5 Days Northern Serengeti Migration Safari
5 Days Northern Serengeti Migration Safari
Price
Overview
Experience the raw spectacle of nature on this exclusive 5-day Tanzania safari, expertly crafted by Nihapa Tours. Journey deep into the heart of Serengeti National Park to witness one of the planet’s greatest wildlife events, the Great Wildebeest Migration. Timed for the dramatic river crossings of June to October Yearly in Northern Serengeti, this itinerary promises front-row views of more than 1.5 million wildebeest and zebra as they face off with hungry crocodiles and big cats.
Starting in Arusha and ending with a scenic bush flight from Kogatende to Kilimanjaro International Airport, this private safari includes a dedicated 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof and the guidance of seasoned professionals, Nihapa Guides, known for their deep knowledge and warm hospitality. You'll stay in handpicked eco-lodges or migration-tented camps, ensuring both comfort and a light ecological footprint.
Ideal for travelers seeking an authentic and action-packed migration safari experience, this tour blends traditional game drives with exceptional wildlife encounters and responsible travel values.
Tour Highlights
- Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights
- Parks Visited: Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater
- Safari Style: Private guided tour
- Group Size: Flexible (2–6 recommended)
- Departure and Return Place: We can start/end this tour from any hotel in Arusha or Arusha Airport
- End: Kilimanjaro International Airport (flight from Kogatende)
- Departure Time: Please be ready by 6:45 AM for a prompt departure at 7:15 AM.
- Return Time: Approximately 4:30 PM.
- Dress Code: Casual. Comfortable athletic clothing, a hat, and spare clothing.
- Customizations: Can be amended/customized upon request, to suit your requirements
- Extensions: Trip Extensions are available on request
- Season: The Dry season (from late June to October) offers the best wildlife viewing in general, with the wildebeest migration as its absolute highlight. The timing of the migration varies every year (the best chance of seeing it is during June and July), while the wildebeest calving is from late January to February.
- Your own private guide and driver for in-depth wildlife touring based on your interests
- Firsthand, sophisticated destination knowledge and recommendations from our locally born travel specialists
- Around-the-clock support from your travel designer and concierge before, during, and after your trip
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- 6:30 AM: Pickup from your Arusha hotel.
- Drive ~3 hours to Ngorongoro Conservation Area via Arusha’s scenic highlands
- Afternoon arrival; optional Olduvai Gorge Museum ($35/person) or Maasai village visit ($25/person)
- Relax with views of the 260 km² Ngorongoro Crater, home to ~30,000 animals
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: Ngorongoro to Serengeti National Park (Central Seronera)
- Morning drive ~2 hours to Central Serengeti (Seronera area)
- Afternoon game drive in Seronera, known for lion prides, leopards in acacia trees, and resident wildlife (elephants, buffalo, giraffes)
- Picnic lunch during the drive
- Introduction to the Great Wildebeest Migration as herds move north
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day-3: Serengeti National Park (North Mara)
- Morning drive ~2-3 hours from Seronera to Northern Serengeti (North Mara, Kogatende area)
- Full-day game drive (6:30 AM–5:00 PM) or split morning/afternoon drives targeting Great Wildebeest Migration river crossings
- Spot wildebeest, zebras, crocodiles, and lions along the Mara River
- Optional: Hot air balloon ride ($490/person)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Serengeti National Park (North Mara)
- Full-day game drive in North Mara, focusing on migration herds and predator action
- Explore the Mara River for dramatic wildebeest crossings and resident Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo)
- Picnic lunch amidst the migration spectacle
- Optional: Guided walking safari ($50/person, subject to availability)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day-5: Northern Serengeti to Kilimanjaro Airport
- Morning game drive in North Mara for final Great Wildebeest Migration sightings
- Transfer to Kogatende Airstrip for a flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport (~1.5 hours, ~USD 350/person)
- Arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport by ~3:00–4:00 PM for departure or onward travel
- End of safari services by Nihapa Tours
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Why Choose This Safari
- Witness the Great Wildebeest Migration river crossings in Northern Serengeti
- Two days in North Mara for immersive migration viewing
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser for optimal game viewing
- Ideal for wildlife photographers, families, and migration enthusiasts
- Flexible, customizable safari package
- Stay in eco-friendly lodges or budget camps
Why Choose Nihapa Tours for Your Tanzania Safaris?
Nihapa Tours designs personalized Tanzania Safaris to suit your preferences, blending adventure, comfort, and expert guidance. Our Tanzania Safaris stand out with:
- Extended Exploration: More time to visit key parks like Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.
- Expert Guides: Local experts enhance your Tanzania Safari with rich insights.
- Flexible Options: Choose budget camping, mid-range lodges, or luxury tented camps.
- Private Tours: Enjoy an exclusive 4x4 vehicle for an intimate safari experience.
- Conservation Focus: We support sustainable tourism during your Tanzania Safari.
With Nihapa Tours, your Tanzania Safari will be a seamless and memorable journey.
Best Time to Visit
- June-July: Peak for Great Wildebeest Migration river crossings in Northern Serengeti
- December-March: Calving season in southern Serengeti (Ndutu)
- April-May: Fewer crowds, lush landscapes, less migration focus
Read More:- When is the Best Time to Visit Tanzania
Tips for Booking Your Tanzania Safari
- Reserve Early: Secure your Tanzania Safari dates with Nihapa Tours.
- Consider Fly-In Options: Fly to Serengeti from Arusha, arranged by Nihapa Tours.
- Pack Wisely: Bring binoculars and a camera for your Tanzania Safari.
- Visa Prep: Apply for a Tanzanian e-Visa online.
- Trust Nihapa Tours: We handle permits and logistics for a hassle-free safari.
Book Your 5-day Serengeti Great Migration Safari
Nihapa Tours brings you the ultimate Tanzania Safari with expert guides, private vehicles, and personalized itineraries. Ready to explore Tanzania’s wilderness? Contact Nihapa Tours to plan your Tanzania Safaris and enjoy exclusive 2025 offers!
Call us: +255 786 261 927
Email: [email protected]
Don’t wait—book your Tanzania Safari with Nihapa Tours today!
Costs Includeds/Excludes
- All Mentioned Safari Activities
- Air Ambulance Service by AMREF Flying Doctors
- Airport Pick-up and Drop-off Transfers
- Hotel Accommodations According to the Itinerary
- Transportation in 4×4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof for easy game viewing and photography
- All Park Fees
- Experienced English-speaking safari guide
- All Meals according to the Itinerary
- Bottled water and soft drinks throughout the tour
- Binocular (1 per Vehicle)
- Medical kit
- All Taxes on Tour Fees & Services
- Crew salaries
- Air tickets
- Visa fees
- Lunch and dinner in hotel (only before and after safari)
- Travel insurance
- Tips to your safari guide ($25-45 per day per car)
- Other optional activities
- Personal expenses
Day 1 Arusha - Ngorongoro
Our driver will pick you up from your Hotel in Arusha, with a picnic lunch en route to a full-day Ngorongoro Crater tour. You will be taken 2000ft down the crater by a 4-wheel drive vehicle, explore the crater before ascending, and drive to your Lodge set on a crater rim. The Ngorongoro Crater is often called ‘Africa’s Eden’ and the ‘8th Natural Wonder of the World.’ A visit to the crater is a main drawcard for tourists coming to Tanzania and a definite world-class attraction.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is home to the Ngorongoro Crater. It was formed some 2.5 million years ago from a volcanic mountain sinking due to inactivity, and was initially thought to be higher than Tanzania’s famous Kilimanjaro. The crater has evolved into a unique and integral part of Tanzania’s ecosystem. The crater is a caldera, measures 22.5 km across, and the rim walls stand 600m high. Views from within and from the rim are breathtaking. The crater houses 30,000 animals and a large variety of birds, which rarely move from the area due to the availability of water through wet and dry seasons. In the evening, back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2 Ngorongoro - Serengeti National Park
Pick up from your hotel after breakfast and then drive from Ngorongoro to Central Serengeti. Upon arrival, meet your driver guide for a full-day game drive in this part of the park to view the Great Migration.
The park is well known for its healthy stock of other resident wildlife, particularly the “Big Five,” named for the five most prized trophies taken by hunters: Lion – the Serengeti is believed to hold the largest population of lions in Africa due in part to the abundance of prey species. More than 3,000 lions live in this ecosystem. African Leopard – these reclusive predators are commonly seen in the Seronera region but are present throughout the national park, with the population at around 1,000. African Elephant – the largest land animal is an awe-inspiring sight throughout the Serengeti.
Day 3 Serengeti National Park (North Mara)
After breakfast at the Camp, depart with your picnic lunch for a game drive and to view the great migration.
Serengeti National Park — Resident wildlife numbers are exceptionally high in the Wagakuria area, with prides of lion up to 30 strong; however, from August to October, the area turns into a wildlife paradise. The key feature is the Mara River, and it is not uncommon to see the herds cross the Mara River north on one day and then back south a few days later. Please take note – to actually find a crossing is very difficult and is sometimes a matter of luck.
Day 4 Serengeti National Park (North Mara)
After breakfast, enjoy a full day of game dive at the Mara River viewing the great migration river crossing. In the evening, back to the camp for the evening bonfire, dinner and overnight.
River crossings at Kogatende start to occur every day in August as the mega herd settles into the area. From August to October, game viewing up here is superb with river crossings pretty much guaranteed every day. There is no distinct movement as the herds tend to cross back and forth over the river, following the rains and subsequent fresh grasses. It is not uncommon to see different herds crossing in different directions on the same day.
Day 4 Afternoon Fly from Kogatende to Kilimanjaro Airport
Depart after breakfast for a morning game drive. In the afternoon, transfer to Kogatende Airstrip or your flight to Arusha. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to Kilimanjaro airport for your home flight.
Tour Pricing
| Number of People | Cost Per Person in US($) Budget Camping | Cost Per Person in US($) Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Person | On Request | - |
| 2 People | On Request | $3,770 |
| 3 People | On Request | - |
| 4 People | On Request | - |
| 5 + People | On Request | $3,570 |
Tour Accommodations
| Tour Day | Budget Camping Package | Standard Package |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | On Request | Lion’s Paw Camp |
| Day 2 | On Request | Olkarien Eco Safari Camp |
| Day 3 | On Request | Acacia Migration Camp |
| Day 4 | On Request | Acacia Migration Camp |
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