11-day Northern Tanzania Migration Safari

Overview
Itinerary
Cost Info

Overview

This 11-day Northern Tanzania Migration Safari offers an unforgettable journey through the region’s most iconic wildlife destinations. Beginning in Arusha, you’ll travel through the diverse landscapes of Tarangire National Park, famed for its elephants and baobabs. Next, descend into the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater—home to Africa’s densest predator populations. Continue to the vast Serengeti Plains, where the Great Migration unfolds, offering dramatic wildlife scenes. You’ll explore Central and Northern Serengeti, renowned for big cats and dramatic Mara River crossings. The itinerary includes carefully selected luxury lodges and tented camps, ensuring comfort, incredible views, and immersive bush experiences. With professional guides, full-board meals, and daily game drives, this photographic safari is a dream for wildlife lovers and photographers alike.

Itinerary

Itinerary Expand All

Day 1
Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport – Arusha
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you'll be met by your private guide and driven to your hotel in Arusha, nestled beneath Mount Meru. The Mountain Meru Hotel offers a calm and elegant atmosphere, ideal for relaxing after your international flight. Take time to recover, explore the manicured gardens, and enjoy the hotel’s excellent amenities including spa treatments or the pool. If time permits, you may explore Arusha town, visit a local market, or enjoy coffee at a nearby plantation. Your guide will provide a detailed briefing about the safari ahead. The evening ends with a delicious dinner, featuring local and international cuisine. Enjoy the serenity of this gateway city, knowing that tomorrow, your wild adventure begins.

Accommodation: Mountain Meru Hotel

Meals: Full Board
Day 2
Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Depart Arusha after breakfast and journey to Tarangire National Park, arriving by midday. The park is well known for its massive elephant population and majestic baobab trees. After settling in at your luxury lodge, enjoy a gourmet lunch before heading out for your first game drive. You’ll wind through woodlands and savannahs along the Tarangire River, a magnet for wildlife during the dry season. Herds of zebra, wildebeest, impala, buffalo, and giraffe gather here—often followed by lions and leopards. Birdlife is also prolific, making this an excellent spot for bird photography. Your guide will provide expert insights into animal behaviors and help you capture the best angles. Return to your lodge for sundowners overlooking the plains, followed by a campfire dinner under the stars.

Accommodation: Maramboi Tented Lodge or Tarangire Treetops Lodge

Meals: Full Board
Day 3
Tarangire to Ngorongoro Crater
Today’s journey takes you from Tarangire to the Ngorongoro Highlands, with a scenic drive through rural villages and dramatic landscapes. En route, stop at a Maasai village or a local market for cultural engagement. After reaching the crater rim, check into your lodge—perched on the edge of the world’s largest inactive volcanic caldera. After lunch, descend 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The crater floor is a wildlife paradise: dense populations of lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, and hippos roam this natural enclosure. Enjoy a picnic lunch beside a hippo-filled lake, then continue your game drive. This is one of the few places in Africa where you might see all "Big Five" in one day. Return to the lodge for a sunset view from above the crater, followed by dinner and stargazing

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Melia Lodge or Lions Paw Camp

Meals: Full Board
Day 4
Ngorongoro to Central Serengeti
After breakfast, depart for Serengeti National Park via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Enjoy breathtaking views as you cross grasslands, forests, and ancient volcanic plains. You may spot Maasai herders tending cattle alongside wildlife. Upon arrival at Serengeti’s Naabi Hill Gate, stop for lunch and stretch your legs. From here, begin your first Serengeti game drive. This central area, known as Seronera, is rich in permanent water sources and thus teems with wildlife—lions, cheetahs, leopards, and massive herds of herbivores. Arrive at your luxury lodge or camp in time for sundowners with panoramic views of the plains. After a chef-prepared dinner, relax by the fire and listen to the wild night calls that make the Serengeti magical.

Accommodation: Sametu Luxury Camp or Grand Melia Serengeti Lodge

Meals: Full Board
Day 5–6
Central Serengeti Exploration
Spend two full days exploring the Central Serengeti—a region famous for its year-round predator activity and the Great Migration. Rise early for a sunrise game drive, when big cats are most active. Witness dramatic lion hunts, cheetahs stalking prey, and elephants grazing among kopjes. Depending on the season, you may see columns of migrating wildebeest and zebras. Optional hot air balloon rides offer a unique aerial perspective (advance booking required). Return to camp for brunch and a mid-day rest before heading out for an evening drive when light is perfect for photography. Your expert guide will help you find and frame the best wildlife moments. At the lodge, unwind at the spa or infinity pool before enjoying a three-course dinner and storytelling under the stars.

Accommodation: Grand Melia Serengeti Lodge

Meals: Full Board
Day 7–9
Central Serengeti to Northern Serengeti
Begin the scenic drive to Northern Serengeti, following the route of the wildebeest migration. This less-visited region offers pristine landscapes and river crossings where dramatic scenes unfold: herds plunging into crocodile-infested waters, followed closely by predators. Over the next three days, enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in areas near the Mara River. Northern Serengeti is known for raw, untamed beauty—acacia woodlands, rolling hills, and wide-open spaces. Capture thrilling images of elephants, lions, giraffes, and elusive leopards against golden backdrops. Between drives, enjoy bush breakfasts, sundowners, or a walking safari guided by armed rangers. The luxury camps offer comfortable, eco-conscious accommodations with personalized service and gourmet meals. Fall asleep to the distant roar of lions and the whooping calls of hyenas.

Accommodation: Malaika Luxury Camp or Nimali Mara Camp

Meals: Full Board
Day 10–11:
Return to Central Serengeti – Departure
After breakfast, drive back to Central Serengeti for your final two nights. Use this opportunity to revisit your favorite wildlife areas or explore new parts of the park. Central Serengeti is active year-round and offers excellent chances to photograph lions resting on kopjes, herds of elephants bathing in muddy waterholes, and dramatic birdlife in the acacia trees. Enjoy flexible game drives tailored to your interests—perhaps focus on big cats, birding, or iconic landscape shots. On Day 11, after a morning game drive and breakfast, transfer to the Seronera airstrip for your scheduled flight to Arusha. Upon arrival, you may have access to a dayroom or light meal before your international flight home. Your unforgettable journey across Tanzania’s northern circuit ends with rich memories, extraordinary photographs, and the desire to return.