8 Days Serengeti Migration Safari – Mara River Crossing 2026

Code: EMT-8MLodge
8 DAYS - 7 NIGHTS

Description

Our 8-day Serengeti Migration Safari has been planned with the express purpose of assisting you in witnessing the wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River. We have included visits to Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti National Park in the itinerary. With this Tanzanian safari, you’ll have the chance to see Africa’s Big 5 (lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and rhinos), as well as other wildlife species that inhabit these national parks.

This best Tanzania safari can start from JRO or Arusha.

If you have more time, consider pairing these Tanzania safari tours with an exhilarating climbing Kilimanjaro tour or a leisurely beach holiday in Zanzibar!

Best time to visit: July to October

8-Day Serengeti Migration Safari Price

Please inquire for our most up-to-date prices

Optional Safari Activities

  1. Maasai Village Visit ($50 per vehicle)
  2. Balloon Safari Tours ($550 per person)

8-Day Safari in Tanzania Includes

✅ Pick up & drop off at Arusha town (any hotel)
✅ Game viewing in 4×4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof on exclusive basis
✅ Park fees and conservation fees as per itinerary
✅ Professional English-speaking safari guide
✅ Accommodation in mid-range safari lodges or tented camps
✅ Meals as specified in the itinerary
✅ Drinking water, Soft drinks, Beer, and wine in Jeep
✅ Binoculars
✅ 18% VAT on park fees and game drives for safari.

8-Day Tanzania Safari Excludes

❌ International and domestic flights
❌ Tanzania visa fees
❌ Travel insurance
❌ Personal expenses (laundry, drinks, souvenirs, etc.)
❌ Tips and gratuities for the guide and lodge staff
❌ Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
❌ Soft drinks or alcoholic beverages at accommodations
❌ Airport transfers (unless stated otherwise)

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

You will be picked up from the airport by Ernest Magic Tours & Safaris representative who will drive you to your accommodation in Arusha, where you will overnight, relax, and prepare in anticipation of the adventures to come.

Meals
Dinner
Accommodation
Under the Shade Safari Lodge

Day 2: Arusha – Tarangire National Park

We will pick you up from your hotel in Arusha at 8:00am and take you to a very special safari park in Tanzania. Tarangire is famous for its diverse landscape with nine different vegetation zones. The Tarangire Safari Park is particularly known for the abundance of ancient baobab trees (the largest trees on the continent), which fill the landscape and dwarf the animals next to them. The river in the park is full of wildlife ranging from a large variety of birds to lions, leopards, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, and, of course, African elephants. In fact, Tarangire has the largest concentration of elephants in the whole country and provides unique chances to observe the interaction between elephant families. In the afternoon we will still do a game drive before continuing to your accommodation.

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation
Heart & Soul Lodge

Day 3: Central Serengeti

Early in the morning after breakfast, we depart for Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti is truly spectacular. It is famous for its vast open grasslands, which allow for excellent sightings of wildlife. The Serengeti is Tanzania’s oldest national park, and it is also one of the oldest ecosystems on earth. Its climate and vegetation have remained largely untouched for millions of years. While the Serengeti boasts abundant wildlife, it is perhaps best known for the annual Great Migration. Vast numbers of wildebeest, accompanied by large numbers of zebra and antelope, move in an annual pattern, constantly seeking fresh grazing. The precise timing of the migration is entirely dependent upon the rainfall patterns each year.

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation
Embalakai Authentic Camp

Day 4: North Serengeti (FOLLOWING THE MIGRATION)

After breakfast we head towards the far northern reaches of Serengeti Park, also known as the Wagakuria. We will do a game drive en-route from the Lobo area to the Wagakuria area. As we head north, good sightings of giraffes, plain game, herds of buffalo, and elephants can often be seen. While the Serengeti boasts abundant wildlife, it is perhaps best known for the annual Great Migration. Vast numbers of wildebeest, accompanied by large numbers of zebra and antelope, move in an annual pattern, constantly seeking fresh grazing. The precise timing of the migration is entirely dependent upon the rainfall patterns each year. From the end of July to September the migration can be found in the Northern Serengeti (Kogatende), where they are crossing the Mara River, following the greener pastures of Maasai Mara, where they provide the Mara River resident Nile crocodiles with an annual feast.

After lunch and an amazing game drive, we head for our partner camp for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation
Sero Tented Camps

Day 5: North Serengeti (FOLLOWING THE MIGRATION)

After an early breakfast, you will continue with your game drive in the Northern region. The Mara River crossing is one of the must-sees in the Serengeti and totally one of the most spectacular events in the Serengeti. Many wildebeests die trying to reach the mineral-rich grass of Maasai Mara, where they will spend at least 2 months before they start to migrate again to their ancestral birthing ground, Southern Ndutu, where it will all start again. After a full day game drive and hopefully a sight of the crossing, we will be back to the camp in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation
Sero Tented Camps

Day 6: North – Central Serengeti

After a relaxed morning drive towards Central Serengeti, spend the day observing wildlife in the Seronera Valley. The Seronera Valley offers lots of wildlife throughout the year, including carnivores like hyenas, lions, leopards, and cheetahs, which can often be found on and around these large rocky outcrops, as they offer a great vantage point to look over the plains in search of any prey, as well as ungulates, including buffaloes, giraffes, hippopotami, impalas, topis, warthogs, and zebras. You will have dinner and stay overnight at our carefully chosen tented camp.

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation
Embalakai Authentic Camp

Day 7: Serengeti Via Ngorongoro Crater to Karatu

After an early breakfast, we continue with our en route drive inside the Serengeti National Park before we depart for the Ngorongoro Crater. You will descend down the crater, which is almost 610 m deep.

The crater was created when a large volcano exploded and collapsed in on itself two to three million years ago. It is famous for both its geological delights and for being a natural reserve, which is home to some of the densest large mammal populations in the whole African continent. The drive down into the crater is an adventure in itself, and when you reach the crater floor, you quickly find yourself amongst large numbers of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, and more than 500 bird species. The Crater provides you with the best

chance of seeing the endangered black rhino, which can sometimes be spotted in the open grasslands.

After lunch and an extensive game drive inside the crater, we head for our comfort partner lodges in Karatu for dinner and overnight.

Meals
Lunch and Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodation
Farm of Dream Lodge

Day 8: Karatu to Arusha

After a leisurely breakfast, drive back to Arusha, arriving in time for lunch and last-minute shopping and repacking. Transfer to the airport for your flight back home or for a flight to Zanzibar.

Additional information

Language English, French, Germany, Spanish
Transport 4x4 Safari Jeep
Accommodation Mid-Range Accommodation

Reviews (0)

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “8 Days Serengeti Migration Safari – Mara River Crossing 2026”

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

error: