

    Enjoy a morning game drive in Tarangire.  Watch elephants thundering down the hillside towards you, or Zebra kicking up the river water with their hooves.  Watch giraffe running through the acacia, and see if you can spot a lion, just waiting for someone to come near.  See how many different varieties of birds you can spot, as your guide is quick to point them out if you are interested.  Then head out of Tarangire and up via the Rift Valley to Lake Manyara National Park, where you will look for the famous tree-climbing lions.  Drive along the lake and stop to stretch your legs at the hot springs, or the boardwalk.  Watch for hippos, warthogs, zebras, Cape buffalo – and the ever-present baboons!  By the lakeshore, you will find kingfishers, herons, spoonbills, storks, pelicans, bee-eaters, and many other species.  Overnight near Lake Manyara.

  • FULL DAY THREE

    Lake Manyara To Serengeti

    After breakfast today, you’ll head to the great Serengeti National Park, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.  Enter through the Naabi gate, then drive around the kopjes looking to spot the big cats, in particular lion and cheetah who often hang out on these huge stone outcrops.  Stop for a packed lunch at the visitor center and stretch your legs with a short educational walk that lays out much of the flora and fauna you will see in the coming days, then continue your game drive.   Your first day in the Serengeti is bound to be eye-opening, and wonderful. As the sun starts to descend (and it goes down quickly once it starts!), you will head to your camp to settle in and enjoy bush T.V. and a marvellous dinner in the wild.

     

    FULL DAY THREE

  • FULL DAY FOUR

     

    The Serengeti welcomes you

    Wake up excited to find yourself in the great Serengeti National Park.   Today will be a full day of game drives; sunrise to sunset if that suits you.  If you want the full day out, take a breakfast box and a breakfast lunch and head out just as the sun is coming up for as much adventure as you can handle.  If you would like to take the day more slowly, enjoy a delicious breakfast at your camp, and then head out with your lunchbox to see what the Serengeti has prepared to welcome you.

    Depending on the season, your guide may take you towards the central Serengeti (amazing game viewing !) or towards the Grumeti region (especially in June and July when the great migration passes through), or towards the North if you’re coming later in the dry season.  Whichever direction you go, you can expect to see lions, leopards, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, Cape buffalo, wildebeest, impala, and so many amazing birds!

  • FULL DAY FIVE

    Full Day Serengeti Exploration

    Wake with (or before) the sun in the Southern Serengeti.  Depending on the rainy season, some parts of the herd may still be around the Makao Plain or the Big Marsh plain; others will be spread from the Naabi Gate to the Central Serengeti and slowly heading into the Western Serengeti.  If you come in May, this is absolutely the best time to find the big cats in the Ndutu area.  There may be some rain during the day (and certainly at night) but there are benefits.  The predators are out in full force, and you will see a greener Serengeti that most visitors can only dream of.  Depending on what you want, your guide will take you out to either find the herds of the Great Migration or look for predators in the green grasses.  Sounds, smells, sights – all your senses will be engaged.  Enjoy lunch out in the Serengeti, and return to your lodging as the sun sets to enjoy the evening feast and a well-deserved shower and time to relax and be pampered.

     

    FULL DAY FIVE

  • Full Day Six

     

    Full Day Serengeti Exploration

    Another full day of game drives inside the Serengeti gives you memories that will last a lifetime.  Explore the natural ecosystem and learn about the animals and nature with your experienced guide.  Enjoy the sunrise and sunset in this great wilderness.  Decide if you want a hot breakfast or to pack your breakfast and get out on the trail first thing in the morning then later have a hot coffee and your packed breakfast while exploring the plains.  By taking a generous boxed lunch, you can spend the whole day discovering the wonders of the plains and kopjes and watering holes that run throughout the Serengeti.  Enjoy a second night at your camp, which will already be feeling like home.

  • Full Day Seven

    Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

    Enjoy another sunrise and your last full morning drive in the Serengeti before heading out through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.  What animals will bid you farewell and see you on your way?  Leaving the Serengeti, visit Maasai bomas to learn about the traditional culture of the Maasai society, then continue to your lodge for dinner and a good rest.  Enjoy the view, meal and luxuries from your accommodation perched high on the rim overlooking the world-famous Ngorongoro crater.

     

    Full Day Seven

  • Full Day Eight

     

    Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

    This morning will be spectacular.  After breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive and see the large numbers of animals that live in this (relatively) small space, which is a World Heritage Site.  The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest inactive, intact volcanic caldera formed when the Ngorongoro volcano exploded some 2 million years ago.  Some 25,000 animals live in the Crater, including Cape buffalo, hippopotamus, wildebeest, zebra, eland and many other species.  You may even have a chance to see the endangered black rhinoceros.  After lunch, head back to Arusha airport for your departure.

Back to Top

Following the Great Migration June to July

  • Arrival

     

    Welcome and overnight in Arusha

    On arrival, your friendly guide will welcome you and take you to your accommodation, and help you get settled in.  He or she will make sure you are all set for supper and will go over your planned itinerary with you to answer any questions you have.  He or she will also want to hear about any special dreams you may not yet have mentioned, as all our guides want your entire experience to be superb.  Once you are settled and comfortable, your guide will leave you to enjoy the evening and the sounds and smells of the Tanzanian night.

  • Full Day One

    Arusha to Tarangire Park

    Have a wonderful early breakfast at your hotel in Arusha and let the adventure begin on the road to Tarangire National Park (famous for its elephant population and baobab trees).  If this is your first trip to Africa, you’ll learn that the journey is half the fun!  Watch for donkeys, cattle and all sorts of new flora and fauna on your way to the Park, then enjoy your first afternoon game drive inside Tarangire.  You are likely to see elephants and birds of all stripes and colors.  Likely, too, to see giraffe, zebra, impala; and possibly even lions.  Dinner and overnight at a lodge at Tarangire.

     

    Full Day One

  • Full Day Three

     

    Tarangire to Lake Manyara

    Enjoy a morning game drive in Tarangire.  Watch elephants thundering down the hillside towards you, or Zebra kicking up the river water with their hooves.  Watch giraffe running through the acacia, and see if you can spot a lion, just waiting for someone to come near.  See how many different varieties of birds you can spot, as your guide is quick to point them out if you are interested.  Then head out of Tarangire and up via the Rift Valley to Lake Manyara National Park, where you will look for the famous tree-climbing lions.  Drive along the lake and stop to stretch your legs at the hot springs, or the boardwalk.  Watch for hippos, warthogs, zebras, Cape buffalo – and the ever-present baboons!  By the lakeshore, you will find kingfishers, herons, spoonbills, storks, pelicans, bee-eaters, and many other species.  Overnight near Lake Manyara.

  • FULL DAY THREE

    Lake Manyara To Serengeti

    After breakfast today, you’ll head to the great Serengeti National Park, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.  Enter through the Naabi gate, then drive around the kopjes looking to spot the big cats, in particular lion and cheetah who often hang out on these huge stone outcrops.  Stop for a packed lunch at the visitor center and stretch your legs with a short educational walk that lays out much of the flora and fauna you will see in the coming days, then continue your game drive.   Your first day in the Serengeti is bound to be eye-opening, and wonderful. As the sun starts to descend (and it goes down quickly once it starts!), you will head to your camp to settle in and enjoy bush T.V. and a marvellous dinner in the wild.

     

    FULL DAY THREE

  • FULL DAY FOUR

     

    The Serengeti welcomes you

    Wake up excited to find yourself in the great Serengeti National Park.   Today will be a full day of game drives; sunrise to sunset if that suits you.  If you want the full day out, take a breakfast box and a breakfast lunch and head out just as the sun is coming up for as much adventure as you can handle.  If you would like to take the day more slowly, enjoy a delicious breakfast at your camp, and then head out with your lunchbox to see what the Serengeti has prepared to welcome you.

    Depending on the season, your guide may take you towards the central Serengeti (amazing game viewing !) or towards the Grumeti region (especially in June and July when the great migration passes through), or towards the North if you’re coming later in the dry season.  Whichever direction you go, you can expect to see lions, leopards, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, Cape buffalo, wildebeest, impala, and so many amazing birds!

  • FULL DAY FIVE

    Full Day Serengeti Exploration

    Wake with (or before) the sun in the Central Serengeti.  Depending on the rainy season and exactly when you have come, you will find the migratory herds spreading out throughout the Western Serengeti area.  The migratory herds of wildebeest move with the rains, so you may find them along the Grumeti River, scattered across the Nyasirori plains or in the Logo region – but wherever they are, you will find them with your expert guide.  Then travel with the herds or just sit and marvel at the experience of being surrounded by so many wildebeest at one time.  Sounds, smells, sights – all your senses will be engaged.  Watch for predators also seeking to enjoy this feast.  Enjoy lunch out in the Serengeti, and then return to your lodging as the sun sets to enjoy the evening feast and a well-deserved shower and time to relax and be pampered.

     

    FULL DAY FIVE

  • Full Day Six

     

    Full Day Serengeti Exploration

    Another full day of game drives inside the Serengeti gives you memories that will last a lifetime.  Explore the natural ecosystem and learn about the animals and nature with your experienced guide.  Enjoy the sunrise and sunset in this great wilderness.  Decide if you want a hot breakfast or to pack your breakfast and get out on the trail first thing in the morning then later have a hot coffee and your packed breakfast while exploring the plains.  By taking a generous boxed lunch, you can spend the whole day discovering the wonders of the plains and kopjes and watering holes that run throughout the Serengeti.  Enjoy a second night at your camp, which will already be feeling like home.

  • Full Day Seven

    Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

    Enjoy another sunrise and your last full morning drive in the Serengeti before heading out through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.  What animals will bid you farewell and see you on your way?  Leaving the Serengeti, visit Maasai bomas to learn about the traditional culture of the Maasai society, then continue to your lodge for dinner and a good rest.  Enjoy the view, meal and luxuries from your accommodation perched high on the rim overlooking the world-famous Ngorongoro crater.

     

    Full Day Seven

  • Full Day Eight

     

    Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

    This morning will be spectacular.  After breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive and see the large numbers of animals that live in this (relatively) small space, which is a World Heritage Site.  The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest inactive, intact volcanic caldera formed when the Ngorongoro volcano exploded some 2 million years ago.  Some 25,000 animals live in the Crater, including Cape buffalo, hippopotamus, wildebeest, zebra, eland and many other species.  You may even have a chance to see the endangered black rhinoceros.  After lunch, head back to Arusha airport for your departure.

Back to Top

Following the Great Migration August to October

  • Arrival

     

    Welcome and overnight in Arusha

    On arrival, your friendly guide will welcome you and take you to your accommodation, and help you get settled in.  He or she will make sure you are all set for supper and will go over your planned itinerary with you to answer any questions you have.  He or she will also want to hear about any special dreams you may not yet have mentioned, as all our guides want your entire experience to be superb.  Once you are settled and comfortable, your guide will leave you to enjoy the evening and the sounds and smells of the Tanzanian night.

  • Full Day One

    Arusha to Tarangire Park

    Have a wonderful early breakfast at your hotel in Arusha and let the adventure begin on the road to Tarangire National Park (famous for its elephant population and baobab trees).  If this is your first trip to Africa, you’ll learn that the journey is half the fun!  Watch for donkeys, cattle and all sorts of new flora and fauna on your way to the Park, then enjoy your first afternoon game drive inside Tarangire.  You are likely to see elephants and birds of all stripes and colors.  Likely, too, to see giraffe, zebra, impala; and possibly even lions.  Dinner and overnight at a lodge at Tarangire.

     

    Full Day One

  • Full Day Three

     

    Tarangire to Lake Manyara

    Enjoy a morning game drive in Tarangire.  Watch elephants thundering down the hillside towards you, or Zebra kicking up the river water with their hooves.  Watch giraffe running through the acacia, and see if you can spot a lion, just waiting for someone to come near.  See how many different varieties of birds you can spot, as your guide is quick to point them out if you are interested.  Then head out of Tarangire and up via the Rift Valley to Lake Manyara National Park, where you will look for the famous tree-climbing lions.  Drive along the lake and stop to stretch your legs at the hot springs, or the boardwalk.  Watch for hippos, warthogs, zebras, Cape buffalo – and the ever-present baboons!  By the lakeshore, you will find kingfishers, herons, spoonbills, storks, pelicans, bee-eaters, and many other species.  Overnight near Lake Manyara.

  • FULL DAY THREE

    Lake Manyara To Serengeti

    After breakfast today, you’ll head to the great Serengeti National Park, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.  Enter through the Naabi gate, then drive around the kopjes looking to spot the big cats, in particular lion and cheetah who often hang out on these huge stone outcrops.  Stop for a packed lunch at the visitor center and stretch your legs with a short educational walk that lays out much of the flora and fauna you will see in the coming days, then continue your game drive.   Your first day in the Serengeti is bound to be eye-opening, and wonderful. As the sun starts to descend (and it goes down quickly once it starts!), you will head to your camp to settle in and enjoy bush T.V. and a marvellous dinner in the wild.

     

    FULL DAY THREE

  • FULL DAY FOUR

     

    The Serengeti welcomes you

    Wake up excited to find yourself in the great Serengeti National Park.   Today will be a full day of game drives; sunrise to sunset if that suits you.  If you want the full day out, take a breakfast box and a breakfast lunch and head out just as the sun is coming up for as much adventure as you can handle.  If you would like to take the day more slowly, enjoy a delicious breakfast at your camp, and then head out with your lunchbox to see what the Serengeti has prepared to welcome you.

    Depending on the season, your guide may take you towards the central Serengeti (amazing game viewing !) or towards the Grumeti region (especially in June and July when the great migration passes through), or towards the North if you’re coming later in the dry season.  Whichever direction you go, you can expect to see lions, leopards, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, Cape buffalo, wildebeest, impala, and so many amazing birds!

  • FULL DAY FIVE

    Serengeti to Mara River and more

    You may have seen National Geographic or other videos of the great herds of wildebeest crossing the Mara River.  They slowly make their way towards the river, and then a pathfinder will gradually test the waters and decide whether it is safe to cross.  Once he makes up his mind, thousands of wildebeest will follow in a great explosion of dust and thundering herds.  With the right timing, you may get to see this once-in-a-lifetime explosive crossing, with crocodiles and hippos lurking in the shadows.  But whether you see a crossing or not, your game drives through the Mara region will show you distinctive landscapes and an abundance of wild animals.  Watch for vultures circling to see where someone has eaten his lunch.  Watch hippos coming out of the water and walking across the grass – but stay out of their way as hippos are actually the most dangerous animals in Africa!  Look for hyrax or klipspringers in and around the kopjes, and smile at the banded mongoose who travel in groups and look like children’s toys.  Enjoy a full day of game drives in the Mara region, and return to your tent at night ready for a hot meal and sundowners around the fire.

     

    FULL DAY FIVE

  • Full Day Six

     

    Serengeti Galore

    Another full day of game drives inside the Serengeti gives you memories that will last a lifetime.  Explore the natural ecosystem and learn about the animals and nature with your experienced guide.  Enjoy the sunrise and sunset in this great wilderness.  Decide if you want a hot breakfast or to pack your breakfast and get out on the trail first thing in the morning then later have a hot coffee and your packed breakfast while exploring the plains.  Game drive in the morning in the Mara, and then gradually make your way back down to the Central Serengeti, with a stop at the hippo pool to break up your trip.  Nowhere else in your travels will you see so many hippos so close together at one time.  You may not enjoy the smell, but the experience is not to be missed!  Look for the numerous but shy dik-diks in the grasses nearby.  By the time you get to your tent, you’ll be ready for a hot meal and a good drink after another unforgettable day!

  • Full Day Seven

    Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

    Enjoy another sunrise and your last full morning drive in the Serengeti before heading out through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.  What animals will bid you farewell and see you on your way?  Leaving the Serengeti, visit Maasai bomas to learn about the traditional culture of the Maasai society, then continue to your lodge for dinner and a good rest.  Enjoy the view, meal and luxuries from your accommodation perched high on the rim overlooking the world-famous Ngorongoro crater.

     

    Full Day Seven

  • Full Day Eight

     

    Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

    This morning will be spectacular.  After breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive and see the large numbers of animals that live in this (relatively) small space, which is a World Heritage Site.  The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest inactive, intact volcanic caldera formed when the Ngorongoro volcano exploded some 2 million years ago.  Some 25,000 animals live in the Crater, including Cape buffalo, hippopotamus, wildebeest, zebra, eland and many other species.  You may even have a chance to see the endangered black rhinoceros.  After lunch, head back to Arusha airport for your departure.

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Following the Great Migration November to December

  • Arrival

     

    Welcome and overnight in Arusha

    On arrival, your friendly guide will welcome you and take you to your accommodation, and help you get settled in.  He or she will make sure you are all set for supper and will go over your planned itinerary with you to answer any questions you have.  He or she will also want to hear about any special dreams you may not yet have mentioned, as all our guides want your entire experience to be superb.  Once you are settled and comfortable, your guide will leave you to enjoy the evening and the sounds and smells of the Tanzanian night.

  • Full Day One

    Arusha to Tarangire Park

    Have a wonderful early breakfast at your hotel in Arusha and let the adventure begin on the road to Tarangire National Park (famous for its elephant population and baobab trees).  If this is your first trip to Africa, you’ll learn that the journey is half the fun!  Watch for donkeys, cattle and all sorts of new flora and fauna on your way to the Park, then enjoy your first afternoon game drive inside Tarangire.  You are likely to see elephants and birds of all stripes and colors.  Likely, too, to see giraffe, zebra, impala; and possibly even lions.  Dinner and overnight at a lodge at Tarangire.

     

    Full Day One

  • Full Day Three

     

    Tarangire to Lake Manyara

    Enjoy a morning game drive in Tarangire.  Watch elephants thundering down the hillside towards you, or Zebra kicking up the river water with their hooves.  Watch giraffe running through the acacia, and see if you can spot a lion, just waiting for someone to come near.  See how many different varieties of birds you can spot, as your guide is quick to point them out if you are interested.  Then head out of Tarangire and up via the Rift Valley to Lake Manyara National Park, where you will look for the famous tree-climbing lions.  Drive along the lake and stop to stretch your legs at the hot springs, or the boardwalk.  Watch for hippos, warthogs, zebras, Cape buffalo – and the ever-present baboons!  By the lakeshore, you will find kingfishers, herons, spoonbills, storks, pelicans, bee-eaters, and many other species.  Overnight near Lake Manyara.

  • FULL DAY THREE

    Lake Manyara To Serengeti

    After breakfast today, you’ll head to the great Serengeti National Park, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.  Enter through the Naabi gate, then drive around the kopjes looking to spot the big cats, in particular lion and cheetah who often hang out on these huge stone outcrops.  Stop for a packed lunch at the visitor center and stretch your legs with a short educational walk that lays out much of the flora and fauna you will see in the coming days, then continue your game drive.   Your first day in the Serengeti is bound to be eye-opening, and wonderful. As the sun starts to descend (and it goes down quickly once it starts!), you will head to your camp to settle in and enjoy bush T.V. and a marvellous dinner in the wild.

     

    FULL DAY THREE

  • FULL DAY FOUR

     

    The Serengeti welcomes you

    Wake up excited to find yourself in the great Serengeti National Park.   Today will be a full day of game drives; sunrise to sunset if that suits you.  If you want the full day out, take a breakfast box and a breakfast lunch and head out just as the sun is coming up for as much adventure as you can handle.  If you would like to take the day more slowly, enjoy a delicious breakfast at your camp, and then head out with your lunchbox to see what the Serengeti has prepared to welcome you.

    Depending on the season, your guide may take you towards the central Serengeti (amazing game viewing !) or towards the Grumeti region (especially in June and July when the great migration passes through), or towards the North if you’re coming later in the dry season.  Whichever direction you go, you can expect to see lions, leopards, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, Cape buffalo, wildebeest, impala, and so many amazing birds!

  • FULL DAY FIVE

    Full Day Serengeti Exploration

    Wake with (or before) the sun in the Northern or Central Serengeti.  Depending on the rainy season and exactly when you have come, you may find the migratory herds doing their last Mara crossing or in the middle of their migration South towards the birthing plains.  It all depends on the rains as the migratory wildebeest herds follow the green pastures and food.  Wherever they are, you will find them with your expert guide.  Travel with the herds or just sit and marvel at the experience of all these wildebeest in one place.  Sounds, smells, sights – all your senses will be engaged.  Watch too for predators also seeking to enjoy this feast.  Enjoy lunch out in the Serengeti, and then return to your lodging as the sun sets to enjoy the evening feast and a well-deserved shower and time to relax and be pampered.

     

    FULL DAY FIVE

  • Full Day Six

     

    Full Day Serengeti Exploration

    Another full day of game drives inside the Serengeti gives you memories that will last a lifetime.  Explore the natural ecosystem and learn about the animals and nature with your experienced guide.  Enjoy the sunrise and sunset in this great wilderness.  Decide if you want a hot breakfast or to pack your breakfast and get out on the trail first thing in the morning then later have a hot coffee and your packed breakfast while exploring the plains.  By taking a generous boxed lunch, you can spend the whole day discovering the wonders of the plains and kopjes and watering holes that run throughout the Serengeti.  Enjoy a second night at your camp, which will already be feeling like home.

  • Full Day Seven

    Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

    Enjoy another sunrise and your last full morning drive in the Serengeti before heading out through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.  What animals will bid you farewell and see you on your way?  Leaving the Serengeti, visit Maasai bomas to learn about the traditional culture of the Maasai society, then continue to your lodge for dinner and a good rest.  Enjoy the view, meal and luxuries from your accommodation perched high on the rim overlooking the world-famous Ngorongoro crater.

     

    Full Day Seven

  • Full Day Eight

     

    Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

    This morning will be spectacular.  After breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive and see the large numbers of animals that live in this (relatively) small space, which is a World Heritage Site.  The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest inactive, intact volcanic caldera formed when the Ngorongoro volcano exploded some 2 million years ago.  Some 25,000 animals live in the Crater, including Cape buffalo, hippopotamus, wildebeest, zebra, eland and many other species.  You may even have a chance to see the endangered black rhinoceros.  After lunch, head back to Arusha airport for your departure.

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