8 Days The Great Wildebeest Migration Safari – River Cross

Safari · Northern Circuit

The Migration, the Rift Valley and the Crater

This eight-day circuit is built around the single most dramatic wildlife event in Africa — wildebeest and zebra plunging into the crocodile-filled Mara River in the Northern Serengeti. Two full days in the Wogakuria region give you the time this spectacle demands.

Getting there is half the pleasure. The route runs north from Arusha to Lake Natron beneath the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai, past flamingo flocks and Maasai villages, before dropping into the Serengeti and finishing with a descent into the Ngorongoro Crater.

8 Days

7 Nights Full Board

4 Regions

Natron · N & C Serengeti · Crater

Jul–Oct

Peak Crossing Season

Big Five

All Five Possible

Day by Day

Your Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival & Transfer to Arusha

Met at Kilimanjaro International Airport, and transfer to Arusha for a trip briefing.

Arusha is situated at the foot of the beautiful Mount Meru; Arusha is known as the safari capital of Tanzania’s Northern Safari Circuit. It’s a bustling city filled with an interesting mix of markets, chaotic traffic, old colonial buildings and modern conveniences, like coffee farms and shops and an array of great hotels and restaurants. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel in Arusha.

Day 2

Arusha to Lake Natron

In the morning drive to Lake Natron. A six hour drive to Lake Natron for a Maasai cultural visit.

Lake Natron is situated in northern Tanzania on the border with Kenya, close to Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Lake Natron is home to ancient hominid footprints, the largest breeding ground for Lesser Flamingo and to Ol Doinyo Lengai, and it’s the only active carbonatite volcano in the world. Walks around the lake in the volcano landscape, the streams and waterfalls ensure an amazing adventure off the beaten track. Dinner and overnight at the Camp in Lake Natron.

Day 3

Lake Natron to Northern Serengeti

Travel west from Lake Natron to Northern Serengeti for a game drive.

Mara River Crossing safari in Northern Serengeti. Witness the most amazing wildlife spectacle in Africa at the Mara River. The Mara River is most famous for the legendary wildebeest crossing, a dramatic event, which is featured in countless wildlife documentaries. One of Tanzania’s best kept secrets is the fact that nearly half of the Mara River is situated in the North Serengeti versus the Masai Mara’s segment in Kenya. While there are hordes of vehicles just a few miles upriver in the Masai Mara, the Serengeti side is virtually devoid of tourists. Great Migration season runs from the beginning of June to the end of October. Dinner and overnight at the Camp in Serengeti National Park.

Days 4–5

Northern Serengeti — The Crossings

Two full days dedicated to tracking the herds along the Mara River, observing the dramatic crossings and resident predators like lions, leopards, and Nile crocodiles.

Resident wildlife numbers are exceptionally high in the Wogakuria area. The key feature is the Mara River and there is a great chance to see the herds cross the Mara River to the north on one day and back south a few days later. Please note that it can be very difficult to witness a crossing and is sometimes a matter of luck. A herd can be seen next to the river and only decide to cross a couple of days later. This area is a stunning region with kopjes, woodland, riverine vegetation and open plains, similar to Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve. Dinner and overnight at the Camp in Serengeti National Park.

Day 6

Northern to Central Serengeti

A four to five hour game drive heading south from Northern Serengeti into the Central Serengeti heartland.

The Central Serengeti, lying at the heart of this spectacular national park, is the most popular region in the reserve for its abundant wildlife, large numbers of big cats and quintessential Serengeti landscapes of acacia-studded savanna. Resident wildlife makes this part of the Serengeti a fantastic year-round destination, but the months of April to June and October to December, when the herds of the Great Migration pass through the area, are when it’s at its peak. Dinner and overnight at the Camp in Serengeti National Park.

Day 7

Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater – Karatu

Morning drive from Central Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive with a picnic lunch.

A visit to the Ngorongoro Crater is an experience of a lifetime. As the world’s only intact caldera, the crater is the top attraction of the 8,292km²/3,202mi² Ngorongoro Conservation Area. There are few places that have comparable wildlife densities. It is not unusual to see the Big Five in one day here. And all this is in the most amazing setting with a backdrop of the 600m-/1,968ft-high crater wall. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge in Karatu.

Day 8

Karatu to Arusha & Departure

A relaxed breakfast, then the three-hour drive back to Arusha with lunch and optional curio shopping before your airport transfer.

Cost

What Your Trip Covers

What’s Included

All park entry and conservation fees
Full-board accommodation throughout
Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
Professional English-speaking driver-guide
All game drives and listed excursions
Bottled drinking water on every drive
Airport transfers and meet & greet
Government taxes, VAT and emergency evacuation cover
Domestic flights where included in the itinerary

Not Included

Get Your Tailored Quote

Rates vary with group size, season and accommodation level. Tell us your dates and party size and we’ll send a detailed, no-obligation quote within 24 hours — usually much faster on WhatsApp.

Map

Where You'll Be Travelling

See the Crossings for Yourself

The herds move with the rain, not the calendar — tell us your dates and we’ll place you where they’ll be.