This nine-day route builds on our standard migration itinerary by adding a third full day in the Northern Serengeti's Mara River region, which is really the main lever for improving your odds of catching a river crossing. You'll still get Tarangire's elephant herds and two full days in Central Serengeti's big-cat territory, just with more time and room to move once you reach the migration's front line in the north.
Safari HighlightsYour guide picks you up from your Arusha hotel or Kilimanjaro International Airport and drives southwest to Tarangire National Park for an afternoon game drive among the baobabs, following the Tarangire River where the park's elephant herds tend to gather.
🏨 Overnight: Tarangire TreetopsLeave early and drive west across the Ngorongoro Highlands, stopping at the crater rim viewpoint, before continuing across the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti's short-grass plains into the Seronera region, with a game drive on the way in.
🏨 Overnight: Serengeti Pioneer CampSpend the day in the Seronera Valley, the Serengeti's most reliable big-cat territory year-round, with strong resident populations of lion, leopard and cheetah among the river courses and granite kopjes.
🏨 Overnight: Serengeti Pioneer CampDrive north toward the Mara River region, tracking the migration's likely position for your travel dates, with game viewing along the way as the landscape shifts to rolling hills and riverine forest.
🏨 Overnight: Kogatende Migration CampSpend the day at vantage points along the Mara River, watching for wildebeest and zebra gathering to attempt a crossing. It's one of the more dramatic things you can watch happen in the wild, when it happens on your dates.
🏨 Overnight: Kogatende Migration CampContinue exploring the remote Kogatende region, with room to follow the herds along a network of lightly used tracks, plus the option of a guided walking safari with an armed ranger.
🏨 Overnight: Kogatende Migration CampA final full day tracking the herds along the Mara River, which is what gives this itinerary its edge for crossing sightings, plus quieter sundowner spots away from other vehicles as the light turns gold in the afternoon.
🏨 Overnight: Kogatende Migration CampAfter a final morning game drive, transfer to the Kogatende airstrip for the flight back to Arusha, with the evening free at your hotel.
🏨 Overnight: Arusha Coffee LodgeA relaxed morning at your lodge before the transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport in time for your departure flight.
✈ Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport| Season | Per Person (sharing) | Group of 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Peak Season (Jul–Sep, late Dec) | $7,780 | $39,680 |
| High Season (Jun, Oct) | $6,820 | $34,780 |
| Low Season (Mar–May) | $5,680 | $28,970 |
July through September is the classic window for Mara River crossings, when the migration typically pushes north in search of fresh grazing. It's also the busiest and priciest time of year to travel, which is part of why we built the extra day into this itinerary. October sees the herds start heading south again, and game viewing usually stays good. Outside those months, the herds are more likely to be in Central or Southern Serengeti, so we adjust the route based on the latest migration reports closer to your travel dates.
Tell us your travel dates and group size — we'll confirm availability and send a tailored quote within 24 hours.