9 Days Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Safari

9 Days Serengeti
Wildebeest Migration Safari

The Great Migration

More than a million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles on the move.

Mara River Crossings

Witness the herds brave the river in the northern Serengeti.

Predator Action

Lions, cheetahs and hyenas follow the herds across the plains.

Why Choose This Safari

Watch One of Nature’s Greatest Spectacles

Routed Around the Herds

Your camps are chosen to put you close to the migration at the time you travel.

Photographic Guidance

Guides position you for the best light, angles and moments.

Custom Experiences

Add a balloon flight, a private bush lunch or a guided walk.

Itinerary

Your 9-Day Migration Safari Itinerary

Day 01 :
Arrival in Arusha

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to your lodge near Mount Meru. In the evening, your guide explains how the migration works and shares a few tips for photographing it.

Midrange: Comfortable garden-view lodge.

Luxury: Boutique villa with panoramic terraces and concierge service.

Day 02 :
Tarangire National Park

Travel to Tarangire National Park and explore its river corridors, dotted with ancient baobabs and large elephant herds. Finish with a sunset drive and optional sundowners in the bush.

Midrange: Lodge near the Tarangire River.

Luxury: Secluded tented villa with a plunge pool and private deck.

Day 03 :
Lake Manyara National Park

Visit Lake Manyara, where flamingos gather, and the forest is home to baboons, elephants, and its famous tree-climbing lions. Add a visit to a nearby village in the afternoon.

Midrange: Lodge on the Rift Valley escarpment.

Luxury: Elevated suites with private verandas.

Day 04 :
Fly to the Southern Serengeti

Take a light-aircraft flight to the Serengeti and head straight out on an afternoon game drive, tracking the herds and the predators that follow them. Dinner is served under the stars.

Midrange: Tented camp with views across the plains.

Luxury: Tented villa with a private butler, stargazing deck and plunge pool.

Day 05 :
Central Serengeti

Spend a full day in the central Serengeti, where lions, cheetahs and hyenas hunt along the edges of the migrating herds. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the heart of the action.

Midrange: Tented camp in the central Serengeti.

Luxury: Luxury mobile camp positioned near the herds.

Day 06 :
Northern Serengeti

Travel north towards the Kenyan border, where the herds gather along the Mara River from July to October. An optional sunrise hot-air balloon flight gives you a view of the plains from above.

Midrange: Lodge or camp in the northern Serengeti.

Luxury: Exclusive lodge with private terraces and sunset viewpoints.

Day 07 :
Mara River Crossings

Spend the day near the Mara River, waiting for the herds to gather and cross as Nile crocodiles lie in wait. Your guide positions you for the best views and photographs. Crossings depend on the herds, so patience is part of the experience.

Midrange: Lodge within the northern Serengeti.

Luxury: Secluded lodge with a private viewing deck and gourmet cuisine.

Day 08 :
Central and Western Plains

Explore the central and western plains, where you can watch large herds, predator interactions and, at the right time of year, young calves. Add a guided walk in a permitted area.

Midrange: Tented camp with panoramic views.

Luxury: Villa with a private plunge pool and stargazing terrace.

Day 09 :
Return to Arusha

Enjoy a final morning game drive for last photographs, then return to Arusha. Midrange guests travel by road, while luxury guests fly back with aerial views of the Serengeti.

Cost

What Your Migration Safari Includes

Include

Exclude

Map

Your Migration Safari Route

Plan Your Trip

Book Your Safari Package

Tanzania Safari

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to see the Great Migration?

It depends on what you want to see. River crossings in the northern Serengeti usually take place between July and October. Calving on the southern plains around Ndutu happens between January and March.

Which part of the Serengeti will I visit?

It changes with the months. The herds are usually in the south from December to March, the central and western areas from April to June, and the north from July to October.

How long are the game drives each day?

It varies. Most days include an early morning drive and an afternoon session, with longer full-day drives when the herds are on the move.

Is the migration predictable?

The herds follow the rains, so their exact position shifts each year. Our guides stay in close contact with other guides and camps to track their movements.

Can I see a river crossing on this safari?

If you travel between July and October, you have a good chance. Crossings depend on the herds’ behaviour, so they can’t be guaranteed on any particular day.