10 days great wildebeest Mara River crossing & Serengeti migration safari
The fantastical 10 days great wildebeest Mara River crossing & Serengeti migration safari journey brings us right into the middle of this awe-inspiring Earthly phenomenon, meticulously planned to mirror the epic migration. Spending four nights on the Serengeti allows us to soak up & explore the expansive plains and potentially see the great migration, which occurs from August to October in the northern Serengeti region.
This 10 Days great Wildebeest Mara River Crossing & Serengeti Migration covers Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater in Ngorongoro conservation Area & Lake Manyara National Park.
Detailed Great wildebeest Mara River crossing & Serengeti migration Itinerary
Day #1: Getting to Arusha
An agent of Aloyo Safaris will take you up from the airport for a transfer to your accommodation, where you may rest and get ready for your safari in the evening.
Accommodation
Mid-range: Arusha Planet Lodge;
Day #2: Tarangire National Park from Arusha.
Your personal safari guide will pick you up in the morning from your accommodations in Arusha. On a decent paved road, you will proceed past gently rolling Masai plains with sporadic acacia trees to Tarangire National Park. En-route, you will see a lot of Masai people in their vibrant clothing walking by the road, riding bicycles, herding livestock, and pushing donkey carts. Known for its massive herds of elephants, Tarangire National Park is home to a wide variety of other creatures. Seasonal marshes, savanna, and the Tarangire River, a source of life for the region, can be observed from the open roof of your safari Land cruiser. Among the animals you will encounter are giraffes, buffalo, elephants, zebras, and wildebeest. You might spot leopards lounging in the branches above or lions pursuing their prey.
Following your long game drive, you will make your back to your lodge for dinner and the night.
Accommodation
Eileen’s Tree Inn – Mid Range.
Meals and Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day #3: Seronera in Central Serengeti National Park
Following breakfast, you will proceed in the direction of the lush hills where the Iraqw cultivate corn and wheat. Your journey will take you into the misty Ngorongoro Conservation Area rainforests, where we may come across baboons, leopards, elephants, or other wildlife hiding in the thick underbrush. You can witness the stunning Ngorongoro Crater as you pass through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Thereafter continue to the Serengeti National Park, reaching in time for lunch. The Serengeti National Park, Tanzania’s largest park, features a variety of habitats and scenery, including savannah, lakes, grassy plains, marshes, and mountains. Following a long game drive, you will travel to your lodging, where you will have dinner and spend the night.
Luxurious: Embalakai Serengeti Camp;
Day #4: migration in the North Serengeti
We start our game drive in the morning on our way to the Serengeti’s northern sector. Approximately 100 kilometers from Seronera, the Northern Serengeti is a gently undulating landscape punctuated by kopjes, small rivers, and sporadic hills. Numerous permanent wildlife species can be found here, along with some very remarkable geological features, such the stunning Lobo Kopje. The Northern Serengeti is a fascinating and diverse land that receives fewer visitors because it is located distance from the southern park’s main entrance.
August is when the migration occurs here, and if lucky, we might see the most amazing river crossings as the herd tries to cross the Mara River to avoid the ravenous crocodiles and powerful currents.
When the day is over, make our way to our lodging, where you will have dinner and spend the night sleeping beneath the breathtaking African sky that overlooks the “Endless Plain.”
August through October
Mara Heritage Camp – Mid-Range.
Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day #5: North Serengeti
You will leave after an early breakfast in order to maximize the day. You might be lucky enough to spot the animals crossing the Mara River. On the banks of the river, hundreds of thousands of anxious wildebeest congregate, staring longingly across the churning water at the verdant grass beyond, yet none of them will move. When one courageous wildebeest takes the physical plunge, everyone others follows! The beautiful green grazing grass of the Masai Mara is a prize for animals that safely cross the river and avoid the crocodile jaws that are waiting for them.
August through October
Mid-range Accommodation: at Mara Heritage Camp:
Meals and Drinks: All meals are provided, however beverages are not.
Day #6: Central Serengeti
Following breakfast, you’ll head back to Seronera with more chances to take in the Serengeti’s amazing animals and scenic splendor.
Along with the migratory herds, we could get to witness the local predators—the lion, cheetah, and leopard—playing their part in the cycle of life.
Following a long game drive, we make our way to the lodge for a hearty meal and spend another evening by the fire, unwinding and chatting while taking in the expansive magnificence of the starry African night over the “Endless Plain.”
Luxury Lodge: at the Embalakai Serengeti Camp;
meals and beverages are provided; however, other drinks are not.
Day #7: Ngorongoro Crater to Serengeti
Before visiting the Ngorongoro Crater, you will go on yet another amazing wildlife drive in the Serengeti after breakfast. The first sight of what awaits you the next day—glistening streams, vast grassland, and an endless array of animals—will come when you arrive at the crater’s edge in the afternoon. On the crater’s edge, you will stay the night in a local lodge.
Luxury lodge at Rhino Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
Day #8: Ngorongoro Crater
We have an early breakfast and head down to the crater bottom for a full day of wildlife viewing. This is one of the most amazing sites on Earth, where the animals walk freely through the unfenced areas, providing us with an unhindered opportunity to see game. Around three million years ago, a volcano that was comparable with Kilimanjaro in height exploded massively, creating the Caldera. It spans over 260 square kilometers and has a depth of 610 meters. The ecology is enclosed. Ngorongoro is a term that evokes the sound of the bells worn around the necks of Maasai cows. It is among the best spots in Africa to see the big five, along with over 500 different kinds of birds, wildebeest, gazelles, reedbuck, and many more. After stopping for a picnic lunch next to the hippo lake, you will climb the steep path leading out of the crater in the afternoon. You’ll spend the night at Karatu, a nearby town.
Accommodation
Lodge: Eileen’s Tree Inn
MMeal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day #9: Journey to Arusha from Lake Manyara National Park
Following breakfast, you will go to Lake Manyara National Park, our last stop on this incredible safari. Lake Manyara National Park, which is located 120 kilometers west of Arusha, is comparatively small but varied. It gets its name from the shallow salt lake that makes up around 70% of its surface area. Lake Manyara, is home to thousands of flamingos and is surrounded by an amazing 500 different bird species. As you explore the park, you will come across lions relaxing in the trees, along with buffalo, elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and monkeys. The park is renowned for its varied topography, which includes baobab-dotted cliffs, woodlands teeming with primates, and broad grassy plains. We depart after lunch and return to Arusha, arriving there in the late afternoon.