9-Day Mara River Crossing Safari
9-Day Mara River Crossing Serengeti Migration Safari to Join With Guaranteed Group Departure Dates
This Safari is Available @ US$5,454/Person
Safari Itinerary
Day 0: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport – Transfer to Arusha
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will be warmly welcomed by our representative, who will be waiting to receive you and assist with your transfer to Arusha town. You will then be driven to Venice Hotel, where you will check in and have time to relax after your international journey.
Depending on your arrival time, you will meet your safari guide, who will provide a comprehensive briefing about your upcoming Northern Tanzania safari. The briefing will cover the safari destinations, wildlife experiences, daily schedules, and other important arrangements to ensure you are well prepared for your adventure.
Overnight: Venice Hotel, Arusha town.
Meals: Not included.
Transfer: Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha town.
Day 1: Arusha – Tarangire National Park – Karatu
After breakfast, depart Arusha and drive towards Tarangire National Park, one of Tanzania's most remarkable wildlife destinations, famous for its large elephant population, ancient baobab trees, and diverse wildlife habitats.
Upon arrival, begin your game drive through the park's beautiful landscapes, exploring its extensive savannah plains, river valleys, and scattered woodlands. The Tarangire River is the park's principal permanent water source, attracting considerable concentrations of wildlife, particularly during the dry season.
During your game drive, you will have opportunities to encounter large herds of elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, buffaloes, impalas, and numerous other wildlife species. Tarangire is also home to predators such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs, making it an excellent destination for wildlife photography.
Enjoy a picnic lunch at a designated site before continuing your afternoon game drive.
Later in the afternoon, exit the park and proceed towards Karatu town. Upon arrival, check in at Rim View Inn Karatu, where you will enjoy dinner and a relaxing overnight stay.
Overnight: Rim View Inn Karatu.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
Activities: Full-day Tarangire National Park game drive.
Day 2: Karatu – Ngorongoro Crater – Central Serengeti
After an early breakfast, depart Karatu and drive towards the spectacular Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Descend approximately 600 metres into the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater for an exciting half-day wildlife safari.
The Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa's most extraordinary natural wonders, supporting an impressive concentration of wildlife within its enclosed ecosystem. Its diverse habitats include open grasslands, seasonal swamps, freshwater pools, and acacia woodlands.
During your game drive, look out for lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, spotted hyenas, hippos, and various antelope species. The crater is also one of Tanzania's most important habitats for the endangered black rhinoceros, offering a possibility of spotting this rare animal in its natural environment.
After enjoying your crater exploration and picnic lunch, ascend the crater walls and continue your journey towards Serengeti National Park.
The journey takes you through the scenic Ngorongoro highlands before gradually opening into the magnificent Serengeti plains. Depending on wildlife activity and available time, you may enjoy additional wildlife sightings along the way.
Arrive at Serengeti Wilderness Camps in the evening, where you will enjoy dinner and overnight accommodation.
Overnight: Central Serengeti Wilderness Camps, Central Serengeti.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
Activities: Half-day Ngorongoro Crater game drive and transfer to Central Serengeti.
Day 3: Full-Day Central Serengeti National Park Safari
After breakfast, enjoy a full day exploring the magnificent Central Serengeti, particularly the Seronera region, which is widely recognized for its exceptional concentration of wildlife and outstanding big-cat sightings.
Your game drive will take you through different wildlife habitats, including expansive grasslands, rocky kopjes, river valleys, and acacia woodlands.
The Central Serengeti is particularly famous for its large populations of lions, leopards, and cheetahs. The Seronera River Valley is an especially productive wildlife-viewing area because its permanent water sources attract animals throughout the year. Leopards are frequently spotted resting in the branches of trees along the riverbanks, while lions can often be seen resting beneath shady trees or moving across the open plains.
You will also have opportunities to encounter elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, spotted hyenas, jackals, and numerous bird species.
Depending on the seasonal movements of the Great Migration, you may encounter large concentrations of wildebeests and zebras grazing across the Central Serengeti plains.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in the park before continuing your afternoon game drive.
In the evening, return to your camp for dinner and overnight accommodation.
Overnight: Central Serengeti Wilderness Camps, Central Serengeti.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
Activities: Full-day Central Serengeti wildlife safari.
Day 4: Central Serengeti – Journey to Northern Serengeti
After breakfast, depart Central Serengeti and begin your exciting journey towards Northern Serengeti, particularly the Kogatende region, one of the most important destinations for witnessing the Great Wildebeest Migration during the Mara River crossing season.
The journey takes you through changing Serengeti landscapes, from the central grasslands and rocky kopjes to the more open northern plains, rolling hills, and riverine vegetation.
Along the way, enjoy wildlife viewing opportunities as you gradually make your way towards the northern migration areas. Depending on the season, you may encounter large herds of wildebeests and zebras moving across the plains in search of fresh grazing grounds.
The Northern Serengeti is particularly famous for the seasonal concentration of migrating wildebeests, which gather around the Mara River and surrounding grasslands before attempting to cross into Kenya's Maasai Mara ecosystem.
Upon reaching the northern region, your guide will explore suitable wildlife-viewing areas, monitor the movements of the herds, and identify promising locations for possible river-crossing activity.
Later in the afternoon, proceed to Serengeti Wilderness Camps for dinner and overnight accommodation.
Overnight: Serengeti North Wilderness Camp, Northern Serengeti.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
Activities: Transfer from Central to Northern Serengeti with en-route game viewing.
Day 5 & 6: Full-Day Northern Serengeti Mara River Crossing Safari
These two days represent the major highlight of your entire safari, dedicated to exploring Northern Serengeti in search of the spectacular Great Wildebeest Migration and the potentially dramatic Mara River crossing.
After breakfast, depart with your experienced safari guide for extensive wildlife exploration around the Kogatende region, the Mara River corridors, and other suitable migration areas.
The Northern Serengeti is one of the most exciting destinations for witnessing the annual migration of millions of wildebeests, accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebras and other grazing animals.
The spectacular Mara River crossing experience
Booking a Northern Serengeti Mara River crossing safari offers an opportunity to witness one of the most extraordinary wildlife spectacles on Earth.
Between July and October, enormous herds of wildebeests and zebras typically move through Northern Serengeti, gathering along the banks of the Mara River as they search for fresh grazing grounds across the border in Kenya.
The river crossings are among the most dramatic moments of the Great Migration. As thousands of animals gather along the steep riverbanks, they may hesitate for hours before one animal finally takes the lead. Suddenly, the entire herd can plunge into the water, navigating strong currents, steep banks, and the danger of enormous Nile crocodiles waiting beneath the surface.
The spectacle is a remarkable demonstration of nature's survival instincts, determination, and the continuous struggle for existence in the African wilderness.
During these two full days, your guide will closely monitor herd movements and explore suitable river-crossing locations to maximize your opportunities for witnessing this extraordinary event.
Beyond the Mara River crossings:
Northern Serengeti also offers exceptional opportunities to encounter lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hyenas, and other fascinating wildlife.
The large concentrations of migrating animals attract predators, creating excellent opportunities to observe natural hunting behaviour and predator-prey interactions.
Enjoy picnic lunches during your daily game drives, allowing you to maximize your time in the wildlife areas.
After each exciting day, return to Serengeti Wilderness Camps for dinner, relaxation, and overnight accommodation.
Overnight: Serengeti North Wilderness Camp, Northern Serengeti.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
Activities: Two full days of Northern Serengeti wildlife exploration and Mara River crossing searches.
Important: River crossings are natural events and cannot be guaranteed. Their timing and locations depend on rainfall, grazing conditions, and the movements of the herds. Spending several days in Northern Serengeti increases your opportunities to witness migration activity.
Day 7: Full-Day Northern Serengeti Wildlife Exploration
After breakfast, enjoy another full day exploring the magnificent Northern Serengeti, allowing additional time to follow the Great Migration and discover more of this wildlife-rich region.
Today's safari provides greater flexibility to explore different sections of Northern Serengeti according to the movements of the migrating herds and prevailing wildlife activity.
Your guide will identify suitable locations to search for large concentrations of wildebeests and zebras, monitor potential river-crossing activity, and explore areas where predators are commonly encountered.
The northern Serengeti landscape is characterized by rolling hills, open savannah, rocky outcrops, and riverine vegetation, creating excellent habitats for numerous wildlife species.
Keep your camera ready for opportunities to photograph lions resting in the grass, elephants moving through the woodlands, giraffes browsing on acacia trees, and large herds of wildebeests spreading across the plains.
You may also encounter leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, jackals, and numerous bird species.
Enjoy a picnic lunch during your game drive before continuing your afternoon wildlife exploration.
In the evening, return to Serengeti Wilderness Camps for dinner and your final overnight stay in Northern Serengeti.
Overnight: Serengeti North Wilderness Camp, Northern Serengeti.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
Activities: Full-day Northern Serengeti wildlife and Great Migration exploration.
Day 8: Northern Serengeti – Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Karatu
After breakfast, depart Northern Serengeti and begin your journey towards Karatu town, travelling through the magnificent landscapes of Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
This scenic journey offers an opportunity to appreciate the geographical diversity of Northern Tanzania, from the expansive Serengeti grasslands to the rolling hills, woodland areas, and spectacular highland landscapes surrounding Ngorongoro.
Along the way, you may encounter wildlife such as wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, elephants, and various antelope species. Your guide will make suitable stops for wildlife viewing whenever conditions and the day's transfer schedule allow.
As you leave Serengeti behind, continue through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, enjoying the spectacular scenery and views of the surrounding highlands.
Arrive in Karatu during the late afternoon and check in at Rim View Inn Karatu, where you will enjoy a delicious hot dinner and a relaxing evening after several exciting days exploring Tanzania's wilderness.
Overnight: Rim View Inn Karatu.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
Activities: Scenic transfer from Northern Serengeti to Karatu with en-route wildlife viewing.
Day 9: Karatu – Lake Manyara National Park – Arusha
After breakfast, depart Karatu at approximately 8:00 a.m. and drive towards Lake Manyara National Park with your packed picnic lunch for an exciting half-day wildlife safari.
Situated beneath the dramatic Great Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara National Park is renowned for its beautiful landscapes, groundwater forests, open grasslands, diverse birdlife, and seasonal alkaline lake.
Upon entering the park, enjoy a game drive through its different ecological habitats, each offering opportunities to encounter a variety of wildlife.
Wildlife and attractions at Lake Manyara:
The park is particularly famous for its tree-climbing lions, although sightings cannot be guaranteed. You may also encounter large herds of elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, buffaloes, baboons, blue monkeys, and numerous other wildlife species.
Lake Manyara is also an excellent destination for birdwatching, particularly during periods when thousands of flamingos and other waterbirds gather along the lake's shores, depending on seasonal water conditions.
Lake Manyara Hippo Pool:
One of the interesting attractions is the famous Lake Manyara Hippo Pool, where visitors can observe large groups of hippos resting and wallowing in the water from a designated viewing area. The pool provides an excellent opportunity to appreciate these impressive semi-aquatic mammals in their natural habitat.
Other attractions include the spectacular views of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, the Maji Moto Hot Springs, and the Lake Manyara Treetop Walkway, which provides visitors with a unique opportunity to experience the forest canopy from elevated walkways. Access to certain attractions may require separate arrangements or additional fees.
Enjoy your picnic lunch at a designated site before continuing your afternoon game drive.
Later in the afternoon, exit the park and drive towards Arusha town. Upon arrival, you will be dropped off at Venice Hotel, marking the end of your memorable Northern Tanzania safari adventure.
Overnight: Venice Hotel, Arusha town.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch included.
Activities: Half-day Lake Manyara National Park game drive.
Transfer: Lake Manyara National Park to Arusha.
Day 0: Arusha – Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
Depending on your international flight schedule, you will be transferred from Venice Hotel in Arusha to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your onward journey home or connection to your next destination.
Your airport transfer will be arranged according to your preferred departure time, ensuring a comfortable and convenient end to your Tanzania safari experience.
Meals: Breakfast included.
Transfer: Venice Hotel, Arusha, to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Note: No additional safari activities are scheduled for this day.
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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