Earth's Greatest Wildlife Spectacle • 1.5+ Million Animals in Motion

Wildebeest Migration Safari

Witness the epic Great Migration in Tanzania. Compare 8-day Mara River crossing safaris and 6-day Ndutu calving season expeditions with KPAP certified guides and luxury mobile camps.

Region Serengeti Ecosystem & Mara River

Action Level 5 / 5 (Unsurpassed Action)

Accommodation Mobile Camps & Lodges

Peak Timing Jul-Oct & Jan-Mar

View 8 & 6 Day Packages Day-by-Day Schedule

Migration Schedules

Choose Your Migration Safari

Follow the herds to the dramatic northern river crossings or the emotional southern calving season.

Peak Season • Dramatic River Crossings

8 Days / 7 Nights

8 Days Mara River Crossing Safari

From $2,950 / person

Includes 4 nights in Northern Serengeti along the dramatic Mara River banks

Position yourself along the northern bends of the Mara River where colossal herds plunge through crocodile-infested rapids. Experience the apex of natural drama, dust clouds, and high-octane predator chases.

Expedition Inclusions:

8 Days / 7 Nights Luxury Migration Expedition
4 Dedicated Nights in Northern Kogatende / Lamai
Direct Tracking of Mara River Crossing Points
Serengeti Central Seronera Predator Staging Area
Full Ngorongoro Crater Caldera Game Drive
Expert Naturalist Guide Specialized in Animal Behavior

Book 8 Days Download Pdf Itinerary

Predator Action • 8,000 Calves Daily

6 Days / 5 Nights

6 Days Ndutu Calving Season Safari

From $2,250 / person

Southern Serengeti & Ndutu short-grass plains calving grounds

From January to March, over 500,000 zebra and wildebeest calves are born on the nutrient-rich volcanic plains of Ndutu. Cheetahs, lions, and leopards capitalize on the vulnerability in non-stop wilderness encounters.

Expedition Inclusions:

6 Days / 5 Nights Full Board Safari
3 Nights in Ndutu / Southern Serengeti Plains
Off-Road Driving Permitted in Ndutu Conservation Area
High-Density Cheetah Hunting Observations
Ngorongoro Crater Floor Big Five Tour
All Park Fees, Concession Fees & Safari 4x4 Included

Book 6 Days Download Pdf Itinerary

Migration Camp Categories

Three Accommodation Options

Stay directly along the active migration routes. Choose between adventurous mobile expedition camps, comfortable classic lodges, or elite luxury riverbanks.

Budget Option

Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp

Authentic canvas safari tents with en-suite private bathrooms, bucket hot showers, solar power, and roaring nightly campfires under the Milky Way.

Website Reviews

Recommended Stay

Mid-Range Option

Tortilis Migration Luxury Camp

Deluxe seasonal mobile camps following the thundering herds between Kogatende and Ndutu. King-sized beds, veranda seating, and chef-curated 3-course dinners.

Website Reviews

Luxury Option

Sayari Camp & Mara River Tented Sanctuary

World-renowned riverbank sanctuary situated minutes from iconic crossing points. Rim-flow rock swimming pool, solar-powered luxury suites, and vintage gin & tonic lounge.

Website Reviews

Detailed Day-by-Day Expedition

Wildebeest Migration Itinerary

Day 1

Arusha to Tarangire / Central Serengeti Gateway

Highlights: Baobabs, elephant families, warm-up game viewing

130 km

Depart Arusha after an in-depth safari briefing. Game drive through the elephant corridors of Tarangire before heading to our staging lodge in the high Rift Valley.

Details Offered on Day 1

All-Inclusive Safari Standard

Meals Offered

Lunch & Dinner included

Breakfast: Morning briefing & coffee in Arusha

Lunch: Gourmet bush lunch at Tarangire picnic site

Dinner: 3-course safari dinner at Rift Valley lodge

Accommodation Offered

Maramboi Tented Camp / Tarangire Safari Lodge

Luxury tented room on elevated wooden deck, private bathroom with hot water, pool, and views of zebras grazing near camp.

Transport & Guiding Services Offered:

Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof Professional driver-guide with wildlife spotting scope All park conservation fees & chilled mineral water

Key Activities & Highlights: Tarangire elephant herd tracking Birdwatching and photography around baobabs

Day 2

Karatu to Central Serengeti (Seronera Valley)

Highlights: Naabi Hill, resident lion prides, kopjes landscapes

150 km

Descend into the heart of the Serengeti. Afternoon game drive in Seronera Valley encountering resident leopards and lion prides while the migration gathers strength.

Details Offered on Day 2

All-Inclusive Safari Standard

Meals Offered

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Breakfast: Hot buffet breakfast at lodge

Lunch: Picnic lunch at Naabi Hill Gate

Dinner: Chef-prepared dinner in Serengeti dining tent

Accommodation Offered

Tortilis Serengeti Luxury Camp / Heritage Tented Camp

Deluxe walk-in canvas suite with en-suite shower, flush toilet, solar power, and campfire seating.

Transport & Guiding Services Offered:

Serengeti National Park entrance & camping permits Experienced big cat tracking guide Complimentary hot drinks & bottled water

Key Activities & Highlights: Panoramic savannah photography at Naabi Hill Afternoon predator tracking along Seronera riverbeds

Day 3

Central Serengeti to Northern Mara River (Kogatende)

Highlights: Transitioning ecosystems, Lobo kopjes, first signs of massive northern herds

120 km game drive north

Drive north following the path of the mega-herds. Arrive in the remote Kogatende region where thousands of wildebeest blanket the green hills sloping down to the Mara River.

Details Offered on Day 3

All-Inclusive Safari Standard

Meals Offered

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Breakfast: Early breakfast in Central Serengeti

Lunch: Bush picnic lunch under shady acacia in Lobo area

Dinner: Gourmet dinner at Northern Mara luxury mobile camp

Accommodation Offered

Kogatende Migration Luxury Camp / Mara Under Canvas

Migration mobile luxury camp pitched within minutes of Mara River crossing points, en-suite bathroom, flush toilet, and warm bucket showers.

Transport & Guiding Services Offered:

Northern Serengeti concession fees Specialized river crossing spotter radio communication Full 4x4 cruiser mobility along riverbanks

Key Activities & Highlights: Scenic game drive across Lobo kopjes First sighting of massive northern wildebeest concentrations

Day 4

Full Day Mara River Crossing Watch

Highlights: The Great Crossing: chaotic surges, Nile crocodiles, dramatic dust plumes

Riverside Tracking

Patience pays off: position our vehicle near known crossing points (Points 1 to 10). Watch the herd build courage on the riverbanks before a single brave leader leaps, triggering thousands to follow.

Details Offered on Day 4

All-Inclusive Safari Standard

Meals Offered

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Breakfast: Dawn breakfast at mobile camp

Lunch: Deluxe picnic lunch box served right by the riverbanks

Dinner: Celebrate the day's crossings with a 3-course dinner & fine wine

Accommodation Offered

Kogatende Migration Luxury Camp / Mara Under Canvas

Authentic safari camp positioned for prime river access, comfortable bedding, en-suite facilities, and evening campfire under starry skies.

Transport & Guiding Services Offered:

Full-day dedicated river crossing vigil with patient guide Unlimited 4x4 vehicle movement along crossing points High-end photography assistance & spotter advice

Key Activities & Highlights: Witnessing chaotic Mara River crossing surges Observing Nile crocodiles and predatory big cats in action

Day 5

Northern Serengeti & Lamai Wedge Exploration

Highlights: Cross-border plains with Kenya Masai Mara, cheetah hunts, lion ambush tactics

Flexible Game Drives

Explore the Lamai Wedge north of the river. This pristine triangle of land offers astonishing open savannah landscapes and prime opportunities to photograph predators stalking weary migratory herds.

Details Offered on Day 5

All-Inclusive Safari Standard

Meals Offered

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Breakfast: Cooked breakfast at camp

Lunch: Bush picnic in Lamai savannah

Dinner: Lantern-lit dinner with stories of migration history

Accommodation Offered

Kogatende Migration Luxury Camp / Mara Under Canvas

Private luxury tent with veranda looking out to the rolling Lamai hills, hot water showers, and bespoke hospitality.

Transport & Guiding Services Offered:

Lamai Triangle exploration permits Senior naturalist predator behavior tracking Unlimited fuel & 4x4 mileage

Key Activities & Highlights: Lamai Wedge wildlife drives Cheetah and lion ambush photography on open plains

Day 6

Northern Serengeti back to Central Seronera

Highlights: Retina hippo pools, scenic Seronera river bends, evening sunset

130 km scenic drive

Slow game drive south through changing biomes. Enjoy a peaceful evening at a central Serengeti luxury tented camp with cold drinks around the roaring campfire.

Details Offered on Day 6

All-Inclusive Safari Standard

Meals Offered

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Breakfast: Full breakfast overlooking Mara River

Lunch: Picnic lunch at central rest site

Dinner: Freshly prepared multi-course safari feast

Accommodation Offered

Serengeti Tortilis Camp / Heritage Camp

Comfortable central Serengeti tented suite with en-suite bathroom, electricity, and campfire lounge.

Transport & Guiding Services Offered:

Central Serengeti transit & park fees 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof Complimentary bottled water & beverages

Key Activities & Highlights: Retina Hippo Pool visit Southward wildlife tracking along Seronera River

Day 7

Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Rim

Highlights: Crater rim sunset, cool mountain air, panoramic highland vistas

140 km

Farewell morning game drive in Central Serengeti before ascending to the crater rim lodge for panoramic views overlooking the 600m caldera.

Details Offered on Day 7

All-Inclusive Safari Standard

Meals Offered

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Breakfast: Camp breakfast in Serengeti

Lunch: Packed lunch en route to Ngorongoro

Dinner: Highland lodge dinner with fireplace warmth

Accommodation Offered

Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge / Serena Safari Lodge

Lodge situated on the rim of Ngorongoro crater, en-suite bathroom with hot shower, heating, and crater rim terrace.

Transport & Guiding Services Offered:

Ngorongoro Conservation Area entrance fees Professional high-altitude driver-guide Warm blankets & hot water bottles

Key Activities & Highlights: Morning safari in Seronera Crater rim panoramic photography at sunset

Day 8

Ngorongoro Crater Floor Tour & Return to Arusha

Highlights: Black rhino spotting, dense lion populations, Lake Magadi flamingos

180 km

Early morning crater descent for a 6-hour safari on the crater floor. Encounter dense concentrations of wildlife before afternoon transfer to Arusha or JRO airport.

Details Offered on Day 8

All-Inclusive Safari Standard

Meals Offered

Breakfast & Picnic Lunch included

Breakfast: Early buffet breakfast at crater rim

Lunch: Picnic lunch beside Ngoitokitok Hippo Pool

Dinner: Optional dinner in Arusha / airport drop-off

Accommodation Offered

Transfer to Arusha / Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO)

Direct private transfer to Arusha hotel or Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) for homeward journey.

Transport & Guiding Services Offered:

Ngorongoro Caldera descent vehicle permit 6-hour caldera game safari with expert guide Airport drop-off assistance

Key Activities & Highlights: Descend 600m into ancient volcanic caldera Tracking the Big Five including rare black rhino Lake Magadi pink flamingo observation

Day 1

Arusha to Lake Manyara / Tarangire - Calving Season Warm-Up

Highlights: Elephant herds, Rift Valley escarpment, safari briefing

120 km

Depart Arusha after breakfast for Tarangire or Lake Manyara. Spend the afternoon game driving among elephant families and bird colonies before resting at a highland lodge.

Details Offered on Day 1

All-Inclusive Safari Standard

Meals Offered

Lunch & Dinner included

Breakfast: Welcome orientation & breakfast in Arusha

Lunch: Gourmet picnic hamper in national park

Dinner: Full course dinner at Karatu highland lodge

Accommodation Offered

Karatu Country Cottages / Maramboi Camp

Comfortable lodge with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, gardens, and hot water showers.

Transport & Guiding Services Offered:

Custom 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof National park entrance fees & guide services Unlimited chilled mineral water

Key Activities & Highlights: Game viewing across acacia woodlands Birdwatching and landscape photography

Day 2

Karatu to Ndutu Plains (Southern Serengeti Calving Ground)

Highlights: Vast short-grass plains, thousands of newborn calves, cheetah tracking

160 km

Travel through Ngorongoro conservation into the Ndutu short-grass plains. Here, millions of wildebeest and zebra give birth. Off-road driving is permitted in this sector, allowing intimate wildlife observation.

Details Offered on Day 2

All-Inclusive Safari Standard

Meals Offered

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Breakfast: Cooked breakfast at lodge

Lunch: Picnic lunch on the Ndutu plains

Dinner: Bush dinner under the stars at Ndutu mobile camp

Accommodation Offered

Ndutu Migration Tented Camp / Lake Ndutu Luxury Lodge

Seasonal luxury tented camp located right in the heart of the calving grounds, en-suite bathrooms with hot showers, and campfire.

Transport & Guiding Services Offered:

Ndutu conservation special off-road driving permits Expert predator and birth-tracking guide Unlimited 4x4 cruiser mileage

Key Activities & Highlights: Observing synchronized wildebeest birthing Cheetah hunting action on open short-grass plains

Day 3

Full Day Ndutu Calving Plains Exploration

Highlights: Predator-prey interactions, lion prides, hyena clans, bat-eared foxes

Exploratory Off-Road Safari

Spend the entire day tracking the mega-herds and their predatory followers across the marshlands, soda lakes, and acacia groves of Ndutu.

Details Offered on Day 3

All-Inclusive Safari Standard

Meals Offered

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Breakfast: Sunrise tea/coffee followed by cooked bush breakfast

Lunch: Hot lunch at camp or portable safari picnic

Dinner: Gourmet 3-course dinner prepared by safari chef

Accommodation Offered

Ndutu Migration Tented Camp / Lake Ndutu Luxury Lodge

Deluxe safari tent with queen bed, en-suite bathroom, electricity, and prime wilderness location.

Transport & Guiding Services Offered:

Full day off-road wildlife tracking Professional naturalist guiding Chilled drinking water & field guidebooks

Key Activities & Highlights: Dawn cheetah hunt tracking Lake Ndutu flamingo and bird observation Witnessing newborn wildebeest standing within minutes of birth

Day 4

Ndutu to Central Serengeti (Seronera Valley)

Highlights: Transition from calving plains to central river valleys, resident leopards

80 km game drive

Enjoy a morning game drive across the calving grounds before heading north into Central Seronera for prime leopard and lion tracking in rocky kopjes.

Details Offered on Day 4

All-Inclusive Safari Standard

Meals Offered

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Breakfast: Camp breakfast at Ndutu

Lunch: Packed lunch en-route to Seronera

Dinner: Safari dinner with storytelling around the campfire

Accommodation Offered

Tortilis Serengeti Camp / Heritage Tented Camp

Luxury tented suite with private deck, hot showers, electricity, and views of wildlife.

Transport & Guiding Services Offered:

Serengeti National Park entrance fees 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof Naturalist guide services

Key Activities & Highlights: Seronera River big cat tracking Leopard spotting in sausage and acacia trees

Day 5

Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater Rim

Highlights: Morning Serengeti safari, crater rim cloud forest, sunset vista

140 km

Morning game drive in Serengeti before ascending to the crater rim lodge for panoramic views over the volcanic caldera.

Details Offered on Day 5

All-Inclusive Safari Standard

Meals Offered

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Breakfast: Cooked breakfast at camp

Lunch: Picnic lunch at scenic viewpoint

Dinner: Warm highland dinner beside roaring fireplace

Accommodation Offered

Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge / Ang'ata Camp

Highland lodge on crater rim, heated en-suite bathroom, fireplace, and scenic forest setting.

Transport & Guiding Services Offered:

Ngorongoro Conservation Area transit fees Experienced driver-guide Hot water bottles and warm fleece blankets

Key Activities & Highlights: Early morning game tracking in Serengeti Ngorongoro caldera sunset overlook

Day 6

Ngorongoro Crater Safari & Return to Arusha

Highlights: 600m caldera descent, black rhino, hippo pool lunch, transfer to Arusha

180 km

Early morning descent into the crater floor for a 6-hour wildlife safari. Spot black rhinos, bull elephants, and lions before afternoon transfer to Arusha or JRO airport.

Details Offered on Day 6

All-Inclusive Safari Standard

Meals Offered

Breakfast & Picnic Lunch included

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at crater rim lodge

Lunch: Scenic bush picnic beside Ngoitokitok Hippo Springs

Dinner: Optional dinner in Arusha / airport transfer

Accommodation Offered

Transfer to Arusha / Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO)

Airport drop-off for flight home or transfer to Arusha accommodation.

Transport & Guiding Services Offered:

Ngorongoro crater descent vehicle permit Complete guided tour of caldera floor Direct airport drop-off

Key Activities & Highlights: Descent to UNESCO crater floor Tracking endangered black rhinos and Big Five Flamingo watching on Lake Magadi

Migration Insights

Wildebeest Migration FAQs

The famous Mara River crossings typically occur between July and October, with August and September representing the historical peak. The herds cross multiple times back and forth between Tanzania and Kenya chasing localized rainfall.

The calving season occurs between late January and mid-March in the Southern Serengeti and Ndutu conservation area. Roughly 8,000 calves are born every day during a synchronized 3-week window!

Yes! We utilize deluxe mobile tented camps that relocate twice a year: staying in Ndutu (South) from December to March, and moving to Kogatende (North) from July to October, ensuring you are always minutes away from the action.

Witness Nature's Greatest Spectacle

Secure Your Migration Safari Dates

Migration camps book out 6 to 12 months in advance for peak river crossing months. Contact our specialists today to lock in prime permits.

Inquire About Migration Dates Back to Safari Packages