8 Days Great Migration Safari
from $4,500 per person
This 8 Days Great Migration Safari Tanzania is designed for travelers seeking an unforgettable wildlife adventure across Tanzania’s legendary safari destinations. The journey takes you into the vast plains of the Serengeti National Park, where you can experience the spectacular seasonal movements of wildebeest, zebra and other wildlife, alongside exciting game drives and exceptional predator sightings. The safari also includes the remarkable Ngorongoro Crater, offering opportunities to explore one of Tanzania’s most iconic wildlife areas and encounter the Big Five. With carefully planned routes, comfortable accommodation and experienced safari guidance, this 8-day Great Migration safari combines incredible wildlife, dramatic landscapes and immersive game-viewing experiences for a memorable Tanzania safari adventure.
Safari Details: 8 Days Great Migration Safari
Overview
Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights
Destination: Northern Tanzania
Safari Type: Great Migration & Wildlife Safari
Start Point: Arusha, Tanzania
End Point: Arusha, Tanzania
Main Activities: Game drives, Great Migration viewing, Serengeti safari, wildebeest and zebra viewing, Big Five wildlife viewing, Ngorongoro Crater safari, scenic drives, birdwatching
Accommodation: Luxury, Mid-range, or Budget Lodge/Camp
Best Time to Visit: The best period depends on the part of the Great Migration you want to experience; June to October is generally favorable for dry-season wildlife viewing, while other months offer different migration and wildlife experiences
The 8 Days Great Migration Safari Tanzania is designed for travelers seeking an immersive wildlife adventure through some of northern Tanzania's most iconic safari destinations. The journey places the Serengeti National Park at the heart of the experience, combining extended game drives with opportunities to observe wildebeest, zebra, predators, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, and other wildlife across the park's diverse landscapes. The safari also includes the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater, creating a varied itinerary that combines Great Migration experiences, Big Five wildlife viewing, dramatic scenery, and some of Tanzania's most celebrated safari destinations.
Northern Tanzania is one of East Africa's most renowned wildlife regions, with extensive grasslands, woodlands, wetlands, volcanic landscapes, and seasonal water sources supporting a remarkable diversity of wildlife. Depending on the season and location, travelers may encounter large herds of wildebeest and zebra, lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, hippos, antelopes, and numerous bird species. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, and the location of the Great Migration changes throughout the year, but the Serengeti provides exceptional opportunities for experiencing Tanzania's wildlife in its natural environment.
This 8-day Great Migration safari itinerary provides additional time to explore the Serengeti compared with shorter Tanzania safari packages. Spending multiple nights in the Serengeti allows for more flexible game drives and greater opportunities to explore different wildlife areas rather than focusing the entire journey on long road transfers. Depending on the final routing, the itinerary can combine Serengeti National Park with Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, or other northern Tanzania destinations.
The Serengeti National Park is the centerpiece of this Great Migration safari. Its vast plains, woodland areas, kopjes, seasonal rivers, and diverse habitats support large populations of herbivores and predators. Game drives provide opportunities to explore different parts of the park while searching for lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, and other wildlife.
The Great Migration is a natural, seasonal movement rather than a single event that occurs in one location throughout the year. The movements of wildebeest, zebra, and other grazing animals change according to rainfall, food availability, water and other environmental conditions. For this reason, the safari can be planned around the areas where migration activity is expected during your travel dates, although exact wildlife locations cannot be guaranteed.
Depending on the season, travelers may have opportunities to witness large concentrations of wildebeest and zebra, predator activity around migrating herds, or other stages of the annual migration cycle. The northern Serengeti and Mara River region can become particularly significant during parts of the year, while the southern Serengeti and surrounding plains are important during other stages of the migration. Any river-crossing experience is naturally unpredictable and should never be treated as guaranteed.
The Ngorongoro Crater provides another major highlight of the journey. This spectacular volcanic caldera contains a diverse ecosystem where wildlife can often be observed against dramatic crater walls and open grasslands. A crater game drive adds a different experience to the Serengeti's expansive plains and creates opportunities to encounter large mammals, predators, birds, and other species within a distinctive volcanic landscape.
Where included in the itinerary, Tarangire National Park adds another dimension to the safari. The park is known for its large elephant populations, ancient baobab trees, seasonal wetlands, and varied wildlife habitats. Game drives can provide opportunities to observe elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, buffaloes, birds, and other wildlife, with the experience varying according to the season.
Beyond wildlife viewing, this 8 Days Great Migration Safari Tanzania allows travelers to appreciate the landscapes and natural environments that make northern Tanzania a renowned safari destination. Depending on the selected itinerary, travelers may experience different Serengeti ecosystems, enjoy scenic drives, visit local communities or cultural attractions, and combine the wildlife safari with additional experiences before or after the main northern circuit.
The safari can be arranged in different accommodation categories to suit individual preferences and budgets. Luxury lodges and tented camps can provide enhanced comfort and prime locations near wildlife areas, while mid-range and budget accommodation can offer practical options for travelers seeking a more accessible Tanzania safari experience.
Whether you are searching for an 8 day Great Migration safari, a Tanzania Great Migration safari, an extended Serengeti safari, or an itinerary combining the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, this journey provides a flexible way to explore northern Tanzania's wildlife and landscapes. The itinerary can also be adjusted according to your travel dates, preferred accommodation level, safari style, and the areas of the migration you want to explore.
With extended time in the Serengeti, opportunities to follow seasonal wildlife movements, exciting game drives, the remarkable Ngorongoro Crater, and the possibility of exploring other northern Tanzania destinations, the 8 Days Great Migration Safari Tanzania is designed for travelers seeking an immersive East African wildlife experience built around one of Africa's most remarkable natural spectacles.
Detailed Itinerary: 8 Days Great Migration Safari
Day 1: Arusha – Tarangire National Park
After breakfast at your hotel in Arusha, meet your professional safari guide and begin your 8 Days Great Migration Safari Tanzania with a scenic drive toward Tarangire National Park.
The journey takes you through the landscapes of northern Tanzania, passing local villages, cultivated farmland, open plains and traditional Maasai communities. As you approach Tarangire, the scenery changes to woodland, grassland and seasonal wetlands.
Enter Tarangire National Park and begin your first game drive of the safari. The park is renowned for its large elephant populations, iconic baobab trees and diverse wildlife habitats.
During your game drive, you may encounter elephants, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, warthogs and numerous bird species. Lions and other predators may also be encountered depending on wildlife movements and conditions.
Your safari guide will explain the park's ecosystems, wildlife and conservation importance while helping you identify animals and birds along the way.
Continue with your game drive before proceeding to your lodge or tented camp for check-in and relaxation.
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in or near Tarangire
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Tarangire National Park – Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, leave Tarangire and begin your journey toward the legendary Serengeti National Park, the heart of your Great Migration safari in Tanzania.
Travel through the scenic landscapes of northern Tanzania and, depending on the route, pass through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area before continuing toward the Serengeti.
As you approach Serengeti National Park, the landscape gradually opens into vast grasslands, rolling plains and acacia-dotted scenery. These ecosystems support some of Africa's largest concentrations of wildlife.
Enter the Serengeti and begin an en-route game drive toward your accommodation.
Keep watch for wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, giraffes, elephants, buffaloes and other wildlife. Lions, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas may also be encountered depending on the area, season and current animal movements.
Your guide will explain the Serengeti ecosystem and the seasonal movements of the Great Migration, helping you understand how wildlife moves across this vast landscape.
Continue to your lodge or tented camp, check in and enjoy your first evening in the Serengeti.
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Full-Day Serengeti Great Migration Safari
After an early breakfast, set out for your first full day of exploring Serengeti National Park.
This is one of the highlights of your 8 Days Great Migration Safari Tanzania, giving you more time to explore the Serengeti and search for the wildlife that makes this ecosystem internationally renowned.
Your safari guide will select suitable game-viewing areas according to the season, road conditions and recent wildlife movements.
You may encounter large herds of wildebeest and zebra, together with gazelles and other herbivores. The presence of these animals also attracts predators such as lions, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas.
Depending on the time of year and the location of the migrating herds, you may have opportunities to observe different stages of the Great Migration.
The Great Migration is a natural and constantly changing process. Herd locations can change according to rainfall, food availability and environmental conditions, so specific sightings or river crossings cannot be guaranteed.
Enjoy a picnic lunch at a designated location before continuing your afternoon game drive.
Return to your lodge or tented camp in the evening for dinner and relaxation.
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Full-Day Serengeti Great Migration Experience
Wake up early and prepare for another full day of wildlife exploration in the Serengeti.
An early morning game drive provides an opportunity to explore the plains when wildlife is often active during the cooler hours of the day.
Continue searching for wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes and other wildlife. Your guide will monitor the environment and wildlife activity to determine suitable areas for game viewing.
Depending on your travel dates and the location of the herds, your Great Migration safari may offer opportunities to observe large concentrations of migrating animals.
The Serengeti also supports an impressive range of resident wildlife. Even when migrating herds are in another part of the ecosystem, the park offers opportunities to encounter predators, herbivores and diverse birdlife.
Enjoy lunch in the Serengeti before continuing your afternoon game drive.
As the day comes to an end, return to your accommodation and enjoy the surrounding wilderness.
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Serengeti National Park – Central or Northern Serengeti
After breakfast, continue your Tanzania Great Migration safari with another day dedicated to exploring the Serengeti.
Depending on your travel season and the location of the migrating herds, your guide will plan the day's route to maximize opportunities for wildlife viewing.
The Serengeti is a vast ecosystem, and different regions can offer different wildlife experiences throughout the year. Your itinerary can therefore be adjusted according to seasonal movements and the specific Great Migration experience you are seeking.
Explore the plains and woodland habitats while searching for wildebeest, zebra, gazelles and other herbivores.
Predators may also be encountered, including lions, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas. Elephants, giraffes, buffaloes and numerous bird species can also be found in different areas of the park.
If traveling during a period when the herds are concentrated in northern Serengeti, your safari may focus on areas associated with the seasonal movement toward the Mara River region. However, river crossings are natural events and cannot be guaranteed on a particular day.
Return to your lodge or tented camp after another rewarding day in the Serengeti.
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast, enjoy a final morning game drive in the Serengeti before beginning your journey toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Use the morning to explore the surrounding plains and look for wildlife along the route. Depending on the season and location, you may have additional opportunities to observe wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, elephants, buffaloes and predators.
As you leave the Serengeti, the landscape gradually changes from expansive grasslands to the highlands surrounding the Ngorongoro region.
Continue toward your lodge near the Ngorongoro Crater and check in.
The remainder of the afternoon can be spent relaxing at your accommodation and enjoying views of the surrounding highlands.
Your guide can also introduce you to the ecological and conservation importance of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area before the following day's crater safari.
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp near Ngorongoro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater Safari – Karatu
Wake up early and enjoy breakfast before descending into the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater for a full wildlife safari.
The crater is one of Tanzania's most remarkable wildlife areas. Its enclosed volcanic landscape contains grasslands, wetlands, woodland and other habitats that support a diverse range of wildlife.
During your game drive, you may encounter lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, hyenas, antelopes and numerous bird species.
The crater is also an important habitat for rhinoceros, although sightings are not guaranteed.
Your safari guide will explain the crater's different habitats and how they support wildlife throughout the year.
Enjoy a picnic lunch at a designated location before continuing your crater exploration.
After the game drive, ascend from the crater and continue to your accommodation in the Karatu or Ngorongoro area.
Spend the evening relaxing after your wildlife-filled day.
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in Karatu/Ngorongoro area
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Karatu – Arusha – Departure
After breakfast, check out from your accommodation and begin your journey back toward Arusha, marking the final day of your 8 Days Great Migration Safari Tanzania.
Travel through the scenic landscapes of northern Tanzania while reflecting on the experiences of the past week, from Tarangire's elephants and baobabs to the vast Serengeti plains and the remarkable wildlife of the Ngorongoro area.
Depending on your departure schedule, you may have time for a final stop, lunch in Arusha or additional arrangements before your onward journey.
If your flight departs later in the day, your guide can transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport or another agreed location.
Travelers continuing their East African adventure can also arrange additional extensions, such as a Zanzibar beach holiday, depending on availability and flight schedules.
This marks the end of your 8 Days Great Migration Safari Tanzania, combining Tarangire wildlife, extended Serengeti game viewing, seasonal Great Migration opportunities and the extraordinary wildlife environment of the Ngorongoro Crater.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Trip Includes
- Airport pickup and drop-off as specified in the itinerary
- 7 nights of accommodation in selected safari lodges and tented camps
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the safari
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle for game drives
- Professional English-speaking safari guide
- Game drives in Tarangire National Park
- Extended game-viewing experiences in Serengeti National Park
- Great Migration-focused safari activities according to the season and wildlife movements
- Ngorongoro Crater game drive
- All applicable national park entrance fees
- Applicable conservation and crater fees
- Safari vehicle and driver-guide services
- Drinking water during game drives
- Government taxes and applicable service charges
- Accommodation and meals as specified in the itinerary
Trip Excludes
- International flights
- Domestic or regional flights not specifically included in the itinerary
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic and other premium beverages
- Laundry services
- Tips and gratuities for the safari guide and lodge staff
- Souvenirs and personal shopping
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
- Private or additional transfers outside the agreed itinerary
- Accommodation or meals outside those specified in the itinerary
- Any other services not specifically mentioned under What's Included
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What our travelers say
Robert KVerified
Bucket list seeing the Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Just an awesome trip . Everything went smoothly from booking to the end . All was as promised never missed anything , always on time , friendly etc. resort that was recommended was perfect , great food , comfortable . Saw the gorillas easily all was perfect . Jonathan the owner even took me in Kampala to buy the right clothes , took me him self . Noel and driver were excellent , never an issue they really cared. I trust this company , will use them again and highly recommend .
Maltes TravellerHighly recommended We had a wonderful experience with Jonathan. He welcomed us at the airport and took great care of us from the moment we arrived until the end of our trip. The selection of hotels was impeccable, and the route he designed was perfectly planned. Jonathan is extremely knowledgeable about wildlife and went the extra mile to make sure we saw lions and all of the Big Five during our visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park. He was always attentive, patient, and eager to make our experience unforgettable. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide — highly recommended!
bharti nExceptional experience, enriching and truly unforgettable. From the moment we landed we received a warm welcome. Jonathan was friendly and readily available to answer any queries throughout our trip. He was incredibly accommodating with our requests to visit schools, residences ensuring that we achieved everything we wanted from the trip. We had a great time with Jonathan and driver Isaac. Jonathan was very funny and very knowledgeable he became part of the family and the time just flew whilst we were there, we felt safe at all times. The food at each venue catered for all our needs. Definitely leant a lot on this trip. Just need to be aware that food ordered in restaurants do take a long time as they make it from scratch so if pushed for time might be advisable to pre order. We had unforgettable holiday and this company went above and beyond to make every moment special. I would recommend them to anyone.
vjparGreat service from this local company We done a road trip across East Africa from Uganda to Tanzania. Jonathan and his team facilitated our trip across Uganda and Kenya which proved to be a very enjoyable experience. Guided knowledge provided by Jonathan was excellent as was his humor and wit. We always felt safe and informed, he managed the journey very well indeed. We would definitely use Jonathan's services again.
Adam John SmithMagical Uganda Safari Journey – February 2025! I had an unforgettable experience with Ababa Uganda Safaris! From the moment I arrived, everything was well-organized, and the team was incredibly friendly and professional. The tour guides were knowledgeable, sharing fascinating insights about the wildlife and culture. Seeing gorillas up close in Bwindi and exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park was a dream come true. The accommodations were comfortable, and every detail was taken care of. I truly felt immersed in Uganda’s beauty without any stress. If you're planning a trip to Uganda, I highly recommend Ababa Uganda Safaris for a seamless and memorable adventure!
MadhviVerified
.gorilla trek Our KQ flight was horribly delayed. From 2.30 pm to arriving @ almost 3 am the following day. Jonathan kindly arranged for airport pick at this early hour of day and even rescheduled our departure for bwindi so we could get some rest. That was very accommodating.the drive to bwindi was a long drive -11 hrs- n he informed hotel of our late arrival. The lodge he chose for us was good and comfortable. However the vehicle for transporti g us could be better as it was quite hot without air conditioning. Gorilla trek was good but tough. Overall Ababa safaris were very accommodating. I wouldrecommend them. The hotel in Kampala- Speke hotel leaves a lot to be desired
mo-marvinSuch a wonderful experience!! My family and I contacted Jonathan to help us plan our first Murchison Falls safari. Jonathan arranged our transport from Kampala, with a stop at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary and guided game drives through Murchison falls. Ronnie, our professional driver and guide, was very knowledgeable and paid close attention to details to make us comfortable. He met with us a day before takeoff to answer any outstanding questions and recommended a time for us to set off to avoid any traffic. His experience made our trip even more enjoyable because we knew what to expect for entry fees into the park, where to stop to use clean washrooms, eat good food, and also what side of the boat cruise to sit on for the best views! We saw lions, elephants, giraffes, job, rhinos, buffaloes and many other animals. We would definitely go with them for our next safari in Uganda! They had great communication, value for money, professionalism, knowledge of the industry and were very reliable.
Katelyn OA must-hire company! Punctual, professional, great communication. We used Ababa Safaris for a trip from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park. I would HIGHLY recommend! Our driver picked us up in a large safari vehicle with a pop up roof. The driver was very punctual and had excellent communication while preparing for the trip and during the trip. Ronnie took us to a nice restaurant for a rest stop that had clean bathrooms and good food. He was friendly with many people we met along the way at the Rhino Sanctuary, on the safari trails, and at our chosen lodging. It felt as though he had good connections with people, which we took as a good sign. Ronnie was very knowledgeable about the best places to see the animals and gave us a great safari experience. As the person in the family who does much of the planning, it was a very enjoyable experience to hand all of that over to Ababa and really get to enjoy myself.
HoehlenhonkAnimals and beautiful nature in Uganda and Rwanda From being picked-up from Entebbe airport in the middle of the night until the drop-off eleven days later in Kigali it was a perfect tour. Jonathan, our guide, and the driver Moses was a perfect team - very friendly, knowledgable and always in time. We visited Entebbe for a tour through the botanical gardens and the zoo, did safaris and boat trips in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth NP and did trekkings to the chimpazees in Kibale and to the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The primates are a must visit when you travel to this region. It's expensive but worth every dollar. The safari parks are of course not as rich in animals as for example the Masai Mara. But they are much cheaper, there are much lesser tourists and nevertheless it doesn't become boring regarding animal sightings. We saw a lot of different antelopes, beautiful giraffes, lions, many elephants, buffalos, a lot of hippos and crocodiles and much more. The choice of hotels was very good, simple and cheap where there was only a short overnight stay and a bit more expensive where it was worth to spend the money for staying close to the places of interest, e.g. close to the starting point for primate trekkings or in the middle of QENP and Murchison NP for not loosing game-drive-time.
Dilip PUGANDA SAFARI WITH ABABA We had a nice holiday with ABABA SAFARI in Uganda it was a nice experience in Uganda and the travel agent as well especially Jonathan was our tour guide very nice person he was always very helpful and kind. we traveled about 1200km but had no problem I am a vegetarian and wherever we go he always arranges something for me i recommend them at and competitive price I give them a 5-star