About this safari
Every year, more than a million wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of zebra and their attendant predators sweep across the Serengeti in the greatest land migration on Earth. This 5-Day Serengeti Migration Safari is built around that movement: three full days in the Serengeti, positioned wherever the herds happen to be.
Our guides monitor the migration closely, so your itinerary shifts with the animals. In the early months you may find the herds on the southern calving plains; from mid-year they push west and north, towards the Grumeti River and the legendary Mara River crossings into Kenya.
Because the Serengeti is a year-round predator stronghold, migration or not, you also enjoy superb lion, leopard and cheetah viewing. The tour closes with a full descent into the Ngorongoro Crater, where rhino, elephant and buffalo complete the picture.
If witnessing the migration is on your life list, this is the trip for you — short, focused and timed to the movement of millions.
What makes this tour special
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The Great Migration
Follow over a million wildebeest and zebra as they move with the rains across the plains.
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Dramatic river crossings
In season, watch the herds mass at the Grumeti and Mara rivers before plunging across.
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Predators in pursuit
Lion, cheetah and hyena shadow the herds, making the migration a non-stop drama.
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Guides who track the herds
We follow real-time reports so you are placed where the migration actually is.
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Ngorongoro Crater finale
A full crater descent for rhino, elephant, buffalo and some 25,000 large animals.
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Private 4x4 & camp
Your own vehicle, guide and mobile or permanent camp positioned for the movement.
Day-by-day plan
Arrival in Moshi or Arusha
Welcome to Tanzania. You are met at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha, with the mountain often visible on the horizon. In the evening your guide hosts a briefing on the migration — where the herds are now, and how the plan will follow them.
A comfortable night’s rest sets you up for the days on safari.
Into the Serengeti — to the herds
Set off early, crossing the Ngorongoro highlands and the vast plains of the Serengeti National Park. Based on the latest migration reports, your guide heads directly for the sector where the herds are concentrated.
Depending on the season that might be the southern short-grass plains, the grassy centre, the wooded west, or the far north near the Mara River. Wherever you land, the afternoon game drive puts you among wildebeest, zebra, gazelle and the predators that follow them. Overnight at a camp close to the action.
Full day with the migration
A full day is dedicated to the migration, with dawn and dusk drives when the animals are most active. Watch column after column of wildebeest snake across the horizon, zebra filing between them, and the constant tension of predators never far away.
In a river-crossing month your guide will position you at a known crossing point to witness the extraordinary, chaotic plunge through crocodile-filled water. Back at camp, dinner under the stars with the distant sound of the herds.
Serengeti morning, then to the Ngorongoro rim
Spend a final dawn in the Serengeti with the herds and their predators, making the most of the early light. Mid-morning you begin the journey west and south, leaving the plains and climbing back onto the highlands.
By late afternoon you reach a lodge on the Ngorongoro rim. The view down into the caldera as the sun sets is one of the finest in Africa, and dinner is served high above the crater floor.
Ngorongoro Crater and departure
Descend early into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. Its year-round population of around 25,000 large animals includes lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo and the endangered black rhino, all within a landscape of grassland, forest and soda lake.
A full morning and a picnic lunch on the crater floor complete the safari. Climb back to the rim and return to Arusha or Moshi, arriving in time for onward travel or an added night.
What’s included & not included
Included
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking safari guide
- Park entry fees for the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater
- All meals as listed and drinking water on game drives
- 4 nights’ accommodation as per the itinerary
- Unlimited game drives with no set mileage limits
- Airport and hotel transfers on arrival and departure
- Government taxes and conservation levies
Not included
- International flights and Tanzania visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Tips and gratuities for your guide and camp staff
- Optional balloon safari over the Serengeti
- Personal shopping and souvenirs
Where you’ll stay
Luxury migration camps & rim lodge
Full-board luxury tented camps positioned for the herds, plus an elegant lodge on the crater rim. <!-- TODO: lodge names -->
Comfortable camps & rim lodge
Well-run permanent and semi-permanent camps in the Serengeti with ensuite rooms and good food. <!-- TODO: lodge names -->
Basic camps & lodges
Simple, clean camps and lodges near the parks, with shared facilities where applicable. <!-- TODO: lodge names -->
5-Day Serengeti Migration Safari in pictures
Best time to take this tour
The migration follows the rains, so where the herds are depends on the month. The dry-season months of June to October are prime for crossings.
| Season | Weather | Crowds | Where the herds are |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | Warm, mostly dry | High | Southern plains — calving season and rich grazing |
| Apr–May | Long rains | Low | Central and western Serengeti moving north |
| Jun–Oct | Dry and cool | High | Western Grumeti then northern Mara River crossings |
| Nov–Dec | Short rains | Moderate | Herds return south across the central plains |
Route & logistics
The itinerary begins in Arusha or Moshi, travels into the Serengeti and follows the migration wherever it is, then finishes with the Ngorongoro Crater and the return to town. The Serengeti sector changes with the season, so exact driving times vary.
Everything is covered in a private, safari-equipped 4x4. During peak migration months, a scheduled or charter flight into the Serengeti can save a long road transfer at extra cost.
Frequently asked questions
When can I see the great river crossings?
The Mara River crossings usually happen from July to October, while the Grumeti River crossings often fall between May and July. Nature sets the schedule, so we track the herds in real time and put you in the best position.
Is the migration guaranteed?
No one can promise wildlife, and the herds move. What we can promise is that your route is planned around the latest migration reports and that your guide works hard to find them.
How does this differ from a standard Serengeti safari?
It dedicates three days to the Serengeti, positioned for the herds, rather than splitting time across many parks. It is the most migration-focused short safari we run.
Is this a private safari?
Yes. You travel with your own 4x4 and guide, giving you the freedom to stay with the herds as long as you wish.
When is the best time overall?
For classic dry-season wildlife and northern crossings, June to October. For the calving season and green scenery, January to March.
Can I add a balloon flight over the herds?
Absolutely. A sunrise balloon safari over the migration is an unforgettable add-on and can be arranged at extra cost, subject to availability.
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