7-Day Mara River Migration Luxury Safari

A complimentary transfer will meet you at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) after you arrive for your first luxurious safari. Arusha, a lively city that sits below Mount Meru, is about 50 kilometers away from the airport. You will be placed in a boutique lodge located amidst coffee estates and beautiful gardens. After you check in, you can unwind in a highly comfortable suite, which has a stunning view of the highlands, a private veranda, and a fully functional bathroom. Your activities for the day include spending your afternoon relaxing with a spa treatment or taking a leisurely stroll around the property while trying to spot a gorgeous silvery-cheeked hornbill. To top this all off, you will be indulged with gourmet farm-to-table dinner with refreshing drinks, while taking in the beauty of Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance while your fine guide briefs you about the Great Migration and your upcoming journey sprinkles you with excitement as you comfortably fall asleep under the African sky.

Activities: Airport transfer, lodge relaxation, safari briefing
Animals to See: Local birdlife (e.g., silvery-cheeked hornbill)
Accommodation: Luxury boutique lodge in Arusha
Meals: Dinner

After indulging in the local pastries and brunch accompanied by a cup of Tanzanian coffee, head off to Tarangire National Park in a 4x4 private safari car. The verdant wilderness is famous for its enormous herds of elephants and also other activities that can be enjoyed. For example, driving through the Tarangire River allows you to see hundreds of elephants bathing and drinking water when they gather during the dry season from June to October back in the states. Along with acacia budding giraffes, zebra and wildebeest grazing in harmony. If you get lucky, you can spot leopards plastered on treetops beside beautiful birds such as lilac-breasted rollers. The park is likened to a vantage point and a binoculars will be given alongside a gourmet picnic lunch set provided under an acacia tree with savanna views. Afterwards check into a luxuruous wrangle style tented camp featuring large suites with breathtaking views accompanied private balconies and spacious bathrooms with hot showers. Finish your day off with a multi course supper watching the incredible views of the canopy while indulging in the real sounds of the bush.

Activities: Full-day game drive
Animals to See: Elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, lions, leopards (rare), lilac-breasted rollers
Accommodation: Luxury tented camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After enjoying a sumptuous breakfast at the tented camp, we will start our charming journey of three hours and approximately 150 km ride to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, stopping in between at a scenic view point of the crater that will surely take your breath away. Spend 4-5 hours in the afternoon for a game drive going down 600 meters in the 260 km Ngorongoro Crater. The UNESCO World Heritage site, “Africa’s Eden” is home to black rhinoceros; around 30 of which live here alonside buffalos, lions, hyenas, zebras, elephants that can be spotted doing merry in the plains that surround the place, leopards that are camouflaging in the forested region and myriad rods that swim and float in the Lake Magadi. The lake when in season is a feast to the eyes with abundance of Flamingos. The guide will bring you an exquisite picnic near the hippos’ pool to let you and friends and family take a few pictures of the Panoramic walls of the crater, with great food served along with wine to enjoy the sunshine. After that, we will go up to the luxurious lodge along the rim of the crater which will boast lavish suites, bathrooms attached to the suites, and balconies that offer the best vista of the Caldera and a crackling fireplace serving an assortment of multi-course dinner that the guests can relish while peacefully absorbing the beauty of the sight in the refreshing breeze from the highland.Activities: Afternoon game drive (Ngorongoro Crater)
Animals to See: Black rhinos, lions, buffalo, elephants, leopards (rare), hyenas, zebras, flamingos, hippos
Accommodation: Luxury lodge on the crater rim
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We started our day with breakfast at the crater rim lodge before embarking on our longer-than-usual 3-hour drive (about 145 kilometers) to the UNESCO World Heritage site, Serengeti National Park. At 14,763 km², this land is known for its vast plains and being host to the Great Migration. In the afternoon we took a game drive in the central Seronera area, where we saw lions atop kopjes (rocky outcrops), cheetahs sprinting in the grasslands, and leopards resting in acacia trees. Strutting elephants foraging were also a highlight, particularly for their young. And if it happened to be around the right time of year (June-July), we could also be lucky enough to catch the first herds of migrating wildebeests and zebras. Along the ride, the guide provided detailed narration of the Serengeti’s biodiversity through the binoculars. During which, we also had a picnic lunch from his gourmet box, while sheltering ourselves under an acacia tree with incredible views all around. As we continued the journey, the guide told us more about the marvelous features of the area until we reached the luxurious lodge. It was breathtaking, boasting state-of-the-art elegant suites with en-suite facilities and panoramic views of the sweeping plains. Here, we heated a gourmet meal and in the end, relaxed for a night under the star-filled skies of the Serengeti, all while the sound of the wildlife echoed in the distance.
Activities: Afternoon game drive
Animals to See: Lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, wildebeests (seasonal), zebras
Accommodation: Luxury lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Start off by enjoying breakfast while the sun rises from the east. After your meal, set out on the drive towards the Northern Serengeti. The drive should take about 3-4 hours and cover roughly 150 KM. You will drive through the Great Migration area where game drives are included. You will attend an afternoon game drive on the Mara river where you will witness the beautiful spectacle of thousands of zebra and wildebeest, as they prepare to face the crossing of the crocodile infested waters. As you observe this wondrous feat, you will hear sounds of lions and hyenas waiting patiently, and crocodiles submerged underwater. If you are lucky enough, you may even spot a cheetah or leopard lurking around. A strategic viewpoint will be made available to you, and while a gourmet picnic lunch is served, the experts will provide insight how this phenomenon occurs. Later, receive accommodation in the luxurious mobile tented camp which is positioned at the migration route. The camp is ideal as it possesses spacious tents with en-suite bathrooms, luxurious blankets, and private balconies, wherein, as a cherry on top, a fireside dinner is prepared. All through the night, the astounding herd noises erupt.

Activities: Afternoon game drive, migration tracking
Animals to See: Wildebeests, zebras, lions, hyenas, crocodiles, cheetahs, leopards
Accommodation: Luxury mobile tented camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Waking up early is essential when starting with a light breakfast of pastries and coffee while waiting for the sunrise game drive. One full day is reserved to admire the Great Migration of the Northern Serengeti, which entails, among other things, morning and afternoon game drives along the Mara River. Here, you will see thousands of wildebeests and zebras rushing to cross the river, while trying to escape hungry crocodiles and hyenas waiting on the riverbank, and lions that patrol nearby. If you are fortunate enough, you might get a glimpse of cheetahs racing over the sprawling savanna. Your guide will point out the best places to observe the dramatic wildlife action, while providing riveting narration about it and serving you delicious picnic lunch at a riverbank under the trees. Later in the afternoon, you will head back to the tented camp together with the finest drinks and canapés and watch the sunset unfold. The day will be capped with a sophisticated dinner served beneath the starry sky while you listen to the spirit of the African bush..

Activities: Full-day game drives, river crossing observation, sundowners
Animals to See: Wildebeests, zebras, lions, hyenas, crocodiles, cheetahs, leopards
Accommodation: Luxury mobile tented camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

It’s the final day of the tour, and as always, breakfast comes first. From the tented camp you will take a short charter flight of about an hour and a half from an airstrip near the camp to Arusha. Sighting the Serengeti's scenic beauty from above is a wonderful way to say goodbye to the wild nature. By Midday, you will reach Arusha (between 12 – 1 PM) , you will check into an elegant lodge which gives the chance to relax until lunch and even offers spa treatments. Everything is done effortlessly for the clients’ maximum ease. You’ll finally make the seamless transition to Kilimanjaro International Airport after your freshening up and lunch. For most this part of the journey means saying goodbye, terrible apologies are made but not without fond reminiscences of the Mara River crossings, the wildlife viewed, and relished the immeasurable sceneries of nature while being perfectly pampered and travelling in incredible luxury.

Activities: Charter flight, dayroom relaxation, departure
Animals to See: Aerial views of wildlife (weather permitting)
Accommodation: None (Departure Day)
Meals: Breakfast, Light Lunch