5-Day Lodge Safari from Zanzibar
Zanzibar Arusha Tarangire Serengeti Ngorongoro Arusha Zanzibar
From, per person$2,292
Tanzania safari
5-Day Mara River Migration Safari
Overview
Between about July and October, the wildebeest herds reach the far north of the Serengeti, where the Mara River stands between them and fresh grazing. No two crossings look alike: some herds stream over in minutes, others mass on the bank for hours and then turn back. Crocodiles wait in the water and big cats watch from the banks. The whole point of this short safari is to give you two full days in that northern stretch of the park.
Getting there is part of the plan. You start with a full day in the Ngorongoro Crater, sleep on the rim, cross the central Serengeti the next day and keep heading north. At the end, a flight of about an hour from the Kogatende airstrip takes you back to Arusha, so there is no long drive south to finish.
Tanzania Tourism Safaris guides the trip privately in a 4×4 Land Cruiser, with upscale lodges on the way north and a luxury tented camp near the river. Local drinks come with your meals, and the return flight is included in the price.
Tour highlights
- Two full days beside the Mara River
- River crossings, usually July to October
- A full Ngorongoro Crater game drive on day one
- A night on the crater rim, then the central Serengeti
- Return flight from Kogatende to Arusha included
- Local drinks included with meals
Day by day
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Day 1 Arusha to the Crater Floor Stay Upscale lodge or tented camp on the Ngorongoro Crater rimMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Your guide collects you from your accommodation in Arusha in the morning and heads west across the Rift Valley and up into the Ngorongoro highlands. Descend about 600 meters (2,000 feet) into the crater by 4×4 and spend the day on the floor, with a hot picnic lunch along the way. Lions, buffalo, hippos, zebra and wildebeest are regular sights, and black rhino live here in small numbers. Late in the afternoon, climb back out to your lodge on the rim.
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Day 2 Down to the Plains and Into the Serengeti Stay Upscale lodge or tented camp in the central SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, follow the road down from the highlands onto the open grasslands and into Serengeti National Park. The rest of the day is one long game drive through the central region, where the Seronera valley and the Moru Kopjes hold big cats all year. Your guide will scan the rocks for lions, the trees for leopards and the open grass for hunting cheetahs. You arrive at your lodge or camp with time to freshen up before dinner.
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Day 3 Northbound to the Mara River Stay Luxury tented camp in the northern Serengeti, near the Mara RiverMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Pack a picnic lunch and set off north, game viewing as the scenery shifts from flat plains to rolling hills, rocky outcrops and patches of woodland. Even before the herds arrive, the north has its own resident wildlife, including lions, elephants and giraffes. You reach camp near the Mara River in the late afternoon, with time to sit by the campfire and hear the day’s news from other guests before dinner.
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Day 4 A Full Day at the Crossing Points Stay Luxury tented camp in the northern Serengeti, near the Mara RiverMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spend the whole day in the Kogatende area, where herds tend to build up along the banks of the Mara. Your guide parks at a respectful distance and waits; patience matters more than anything else here. Herds often cross back and forth, and different groups may move in opposite directions on the same day, so a quiet morning can turn busy within minutes. Between crossings, look for crocodiles, hippos and the predators trailing the herds.
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Day 5 Flight From Kogatende to Arusha Meals Breakfast, Lunch
Enjoy a last breakfast at camp, perhaps with one more look at the river, then transfer to the Kogatende airstrip. The flight to Arusha takes about an hour and gives you a final view of the Serengeti from above, the plains you crossed by road now spread out below the wing. Your safari ends on landing in Arusha. Let us know your onward plans when you book, so your transfer can be timed around them.
Prices by season
Per person in US dollars. The price depends on when you travel and how many travelers share the trip.
| Season | 1 traveler | 2 travelers | 4 travelers | 6 travelers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low season 1 Mar – 31 May | $4,965 | $3,310 | $2,818 | $2,626 |
| High season 1 Nov – 20 Dec and 6 Jan – 29 Feb | $5,227 | $3,484 | $2,967 | $2,764 |
| Peak season Now 1 Jun – 31 Oct and 21 Dec – 5 Jan | $5,808 | $3,872 | $3,297 | $3,072 |
Tour price includes
- Pickup in Arusha, airport meet and greet, and private transfers
- Private 4×4 Land Cruiser for game drives (up to 7 travelers)
- English-speaking local guide
- Accommodation for 4 nights as described
- Breakfast daily, plus lunches and dinners as listed for each day
- Local alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
- Flight from Kogatende to Arusha
- National park and conservation area fees and taxes
- All activities in the itinerary
- Departs with a minimum of two travelers
Tour price excludes
- International flights
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Souvenirs and other personal spending
Questions about this safari
When do the Mara River crossings happen?
Usually between July and October, though the herds can arrive a little earlier or stay later depending on the rains. Nobody can promise a crossing on a particular day. Two full days near the river give you a fair chance, and your guide will follow reports from other guides to find the most active spots.
Where does day one start?
With a morning pickup from your accommodation in Arusha, because the crater takes up the whole first day. Most travelers fly in the day before. Send us your arrival details and we will quote a night in Arusha and the airport transfer so you are rested and ready to leave.
How does this compare with your 7-Day Great Migration Safari?
Both are aimed at the Mara River crossings. The seven-day safari adds Tarangire and drives all the way back from the north by road. This trip is shorter, begins with the Ngorongoro Crater and saves you the long return drive by flying out from Kogatende.
Before you go
Where you will go
Parks on this safari
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