7 Days Wildebeest Migration Safari River Crossing
Destinations :
Price from $3100
Itinerary Summary
This 7 Days Wildebeest Migration Safari River Crossing in Tanzania is carefully planned to give you the best opportunity of seeing the Great Wildebeest Migration, including the spectacular crossing of the Mara River. The trip runs from late July to October and takes you from the wildlife-rich Central Serengeti (Seronera) to the secluded Kogatende region in the Northern Serengeti via the Lobo area. It ends with a visit to the beautiful Ngorongoro Crater.
Best time to visit: July to September—peak Mara River crossing season.
Safari highlights include crossing the Mara River, seeing the Big Five in Ngorongoro, predator action in the Serengeti, and seeing elephants in Tarangire.
Ideal for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, and daring tourists looking for a top-tier safari experience during Tanzania’s Great Migration.
TYPE
PRIVATE SAFARI
LEVEL
MID-RANGE
Day by day itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival
Accommodation
Forest Hill Hotel
Meals
Bed & Breakfast
Day 2 : Tarangire National Park
Take a day excursion from Arusha to Tarangire National Park, where a world of amazing wildlife is just a short drive away. Tarangire is known for its huge herds of elephants and beautiful, old baobab trees that grow in the area. It is a great place to go on a safari in a short amount of time. During the dry season, the park comes alive as animals gather around the Tarangire River, which gives vitality to the area. This makes it a great place to see lions, leopards, buffalos, and more than 500 kinds of birds. This place is easy to go to yet quite wild, making it the perfect way to see Tanzania’s natural beauty. You’ll spend the whole day having fun and being amazed before returning to Arusha in the evening.
Accommodation
Farm of Dreams Lodge
Meals
Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner
Day 3 : Drive to Central Serengeti
Start your trip in the beautiful hills of Karatu and end it in the famous, wildlife-rich plains of the Central Serengeti. This safari takes you through stunning scenery, frequently along the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater, before dropping down into the huge golden area of Serengeti National Park. The famous Seronera Valley is where you’re going. It’s the park’s lively center and is known for having a lot of predators and prey all year round. You will spend your days on exhilarating game drives looking for the Big Five in one of Africa’s most famous ecosystems. Here, in the middle of rolling grasslands and beautiful kopjes, you will see the amazing circle of life.
Accommodation
Matawi Serengeti tented Camp
Meals
Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner
Day 4 : Central to Northern Serengeti
Go on a safari that follows the path of the Great Migration itself. You will leave the wide plains of the Central Serengeti and head north through land that gets wilder and wilder, following the trail of more than a million wildebeest and zebra. As you draw closer to the Mara River in the Northern Serengeti, the air is full with excitement. This is where the migration’s biggest event will happen. During the busiest times of year, you spend your days patiently watching the river’s edge, waiting for the moment when instinct wins out over fear and the herd jumps into the fast-moving water, making a sight of pure, wild beauty.
Accommodation
Safari Haven Migration Camp
Meals
Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner
Day 5 : Full Day at Northern Serengeti
A whole day in the Northern Serengeti is like being in one of Africa’s remaining big natural areas. The rhythms of the wild define your experience from dawn to dusk. With wide-open, uncrowded plains and the Mara River, which gives life, as your backdrop, every game drive is a chance to learn something new. Your professional guide will take you through this isolated area, following the movements of animals and explaining the terrain. They will look for big cats on granite kopjes and wait patiently at a river crossing point for the Great Migration’s dramatic display. This is a day of deep connection, when every moment is real, raw, and completely memorable.
Accommodation
Safari Haven Migration Camp
Meals
Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner
Day 6 : Northern to Central Serengeti
This transition from the Northern to the Central Serengeti, which goes south, connects two of the best animal watching areas. After checking out the north’s migratory hotspots, you’ll head to the park’s center area, which is known for its dependable, high-density wildlife watching. The drive itself is a mobile game drive, which gives you an opportunity to see animals in transition. This is a quick and enjoyable way to see the Serengeti’s many different habitats, and it ends in the famous center of African safari stories.
Accommodation
Matawi Serengeti tented Camp
Meals
Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner
Day 7 : Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater to the Airport.
Following breakfast, you will visit the Ngorongoro Crater, which UNESCO has named the Eighth Wonder of the World. When you first see this enormous, lush caldera from the panoramic vantage point, you’ll know why it has such a stellar reputation. With more than 120 animal species, including the legendary Big Five, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the most visited safari locations worldwide. Large herds of hippopotamus enjoying the cold water and endangered black rhinoceroses having a lone meal out of the grass plains may be seen here. For your continued vacation, there will be a road shuttle to Arusha or the airport later in the afternoon.
Accommodation
Own arrangements
Meals
Breakfast & Lunch
Optional Activities
-
Hot-Air Balloon
$550Enjoy Early Morning Balloon flight at the Serengeti
-
Walking Safari
$70Get Closer to nature by doing a Walking safari at Tarangire National Park
-
Night Game-drive
$250Explore wildlife in the bush at night in Lake Manyara A whole new world of animal species (nocturnal) await you on a night game drive
-
Masai Visit
$15Visiting a Maasai village in Tanzania is a fantastic insight into life in Africa
-
Serval Wildife Sanctuary
$250This tour offers unforgettable interactions with these free-roaming animals.
-
Foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro
$100Be immersed in Tanzania's great outdoors on this full-day tour ideal for culture vultures and active travelers in the region
2 PEOPLE
$6200
3 PEOPLE
$
4 PEOPLE
$
5 PEOPLE
$
6 PEOPLE
$
Price inclusions
Price
Includes
- Professional English/any preferred language speaking guide on a private basis
- Airport Meet and Greet with Private Transfers
- All the park’s fees
- Ngorongoro crater service charges
- Safari Jeep 4×4 land cruiser with open roof special for game viewing.
- Accommodation per itinerary
- Meals, full board during on safari (Dinner, breakfast & lunch both Halal Food, Vegan and Vegetarians, Gluten-free dishes)
- Full-game drives in the mentioned parks
- 18% VAT taxes
- Unlimited Drinking Water
- Beer & Wine on Game drives
- Wi-Fi in the Jeep
Price
Excludes
- International flights (from/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tipping – Minimum $10 per person per day.
- Travel Insurance
- Personal Expenses
- Optional Tours that are not in the itinerary such as balloon safari.
- Drinks at the Lodges & Camps if not all Inclusive.
- Domestic Flights
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Mara River Crossing (July to October)
The big herd moves north at this time, heading toward Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Park. There is no set schedule for the animals; we have to keep an eye on them every day as they slowly but surely make their way to their next big test: the Mara River.
Here, the water is the last lethal barrier. To get to the safer side of the river, the herds have to cross fast-moving water and crocodiles that are waiting for them. People come from all over the world to see it, hoping to catch a moment of raw, life-threatening drama on video or in photos.
Even outside of the famous river crossing at Kogatende, the surroundings around it are incredibly beautiful. They are a timeless stage for one of nature’s greatest dramas of life, risk, and regeneration.
Click here to read more about Serengeti Wildebeest Migration
When is the best time to see the river crossing ?
The prime viewing period for the Mara River crossing in the Northern Serengeti (Tanzania) and Masai Mara (Kenya) is from July through October. The exact timing can vary slightly each year based on rainfall patterns, but late July to September typically offers the most reliable action.
Can you guarantee we will see a crossing?
No ethical operator can guarantee a crossing, as it is a natural event driven entirely by animal instinct. However, by visiting during the peak season and spending multiple days in the area with an experienced guide (like our Meijo Safaris experts), you significantly increase your chances. Patience is key, and the anticipation is part of the adventure.
What happens during a typical day of "crossing viewing"?
Days are spent on game drives along the riverbanks. Your guide will communicate with other drivers and read animal behavior to position you at promising locations. You may wait for several hours—a fantastic opportunity for birdwatching and landscape photography—until the herd’s momentum builds and they eventually plunge into the river.
What happens if my international flight to Kilimanjaro (JRO) is delayed ?
Yes. You will always observe from inside your safari vehicle at a safe distance designated by your guide and park rules. Our vehicles are rugged and safe, and our guides are trained to read animal behavior and ensure a secure viewing experience.
Can I extend my trip to Zanzibar ?
Of course! We can easily set up your flight to Zanzibar (ZNZ) from a mainland park airstrip (such as Seronera or Manyara).
Meijo Safaris TripAdvisor Reviews
5.0 rating out of 320 reviews
"Amazing trip"
Recommend this to everyone, Mr. Herman was our guide, and super knowledgeable and professional. He knew where to find every animal we wanted to see and was super punctual. We saw every animal that you associate with Safari, and super close! We stayed at wonderful accommodations with the Camp at Serengeti being the highlight, along with a nice stay with the Maasai at the end of our trip.
Andy – China
"Very happy on a journey!"
This trip is so much fun! Our guides, Jordan and Osman, are very attentive, and the guide to my car is Jordan, who has a very sharp eye for spotting particularly distant animals and always takes us very quickly to the best viewing booth for animals. And I think their service was good. Oh, never let us carry a suitcase once from start to finish, always laughing! And he’ll tell us a lot about their local fun and great driving skills!
Leo – China
"Unforgettable Experience"
We had an unforgettable experience booking our Tanzania safari with Meijo Safaris. From start to finish, the service was seamless, and the team went above and beyond to make the trip truly special. A particular highlight was our incredible guides, Herman and Prays. They were always attentive to our needs, made sure we were comfortable, and consistently impressed us with their professionalism.
On the game drives, their eagle eyes spotted.
Steph – UK
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Why You Should Book With Us?
- Your safety is our Number 1 Priority
- There is no Hidden Costs
- Quickest response time
- Drinks - Coffee, Water, Beer, Wine & Soft Drinks
- We take pride in having knowledgeable, experienced, and genuinely caring guides
- We select Great Accommodations
- We provide high-quality, well-maintained Land Cruisers fitted with a fridge, Wi-Fi, and power outlets
- Hot meals during the most of the safaris
- Local Registered Tour Operator in Tanzania
- Competitive Prices
100% Tailored Safaris
No matter if you’re an individual, couple, family, or group, Meijo Safaris is here to assist you in planning your itinerary and guaranteeing that you have an incredible experience in Africa with complete confidence and peace of mind.
DAUDI MOLLEL
Safari Specialist
Experienced Safari Experts
You will have the opportunity to plan your journey with knowledgeable Safari Specialist who will guide you every step of the way. Embrace a life where you can dedicate more time to living the experience, rather than getting caught up in researching, worrying, and comparing.
Frequently Asked Questions
We receive many queries regarding traveling to this amazing destinations some of which we have tried to answer in our Tanzania Safari Faq's
Safari Packing List
If this is your first time in Tanzania or your first time on safari, this packing list below can help to be well prepared and comfortable during your adventure
Terms & Conditions
Making a booking with Meijo Safaris is taken as acceptance by the customer of these Terms and Conditions