Migration Crossing Safari, safari route in Tanzania

7 Days / 6 Nights

Migration Crossing Safari

Front row to the river crossing.

Duration

7 Days / 6 Nights

Safari Style

Migration

Pace

Active, with long drives north and patient waiting at the river

Price From

From $3,050 per person

Approximate conversion. Final pricing is confirmed in USD.

Overview

Seven days that push north to the Mara River when the herds are stacking up on the bank.

A river crossing is not a scheduled event. Thousands of wildebeest gather on a bank, hesitate for hours, and then go all at once, or turn around and walk away. Being there for it takes position, patience and a guide who is willing to sit still.

This route drives north through the Serengeti in stages, using the transitional days for wildlife rather than treating them as travel, and puts you in the Kogatende and Mara River region for a full day dedicated to crossing action and the predators working the margins.

The return runs back south through the park toward the Ngorongoro side, so the last days keep producing rather than turning into a highway. It is the most demanding itinerary in this collection, and the most talked about afterwards.

Scenes from this safari journey: Migration Crossing Safari

When to Travel

Best July to October, during the peak river-crossing phase of the Great Migration in the northern Serengeti.

Itinerary & highlights

  1. Day 1

    Arrive in Arusha

    Arrive in Arusha, overnight and meet your guide for a briefing on where the herds are sitting and how that shapes the week.

  2. Day 2

    A transitional wildlife day

    A full day of game viewing en route, often via Tarangire or the central Serengeti approach depending on herd position and road conditions.

  3. Day 3

    Central Serengeti

    Continue to the central Serengeti with game viewing along the way, including resident lion prides, kopje leopards and plains game across the valley.

  4. Day 4

    North to the Mara River

    Move north toward the Kogatende and Mara River region, watching the landscape change from open plain to rolling northern hills as the herds thicken around you.

  5. Day 5

    Crossing day

    A full day in the northern Serengeti focused on crossing action and predator movement, positioning at the river bends and waiting for the herds to commit.

  6. Day 6

    Begin the journey south

    Start the return through the Serengeti toward the Ngorongoro side, with game drives filling the day rather than simply covering ground.

  7. Day 7

    Return to Arusha

    A final morning of wildlife viewing before the drive back down through the highlands to Arusha.

Trip highlights

  • Two nights positioned near the Mara River
  • A full crossing day held open for the herds
  • Central Serengeti resident game before the north
  • Elephant herds in Tarangire on the way west

Add-ons available

Optional extras you can add to this trip.

What's Included

Included

  • Private 4x4 vehicle and professional guide
  • All park and conservation area fees
  • Midrange accommodation
  • Meals as specified in the itinerary

Not Included

  • International flights
  • Tanzanian visa fees
  • Tips for guides and camp staff
  • Alcoholic drinks

Shall we hold your dates?

Every departure is private, so your safari runs on your calendar. We can stretch, shorten or reroute it before a single deposit is paid.