7 Days Great Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Safari

The Northern Serengeti National Park is a captivating destination known for its incredible wildlife, especially during the Great Migration, diverse landscapes, and opportunities for cultural interactions. It offers a blend of adventure, natural beauty, and wildlife conservation in the heart of East Africa. Our Best 7 Days Great Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Safari offers a front-row seat to one of the most awe-inspiring natural phenomena on Earth.

Great Wildebeest Migration

The Great Wildebeest Migration is an annual journey involving millions of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles as they migrate across the Serengeti ecosystem in search of fresh grazing lands. This cycle is driven by seasonal rains and the need for food and water. The migration can be roughly divided into two main phases: the wet season when they give birth, and the dry season when they move in search of water.

Best Time To Visit and Experience The Great Wildebeest Migration

The migration’s timing varies each year, so planning is essential. Generally, the best times to witness specific phases of the migration are:

January to March: Calving season in the Southern Serengeti.
June to August: River crossings in the Northern Serengeti and Maasai Mara (Kenya).
September to November: Return migration to the Southern Serengeti.

Witnessing the River Crossings

One of the most dramatic moments of the migration occurs when the herds must cross rivers like the Mara River. These crossings are fraught with danger as crocodiles lurk in the waters. Witnessing a river crossing is an incredible and often heart-pounding experience, and it’s usually best during the dry season when the herds are concentrated around limited water sources.

Game Drives and Hot Air Balloon Safaris

Game drives are the primary way to explore the Serengeti and witness the migration up close. Knowledgeable guides will lead you to the action. Hot air balloon safaris are another thrilling option, offering a unique vantage point to see the expansive herds and breathtaking landscapes.

Our 7-day Great Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Safari is an exceptional journey that provides a profound connection to nature and the opportunity to witness one of the world’s most astonishing wildlife spectacles. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast, photographer, or simply seeking an unforgettable adventure, this safari offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is both thrilling and humbling.

This itinerary is flexible, and adjustments can be made based on seasonal variations in wildlife movements and specific traveler preferences. Always consult with our safari expert to tailor the itinerary to your needs and interests.

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

Our safari guide will pick you up at either Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer you to your lodge in Arusha. Your overnight stay will at the lodge. Depending on flight arrival time, on our route to Arusha city we will visit one of the Historical sites, which is the Polish Cemetery in Tengeru Village, then after the activity, we will continue driving back to Arusha.

Dinner and Overnight at Lost In Africa Lodge.

Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

Early in the morning, you will be picked up from the lodge and start a beautiful journey of about 4 to 5 hours to Tarangire National Park while carrying lunch boxes. Tarangire National Park is well-known for its large elephant herds and diversity of landscapes. The landscapes you will see include seasonal swamps and savannas, with the Tarangire River winding its way through the parklands. You may see lions stalking their prey and/ or leopards relaxing in the trees above. Once the game drives are complete, we will drive you to the lodge to relax, have dinner, and stay overnight.

Dinner and Overnight at Farm of Dream Lodge.

Day 3: Tarangire National Park to Lake Mayara National Park

After breakfast, you will drive to Lake Manyara National Park, a small but diverse park. Everything you’ll see here is on a different scale. It is both compact (this is one of the narrowest parks in Africa) and epic (the Great Rift Escarpment towers over Lake Manyara’s western boundary). The park’s namesake is a shallow, salt lake. It covers a large area of the park, flooding and drying with the seasons and is home to thousands of wading birds (including flamingos and over 500 other bird species). You may see baboon and elephant in the park’s thick evergreen forest, and watch for the tree-climbing lions that have become famous throughout Africa.
After a full day inside the Park you will make the short drive to your accommodation in Karatu.

Dinner and overnight stay at Farm of Dreams Lodge

Day 4: Lake Mayara National Park to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, we will depart to Serengeti National Park, with packed lunches. via the beautiful high-lying farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Then proceed to the Serengeti North Park area, one of the best areas to watch Wildebeest Migration during July, August, and September heading to Kenya, crossing the Mara River. Stop at the Serengeti gate enjoy our lunch and continue for an afternoon game drive on the route on the way to your accommodation at North Serengeti National Park.

Dinner and overnight at Tanzania Bush Camp North Mara Kogatende

Day 5: Serengeti National Park

Today you will venture deeper into the world-famous Serengeti on a full-day game drive in search of the great wildebeest migration. You will base yourself around the Mara River area where crocodiles prey and the wildebeest gather and wait to cross. For days, their numbers will increase and anticipation grows. However, for no apparent reason, many will turn and wander away from the water’s edge. Eventually, the wildebeest will choose a crossing point which varies from year to year and cannot be predicted. Nowhere in the world is there a movement of animals as immense as the great wildebeest migration and to witness it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Dinner and overnight at Tanzania Bush Camp North Mara Kogatende

Day 6: Serengeti National Park

Today you will enjoy another full-day game drive as you travel between the Northern and Central Serengeti. Today you have the flexibility to create your own itinerary. Spend another full day in the Northern Serengeti before driving to the Central Serengeti or enjoy a half-day game drive in the North and a half-day game drive in the Central, the choice is yours.

Dinner and overnight at Nasikia Central Serengeti Tented Camps

Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater then Transfer to Arusha

After an early breakfast, you will do a morning game drive in Central Serengeti National Park on route heading to Ngorongoro Crater. Before getting to the crater, you will visit a Maasai boma, where the Maasai community lives. There you will experience Maasai Activities. Then you will drive down the steep and narrow road that takes you into the crater. Here the wildlife is just breathtaking and with a little luck you can observe the “Big Five” – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard in just a few hours. After a morning dedicated to game viewing and a picnic lunch, you will leave the crater in the late afternoon, and drive back to Arusha.

Options activities to add on