NORTHERN SERENGETI WILDEBEEST MIGRATION SAFARI

Group safari

8 Days / 7 Nights

ABOUT THE MARA RIVER CROSSING (JULY TO OCTOBER)

During this period, the herd continues its movement north towards the Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya. There is no tight schedule that these animals follow, and so tracking the herd’s movements becomes a day to day prospect as the meander slowly but inexorably towards the next big obstacle in their path: the Mara River.

The Mara River poses another deadly barrier for the herd, who must again brave swollen waters and the opportunistic predators if they are to find relatively safety on the far side. Photographers and documentarians from around the world gather to witness the death-defying crossing, but the surrounding landscapes are every bit as memorable as the life and death struggle taking place at the Kogatende crossing.

ITINERARY

KILIMANJARO AIRPORT TO ARUSHA

Upon you arrival at the airport our driver guide will pick you up from the Kilimanjaro International Airport and drive to Arusha town for dinner and overnight stay at the hotel of your choice, also known as “A” Town by the locals, which is situated at the foot of Mount Meru, Africa’s 5th highest mountain. 

Arusha is not a particularly attractive city in itself and is regarded by many visitors as little more than a necessary stopover before and after their safari. In addition to that Arusha is a central of Africa Continent from Cairo to Capetown, and this will be the day of arrival for your 8 days Tanzania Northern Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Safari.

ARUSHA TO TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, your safari guide will pick you from your lodge to proceed to Tarangire National park. Often overshadowed by the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire has immense concentrations of game in the peak months of July through to October. 

With a game viewing area that is roughly ten times the size of nearby Manyara, the park is most famous for its elephant migration, birding and quiet authentic safari atmosphere in a unique surrounding of baobab trees. We will enjoy a game drive exploring the park. Lunch will be taken in a picnic site overlooking the Tarangire River. In the afternoon we proceed to our tented lodge. Leisure time by the pool, dinner and overnight.

TARANGIRE TO SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK, SERONERA

After breakfast we head with enroute game drive towards the gate of Tarangire. We then continue our journey west and north, to our exciting destination being a name familiar to everyone – the Great Serengeti. In the Maasai language, “serenget” means “endless plain”. The park stretches for over 15,000 square kilometers.

Serengeti National Park is quite simply the most magnificent wildlife sanctuary in the world— unparalleled in natural beauty and wilderness. From vast, open plains casting idyllic, golden sunsets, to steamy riverbanks and towers of granite boulders, the Serengeti throbs with life in the endless rhythms of the animals.

We head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti’s species. We arrive in time for lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive exploring the wildlife of Serengeti.

With its wide-open spaces, bright blue skies and creature-filled landscape, over the next three days we will discover why the fabled Serengeti typifies the dream of “Old Africa.” Large prides of lions laze in the long grasses; plentiful families of elephants feed on acacia bark and trumpet to each other across the plains, while giraffes, gazelles, monkeys, eland and the whole range of African wildlife present themselves in awe-inspiring numbers. At sunset we will proceed to our tented camp in the heart of this famous Seronera Valley. Arrival for dinner and overnight stay.

SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK, SERONERA TO KOGATENDE

Waking up in the Serengeti is something really special. Sights, sounds and smells of Africa are all around us, and ahead is a full day of adventure in the world’s most famous national park.

We will have a full day game drive from the center to the northern zone of Serengeti in search of the “big five”. The Serengeti eco-system is home to the “big five” (lion, African elephant, cape buffalo, leopard, rhinoceros). The other main species include zebra, wildebeest, various species of gazelles and antelopes, giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, elephants, hippopotamus, crocodiles and some primate species such as vervet monkeys and olive baboons. 

It is also an endemic bird area, with a total of 505 species being documented so far. At sunset, we will arrive at our tented camp for dinner and overnight.

SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK, KOGATENDE - MIGRATION DAY

Today we make our way into the Mara area of Serengeti in search of one of the greatest wildlife shows on the planet, the annual Great Migration.

Every year around 1.5 million wildebeest and 300,000 zebra (along with other antelope) gather up their young and start their long trek from Tanzania’s Serengeti Plains, further north to Maasai Mara National Reserve, following the rains in search of food and water. 

Their journey runs in a clockwise circle and the animals cover a distance of around 3000km, a tough journey that takes the lives of an estimated 250 000 wildebeest as they fjord rivers and suffer constant attacks from crocodiles, lion and other predators. There can be no guarantee of encountering the migration (there exact route is never really known and it is amazing how a million animals can disappear in the vast savannah), our journey is intended

to try and follow the migration as it tracks northwards, moving with the herds to experience their trials and tribulations. After a full day on safari, you will return at your camp for dinner and a good night rest.

SERENGETI NP KOGATENDE TO CENTRAL SERENGETI

After breakfast, we proceed with en-route game drive to the Central part of Serengeti. This park is well-known for its healthy stock of resident wildlife, particularly the “big five”, named for the five most prized trophies taken by hunters: Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffaloes, and Rhinos.

SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK TO NGORONGORO CONSERVATION

At sunrise, we start our game drive marveling at the stunning scenery, ever changing light and always entertaining wildlife, searching for big Cats while hunting, they actively hunt during early morning.

We proceed with en route game drive from Central Serengeti towards Ngorongoro Conservation Area spotting the wildlife along the way. The crater and surrounding highlands are one of Africa’s most beautiful regions, with volcanic craters forming stunning backdrops to some of the richest grazing grounds in Africa. The caldera of Ngorongoro marks the ancient walls of a collapsed volcano, which was probably once the size of Mt. Kilimanjaro. 

Today the completely enclosed circular crater is some twelve miles across, with steep walls of over 2,000 feet. We are at an altitude of approximately 7,500 feet above sea level, the highest point on our trip. After our time on the lower plains, the cooler air here is refreshing (please have a fleeze/jacket with you as it can get cold during early morning and evening hours). The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to the “big 5” game (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino).

Livestock belonging to the semi-nomadic Maasai tribe graze alongside wild animals. This is the only area in Tanzania you will find Wildlife, Human Being and Domestic animals live in one place as a similar family. Wildlife and sightseeing is one among the most picturesque in this area, but also the Hominin fossils found in the Olduvai Gorge date back millions of years which was discovered by Dr. Mary Leakey worth a visit.

At sunset arrival at your lodge/Tents inside the Ngorongoro conservation area. Dinner and overnight stay.

NGORONGORO CRATER – TRANSFER TO KIA VIA ARUSHA

Early morning wake up call. After having our tea/coffee and short breakfast, we descend to the floor of the crater for game drive.

With its abundant water, excellent grazing and natural protection from the densely vegetated crater walls, the crater provides shelter to over 25000 animals, including the endangered Black Rhinoceros.

We descend 2,000 feet to the crater floor to explore this natural zoological park, and observe an extraordinary variety of wildlife: elephant, lion, leopard, hyena, zebra, wildebeest, Thomson’s gazelle, reedbuck, and buffalo. The lovely crested crane (similar to a peacock) can be found in great profusion here and maybe you’ll spot a bat-eared fox. The balance of predator and prey in this extraordinary ecosystem is so precise that animals seldom leave.

Lunch will be served at a picnic site inside the crater. In the afternoon we drive to Arusha airport for your onward flight to Zanzibar Island or back home.

ENQUIRE THIS TOUR

  • All airport transfers
  • Transport in a Toyota Land Cruiser 4×4 with pop up roof for game drive during your Safari
  • Dedicated Services of Enzi Safaris English Speaking Driver Guide
  • All Park/Entry fees, Crater fees & Government fees
  • Meals and Accommodations as mentioned in the itinerary
  • Amref Flying Doctors/Emergence Medical Evacuation Insurance.
  • Domestic and International flights
  • Visa fees and Traveling Insurance
  • Tips and gratuities to the driver guides
  • Items of a personal nature – spa treatments, laundry, mini-bars, internet etc.

DISCOVER

MORE GROUP SAFARI PACKAGES

  • Balloon Safari in Serengeti/Tarangire/Ngorongoro: USD 590 per person.
  • Visiting of Maasai Boma/Village: USD 50 per Vehicle.
  • Visiting of Oldupai Gorge Museum: USD 30 per person.

NOTE:

Prices are applicable/Valid for all bookings which fall from July, August, September and October 2022 consecutively which is marked as the High Season Period.

PRICE BREAKDOWN

BUDGET OPTION

Price Details2 PEOPLE4 PEOPLE6 PEOPLE
Total Tz and Znz Price per person$ 3495 $ 2840$ 2620
MID RANGE OPTION
Price Details2 PEOPLE4 PEOPLE6 PEOPLE
Total Tz and Znz Price per person$ 4390$ 3730$ 3515
LUXURY OPTION
Price Details2 PEOPLE4 PEOPLE6 PEOPLE
Total Safari Price per person$ 5230$ 4575$ 4355