8-Day Mid-Range Serengeti Migration Safari

Welcome to Tanzania! As soon as you land, a friendly Lappet Faced Safaris representative will meet you at the airport and transport you to your accommodation in Arusha. Depending on your arrival time, you’ll have a chance to unwind and prepare for the incredible adventure that awaits you! Arusha is a vibrant city and a crucial hub for safari experiences in northern Tanzania, making it an essential stop for most travellers. Don't miss out on this exciting starting point for your unforgettable journey!

After breakfast, you will be met at your accommodations by your safari guide and then drive to Lake Manyara National Park. This is a relatively small but diverse park situated 120km west of Arusha. The park’s namesake is a shallow salt lake. It covers a large area of the park, floods and dries with the seasons, and is home to thousands of flamingos and over 500 other bird species. During your park explorations, you will see monkeys, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, elephant and, with some luck, lions lounging in the trees. The park is known for its diverse landscapes. It not only has grassy plains, but also primate-filled woodlands and baobab dotted cliffs. After an extensive game drive through the park, you will head towards your nearby accommodations at one of our luxurious, mid-range partner lodges. You lodging has been carefully selected by us for quality. You can dine in an expansive restaurant, relax by the pool, and rest in a spacious and comfortable room.

After breakfast, you will continue towards the fertile highlands where wheat, coffee, and corn are grown by the Iraqw people. Passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will be able to see the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater before traveling onwards to the Serengeti, which you will reach by midday. Serengeti National Park is the largest park in Tanzania. It features diverse landscapes and habitats, such as grassy plains, swamps, lakes, savannah, and mountains. The biggest wildebeest and zebra migration takes place here and, depending on the season, you may witness thousands of animals on their search for food and water. After an extensive game drive, you will head to the lodge for dinner and your overnight stay.

The entirety of today is set aside for game driving in Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti is the habitat for an abundance of wildlife, including impalas, buffalo, crocodiles, and hippos, but is best known for its great migrating herds of zebras and wildebeest. The animals’ trek is determined by the rainfall and varies from year to year. In November and December, the animals move from the northern region, dominated by woodlands and hills, to the grassy plains of the south. During the longer rainy season from April to June, they return to the north. Apart from the migrating herds, you might have the chance to see predators, such as leopards, cheetahs, and lions, always lurking close by.

This will be your final day spent in the Serengeti, or the “endless plain” as it is called in Maa, the tongue of the local Maasai people. This is truly one of the most spectacular places on Earth. Continue to enjoy the wide range of animals and birds. By now you will be an expert! Our guide will make sure to take you to best locations for game viewing. This evening, sip a cocktail and reflect on the majesty of Africa during a relaxing sundowner experience.

After an early breakfast, you will head out for another game drive in the Serengeti. You might be able to spot the “Big Five” – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard – before embarking on your journey to the Ngorongoro Crater. The animals roam freely through the unfenced reserves, offering you an uninterrupted game viewing experience. Arriving at the edge of the crater, you will have your first glimpse of what awaits you the following day – glistening streams, open grassland, and an infinite number of animals. You will have dinner and spend the night at one of our mid-range partner lodges.

After a hearty breakfast, you will drive down the adventurous track into the crater. This UNESCO world heritage site, formed millions of years ago, is 610m deep and covers roughly 260 square kilometres. Due to its dense animal population of approximately 25,000, the crater offers the best game viewing of all the parks in Tanzania. In a matter of minutes, you will be able to see wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, elephants, and some of the more than 500 bird species native to the area. With a little bit of luck, you might catch a glimpse of the endangered black rhino through the grass. After lunch, you will ascend the steep walls of the crater and head to your accommodations at one of our carefully selected mid-range partner lodges in Karatu. You will eat dinner in the expansive and tasteful restaurant, soothe yourself with a swim in the pool, and make the most of your spacious room to fuel your dreams of wild cats!

After breakfast, you will drive to your final destination on this epic safari: Tarangire National Park. Tarangire is well known for its large elephant herds. From the open roof of the vehicle, you will experience the seasonal swamps, savannah, and Tarangire River in search of many animals - including zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, elephant, and giraffe. It's possible that you will catch a glimpse of a lion stalking its prey or leopards watching and relaxing in the trees above. After an extensive game drive through the park, you will head back to Arusha.