8-Day Mara River Crossing Safari - Serengeti Migration Lodge Safari to Join

8-Day Mara River Crossing Serengeti Migration Lodge Safari to Join With Tarangire, Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro Crater included

This Safari is available @ US$4,048/Person sharing

>>Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

Safari Overview

Experience an extraordinary 8-day wildlife adventure through some of Tanzania's most celebrated national parks and wildlife conservation areas. This carefully designed safari takes you from the elephant-rich landscapes of Tarangire National Park to the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater, followed by an unforgettable exploration of the Central and Northern Serengeti, where you will have opportunities to witness the world-famous Great Wildebeest Migration.

The highlight of this safari is spending several days in Northern Serengeti, particularly around the Kogatende region and the legendary Mara River. This region is internationally recognised for the dramatic wildebeest river crossings, where thousands of wildebeests and zebras gather along the riverbanks before attempting to cross waters inhabited by large Nile crocodiles.

In addition to the migration experience, you will explore the Central Serengeti, renowned for its remarkable resident wildlife population, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, hyenas and numerous other animal species.

Your journey also includes an exciting game drive inside the Ngorongoro Crater, a remarkable natural wildlife sanctuary famous for its high concentration of animals and opportunities to encounter the African Big Five.

The adventure concludes with a visit to Lake Manyara National Park before your drop-off in Arusha town.

Throughout the safari, you will be accompanied by a professional English-speaking safari guide, travelling in a specially designed 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for excellent wildlife viewing and photography opportunities.


Detailed Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Tarangire National Park – Full-Day Wildlife Game Drive

After breakfast, depart for Tarangire National Park, one of Tanzania's most remarkable wildlife destinations and an excellent introduction to your Northern Tanzania safari adventure. Upon arrival, complete the park entrance formalities and begin an extensive game drive through its beautiful wilderness.

Tarangire National Park is particularly famous for its enormous elephant herds, ancient baobab trees and impressive concentration of wildlife, especially during the dry season. The park's ecosystem is largely influenced by the Tarangire River, a permanent water source that attracts numerous wildlife species from surrounding areas.

During your game drive, explore the park's different wildlife habitats, including open savannah grasslands, seasonal swamps, acacia woodlands and riverine vegetation. These diverse environments provide excellent opportunities to encounter elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, buffaloes, impalas, waterbucks and numerous other herbivores.

Tarangire is also home to several predators, including lions, leopards, cheetahs and spotted hyenas. Your experienced safari guide will help identify animal tracks, explain wildlife behaviour and locate promising areas for game viewing.

One of the park's most impressive attractions is its large elephant population. You may encounter entire elephant families moving together through the woodland, feeding beneath baobab trees or gathering around the Tarangire River to drink water.

Bird enthusiasts will also appreciate the park's remarkable birdlife, with numerous resident and migratory species inhabiting its woodlands, wetlands and open plains.

Enjoy a picnic lunch at a designated picnic site inside the park before continuing your afternoon game drive. As the day progresses, take advantage of additional wildlife-viewing opportunities and photograph the beautiful landscapes of Tarangire.

In the late afternoon, exit the park and drive towards Karatu town. Upon arrival, check in at Rim View Inn Karatu, where you will enjoy dinner and a relaxing overnight stay.

Day 2: Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive – Transfer to Central Serengeti

After an early breakfast at your accommodation, depart towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for one of the most exciting wildlife experiences in Northern Tanzania.

Upon arrival at the crater, descend approximately 600 metres along the crater walls into the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, a natural geological wonder formed millions of years ago following the collapse of a large volcanic mountain.

The crater is approximately 20 kilometres across and supports an extraordinary concentration of wildlife within its relatively enclosed ecosystem. Its permanent water sources, open grasslands, woodlands and wetlands provide suitable habitats for numerous animal species throughout the year.

Enjoy an extensive half-day game drive across the crater floor, exploring different habitats in search of its famous wildlife residents.

The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the best places in Tanzania to search for the African Big Five: lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards and the endangered black rhinoceros. It is particularly famous for its relatively high density of lions and opportunities to spot black rhinos in their natural environment.

Other wildlife commonly encountered includes zebras, wildebeests, hyenas, hippos, gazelles, warthogs and numerous bird species.

You will also have the opportunity to visit the beautiful hippo pool area, where hippos spend much of their time resting in the water. Depending on the season, you may see flamingos and other waterbirds around the crater's alkaline lake.

At midday, stop at a designated picnic site to enjoy your packed lunch while surrounded by the remarkable scenery of this natural wildlife sanctuary.

After completing your crater exploration, ascend the crater walls and continue your journey towards Serengeti National Park through the spectacular Ngorongoro highlands.

The landscape gradually changes from forested highlands and rolling hills to the vast open grasslands of the Serengeti ecosystem. Along the way, you may encounter wildlife and enjoy scenic views of the surrounding conservation area.

Continue towards the Central Serengeti, also known as the Seronera region, which is particularly famous for its resident predator population and year-round wildlife viewing opportunities.

Arrive at Central Serengeti Wilderness Camp in the evening, where dinner will be served before your overnight stay.

Day 3: Central Serengeti – Full-Day Predator and Wildlife Game Drives

Wake up to the beautiful atmosphere of the African wilderness and enjoy breakfast at your camp before departing for a full-day wildlife adventure in Central Serengeti.

The Central Serengeti is among the most productive wildlife-viewing areas in East Africa. Its extensive grasslands, rocky kopjes, seasonal rivers and permanent water sources support an impressive population of resident animals throughout the year.

Today's game drives will focus on exploring the Seronera Valley and surrounding wildlife areas, which are particularly renowned for their large populations of lions, leopards and cheetahs.

The region's rocky kopjes are important habitats for lions, which frequently use these elevated formations as resting places and observation points. Meanwhile, leopards are often associated with riverine trees, where they may be found resting on branches or concealing their prey.

Keep your eyes open for cheetahs scanning the open plains for potential prey, spotted hyenas moving through the grasslands and jackals searching for food.

Apart from predators, Central Serengeti is home to enormous herds of zebras and wildebeests, as well as giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, topis, Thomson's gazelles and impalas.

Depending on the season, you may also encounter sections of the Great Wildebeest Migration moving through the Central Serengeti. The movement of these herds changes throughout the year as animals search for fresh grazing and water.

At midday, enjoy a picnic lunch at a designated location before continuing with your afternoon game drive.

Your guide will select suitable wildlife-viewing areas depending on recent sightings and animal movements, maximising your opportunities to experience the Serengeti's extraordinary biodiversity.

As the afternoon comes to an end, return to Central Serengeti Wilderness Camp for dinner and overnight accommodation.

Day 4: Central Serengeti to Northern Serengeti – Journey to the Mara River Migration Area

After breakfast, depart from Central Serengeti and begin your exciting journey towards the Northern Serengeti, one of the most spectacular wildlife regions in Tanzania and the main destination for your Mara River Migration Safari.

Today's journey takes you across the vast Serengeti ecosystem, offering beautiful scenery and opportunities to encounter wildlife along the way. The northern section of the park features rolling grasslands, wooded valleys, granite kopjes and seasonal rivers that provide important habitats for numerous animal species.

As you travel towards the Kogatende region, your guide will conduct game viewing along the route, allowing you to explore different wildlife areas rather than simply driving directly to your camp.

The Northern Serengeti is particularly famous for the Great Wildebeest Migration, when enormous herds of wildebeests and zebras move through the region in search of fresh grazing and water.

One of the most anticipated wildlife spectacles occurs along the Mara River, where migrating herds gather on the riverbanks before attempting to cross. These crossings can be dramatic, with thousands of animals sometimes entering the water together while crocodiles wait beneath the surface.

During the journey, you may encounter elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, topis, gazelles, buffaloes and various predators that follow the migrating herds.

The northern region also supports a healthy population of lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas, making it an excellent destination for both migration viewing and general wildlife photography.

Enjoy your picnic lunch along the way before continuing towards Kogatende.

Arrive at Serengeti North Wilderness Camp in the late afternoon or evening. Settle into your accommodation and enjoy dinner while preparing for the following day's exploration of the Mara River migration area.

Day 5: Mara River Crossing Safari – Following the Great Wildebeest Migration

Today is one of the major highlights of your entire safari adventure. After an early breakfast, depart for an exciting full-day game drive through the Northern Serengeti, concentrating on the famous Mara River migration area around Kogatende.

This region is internationally recognised for hosting some of the most dramatic moments of the Great Wildebeest Migration. Every year, enormous herds of wildebeests accompanied by zebras move through the northern Serengeti as part of their continuous search for fresh grazing and water.

Your safari guide will take you towards suitable sections of the Mara River where migrating herds may be gathering. The experience involves carefully monitoring animal movements, observing their behaviour and identifying potential river-crossing points.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the migration is the behaviour of wildebeests as they approach the riverbanks. Herds may gather in large numbers, moving back and forth as individual animals assess the water before deciding when to cross.

When a crossing occurs, the scene can be spectacular. Thousands of wildebeests may plunge into the river, creating an incredible display of movement, dust and splashing water as they attempt to reach the opposite bank.

The Mara River is also home to large Nile crocodiles, which present a natural danger to animals attempting to cross. Other predators, including lions, leopards and hyenas, may be found in surrounding areas, taking advantage of the migration.

Apart from the river crossings, the northern Serengeti offers excellent opportunities to encounter elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, gazelles and other wildlife.

Enjoy a picnic lunch during your full-day exploration before continuing your afternoon game drive.

Important migration note: Wildebeest river crossings are natural events and cannot be guaranteed on specific dates. Their occurrence depends on rainfall, grazing conditions, herd movements and other environmental factors. Even when crossings do not occur, the northern Serengeti offers exceptional wildlife-viewing opportunities.

In the late afternoon, return to Serengeti North Wilderness Camp for dinner and overnight accommodation.

Day 6: Northern Serengeti – Another Full-Day Migration and Wildlife Safari

Enjoy another full day of wildlife exploration in Northern Serengeti, giving you additional time to experience the Great Wildebeest Migration and discover the remarkable wildlife habitats surrounding the Kogatende region.

After breakfast, depart with your safari guide for another exciting game drive. Having an additional day in Northern Serengeti provides more flexibility to explore different sections of the park, monitor migration movements and visit alternative areas along the Mara River.

Your guide will assess the latest wildlife sightings and determine the most promising areas to explore. If large herds are gathering near the river, you will have opportunities to observe their behaviour and wait for possible crossing activity.

The riverbanks are particularly fascinating during the migration season, as thousands of wildebeests and zebras may gather in anticipation of crossing. Some herds may cross immediately, while others can spend hours or even days moving along the riverbanks before making their attempt.

During your game drives, you may also encounter predators that follow the migrating herds. Lions often patrol the surrounding grasslands, while crocodiles occupy sections of the river where migrating animals may attempt to cross.

The Northern Serengeti is not only about migration crossings. Its beautiful landscapes and diverse wildlife populations make it an outstanding safari destination in their own right.

Look out for elephants feeding in woodland areas, giraffes browsing on acacia trees, buffaloes grazing across open grasslands and antelope species moving through the savannah.

You may also encounter cheetahs, leopards, hyenas and other predators during your exploration.

At midday, enjoy your picnic lunch at a designated location before continuing with additional game drives in the afternoon.

After another memorable day in the wilderness, return to Serengeti North Wilderness Camp for dinner and your final overnight stay in Northern Serengeti.

Day 7: Northern Serengeti to Karatu – Scenic Journey through the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Highlands

After breakfast, check out from your camp and begin your journey from Northern Serengeti towards Karatu town, passing through the beautiful landscapes of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Today's journey offers a final opportunity to appreciate the enormous size and natural beauty of the Serengeti ecosystem. As you leave the Kogatende region, you will travel through wildlife-rich landscapes characterised by open grasslands, scattered acacia trees, rocky outcrops and seasonal river valleys.

Depending on the departure time and wildlife movements, you may enjoy additional game viewing along the route as you make your way towards the Ngorongoro highlands.

As you approach the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the scenery gradually changes. The open Serengeti plains give way to rolling hills, forested slopes, elevated grasslands and spectacular viewpoints overlooking the surrounding countryside.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is particularly remarkable because it combines wildlife conservation with traditional Maasai pastoral life. Along the journey, you may see Maasai communities moving with their livestock and traditional homesteads known as bomas.

Your guide will provide information about the area's cultural importance, wildlife conservation and the unique relationship between the local communities and their natural environment.

Enjoy your picnic lunch along the way before continuing towards Karatu.

Arrive in Karatu town in the late afternoon and check in at Rim View Inn Karatu. After several exciting days exploring the Serengeti wilderness, enjoy a hot dinner, relax and prepare for your final safari destination the following morning.

Day 8: Lake Manyara National Park – Half-Day Game Drive and Drop-off in Arusha

After breakfast at Rim View Inn Karatu, depart at approximately 7:00 a.m. for Lake Manyara National Park, carrying your packed lunch for the day's adventure.

Lake Manyara is one of Tanzania's most scenic national parks, famous for its diverse habitats, beautiful lake scenery, rich birdlife and remarkable wildlife population. Although relatively compact compared with the Serengeti, the park offers an impressive variety of landscapes and wildlife encounters.

Upon arrival, complete the entrance formalities and begin your half-day game drive through the park.

Your exploration begins around the lush groundwater forest, where towering trees create a beautiful natural environment. This forest habitat is home to large troops of baboons, blue monkeys and numerous bird species. You may also encounter elephants moving through the woodland and other animals feeding beneath the forest canopy.

As you continue towards the open grasslands and lake shoreline, look out for giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, buffaloes, warthogs and various antelope species.

Lake Manyara is particularly famous for its tree-climbing lions, an unusual behaviour for which the park has become internationally recognised. Although sightings are not guaranteed, your guide will look for opportunities to spot these remarkable predators resting on branches.

One of the park's most attractive features is Lake Manyara itself, a shallow alkaline lake that attracts thousands of waterbirds depending on the season and water conditions. Flamingos, pelicans, storks, herons and other bird species may be seen along the shoreline.

Another interesting attraction is the famous Lake Manyara Hippo Pool, where visitors can observe hippos resting and interacting in the water from designated viewing areas.

The park also features the Lake Manyara Treetop Walkway, which provides a different perspective of the forest canopy. The Maji Moto Hot Springs are another fascinating natural feature, offering opportunities to appreciate the geothermal activity associated with the Great Rift Valley.

At midday, stop at a designated picnic site to enjoy your packed lunch while taking in the beautiful surroundings.

After lunch, continue with your final wildlife exploration before exiting Lake Manyara National Park and beginning your journey towards Arusha town.

Upon arrival in Arusha, you will be dropped off at Venice Hotel, marking the end of your memorable 8-day Mara River Crossing Serengeti Migration Safari.

  • Overnight: Venice Hotel – Arusha town.

  • Meals: Breakfast and lunch included.



Safari Accommodation Summary


Safari Meals Summary:

  • Day 1: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

  • Day 2: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

  • Day 3: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

  • Day 4: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

  • Day 5: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

  • Day 6: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

  • Day 7: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

  • Day 8: Breakfast and lunch.


Total: 8 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 7 dinners.


What’s included in the price:

  • Pick up and drop off from Kilimanjaro International airport.

  • 2 nights Accommodation at Venice Hotel in Arusha town

  • Transportation in a 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser with pop-up roof

  • Professional and experienced English-speaking safari guide

  • All national park fees

  • Full board accommodation in lodges/tented lodge safaris.

  • Three meals per day on safari

  • Bottled drinking water throughout the tour

  • Medical kit

  • Binocular

  • All the activities as per the itinerary


What’s excluded from the price:

  • International Flights

  • Personal spending money for souvenirs, etc

  • Alcoholic and soft drinks

  • Travel insurance

  • Visa fees

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