8 Days Serengeti Migration Safari

Start & End: Arusha
Focus: Great Wildebeest Migration, Big Five Safari
Destinations: Arusha, Tarangire, Serengeti (Central & Northern), Ngorongoro Crater
Style: Mid-range to Luxury Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha – Gateway to Tanzania

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you’ll be met by your safari guide and transferred to your hotel in Arusha. Spend the day relaxing after your flight, with an optional city tour depending on your arrival time. This is your first night in Tanzania, a country filled with wonders waiting to unfold.

Accommodation: Arusha Planet Lodge / Gran Melia Arusha
Highlights: Welcome to Tanzania, pre-safari briefing
What to Expect: Warm hospitality, peaceful environment to unwind

Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, you’ll drive to Tarangire National Park, known for its massive elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and thriving wildlife along the Tarangire River. Enjoy a full-day game drive with picnic lunch in the park. In the evening, settle into your lodge nestled in the wilderness.

Accommodation: Tarangire Simba Lodge / Maramboi Tented Lodge
Highlights: Elephants, baobabs, lions, rich birdlife
What to Expect: Classic African landscape and superb game viewing

Day 3: Tarangire to Central Serengeti

Today, embark on a scenic drive toward the legendary Serengeti National Park, arriving in the central region (Seronera) by afternoon. This area is rich in wildlife year-round and provides the best opportunity to spot predators like lions, cheetahs, and leopards. Enjoy a late-afternoon game drive before retiring to your tented camp.

Accommodation: Into Wild Africa Camp / Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Highlights: Scenic drive through the Rift Valley and Ngorongoro highlands
What to Expect: Stunning vistas, first glimpses of the Serengeti plains

Day 4: Full Day in Central Serengeti

Spend the day exploring Central Serengeti. This region is home to countless resident animals and acts as a corridor for the Great Migration. With morning and afternoon game drives, your guide will help you find the action—whether it’s lions on the hunt or herds on the move.

Accommodation: Into Wild Africa Camp / Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Highlights: Big Cats territory, varied terrain, rich wildlife encounters
What to Expect: High chances of predator-prey action and dramatic sightings

Day 5: Central to Northern Serengeti – Chasing the Migration

Drive northwards through the Serengeti to the Kogatende region near the Mara River. This is where the migration gathers from July to October, offering dramatic river crossings, huge wildebeest herds, and predator action. Enjoy game viewing along the way and arrive in time for an evening drive.

Accommodation: Mara River Tented Lodge / Kaskaz Mara Camp
Highlights: En-route game viewing, possible river crossings
What to Expect: Stunning savannah scenery, migration at its peak (seasonal)

Day 6: Full Day in Northern Serengeti (Mara River)

Today is dedicated to tracking the Great Migration near the Mara River. Witness thousands of wildebeest and zebras navigating the crocodile-infested waters in one of nature’s most incredible spectacles. Your experienced guide will position you near crossing points and high-activity areas.

Accommodation: Mara River Tented Lodge / Kaskaz Mara Camp
Highlights: River crossings, crocodiles, predators, mass wildlife movement
What to Expect: Adrenaline-filled wildlife spectacle (best July–October)

Day 7: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Enjoy a final morning game drive in northern Serengeti before heading back south. Drive through the central plains and exit the Serengeti by afternoon. Continue to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and arrive at your lodge on the crater rim, with panoramic views.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge / Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Highlights: Scenic journey through the Serengeti, cultural encounters
What to Expect: Changing landscapes, anticipation of crater safari

Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater Safari – Return to Arusha

After an early breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best places to spot the Big Five in a single day. Explore the crater floor, home to rhinos, lions, buffaloes, elephants, and more. After a picnic lunch, begin your drive back to Arusha where your safari concludes.

Accommodation: Day room on request / Airport transfer
Highlights: Crater wildlife, rare rhino sightings, farewell to the wild
What to Expect: A powerful finale to your safari journey