Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater
Mara River Crossings by Air: Serengeti and Ngorongoro
A morning flight puts you beside the northern crossing points, with two days to wait for the herds.
- Duration
- 8 days
- Destinations
- Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater
- Best months
- Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
- Group size
- 2 to 6 guests
- From
- $3,952 per person
Overview
A morning flight puts you beside the northern crossing points, with two days to wait for the herds.
From July to October, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest crowd the banks of the Mara River in the northern Serengeti, then push into water where Nile crocodiles are already lying in wait. It is the most intense chapter of the Great Migration, and this route is designed to get you in front of it.
Rather than losing a day and a half on the road, you fly from Arusha to Kogatende airstrip, about 45 minutes from the crossing points, and stay in that area for two full days. From there the trip heads south into the central Serengeti, where lions and leopards live year-round, then spends two nights at Ngorongoro. On the drive back to Arusha you call at the Maasai community and the bustling trading town of Mto wa Mbu before the journey ends. The route is identical at every level of accommodation; only the camps and lodges change.
- A flight direct to the northern Serengeti, close to the river crossings
- Two full days near the Mara River so your guide can follow the herds' mood
- Crocodiles and big cats along the riverbanks through migration season
- Resident predators of the central Serengeti on the road south
- Two nights at Ngorongoro, with black rhino and dense lion populations
- A Maasai community visit and a walk through Mto wa Mbu
Best forCouplesSolo travellersWildlife enthusiasts
Wildlife radar
What you can expect to see
July to October, the stretch of the year when the herds mass at the Mara River in the northern Serengeti.
- WildebeestSeasonal
Mara River crossings, July to October
- Nile crocodileSeasonal
- LionHigh
- LeopardRare
- CheetahRare
- Black rhinoRare
The difference
Time on the riverbank, not on the road
A land journey from Arusha to the north of the park takes about a day and a half in each direction. By air you reach the bush on the afternoon of departure, which frees two full days for the patient watching that river crossings require.
No operator can promise a crossing on a given date, because rainfall and herd behaviour change from year to year. Extra time at the river is the honest way to improve your odds.
Along the way
Highlights of the route
Northern Serengeti
Kogatende puts you within about 45 minutes of the crossing points, with the Mara River lined by crocodiles and big cats through the season.
Central Serengeti
Around Seronera, lion, leopard and cheetah are realistic sightings in any season.
Ngorongoro Crater
A closed ecosystem about 260 km² wide, with some of the region's most dependable black rhino sightings and dense lion prides.
Maasai visit and Mto wa Mbu
A real community encounter and a market-town stop on the final stretch to Arusha, more than a scripted pause between drives.
On the map
Your route
Follow the trip from the first night to the last, by road and by air.
- Start · Day 1Arusha
- Day 2-3Northern SerengetiFlight from Arusha
- Day 4Central SerengetiDrive from Northern Serengeti
- Day 5-6Ngorongoro CraterDrive from Central Serengeti
- Day 7ArushaDrive from Ngorongoro Crater
- End · Day 8Kilimanjaro AirportDrive from Arusha
Day by day
Your itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Arusha
Arusha
You land at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to Arusha. A safari briefing is given over dinner.
- Trail
- Kahawa House
- Ridge
- Gran Melia, Arusha
- Summit
- Arusha Coffee Lodge
- Meals
- Dinner
Day 2
Flight to Kogatende
Northern Serengeti
A light aircraft leaves Arusha and flies over the Ngorongoro rim, with the old caldera laid out below. You land at Kogatende airstrip, around 45 minutes from the Mara River crossing points, and set out on an afternoon game drive.
- Ridge
- Mara Under Canvas
- Summit
- Lemala Kuria Hills
- Meals
- All meals
Day 3
A day at the river
Northern Serengeti
Your guide works the Mara River all day, following the herds that mass on the bank before they commit to the water, past crocodiles that have been waiting. The schedule follows the animals, not the clock.
A crossing can start at any hour and be over within minutes. Guides park at known points and may wait a long while for the herds to decide.
- Ridge
- Mara Under Canvas
- Summit
- Lemala Kuria Hills
- Meals
- All meals
Day 4
South through the Serengeti
Central Serengeti
The morning is spent at the crossings one more time before you head south. Elephant and giraffe are common on this stretch, so the transfer remains a game drive in its own right.
- Summit
- Lemala Nanyukie
- Meals
- All meals
Day 5
Seronera to the Ngorongoro highlands
Ngorongoro highlands
A half day around Seronera, where lion, leopard and cheetah live all year, then the climb to the Ngorongoro highlands.
- Meals
- All meals
Day 6
Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater
You spend the whole day on the crater floor, a dense and self-contained world of wildlife, with dependable black rhino sightings and some of the heaviest lion densities in the country.
The crater is a closed system roughly 260 km² across, and most of the animals living in it stay inside it.
- Meals
- All meals
Day 7
Maasai village and Mto wa Mbu
Mto wa Mbu / Arusha
A visit to a Maasai community, then a walk through Mto wa Mbu's market on the road back to Arusha. This is time spent with people, not a quick photo stop.
- Trail
- Kahawa House
- Ridge
- Gran Melia, Arusha
- Summit
- Arusha Coffee Lodge
- Meals
- All meals
Day 8
Arusha and departure
Arusha / Kilimanjaro International Airport
You have a final unhurried morning in Arusha before being driven to Kilimanjaro International Airport to catch your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Gallery
Along the route
Where you stay
Choose your style of stay
Trail
Comfortable and great value
From$3,952per person
- Kahawa House
- Mara Katikati Tented Camp
- Serengeti Katikati Camp
- Tortils Ngorongoro Camp
Ridge
Character, comfort and standout settings
From$5,251per person
- Gran Melia, Arusha
- Mara Under Canvas
- Kubukubu Tented Lodge
- Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Summit
Exclusive, refined and luxurious
From$9,265per person
- Arusha Coffee Lodge
- Lemala Kuria Hills
- Lemala Nanyukie
- Ngorongoro Lodge, The Rim Room (Meliá Collection)
Price per person
Choose a level of stay and see what each person pays for your group size.
| Travelling together | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 2 travellers | $4,929 |
| 3 travellers | $4,441 |
| 4 travellers | $4,197 |
| 5 travellers | $4,050 |
| 6 travellers | $3,952 |
- Prices are in US dollars, per person sharing a double or twin room. Vehicle and guide costs are shared, so the price per person changes with group size and does not always fall in a straight line.
- Park fees are set by the authorities and can change, so the quote you accept is the price that applies.
What's included
- All park and concession fees
- The Arusha to Kogatende flight
- Game drives
- A professional guide throughout
- All meals while on safari
- Accommodation as listed
- Airport transfers
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
Good to know
- Rates are quoted per person on a twin or double share basis. Single supplements are available on request.
- Crossings are most likely from July to October but can not be promised for a specific date.
- Lodging and rates depend on availability and can shift with your exact dates.
- Entry charges for parks and conservation areas are fixed by the authorities, who can revise them at short notice.
Questions
Good to know
No. Crossings follow rainfall and herd movements, which differ every year. July to October is the strongest window, and two full days near the river give you the best chance.
The road from Arusha to the northern Serengeti takes about a day and a half each way. The flight lands you about 45 minutes from the crossing points.
Route, activities and timing are the same throughout. Only the camps and lodges change, from comfortable and direct to the most refined properties on the route.
Ngorongoro Crater gives the best chance of all five, black rhino included, and the central Serengeti adds lion, leopard and cheetah.
July through October. The itinerary is designed around that period.
Park and concession fees, the flight, game drives, guide, meals, accommodation and airport transfers are covered. International flights, visas, insurance and tips are not.
A few days on Zanzibar fit well after the safari, and the route can also be joined with a southern Tanzania circuit. Ask us how.
Mara River Crossings by Air: Serengeti and Ngorongoro
Tell us your dates and group size and we will confirm availability and a personal quote.