12 Days Western Serengeti Migration Safari
On this incredible journey, you’ll explore seven of Tanzania’s most iconic destinations: Tarangire (2 nights), Lake Manyara (1 night), Lake Natron (1 night), Central Serengeti (3 nights), Western Serengeti (2 nights), Ngorongoro Crater (1 night), and Lake Eyasi (1 night). The adventure begins and ends in Arusha, guided by our highly skilled and knowledgeable driver-guides. This itinerary promises an unforgettable experience filled with breathtaking landscapes, diverse wildlife, and rich cultural encounters.
Based on migration trends observed over the past few years, the best chance to witness the Great Migration is in the Western Serengeti between May and June. For this reason, we strongly recommend planning this tour during those months to maximize your chances of seeing this awe-inspiring natural phenomenon.
Tour Plan
Day 1
Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Your adventure begins with a 7:30 AM pickup from your hotel in Arusha, heading out to Tarangire National Park with a packed lunch for a full day of wildlife viewing. Famous for its massive baobab trees and the seasonal Tarangire River, this park offers one of the best elephant sightings in Africa. Alongside elephants, you might spot lions, leopards, cheetahs, kudu, buffalo, oryx, giraffes, zebras, and more. After a thrilling day in the wild, you’ll head to your lodge or tented camp for a hearty dinner and a restful evening.
Day 2
Full Day in Tarangire
After breakfast around 8:00 AM, you’ll set off on a full-day game drive through the varied landscapes of Tarangire, which boasts nine distinct vegetation zones. Towering baobabs dominate the scenery, and the life-giving river attracts large numbers of elephants, antelopes, giraffes, and predators. The park’s high elephant population offers a unique opportunity to observe their fascinating behavior up close. Enjoy a scenic picnic lunch during your game drive. You’ll return to your lodge/camp in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3
Lake Manyara National Park
Depart at 7:30 AM for Lake Manyara National Park, arriving with picnic lunches for a full day of exploration. The park welcomes you with its lush woodlands of acacia and mahogany and is home to animals such as baboons, blue monkeys, giraffes, buffaloes, and impalas. If luck is on your side, you may even spot the famous tree-climbing lions. In the right season, the lake becomes a pink spectacle with flocks of flamingos. After your game drive, return to your lodge/camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 4
Lake Natron
Following breakfast at 8:00 AM, depart for the strikingly surreal Lake Natron, about a 3.5-hour drive away. This shallow, alkaline lake is a key breeding ground for lesser flamingos. After checking in and relaxing, join a Maasai guide for a walk along the lake’s shore in search of flamingos and other birdlife. The evening ends back at your lodge or camp with a warm meal and time to unwind.
Day 5
Lake Natron to Central Serengeti
Rise early for a scenic hike with a Maasai guide to the Ngare Sero Waterfalls, where you can enjoy the cool mist and rocky beauty. After breakfast, begin your journey to Serengeti National Park, passing through diverse landscapes and local villages. You’ll enter the Central Serengeti by afternoon and embark on a game drive across the endless plains, keeping an eye out for wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, and predators. Enjoy a picnic lunch during the drive, then settle in for dinner and overnight at your lodge or tented camp.
Day 6
Days 6 & 7: Central Serengeti
These two days are dedicated to discovering the Seronera region of the Central Serengeti. You may choose to start with an early morning game drive at 6:00 AM followed by breakfast and an afternoon outing, or opt for a full-day safari with a packed lunch, starting around 9:00 AM. The Seronera area, with its year-round water supply, is rich in wildlife including lion prides, leopards, hyenas, and herds of herbivores. Your evenings conclude with a delicious dinner and a peaceful night under the stars.
Day 7
Central to Western Serengeti
After breakfast or an optional early game drive, set out toward the Western Serengeti with a packed lunch. As you transition from central to western regions (like Grumeti and Kirariwa), expect to see herds of wildebeest migrating between May and June. The journey offers more wildlife sightings, including zebras, topis, elands, and hippos. Depending on your arrival time, you may have a chance to visit the Grumeti River, known for its Nile crocodiles and rich wildlife. Dinner and overnight at your Western Serengeti lodge or camp.
Day 8
Western Serengeti
Explore the Western Serengeti today with options for either a full-day or split game drive (early morning and afternoon). May to mid-June is prime time for witnessing the wildebeest migration in this region. Watch as herds brave the Grumeti River, facing strong currents and lurking crocodiles—one of nature’s most dramatic spectacles. Keep your camera ready as you enjoy a picnic lunch on the go. The day ends with a satisfying dinner and overnight rest.
Day 9
Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Begin with a morning game drive in the Serengeti before traveling toward Ngorongoro. You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch en route and continue through changing landscapes until you reach your accommodation near the crater. Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest unbroken volcanic caldera and teems with wildlife. Dinner and overnight at your lodge near the crater rim.
Day 10
Ngorongoro Crater to Lake Eyasi
Start early with a quick breakfast before descending into the Ngorongoro Crater around 6:30 AM. A 5-hour safari on the crater floor offers incredible opportunities to see lions, elephants, rhinos, hippos, and more in this self-contained wildlife haven. After lunch at the scenic Hippo Pool, ascend and drive to Lake Eyasi. Time permitting, enjoy a walk along the lake’s shores to observe flamingos and birdlife. Dinner and overnight at your lodge near the lake.
Day 11
Lake Eyasi to Arusha
At 5:30 AM, head out for a unique cultural experience with the Hadzabe tribe—the last true hunter-gatherers of East Africa. Join them in their early morning activities such as hunting, foraging, and fire-making. Later, visit the Datoga people, known for their metalwork and livestock-keeping traditions. After a fascinating morning, begin your drive back to Arusha, arriving in the late afternoon, bringing your unforgettable safari to a close.
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