8-Day Safari · 4 comfort levels
From
$3,640
per person
Indicative prices per person for 2 adults sharing a private vehicle. Your written quote confirms the final price.
The longest stay in the north of any of our crossing safaris: four nights around the Mara River, after Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and Central Serengeti.
Begin among Tarangire's remarkable elephant herds and ancient baobabs, explore the wildlife-rich floor of the Ngorongoro Crater, travel across the legendary Serengeti plains, then spend several days in the north searching for the Great Migration and its dramatic Mara River crossings.
Rather than visiting the Northern Serengeti for a night or two, this itinerary gives you four nights there. That means more chances to follow the herds, watch their behaviour, take photographs and wait patiently at authorised viewing areas when conditions look promising.
The safari focuses on the Kogatende and Lamai areas, where the Mara River forms part of the migration route. Your guide weighs up recent wildlife movements, the roads and which areas are accessible under park rules before deciding where to spend your time.
The Great Migration is much more than one river crossing. Along the way, you may see enormous herds of wildebeest, zebras travelling with them, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and many birds. Even if a crossing doesn't happen during your visit, the north offers exceptional wildlife and dramatic landscapes.
Best months to travel: Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct
The route stays the same at every level. What changes is where you sleep, how you travel and how much is arranged for you.
From $3,640per person
$455–$555 per day · $3,640–$4,440 for 8 days
A comfortable, well-organised safari with excellent wildlife viewing and good value, without paying for extensive luxury services.
From $6,040per person
$755–$1,200 per day · $6,040–$9,600 for 8 days
Upgraded lodges and premium tented camps with stylish interiors, excellent dining and attentive hospitality, while the safari stays focused on wildlife.
From $10,400per person
$1,300–$2,200 per day · $10,400–$17,600 for 8 days
Exceptional camps and lodges with premium suites, refined cuisine and personal service, chosen for location and exclusivity.
From $18,400per person
$2,300–$5,000 per day · $18,400–$40,000 for 8 days
Created for special celebrations and discerning travellers. Inclusions are tailored to the property and flights you choose, because not every camp offers every service.
These are indicative private-safari planning ranges per person, based on 2 adults sharing one private safari vehicle and a room. They are not confirmed quotations.
Your final cost depends on your travel dates, the number of guests, camp availability, flight fares and the exact services you choose. Camps near the Mara River can sell out early in the crossing season, so we confirm your price and accommodation in writing before you pay a deposit.
To request a price for one traveller or a group of three to six, select your group size in the booking box and Ombeni will quote you directly.
Your private vehicle and guide are shared only by your own party, so the more of you there are, the less each person pays.
Day 1
When you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, or from your hotel in Arusha if you are already in Tanzania, your guide welcomes you and briefs you on your route, the wildlife and safety. You then travel to Tarangire National Park, known for its large elephant populations, giant baobabs, seasonal swamps and wildlife-rich river valley.
After the park-entry formalities, you begin your first game drive. Your guide helps you search for elephants feeding beneath the baobabs, giraffes browsing on acacia trees, zebras and wildebeest on the plains and antelopes near water. You may also find lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, warthogs, baboons and many birds.
Tarangire is especially rewarding in the dry season, when animals often gather around reliable water. After a picnic lunch and an afternoon in the park, you travel to your accommodation in the Tarangire area for dinner.
A wonderful introduction to Tanzania's wildlife.
Day 2
After breakfast, you leave for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend into the world-famous crater. Where the schedule, permits and arrangements allow, we aim for an early descent, potentially around 6am, to make the most of the morning.
The crater has grasslands, woodland, wetlands and a soda lake. Your guide searches for lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles and hyenas. It is also one of the places where you have a chance of seeing the endangered black rhino, although a sighting can never be promised. Depending on conditions, you may see flamingos and other waterbirds, as well as eagles, vultures and ostriches.
After a picnic lunch at a designated site and more game viewing, you climb out of the crater and travel to your lodge in the Karatu area or the highlands, where the air is cooler.
Black rhino country, with flamingos on the soda lake if you're lucky.
Day 3
After breakfast, you travel from the highlands towards Serengeti National Park, across open plains and past scattered settlements. Your guide explains how the landscape and seasonal rainfall influence animal movements through the year.
You continue to Central Serengeti, an area of savannah, rocky kopjes, riverine habitats and resident wildlife. It offers excellent chances to see lions on rocky outcrops, giraffes crossing the plains, elephants in the woodland and herds of zebra, wildebeest and gazelles. You may also search for leopards in the trees and cheetahs on the open grassland.
After a picnic lunch and an afternoon game drive where timing allows, you reach your camp or lodge. Over dinner, your guide explains the next stage of your journey and where the herds seem to be heading.
A day on the central plains on your way north.
Day 4
After breakfast, you set out for the Northern Serengeti, watching wildlife as the land changes from central plains to northern hills, woodland and rivers. Your guide balances game viewing with reaching the north in good time.
As you approach the Kogatende or Lamai area, the focus shifts to the Great Migration. Your guide looks for concentrations of wildebeest and zebra, fresh tracks and other signs of recent movement. If the herds are nearby and conditions allow, you may visit authorised viewing places along the Mara River to see whether crossing activity is developing.
Crossings are unpredictable, so you may search several areas rather than wait in one place. Even without one, you can still enjoy the beautiful scenery and wildlife of the north. You arrive at your camp or lodge for dinner, ready for two full days with the herds.
Your first look at the Mara River.
Day 5
Today is dedicated to the Great Migration. After breakfast, you leave with your guide for a long game drive to find the herds and assess conditions at the river. The route depends on recent sightings, where the herds are, the roads and access to the designated crossing areas.
A crossing can begin suddenly after a long period of hesitation. Wildebeest may gather along a bank, move backwards, scatter across the plains or wait for others before attempting to cross. Your guide explains this behaviour and why patience and time in the right area are so important.
If a crossing develops at an authorised viewing point, you may see hundreds or even thousands of wildebeest moving down the bank and into the river, sometimes with zebras alongside them. Strong currents, steep banks and crocodiles make it a dramatic natural event. When the herds aren't crossing, you explore the surrounding plains and riverine habitats. Lunch is a picnic at an authorised place, away from the riverbank.
Learning to read the herds, with your guide beside you.
Day 6
You enjoy another full day in the north, with a second big opportunity to follow the migration. Having several nights here is valuable, because crossing activity can be concentrated in one area while other parts of the river stay quiet.
After breakfast, your guide reviews recent sightings and chooses the most promising areas. You may return to a known crossing area, explore a different part of the plains or spend time with a large herd as it grazes and moves.
If the wildebeest approach the river, your guide positions the vehicle within the designated viewing area, so you can watch them gather and see whether they commit to crossing. Wildlife viewing is always done responsibly, without approaching or blocking the animals. If there is no crossing, you can look for predators, watch elephants and giraffes and enjoy the varied birdlife.
A second day of following the herds, wherever they go.
Day 7
You have another morning in the Northern Serengeti to look for migration activity and watch wildlife near your camp. This extra day offers more flexibility if the herds have been moving between river sections, and you don't have to rush into a long transfer.
Your guide checks the latest reports and decides whether to revisit a promising crossing area or explore another part of the north. You may find large herds of wildebeest and zebra, elephants, giraffes and predators looking for opportunities among the grazers.
After lunch, the afternoon is yours to plan. You can relax at camp, enjoy more game viewing where permitted or take a shorter drive nearby. If you are flying the next morning, your guide and the camp team can confirm your departure and baggage arrangements.
One more morning with the herds, then an easy afternoon.
Day 8
You enjoy breakfast at camp and, depending on your departure, a short final game drive if the flight schedule, park rules and transfer times allow. We leave it out if it risks delaying your flight.
If you fly back, you transfer to the airstrip, commonly Kogatende, for your scheduled flight to Arusha or another available airport. This is generally the most convenient option if you want to avoid a long drive, and it can also suit travellers continuing to Zanzibar, subject to confirmed schedules.
If you prefer not to fly, you can return by road with your private vehicle and guide. The drive to Arusha is long and can take much of the day, depending on your camp, the roads and the stops you make.
A last morning in the north before heading home.
Pick your comfort level, then choose a stay for each part of the route. Your choices go with your booking request. Ombeni confirms availability and your final price, and suggests a similar stay if one is full.
Your nights on this trip
Night 1
Tented lodge
Just outside Tarangire's western boundary, near Sangaiwe Gate
A tented lodge in a wildlife management area on Tarangire's western edge, about ten minutes from Sangaiwe Gate. A waterhole near the lodge draws passing animals, and there are views towards Lake Burunge.
What you can do here
Tented lodge
Between Tarangire and Lake Manyara
A tented lodge on open grassland between Tarangire and Lake Manyara, around 20 minutes from the Tarangire gate. Raised tents look out towards the lake and the Rift Valley escarpment.
What you can do here
Treehouse lodge
Randilen Wildlife Management Area, next to Tarangire
Twenty treehouse rooms set among marula and baobab trees, in a wildlife management area outside the national park. That location allows night drives and bush walks, which aren't possible inside Tarangire.
What you can do here
Luxury tented camp
South-western Tarangire National Park
A small camp of canvas tents inside the national park, in Tarangire's south-west at the edge of the Gurusi wetlands. The tents overlook a waterhole, so wildlife can come to you between game drives.
What you can do here
Luxury tented lodge
Burunge Wildlife Management Area, between Tarangire and Lake Manyara
An intimate lodge of eight tented suites on a private concession between Tarangire and Lake Manyara, including a two-bedroom family suite. Being outside the national parks means you can walk and drive at night as well as take game drives.
What you can do here
Night 2
Garden lodge
Karatu, Ngorongoro Highlands
A relaxed lodge set in about eleven acres of gardens in Karatu, the highland farming town between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater. It is a short drive from the Ngorongoro gate, so it works well before or after a day in the crater.
What you can do here
Lodge on a working coffee farm
Karatu, Ngorongoro Highlands
A lodge on a coffee farm in the Karatu highlands, close to the Ngorongoro Crater. The farm also grows vegetables and keeps livestock, which gives the place a warm, rural feel after a day in the park.
What you can do here
Lodge on the crater rim
Ngorongoro Crater rim
Built into the rim of the crater, with traditional decor and sweeping views over the crater floor. Sleeping on the rim puts you close to the descent road for your morning game drive.
What you can do here
Large lodge on the crater rim
Eastern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater
A large lodge on the quieter eastern rim of the crater, with its rooms set around a central swimming pool. Your Ngorongoro stay here comes with views over the crater floor.
What you can do here
Simple lodge near the crater rim
Ngorongoro Crater rim
A simple, good-value lodge in the forest close to the crater rim, with 24 en-suite rooms. It puts you close to the crater for much less than the bigger rim lodges.
What you can do here
Mid-range tented camp
Ngorongoro Highlands
A mid-range tented camp in the highlands, close to the descent road into the crater, which suits an early start.
What you can do here
Lodge on a coffee farm
About 20 minutes from Karatu
A lodge on a large coffee farm, about 15 minutes from the Lodoare gate of the conservation area, with a pool and evening campfires.
What you can do here
Lodge on a working coffee farm
Edge of Karatu town
A lodge on an active coffee farm at the edge of Karatu, with rooms in private cabins, a pool and a spa.
What you can do here
Mid-range lodge
Karatu
A mid-range lodge of cottages and spacious tents in landscaped gardens, with a pool, a bar and a restaurant.
What you can do here
Mid-range hilltop lodge
Hilltop near Karatu
A comfortable mid-range lodge on a scenic hilltop near Karatu, with a pool, a lounge and a restaurant.
What you can do here
Good-value cottage lodge
Eastern edge of Karatu town
Affordable cottage-style rooms at the edge of Karatu, about 30 minutes from both the crater and Lake Manyara.
What you can do here
Good-value lodge
Karatu
A comfortable and affordable lodge in Karatu, offering a good base for exploring the crater.
What you can do here
Cottage lodge
Karatu, near the Ngorongoro Crater
A lodge of private cottages at the edge of Karatu, close to the village of Rhotia and about 30 minutes from the Ngorongoro gate. Each cottage has its own veranda, making it a restful stop between Tarangire and the crater.
What you can do here
Colonial-style manor on a coffee estate
Karatu Highlands
An elegant manor house on a large Arabica coffee estate in the Karatu highlands, just outside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Guests stay in private suites set in cottages around the grounds.
What you can do here
All-inclusive luxury lodge
Ngorongoro Highlands
An all-inclusive lodge of spacious cottages set in lush gardens, a calm base in the highlands for your crater day.
What you can do here
Historic working coffee farm
Near Karatu, on the slopes of the Ngorongoro highlands
A working farm with roots going back to 1929, set among gardens and coffee on the forested slopes below the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Guests stay in private cottages, and much of the food comes from the farm.
What you can do here
Luxury forest lodge
About 15 minutes from Karatu town
A luxury lodge on forested land near Karatu, with secluded cottages that have fireplaces and private decks overlooking the trees.
What you can do here
Lodge on a working coffee plantation
Karatu
A stylish lodge on a working farm and coffee plantation, with rooms and suites spread through park-like gardens around a large pool.
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Farmhouse-style lodge
Karatu, about 15 minutes from the Lodoare gate
A farmhouse-style lodge of suites on about 40 acres, with views of the Oldeani Mountains and a pool.
What you can do here
Cottage lodge among coffee plantations
Between Rhotia and Karatu
A lodge of cottages surrounded by coffee plantations and forest, each with a private veranda and a fireplace.
What you can do here
Colonial-style lodge on a coffee plantation
Karatu highlands
An upper mid-range lodge on a working coffee plantation above Karatu, built in the style of old colonial farms, about 30 minutes from the Lodoare gate.
What you can do here
Luxury lodge on the crater rim
Ngorongoro Crater rim
A rebuilt lodge on the rim of the crater, reopened in 2023 on the site of one of the first lodges at Ngorongoro.
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Boutique camp of dome tents
Slopes of Olmoti volcano, north of the crater
A small Asilia camp of eight dome-shaped tents, inspired by Maasai homes, on the slopes of Olmoti volcano. Each has a wood-burning stove against the cool highland nights.
What you can do here
Ultra-luxury lodge on the crater rim
Ngorongoro Crater rim
One of Africa's most celebrated lodges, with opulent suites on the crater rim and breathtaking views over the crater floor. It is closed for a major rebuild and due to reopen in 2027, so we confirm availability for your dates.
What you can do here
Night 3
Small tented camp
Seronera, Central Serengeti
A small tented camp in the Seronera area, in the heart of the Serengeti and close to the airstrip. That makes it a practical base for a final game drive before you fly back to Arusha.
What you can do here
Mid-range tented camp
Central Serengeti
A comfortable tented camp in the heart of the Serengeti, well placed for game drives in the central park.
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Hillside tented lodge
Central Serengeti
Spacious tents raised on wooden platforms on a ridge overlooking the central plains, about half an hour from Seronera. It is a comfortable base for the Seronera Valley, with big views from the camp.
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Hilltop lodge
Central Serengeti
A lodge perched on a hill above the plains, blending African architecture with modern comfort, with a swimming pool and wide views.
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Classic park lodge
Heart of the Serengeti
A classic lodge in the heart of the park, built around a rocky outcrop.
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Tented lodge
Central Serengeti, about 24 km from Seronera Airstrip
A safari-tented lodge in Central Serengeti, a comfortable base for game drives around Seronera.
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Tented camp
Makoma Hill, Central Serengeti
A tented camp at the foot of Makoma Hill, south-west of Seronera, about 45 minutes from the airstrip.
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Luxury tented suites
Eastern Serengeti
A boutique camp of canvas suites in the eastern Serengeti, each with a private deck and plunge pool. The area is known for excellent predator viewing, particularly cheetah.
What you can do here
Tented camp
Seronera Valley, Central Serengeti
A tented camp in a secluded part of the Seronera Valley, one of the Serengeti's best areas for big cats.
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Upscale safari lodge
Nyaburo Hills, Serengeti
A large new lodge on the Nyaburo Hills, built on the site of the former Serengeti Sopa Lodge, with rooms and suites overlooking the plains.
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Luxury lodge
Nyamuma Hills, above the Mbalageti valley
A luxury lodge of 50 rooms overlooking the Mbalageti River valley, with a pool facing the park, under an hour from Seronera Airstrip.
What you can do here
Small semi-permanent camp by Asilia
Just north of the Moru Kopjes
A small camp of eight luxury en-suite tents in a lesser-visited part of the Serengeti, with easy access to Seronera and the southern plains.
What you can do here
Classic 1930s-style camp
Moru Kopjes, south-central Serengeti
A camp of 12 tents on a kopje overlooking the Moru Kopjes and Lake Magadi, inspired by the mobile safari camps of the 1930s.
What you can do here
High-end safari lodge
Central Serengeti
A high-end lodge in the central Serengeti with luxurious suites, an infinity pool, a spa and excellent service, close to prime wildlife areas.
What you can do here
Nights 4, 5, 6 and 7
Seasonal mobile tented camp
Northern Serengeti, near Kogatende
A simple, wild mobile camp of about 11 tents, around 20 minutes from Kogatende airstrip. It is set up in the north for the migration months, and wildlife can pass through the camp itself.
What you can do here
Seasonal mobile tented camp
Northern Serengeti, about 25 minutes from Kogatende airstrip
A mobile camp of comfortable en-suite safari tents, which spends the crossing months near the Mara River and moves south to Ndutu for the calving season.
What you can do here
Luxury tented suites
Wogakuria Hills, Northern Serengeti
A lodge of 15 glass-fronted tented suites set among boulders in the Wogakuria Hills, each with a plunge pool. It is about 45 minutes from Kogatende airstrip and closes in April and May.
What you can do here
Permanent luxury tented camp
Wogakuria, Northern Serengeti
A permanent camp on a hillside overlooking plains and acacia woodland, not far from the Mara River. Every tent has a deck with sunken seating and its own hot tub.
What you can do here
Ultra-luxury tented camp
Lamai Wedge, on the Mara River
A small camp of six tented suites on the northern bank of the Mara River, in the Lamai Wedge at the northern tip of the Serengeti. It is close to the crossing points and closes for part of the rainy season.
What you can do here
High-end mobile camp by Asilia
Ndutu from December to March, the Mara River from June to November
An intimate camp of nine tents that moves between the far north and Ndutu to follow the herds. Stargazing tents give wide views from your bed, so the plains stay with you through the night.
What you can do here
Small high-end mobile camp
Ndutu from December to March, Kogatende from July to October
A small mobile camp of just a few canvas tents that moves through the year with the migration, settling at Ndutu for the calving season and at Kogatende for the river crossings.
What you can do here
High-end mobile tented camp
Moves with the migration
A high-end mobile camp that moves through the year to follow the Great Migration. We confirm its position for your dates, so that it suits your route.
What you can do here
For the best balance of wildlife and comfort, choose your accommodation not only by its comfort level but also by its location relative to the herds and the northern airstrip. Convenient camps are in high demand during peak season, so we recommend booking early.
If your main priority is the Mara River crossing, the most important investment is time in the north, a knowledgeable guide and a flexible approach. Even with excellent planning, a crossing is a natural event and can't be guaranteed.
No responsible safari operator can guarantee that a crossing will happen on a particular day, at a particular time or in front of a particular vehicle. The migration is a natural event, not a scheduled show. Herds may gather for hours, turn back or cross at another point.
The best approach is to stay in the north during the season, travel with an experienced guide and allow time for patient watching. At designated crossing points, vehicles must follow park rules, stay in permitted viewing areas and avoid blocking the animals.
If no crossing happens, the Northern Serengeti still offers huge herds, predators and beautiful scenery.
The main crossing season generally runs from July to October. Here is what normally happens each month, although the herds follow the rain and the grazing rather than a calendar.
| Month | What to expect |
|---|---|
| July | The season begins. The first large herds may reach the north, although crossings can be irregular early in the month. |
| August | A peak month. Large herds may gather around the river, making it a favourite for migration photography. |
| September | Excellent potential. Herds continue moving across the north and into Kenya, so crossing points can change. |
| October | Late-season opportunities. Crossings can continue as some herds move between Tanzania and Kenya, while others begin heading south. |
| November | The end of the season. Most of the migration gradually moves towards the southern Serengeti. |
July to October is a popular season, and well-placed camps and flights in the north can sell out, so we recommend booking 6 to 15 months ahead. To receive an accurate quotation, tell us your travel dates, number of travellers, preferred comfort level, room-sharing arrangements and whether you will arrive at JRO, ARK or an Arusha hotel.
Still have questions? Ask Ombeni directly on WhatsApp.
Free, no-fluff guides from the people who run the trips.
Where to go, when to travel, what a day looks like and what it costs — everything you need to plan a northern Tanzania safari.
Read guide →Safari · 8 min readA month-by-month guide to the wildebeest migration — calving in the south, the Mara River crossings in the north, and everything in between.
Read guide →Safari · 8 min readTanzania's flagship park — endless plains, the Great Migration and the finest big-cat viewing in Africa.
Read guide →Ready to go?
Indicative prices per person for 2 adults sharing a private vehicle. Your written quote confirms the final price.
From
$3,640
per person
