7 Days Unique Wildebeest Migration Mara River Crossing

After breakfast, depart for Serengeti National Park leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa – the Serengeti National Park – with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. Then head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera 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 afternoon game drive in the Serengeti National Park.

• Overnight: Sueños de África Luxury Camp
• Meals plan: dinner, breakfast, lunch

Early morning game drive in Central Serengeti looking for hunting predators, then return to the camp for breakfast. After breakfast depart with picnic lunch and drive towards the North Serengeti for game drive. The great migration is suppose to be in this area from late July to mid-October crossing the famous Mara River to Maasai Mara Reserve in Kenya and back to Serengeti. You will have high opportunity to see them crossing while the crocodiles in the river attack them. The North Serengeti has also lots of big cats, elephants, giraffes, impalas, hippos and it is another good place to see the endangered black rhino. In the late afternoon you will continue to Mara Sero Tented Camp (located in the North Serengeti) for dinner and overnight.

• Overnight: Mara Sero Tented Camp
• Meals plan: dinner, breakfast, lunch

We will proceed for a full day game drive viewing the great migration at Mara area. Resident wildlife numbers are exceptionally high in the Wagakuria area. The key feature is the Mara River and there is a great chance to see the herds cross the Mara River to the north on one day and back south a few days later. Please note that it can be very difficult to witness crossing and is sometimes a matter of luck. A herd can be seen next to river and only decide to cross a couple of days later. This area is a stunning region with kopjes, woodland, riverine vegetation and open plains, similar to Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve. Later back to the Mara Sero tented camp for diner and overnight.

• Overnight: Mara Sero Tented Camp
• Meals plan: dinner, breakfast, lunch

In the morning we will continue with the game drive in northern Serengeti until midday and later slowly game drive en route to central Serengeti and proceed to Ngorongoro Conservation Area or choose an optional activity (with extra cost) – visit Olduvai Gorge museum, a famous archaeological location in East Africa. At Laetoli, located 45 km south of Olduvai gorge, you will find hominin footprints preserved in volcanic rock that dates back 3.6 million years ago and represent some of the earliest signs of mankind in the world. Later head to you camp for dinner and overnight.

• Overnight: Ngorongoro Wild Camp
• Meals plan: dinner, breakfast, lunch

After an early breakfast you will drive down the steep and narrow road that takes you into the crater. The slopes are forested but soon the landscape changes to savannah. Here the wildlife is just breath-taking and with a little luck you can observe the Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard – in just a few hours. You should also see warthogs, wildebeests, zebras, hippos and some of the more than 500 bird species of the area. After a morning dedicated to game viewing and a picnic lunch, you will leave the crater in the late afternoon to drive to Karatu for dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Corridor Lodge.

• Overnight: Ngorongoro Corridor Lodge
• Meals plan: dinner, breakfast, lunch

In the morning you will be picked up from your hotel and head to Lake Manyara National Park. The small park stretches along the 600 m high Rift Valley Escarpment and is dominated by the alkaline Lake Manyara. Many water birds gather at the lake and more than 400 bird species are found in the park. The diverse vegetation provides a habitat for many animals such as monkeys in the forest, giraffes and antelopes on the grasslands and elephants around the acacia trees. If you are very lucky you might also see the Manyara lions, lounging in the trees. In the late afternoon you will leave the park and return to Arusha.