7 Days - Great Migration Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara

Jambo and welcome to Tanzania!

Your safari begins as you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where our warm Serengeti Steppe representative will be waiting to welcome you. From the airport, settle into a comfortable transfer to Arusha, passing through the beautiful landscapes surrounding Mount Meru as you make your way to Njiro Legacy.

Once at the hotel, take your time to settle in and unwind after your journey. Arusha is Tanzania’s safari capital, a lively yet relaxed city that sits at the crossroads of some of the country’s most remarkable wilderness areas. This first evening is intentionally unhurried, giving you a chance to rest, enjoy the peaceful surroundings, and begin settling into the rhythm of Tanzania.

Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a delicious dinner at the hotel before retiring for the night. Tomorrow, the journey moves beyond the city and into the wild, as you set out towards Tarangire National Park and the beginning of your safari adventure.

Your safari adventure begins as you leave Arusha behind and journey towards Tarangire National Park, renowned for its magnificent baobab trees, diverse wildlife, and large elephant herds. As you enter the park, the landscape opens into sweeping savannahs and seasonal wetlands.

Spend the day exploring the park on game drives, keeping watch for elephants moving through the woodland, giraffes browsing among the trees, and lions resting in the shade. Tarangire is also a haven for birdlife, with colorful species adding movement and character to the surrounding wilderness. A scenic picnic lunch in the bush offers a chance to pause and enjoy the atmosphere before continuing your afternoon exploration.

As the day draws to a close, leave the park and continue to Farm of Dreams Lodge, where you can relax, enjoy a comforting dinner, and settle in for the night surrounded by the peaceful landscapes of northern Tanzania.

After a hearty breakfast, leave the highland farmlands behind and journey towards the legendary Central Serengeti. As you descend towards the vast plains, the landscape gradually transforms, opening into the endless grasslands that have made the Serengeti one of Africa’s most iconic wilderness destinations.

Upon entering the Serengeti, begin your first game drive through the Central Serengeti, an area renowned for its year-round resident wildlife. Keep your eyes open for prides of lions resting in the shade, elusive leopards moving through the rocky kopjes, and cheetahs scanning the open plains for their next opportunity. Along the way, pause for a packed lunch surrounded by the sights and sounds of the wilderness.

Continue your game drive into the afternoon before arriving at Friends Serengeti Tented Camp. Settle into camp, enjoy a warm dinner, and relax beneath the vast African night sky as you prepare for another day exploring the Serengeti.

Today, follow the path of the Great Migration as you journey from the central plains towards the remote wilderness of Northern Serengeti. As you travel north, the landscape gradually changes from vast open grasslands to rolling hills, rocky outcrops, and acacia woodlands, creating a beautiful backdrop for the day’s wildlife encounters.

Set out on a full-day game drive, keeping watch for great herds of wildebeest and zebra moving across the plains, along with the predators that follow their movements. Northern Serengeti is one of the most dramatic stages of the migration, particularly when the herds gather around the Mara River and begin their crossings. A hot or packed bush lunch will be enjoyed along the way, allowing you to spend more time in the wilderness.

As the afternoon fades, continue towards Sero Tented Camp, located close to the migration routes. Settle into camp, enjoy a relaxing dinner, and spend the night surrounded by the sounds and atmosphere of the Northern Serengeti.

Spend the morning exploring the northern reaches of the Serengeti, taking advantage of the quieter hours when wildlife is often most active. Continue searching for predators and other wildlife across the rugged northern landscapes, with the possibility of encountering lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, and other species along the way. The dramatic river valleys and surrounding hills provide a striking setting for the morning’s game drive.

Around midday, pause to enjoy a scenic lunch surrounded by the sounds and beauty of the African bush. After lunch, begin your journey south, tracing the migration routes as you make your way back towards the heart of the Serengeti. The changing landscapes offer fresh perspectives and plenty of opportunities for wildlife sightings along the way.

As the afternoon comes to an end, arrive back at Friends Serengeti Tented Camp. Settle in, enjoy a freshly prepared dinner, and relax around the campfire beneath the vast Serengeti sky.

Wake up to the sounds of the Serengeti and begin your morning with breakfast before setting off towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Continue through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area towards the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. Upon reaching the crater rim, pause to admire the breathtaking panorama of the vast volcanic caldera stretching out below. Then begin the spectacular descent, following the winding road down the crater walls and onto the wildlife-rich floor.

Spend the day exploring the crater on game drives, searching for lions, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, hyenas, and other wildlife that thrive within this remarkable ecosystem. This is where you may also encounter the endangered black rhino. Enjoy a scenic picnic lunch on the crater floor before continuing your exploration.

Later in the afternoon, ascend from the crater and continue to Farm of Dreams Lodge for a relaxing evening, dinner, and a well-deserved night of rest.

After breakfast, leave the Ngorongoro Highlands behind and descend towards the Great Rift Valley and Lake Manyara National Park. Though compact in size, the park offers an impressive variety of landscapes, from groundwater forests and open floodplains to the shimmering shores of Lake Manyara.

Set out on your final game drive, exploring the park in search of elephants moving through the forest, giraffes and zebras across the open plains, buffaloes grazing near the water, and the rich birdlife that gathers around the lake. Keep an eye on the trees as well, as Lake Manyara is famous for its tree-climbing lions, although sightings are never guaranteed.

Enjoy a picnic lunch during the day before continuing your exploration. Later, leave the park and begin your onward journey, carrying with you the memories of seven days spent following the Great Migration through some of Tanzania’s most remarkable landscapes.