8-Day Tanzania Migration Safari-Mara River Crossing
On this 8-day Tanzania Migration Safari you will visit the Serengeti National Park which is home to the world’s largest movement of animals, often called the “Great Migration.” More than 1.7 million wildebeest, 500,000 zebra and 200,000 antelope make their way from Ndutu region of the southern Serengeti (to see the great show on earth of wildebeest crossing the Mara river) northward through the whole length of the “endless plains”, Tarangire National Park together with the multi-faceted jewel (Ngorongoro Crater), often overlooked by safari goers.
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport
Distance: 45km /50Mnts
Joagro Safaris Tanzania team will meet you at the Airport and drive to the Hotel in the heart of Arusha City ready for the next day experience in Tanzania. On this day, you will be packed with safari briefs on the general safari plan, accommodations and confirmation of the exactly time you will be picked up to start in the next day.
Day 2: Arusha-Tarangire National Park
Distance: 130km
Non – game viewing time : 3 – 4 hrs
After breakfast at the hotel in Arusha the tour departs at 7:30am. First stop is Arusha Shoppers for any last minute purchases before we head off on safari. Afterwards we head towards the Tarangire National Park for a game drive with picnic lunch at the park. Tarangire is well known for its huge elephant population and baobab trees. It forms the center of an annual migratory cycle that includes up to 3000 elephants, 25,000 wildebeest and 30,000 zebras. Dinner and overnight at Bougainvillea Safari Lodge
- MEALS:Breakfast | Lunch |Dinner
- ACCOMMODATION: Bougainvillea Safari Lodge
Day 3: Tarangire-Ngorongoro Crater-Serengeti
Distance: 51km
Non – game viewing time: 50 – 1 hr.
After an early breakfast, you will drive to Ngorongoro and descend over 600 meters into the crater to view wildlife supported by a year round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro conservation Area supports a vast variety of animals, which include herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants. Another big draw card to this picturesque national park, it’s dense population of predators, which include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the ever-elusive leopard, which sometimes requires a trained eye to spot. We will visit Lake Magadi, a large but shallow alkaline lake in the southwestern corner, which is one of the main features of the crater. A large number of flamingos, hippos and other water birds can usually be seen here. Then heard to the Nothern part of the park area, known as the Kogatende area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park in the month of July and August, featuring the Mara River. Arrive on time for dinner and overnight.
- MEALS: Breakfast | Lunch |Dinner
- ACCOMMODATION: Serengeti Heritage Central
Day 4: Serengeti National Park central to North
Distance: 380km
Time 6-7 Hrs
After breakfast, depart for a deep game drive to North Serengeti across the Mara River chasing the migration and the river crossing – the Serengeti National Park – with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. Then heard to the Northern part known as the Kogatende area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Mara River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti’s species. Arrive in time for lunch and enjoy an evening game drive in the Serengeti national park. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Heritage Lodge Kogatende
- MEALS: Breakfast |Lunch |Dinner
- ACCOMMODATION:Serengeti Heritage Lodge Kogatende
Day 5: Serengeti National Park Full Day-North
Distance: 00km
Non – game viewing time: 10 – 30Mnts.
Early morning game drive to North Serengeti. This will be a second full day game drive in the northern Serengeti with dinner and overnight at Serengeti Heritage Lodge in the northern Serengeti.
- MEALS: Breakfast | Lunch |Dinner
- ACCOMMODATION:Serengeti Heritage Lodge
Day 6: Balloon flight and Drive to Central Serengeti
Wake for breakfast, picked up for a hot air balloon safari in the Kogatende area to experience Serengeti from the sky in the area. This will be a half day game drive in the northern Serengeti following the wildebeest migration heading to central Serengeti for dinner and overnight at Serengeti Heritage Lodge in the central Serengeti.
- MEALS: Breakfast | Lunch |Dinner
- ACCOMMODATION:Serengeti Heritage Lodge
Day 7: Serengeti to Karatu via Olduvai Gorge
On this day, you will drive from Serengeti National Park with a game on the way to Karatu for dinner and overnight. You will visit the world famous archaeological site of Olduvai Gorge known as the Cradle of Mankind. The earliest remains of homo sapiens were discovered here by Mary Leaky and anyone with an interest in mankind’s ancestors will be fascinated by this extraordinary place. Explore the quaint little museum and marvel at the rugged landscape. This paleoanthropological site in the eastern Serengeti Plain is a steep-sided ravine composed of two branches that have a combined length of about 48 km and are 90 meters deep. Deposits exposed in the sides of the gorge cover have yielded a treasure trove of fossil remains.
- MEALS: Lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast
- ACCOMMODATION: Bougainvillea Safari Lodge
Day 8: Lake Manyara National Park
Distance: 15km
Time: 30Mnts-1hrs
The tour leaves for Lake Manyara National Park at 9:00 a.m. following breakfast at the resort. Admire stunning views and a wide range of habitats in Lake Manyara National Park. Woodlands covered with Acacia, water forests, cliffs scattered with baobabs, hot springs spotted with algae, marshes, and the lake itself. And because of this, a great variety of animal species and an amazing bird life can be found in the little park. In addition to having the world’s highest population of baboons, Manyara is also known for its very skilled lion climbers. Take a drive to Arusha, where the 8-Day Migration Safari concludes, for dinner and an overnight stay.
8-Day Migration Safari Includes:
- Guarantee price/guarantee Safari on confirmation
- Full board accommodation while on Safari
- Meal plan as described, B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner on Safari
- Services of skilled and experienced driver/guide
- All park entrance fees including government taxes
- Extensive Game Drives in the National Parks
- Crater tour services
- 3 meals per day while on safari- vegetarian & non vegetarian
- Travel/flying doctors rescue services.
- Drinking water 5 Ltr per person per day
- Safari transport by 4 x 4 Land Cruiser (6 seat) with a roof hatch that ‘pops up’ to enable easy viewing and photography.
8-Day Migration Safari Excludes:
- Airport departure Tax
- Personal & baggage insurance
- Balloon Safari
- laundry services
- Optional travel insurance
- Health requirements (you are entering a Malaria area)
- Medical and trip cancellation insurance
- Shuttle Bus Transfer apart from Airport pick up / drop off
- Excess baggage or shipping charges
- Tips or Gratitude
- Personal Toiletries and items of a personal nature
- Beverages/Drinks (Available upon request)
- International flights
- Visas
- Optional activities/excursions
- Any other extras not detailed in the above itinerary
What you need to bring:-
- Personal spending money
- Additional toiletries if allergic
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent.
- Enough film for your cameras and chargers for type G Sockets as they are widely used in Tanzania.
- Light clothes for day wear
- Warm jacket/pullover/sweat-shirt/fleece for the chilly evenings and mornings
- Sneakers, walking boots or sandals.
