9-Day Great Migration Safari – June to October | Northern Serengeti River Crossing Adventure

Overview

Witness the spectacular Great Migration in Tanzania on this 9-day safari, designed specifically for the June to October season when the wildebeest herds are predominantly found in the Northern Serengeti. This Tanzania safari package offers you the best possible opportunity to view the massive herds and, if nature allows, to witness dramatic river crossings. The journey also combines the classic Northern Circuit of Tanzania with the famous Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park.

Highlights of the 9-Day Great Migration Safari – June to October

Day 1: Arusha National Park
Days 2–3: Head to Tarangire National Park
Day 4: Lake Manyara National Park
Day 5: Lake Magadi (Ngorongoro Crater)
Days 6–8: Northern Serengeti
Day 9: End of itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 – Arusha National Park

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel in Arusha. Depending on your arrival time, we can arrange an optional excursion—this could include a city tour, a coffee plantation tour, a bike ride, a visit to Lake Duluti, or a half-day game viewing experience in Arusha National Park. Spend some time at leisure to prepare for your journey, which begins tomorrow.

Accommodation: Rivertrees
Meal Plan: Dinner

Days 2–3 – Head to Tarangire National Park

After breakfast at the hotel, you will meet your driver and travel to the Tanzania Northern Safari Circuit, where you will visit Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and the Ngorongoro Crater. You will spend two nights at Tarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge while enjoying wonderful game viewing in Tarangire National Park. This beautiful park is famous for its massive elephant herds, a true sense of wilderness, and some of the largest baobab trees you will encounter during your game drives.

This itinerary offers an ideal, slow start to an African safari. It gives you time to marvel at the wildlife, engage with your safari guide, and customize your day according to your preferences. You may choose to wake up early or late, spend the full day on safari with a packed lunch, or relax at the camp by the pool.

Accommodation: Tarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 – Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast, bid farewell to Tarangire National Park and drive to the nearby Lake Manyara National Park. Spend several hours enjoying game viewing in this beautiful park and stop for a light picnic lunch.

Lake Manyara National Park offers a thrilling wilderness experience across diverse habitats, from its Rift Valley soda lake to dense woodlands and steep mountainsides. The shores of the lake, often encrusted with pink flamingos, attract more than 400 species of birds, depending on the season. Besides the large predators, you can see various herds of buffalo, while Maasai giraffes and warthogs roam the lake shores and the forested valley slopes. Exit the park and continue to the Ngorongoro Crater Rim, where you will arrive at your camp for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Camp on Ngorongoro Crater Rim
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 – Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Lake Magadi)

Today you will wake up early, enjoy breakfast, and travel down into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game viewing experience before the crowds arrive. The Ngorongoro Crater has earned many nicknames, such as Africa’s Eighth Wonder of the World and Africa’s Eden, to name just a few. This stunning crater was formed 2.5 million years ago after an extinct volcano collapsed inward, and it remains the largest caldera of its kind anywhere on Earth.

During your descent, you will explore the crater floor, including the area around Lake Magadi, a shallow soda lake frequented by flamingos and other waterbirds.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 6–8 – Northern Serengeti

Leave Ngorongoro and drive to Manyara for a flight to the Northern Serengeti. Arrive at Kogatende Airstrip, where you will be met by the safari guide from your camp. From there, you will depart on shared game drives organized by the knowledgeable local guide.

The seasonal Nasikia Mobile Migration Camp is strategically positioned for prime migration sightings. If you are fortunate, you may witness one or more river crossings—a breathtaking spectacle. You will spend three nights here, enjoying this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view the massive herds and the numerous predators that follow the famous migration, as well as some very large crocodiles waiting for the crossings.

At the camp, you will enjoy wonderful meals prepared by the local chef and share stories with other guests around the campfire beneath the stars. The tents at Nasikia Mobile Migration Camp measure 12 meters long by 4 meters wide and come with all the creature comforts you would need, including an en-suite bathroom area with a bucket shower.

Accommodation: Nasikia Mobile Migration Camp (operates June – October)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 – End of Itinerary

Today is your final morning in the bush. Enjoy breakfast at the camp, then take a game drive as you make your way back to the airstrip. Say goodbye to your safari guide and board your scheduled flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport, from where you will continue back home or to your next destination.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

End of the 9-Day Great Migration Safari – June to October

Included

All accommodations as specified in the itinerary (Rivertrees, Tarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge, camp on Ngorongoro Crater Rim, Nasikia Mobile Migration Camp)
Meals as indicated (Dinner; Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Breakfast and Lunch)
Game drives as described, including shared game drives in the Northern Serengeti
Flight from Manyara to Kogatende (Northern Serengeti)
Scheduled flight from Northern Serengeti to Kilimanjaro International Airport on Day 9
Professional English-speaking safari guides
All park entrance fees and conservation fees
Bottled drinking water during game drives
Airport transfers upon arrival and departure

Excluded

International flights to and from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport
Tanzania visa fees
Travel and medical insurance
Optional excursions mentioned on Day 1 (city tour, coffee plantation tour, bike ride, Lake Duluti visit, half-day game viewing in Arusha National Park)
Alcoholic and soft beverages
Tips and gratuities for guides, camp staff, and drivers
Personal expenses such as laundry, souvenirs, and phone calls
Any activities not explicitly mentioned in the itinerary
Accommodation before or after the safari (unless otherwise arranged)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best time to take this safari?
This safari is specifically designed for June through October, when the wildebeest herds are concentrated in the Northern Serengeti and river crossing opportunities are at their peak.

Are river crossings guaranteed?
No. River crossings are dependent on nature and the behavior of the herds. However, this itinerary places you in the best possible location to witness them if they occur.

What type of accommodation is used in the Northern Serengeti?
You will stay at Nasikia Mobile Migration Camp, a seasonal camp with large tents (12m x 4m), en-suite bathrooms with bucket showers, and communal dining around a campfire.

Is this safari suitable for first-time visitors to Tanzania?
Yes. The itinerary begins with a slow introduction in Tarangire before moving to the Ngorongoro Crater and finally the Northern Serengeti, allowing for excellent acclimatization and wildlife immersion