11 Days Great Migration Safari (Northern Serengeti First)
Built for travelers who want to be at the Mara River when it matters, this long-form, northern-first itinerary prioritizes the Northern Serengeti immediately after Kenya so you can target potential crossings when herds push through rocky channels guarded by massive crocodiles. Starting in Nairobi, the route paces through Amboseli’s elephant plains beneath Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Naivasha’s freshwater bird haven, and the predator-laden Masai Mara before crossing via Isebania into Tanzania to base for two unhurried nights in the north. You then reposition to Central Serengeti to work the Seronera river system’s big-cat territories, descend into Ngorongoro Crater’s wildlife amphitheater, traverse Lake Manyara’s groundwater forests for tree-climbing lions and prolific birdlife, and finish among ancient baobabs and elephant megaherds in Tarangire.
The sequence deliberately stacks your highest-stakes migration shots first: by sleeping in the Northern Serengeti upon arrival from the Mara, you maximize back-to-back days along prime crossing loops while retaining time for Central’s year-round predator density. Private 4x4s, specialist guides, and handpicked camps near the action keep the days nimble and the sightings frequent. The pace is field-focused—long morning and late-afternoon drives when light is clean—with logistical transitions timed to avoid wasting golden hours.
Accommodations are selected for location and reliability: in Kenya you stay close to the best viewing corridors and in Tanzania you split between Northern and Central Serengeti for coverage and diversity, then decompress on the Crater highlands before your finale in Manyara and Tarangire. For photographers and migration purists, this routing hits the notes that matter, when they matter.
Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi – The Heron Portico Hotel
Land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) where our representative expedites your transfer to The Heron Portico Hotel. Depending on arrival time, stretch your legs on a short city orientation or relax and recharge. In the evening, your lead guide conducts a deep-dive briefing on migration behavior, regional route options, daily start times, photography windows, and practicals like charging, layering and dust management so you hit the ground ready.
Overnight in Nairobi. Dinner on own arrangement.
Day 2: Nairobi to Amboseli – Elephants & Kilimanjaro Views
After breakfast, push south to Amboseli, where open pans and swamp-fed marshes stack encounters with elephants, buffalo, hippo, giraffe, and lions—often with the ice-capped dome of Kilimanjaro floating behind. Settle in at Amboseli Sopa Lodge for lunch, then roll out for golden-hour viewing as dust and light combine for moody silhouettes and tight portrait work near water sources.
Dinner and overnight at Amboseli Sopa Lodge.
Day 3: Amboseli to Lake Naivasha – Rift Valley Water & Birds
Begin with a dawn loop for predators and bull elephants, then climb north to the Great Rift Valley, dropping onto the lawns of Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort. After lunch, decompress on the lakeshore or opt for a boat ride among hippos and fish eagles—short-range, eye-level photography that contrasts nicely with savannah scenes—and wrap with a soft-light stroll through the acacia grounds.
Dinner and overnight at Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort.
Day 4: Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara – Apex Predators & Open Plains
Drive to Masai Mara and check in at Mara Sopa Lodge before your first sweep across the reserve. The Mara’s big-cat density is the heartbeat of Kenya’s safari, with prides on termite mounds, leopards near fig-lined creeks, and cheetahs using termite mounds as vantage points. As the sun drops, expect layered skies and backlit dust for dynamic frames.
Dinner and overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge.
Day 5: Full Day in Masai Mara – Predators, Herds & Culture
A full day allows you to work river loops and short-grass plains methodically, tracking hunts and scanning crossings when season aligns. Between drives, pause at the lodge for meals and rest; optionally visit a Maasai village to understand the culture that has coexisted with these wildlife systems for generations. Late-day light favors silhouettes with distant storm lines and elephants in profile.
Dinner and overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge.
Day 6: Masai Mara to Northern Serengeti – River Crossing Zone
Depart with packed lunches for the Isebania border, complete formalities, and press straight into the Northern Serengeti. This is where the Great Migration tightens along the Mara River’s rocky bends, the stage for heart-in-mouth crossings as wildebeest and zebra challenge deep channels patrolled by enormous crocodiles. Roll a sunset drive along classic loops before checking in at Northern Serengeti Safari Haven.
Dinner and overnight in the Northern Serengeti.
Day 7: Full Day Northern Serengeti – Mara River Crossings
Dedicate the entire day to crossing patrols—patiently cycling river entry points, reading herd pressure, wind, and noise to anticipate movement. The drama is raw and unscripted; sometimes a single bull leads thousands into the water, sometimes the herd mills for hours. Predators add edge: lions on rocky spines, leopards in riverine tangles, and crocs stationed like armored gates. Your guide manages positioning to balance ethics and angles, maximizing safe, unobtrusive views.
Dinner and overnight at Northern Serengeti Safari Haven.
Day 8: Northern to Central Serengeti – Seronera Big Cats
After a final morning circuit in the north, pivot south through rolling savannah and kopje fields toward the Seronera core, where permanent water and resident plains game sustain lions, leopards, and cheetahs year-round. Arrive for lunch at Signature Serengeti Luxury Tented Camp or Serengeti Safari Haven, then work afternoon loops along the river system and granite domes for stalking sequences and cub activity.
Dinner and overnight in Central Serengeti.
Day 9: Serengeti to Ngorongoro – Full Crater Descent & Karatu Highlands
Exit Serengeti at first light and descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a long, uninterrupted game drive. Within this volcanic caldera, you’re immersed in a high-density mosaic: black rhino along the Lerai woodlands, big buffalo herds pushing across the flats, tuskers in swamp margins, and lions sprawled beside reedbeds. After a picnic by the hippo pool, ascend to the highlands for cooler air and sweeping valley views.
Overnight at Marera Valley Lodge or Africa Safari Rift Valley.
Day 10: Lake Manyara – Groundwater Forests & Cultural Add-Ons
Drop to Lake Manyara for a half-day run through fig forests and acacia woodlands where baboon supertroops, elephants, and tree-climbing lions headline alongside flocks of waterbirds along the lakeshore. Optional cycling loops and a tasting walk in Mto wa Mbu add color to the day before you return to your lodge to reset and pack for the finale.
Overnight at Marera Valley Lodge or Africa Safari Rift Valley.
Day 11: Tarangire – Baobabs, Elephants & Departure (JRO)
Finish strong in Tarangire, where ancient baobabs anchor sweeping views and the Tarangire River concentrates elephant herds and attendant predators, especially late in the dry season. After a focused half-day drive, transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your onward flight, closing a tightly engineered migration-led journey through the region’s apex ecosystems.
End of services.
Rates Per Person (USD)
| Group Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 Pax - Solo Traveler | On Request |
| 2 Pax | On Request |
| 3 Pax | On Request |
| 4 Pax | On Request |
| 5 Pax | On Request |
| 6 Pax | On Request |
| 7+ Pax | On Request |
Valid until May 29, 2027
Language Guides Available
- ✓ English-speaking guide (included)
- ✓ Arabic-speaking guide (included)
- ✓ Spanish-speaking guide (included)
- ✓ French-speaking guide ($50 per day extra)
- ✓ German-speaking guide ($50 per day extra)
- ✓ Other languages ($100 per day extra)
Included
- ✓ All national park & conservation fees (Kenya & Tanzania)
- ✓ Private 4x4 safari vehicles with professional guide(s)
- ✓ Accommodation as specified or similar
- ✓ Full board on safari (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- ✓ Bottled drinking water in vehicles throughout
- ✓ Unlimited game drives as per program
- ✓ All ground transfers incl. airport meet & greet
Excluded
- ✗ International flights & entry visas (Kenya & Tanzania)
- ✗ Comprehensive travel insurance (highly recommended)
- ✗ Optional hot-air balloon in Serengeti (USD 550 pp)
- ✗ Boat safari at Lake Naivasha; Maasai village visit
- ✗ Alcoholic beverages & premium drinks; laundry; personal items
- ✗ Gratuities for guides and lodge staff
- ✗ Items not explicitly listed as included
