10-Day Great Wildebeest Migration & Lake Natron

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1:  Arusha – Tarangire National Park After breakfast at your hotel, you will depart for Tarangire National Park. Tarangire National Park is famous for its massive baobabs and large herds of elephants. Tarangire National Park is small but still home to a significant wildlife population with a density of wildlife matched only by Ngorongoro. You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch during your safari drive and have plenty of time to explore the national park, stop to observe the wildlife, and take photos. Your dinner and overnight stay will be at Maromboi Tented Lodge.

Day 2: Lake Manyara National park

Following breakfast, you will leave for a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. There is a profusion of wildlife in this small national park, and the amazing bird-watching experience will certainly be rewarding to both a devoted and first-time bird watcher. It is also among the few places on the African continent to see the tree-climbing lions that will be your main quest for the day. Manyara in addition prides in a large flock of beautiful pink flamingos found near the lake. You will have lunch at a picnic site. You will have dinner at the lodge, then return for a night game drive into the park again. Your dinner and overnight stay will be at Escarpment Luxury Lodge.

Day 3: Lake Manyara – Lake Natron

After breakfast, you will head to Lake Natron. Just past Mto wa Mbu, you’ll leave the asphalted road, and along the East African Rift Valley, the drive continues on adventurous slopes. The drive leads past Maasai villages and the holy mountain of the Maasai, the Ol Doinyo Lengai. As soon as the Maasai village Ngare Sero comes into sight, it is not far from the lake. The outlet Lake Natron is the home of a remarkable variety of birds, in particular about 2.5 million dwarf flamingos, the lake serves them as a regular breeding ground. The water is strongly saline and the basis of life for unicellular algae and bacteria, which are responsible for the planar red-brown to purple-violet coloring of the lake. The area around Lake Natron is one of the most beautiful and unspoiled regions in Africa. You will make a hike to the lake and then you will visit the nearby waterfalls, a true oasis with awesome waters to swim. You’ll stay overnight at an African Safari Camp Lake Natron.

Day 4: Lake Natron – Northern Serengeti National Park

After an early breakfast, you’ll head towards the Serengeti. On adventurous slopes, it goes the Rift Valley up into the wide plains of the Serengeti. The park was already founded in 1951 and is thus the oldest one in Tanzania. Here is the heart of a vast ecosystem, whose species-rich animal world is unique in the world. Together with the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, the Serengeti National Park is one of the largest natural migration systems for wild animals. Annually between the three mentioned conservation areas over 1.4 million gnus, almost 300,000 Thomson’s gazelles, about 200,000 zebras, and several thousands topis with the rainy seasons to the areas with the greener and lush meadows. With about 3 million larger mammals, the Serengeti is the national park with the richest wildlife worldwide. You’ll enjoy a game drive en route to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay at Lobo Wildlife Lodge.

Day 5: Northern Serengeti National Park – Full-Day Game Drives

After breakfast, you will proceed for a full-day game drive viewing the great migration at the Mara area. Resident wildlife numbers are exceptionally high in the Wagakuria area. The key feature is the Mara River and there is a great chance to see the herds cross the Mara River to the north on one day and back south a few days later. Please note that it can be very difficult to witness crossing and is sometimes a matter of luck. A herd can be seen next to the river and only decides to cross a couple of days later. This area is a stunning region with kopjes, woodland, riverine vegetation, and open plains, similar to Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve.

DAY 6: Northern Serengeti to Central Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, you will depart the camp with your picnic lunch and proceed with your game drive along the Lobo, Mbuzi Mawe, and Central Serengeti for more game viewing. Today you will be looking for lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, and giraffes. You will stop for lunch at the picnic site. Then, you’ll continue to Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Campfor dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 7: Central Serengeti National Park Full-Day Game Drives

This will be a full day of game driving around the Serengeti. Depending on the time of year and the location of the great migration herds, you may see huge numbers of wildebeest, big cats, hyenas, and other predators near to them—looking to hunt an easy meal. All year round you can see elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, monkeys, baboons, hippos, rhinos, antelopes, and many birds and other species of animals. Your dinner and overnight stay will be at Serengeti Katikati Tented Lodge.

Day 8:  Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater

Today, you will be led for a walking safari in the heart of Serengeti, you will be escorted by an armed park ranger and tread in the same land as lions, elephants, and giraffes. The walking is a way to experience the bush while out of the jeep. Here you will be looking for small things like animal trucks, animals dropping, insects, plants, and their medicinal uses. You will return to the lodge for brunch and continue with your game drive en route to Ngorongoro. Your dinner and overnight stay will be at Rhino Lodge.

Day 9:  Ngorongoro Crater

After an early breakfast, you will descend to the crater for a full day of game viewing. The crater teems with zebras, buffaloes, lions, wildebeest, baboons, elephants, flamingos, ostriches, hippos, and also the rare black rhinos. The beautiful colors and dancing clouds make the crater almost surreal. Because of its natural beauty, the Ngorongoro Crater is chosen as one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders. In the late afternoon, you will drive back to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 10:  Maasai Village Tour then Back to Arusha

Your day will start with a pick-up from your hotel to the outskirts of Maasai village. You will be welcomed by the local guide. These local guides are always knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the community, so they will be in a position to give you the best social and economic aspects of the community members. There are many activities to choose from. However, you will be able to maximize them and do most of them. Be ready with the camera to take memorable photos, and make sure that you have questions along the way, as the guide will be happy to answer them. After this tour in the afternoon, your driver guide will drive you back to Arusha at the end of your tour.

Safari package INCLUDES

• Transfers in both directions between the International Airport and Arusha
• Two  nights’   accommodation in Arusha town which is night before your tour and after your tour.
• Extended 4 x 4 luxury safari jeep with pop up roof for game viewing
• Professional safari guide and well speaking English.
• Professional safari cook Entrance fee for all national parks.
• Accommodation at basic camping during the safari full board
• Camping fees at all national parks.
• Ngorongoro Crater fees
• 18% VAT to our entrance fees.
• All Government taxes,
• Free WIFI  in  safari  jeep
• Unlimited  drinking water.
• Flying  doctor  Services.

Safari Package EXCLUDES

• Tanzania Visa
• Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
• Optional Tours (balloon rides USD. 550 per person), should be booked in advance
• Tips and gratuities to your safari guide and cook