8 Days Wildebeest Migration River Crossing
Destinations :
Price from $3675
Itinerary Summary
This 8 Days Wildebeest Migration River Crossing Safari tour will let you see the raw drama of nature. Safari to see the wildebeest migration as well as the river crossing. This schedule is planned just right so that you have the best opportunity of seeing the heart-stopping moment when thousands of wildebeest and zebra jump into the crocodile-infested waters of the Mara River. It’s sometimes called “The Greatest Show on Earth.”
This Mid-range tourtakes you to the beautiful Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and the boundless plains of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve. You will follow the huge herds as they gather along the riverbanks, looking for the best place to cross.
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 - 8 Days Wildebeest Migration River Crossing
Day 1 : Arrival
Upon arrival at the Airport to begin your 8 Days Wildebeest Migration River Crossing Mid-range Safari tour you will meet your Meijo Safaris guide before making the journey to Arusha. Along the route, take in sights of picturesque landscapes and nearby communities. Photo stops and educational opportunities are available upon request. Before embarking on your excursion, settle into your lodge, unwind.
Accommodation
Forest Hill Hotel
Meals
Bed & Breakfast
Day 2 : Tarangire National Park
Today, your safari guide will take you up from the Arusha hotel and bring you to Tarangire National Park via Maasai fields with acacia trees. Many Maasai in colorful dress graze their cats, ride bicycles, or donkey carts as you race through the park. A game drive awaits at Tarangire National Park.
Tarangire National Park, known for its elephant and baobab populations, covers over 3000 square kilometers. The park is named after the Tarangire River. The Tarangire River is the only source of water for large elephant and other animal populations, thus wildlife concentrations rival the Serengeti during the dry season (June–November). Due to its different habitats and Tarangire River’s permanent water, the park has about 2000 elephants and 500 bird species.
Accommodation
Farm of Dreams Lodge
Meals
Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner
Day 3 : to Central Serengeti
After breakfast, you will depart your lodge early and have a leisurely drive through Tanzania’s magnificent scenery on your way to the Central Serengeti. You will immediately depart for an exhilarating afternoon game drive after arriving in the Serengeti around midday, where you will explore the grasslands and look for animals including lions, elephants, giraffes, and zebras. Following hours of exploration, you will arrive at your lodge or camp early in the evening, settle in, and relax over dinner while taking in the breathtaking sunset over the Serengeti.
Accommodation
Matawi Serengeti tented Camp
Meals
Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner
Day 4 : Central to Northern Serengeti
Following breakfast, we go to the Wagakuria, which is the extreme northern region of Serengeti National Park. On the way from the Lobo region to the Wagakuria region, we will go on a game drive. Elephants, buffalo herds, plain game, and giraffe are frequently sighted as we go north.
Although the Serengeti is home to a wide variety of species, the Great Migration each year is arguably its most well-known event. Extensive numbers of wildebeest, together with antelope and zebra, travel in a yearly rhythm in search of new pasture. Every year, the patterns of rainfall determine the exact time of the Migration.
We go to our partner camp for dinner and sleep after lunch and a long game drive.
Accommodation
Safari Haven Migration Camp
Meals
Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner
Day 5 : Full Day at Northern Serengeti
In order to see the spectacular river crossings that occur during the Great Migration (July to October), begin your day early with a concentrated game drive along the Mara River in the Northern Serengeti. As millions of zebras and wildebeest assemble along the riverbanks, observe them making the treacherous crossing while avoiding lions and crocodiles that are ready to devour them. Following the herds, look for further crossings and predator activity throughout the day after enjoying a bush breakfast by the river. In order to increase your chances of viewing more crossings, pack a lunch in the field and then spend the afternoon investigating various river vantage locations. Before returning to your accommodation for the evening, end the day with a drive at sunset.
Accommodation
Safari Haven Migration Camp
Meals
Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner
Day 6 : Northern to Central Serengeti
Spend the day seeing animals in the Seronera Valley following a leisurely morning drive towards the Central Serengeti. The Seronera Valley is home to a variety of wildlife throughout the year, including ungulates like buffaloes, giraffes, hippopotami, impalas, topi, warthogs, and zebras, as well as carnivores like hyenas, lions, leopards, and cheetahs, which are frequently found on and around these large rocky outcrops because they provide a great vantage point to survey the plains in search of any prey. You will spend the night and dine at our well-selected tent camp.
Accommodation
Matawi Serengeti tented Camp
Meals
Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner
Day 6 : Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro
After an early breakfast, head to the Central Serengeti for a last morning game drive where you can see lions, elephants, and perhaps even a final river crossing if the migration is still going on. After that, begin your drive south toward Ngorongoro Crater, which will take around three hours and include beautiful scenery as you pass through the Ngorongoro Highlands and the expansive Serengeti plains. Arrive in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the afternoon after enjoying a packed lunch on the way. Enjoy breath-taking views of the biggest preserved volcanic caldera in the world as you settle into your lodge on the crater rim. Unwind this evening and get ready for the next day’s thrilling crater game drive.
Accommodation
Ngorongoro Serena Lodge
Meals
Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner
Day 7 : Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater to the Airport.
After breakfast, head to Ngorongoro Crater, the Eighth Wonder of the World. When you see this wide, lush caldera from the panoramic vista, you’ll appreciate its exalted reputation.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, home to over 120 animal species, including the Big Five, is a popular safari destination. The endangered black rhinoceros eating alone on the grass plains and vast numbers of hippopotamus enjoying the cold water are very lovely to observe.
From your open-top car, you may see and photograph Africa’s most famous faces. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, jackals, and hyenas live in the crater, along with wildebeest, zebras, antelope, cape buffalo, and others. One of Africa’s top safari spots.
After the day’s excitement, you’ll have a picnic lunch near the park’s famed hippo pool before driving to the airport to catch your flight home or to Zanzibar.
This will be the end of your 8 Days Wildebeest Migration River Crossing Mid-range Safari tour
Accommodation
Own arrangements
Meals
Breakfast & Lunch
Optional Activities
-
Hot-Air Balloon
$550Enjoy Early Morning Balloon flight at the Serengeti
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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.
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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
$7350
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 on 8 Days Wildebeest Migration River Crossing
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.
Can i get close to the River Crossing ?
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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8 Days Wildebeest Migration River Crossing
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