Tarangire National Park · Lake Manyara National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Serengeti
10-Day Great Migration Safari: Three Days at the Mara River
Elephants, a crater descent and Olduvai first, then three unhurried days waiting on the river banks.
- Duration
- 10 days
- Destinations
- Tarangire National Park · Lake Manyara National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Serengeti
- Best months
- Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
- Group size
- 1 to 6 guests
- From
- $4,875 per person
Overview
Elephants, a crater descent and Olduvai first, then three unhurried days waiting on the river banks.
A river crossing is the frame every wildlife photographer dreams of, and the one nobody can book. Herds gather, hesitate, retreat and gather again. The only honest way to improve your chances is to stay longer, so this route spends three full days in the crossing zone where most itineraries allow a single visit.
The first half of the trip earns that patience. You begin in Tarangire among its big elephant herds, with a morning on foot alongside an armed ranger. A full day follows on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater, then the road to the Serengeti by way of Olduvai Gorge, where some of the world's most significant early human fossils came out of the ground.
From the central plains the route runs north to the Mara River, where you base yourself close to the water for three consecutive days. Two accommodation tiers are available, and both are chosen with one aim: to put you within reach of the banks when the herds finally decide to go.
- Elephant herds beneath the baobabs of Tarangire, plus a morning walking safari
- A whole day on the Ngorongoro Crater floor looking for the Big Five
- A pause at Olduvai Gorge on the way into the Serengeti
- Three days based near the Mara River in the northern Serengeti
- A guide who reads the herds at the water's edge and positions the vehicle before the rush
Best forCouplesPhotographersTravellers chasing the migration
Wildlife radar
What you can expect to see
Crossings tend to cluster between July and October, when the herds work through the northern Serengeti. The exact weeks shift with each year's rains, so treat the window as a guide rather than a promise.
- WildebeestSeasonal
Mara River crossings
- Plains zebraSeasonal
- African elephantHigh
- LionGuaranteed
- Black rhinoHigh
- Nile crocodileSeasonal
The difference
Why three days beats one
Crossings follow no timetable. Animals can stand at the bank for hours, even a day or two, before the first one commits and the rest pour in behind it. One visit gives you a single throw of the dice.
Stacking three days in the same stretch of the northern Serengeti means you can return to the same bank, wait through the false starts and still be there for the real thing. The earlier stops in Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater keep the trip rich in wildlife even if the river stays quiet.
Along the way
Where the route takes you
Tarangire
Large elephant herds move among ancient baobabs, and Tarangire is one of the few Tanzanian parks where guided walks are allowed, so you can follow wildlife on foot with an armed ranger.
Ngorongoro Crater
The world's largest intact volcanic caldera holds lion, buffalo, elephant and one of the more reliable places in Tanzania to see black rhino in a single drive.
Olduvai Gorge
A brief halt along the route towards the Serengeti, at a gorge whose fossils rank among the most significant early human remains ever discovered.
Northern Serengeti and the Mara River
The final leg is spent where the herds mass before they cross, with long days at the water and Nile crocodiles waiting below the banks.
On the map
Your route
Follow the trip from the first night to the last, by road and by air.
- Start · Day 1-2Arusha
- Day 3Tarangire National ParkDrive from Arusha
- Day 4KaratuDrive from Tarangire National Park
- Day 5Ngorongoro CraterDrive from Karatu
- Day 6Central SerengetiDrive from Ngorongoro Crater
- End · Day 7-10Northern SerengetiDrive from Central Serengeti
Day by day
Your itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Arusha
Arusha
Land, transfer to Arusha and rest ahead of the safari.
- Trail
- Kahawa House
- Summit
- Arusha Coffee Lodge
- Meals
- Bed & breakfast
Day 2
Free day in Arusha
Arusha
A day to shake off the journey and settle in before the parks begin.
- Trail
- Kahawa House
- Summit
- Arusha Coffee Lodge
- Meals
- Full board
Day 3
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park
A guided game drive through Tarangire, following Tanzania's largest elephant herds beneath old baobabs.
- Meals
- Full board
Day 4
Walking safari in Tarangire, then Lake Manyara and Karatu
Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Karatu
Start the day on foot in Tarangire, then continue to Lake Manyara and on to Karatu for the night.
Few Tanzanian parks permit walking safaris. Tarangire does, with an armed ranger leading the way.
- Summit
- Gibb's Farm
- Meals
- Full board
Day 5
Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater
Descend for a full guided day inside the largest unbroken volcanic caldera on Earth, looking for the Big Five.
The crater is one of the few Tanzanian places where black rhino can be seen on a single outing.
- Summit
- Gibb's Farm
- Meals
- Full board
Day 6
Ngorongoro to the central Serengeti via Olduvai Gorge
Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Central Serengeti
The road crosses the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, pausing at Olduvai Gorge, a site widely known as the cradle of humankind, then descends to the central Serengeti plains.
- Summit
- Serengeti Explorer
- Meals
- Full board
Day 7
North towards the Mara River
Northern Serengeti
Head north into the river country where the herds mass before the crossings.
- Summit
- Lemala Kuria Hills
- Meals
- Full board
Day 8
Mara River, first full day
Northern Serengeti, Mara River
A full day positioned along the river to follow the migration's crossings.
Herds can stand at the bank for hours before one animal commits. Your guide watches their behaviour to place you ahead of the move.
- Summit
- Lemala Kuria Hills
- Meals
- Full board
Day 9
Mara River, second full day
Northern Serengeti, Mara River
Another day in the same territory. Because crossings keep no schedule, the extra time is what raises your odds of seeing one.
- Summit
- Lemala Kuria Hills
- Meals
- Full board
Day 10
Departure from Kogatende
Kogatende Airstrip, Northern Serengeti
Transfer to Kogatende Airstrip for your onward flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Gallery
Along the route
Where you stay
Choose your style of stay
Price per person
Choose a level of stay and see what each person pays for your group size.
| Travelling together | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 traveller | $9,102 |
| 2 travellers | $6,087 |
| 3 travellers | $5,160 |
| 4 travellers | $5,268 |
| 5 travellers | $4,875 |
| 6 travellers | $4,995 |
- 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.
- These rates are indicative. We confirm the exact price for your dates and group in your personal quote.
- Park fees are set by the authorities and can change, so the quote you accept is the price that applies.
What's included
- All national park and conservation fees
- Game drives in a private 4x4 with a professional guide
- Entrance to Olduvai Gorge
- Accommodation as set out in the itinerary
- Meals as listed day by day
- Airport and transfers between properties
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
- Optional activities
- Personal items, laundry and phone charges
Good to know
- Rates are quoted per person sharing a double or twin room. Single supplements are available on request.
- Accommodation and rates depend on availability and can change with the exact travel dates.
- Government park and conservation fees are set by the authorities and can change without notice.
- Your deposit confirms the booking and the balance is due before you travel. The amounts and dates are set out in your personal quote and invoice.
- For three or four guests at the third accommodation level, ask us for a quote based on your party size, as vehicle and guide costs are shared.
Questions
Good to know
Crossings usually happen from July to October while the herds are in the northern Serengeti. Timing moves with the rains each year, and no day is guaranteed, which is why this trip allows three full days at the river.
Herds may stand at the bank for hours or even days before committing. One day is a single attempt. Three days gives you several chances to be in position when the first animals go in.
Yes. Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater deliver dependable, concentrated wildlife before you reach the river country, where sightings are less predictable. You will have strong game viewing even on days without a crossing.
Olduvai is known as the cradle of humankind because of the early human fossils found there. It is a short, absorbing break on the drive from the Ngorongoro highlands to the Serengeti.
Both follow the same route and guiding. The first tier uses comfortable, well-placed properties, while the third upgrades every night to some of Tanzania's best-known camps and lodges, several of which offer game-package rates with shared drives built in.
Your vehicle and guide are yours alone throughout. The one exception is shared game drives at certain third-tier properties that run on a game-package rate.
10-Day Great Migration Safari: Three Days at the Mara River
Tell us your dates and group size and we will confirm availability and a personal quote.