8-Day Luxury Safari: The Great Migration Crossing

Your luxury safari begins with a warm welcome at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) situated approximately 50 km from Arusha, an ancient city below Mount Meru. You will be welcomed with a private transfer to a boutique lodge set in a garden, which will be your accommodation for the day. Here, you will settle in an elegant suite with modern amenities such as an en-suite bathroom and a private deck offering stunning views. For the rest of the day, you can indulge in spa treatments and take walks through the stunning gardens in search of local flora and fauna, such as the silvery-cheeked hornbill. To top off the day, a gourmet welcoming dinner awaits you, offering local farm-to-table food along with refreshing drinks. Towards the end of the day, an expert guide will provide an introductory summary of the Great Migration along with his suggestions for the remaining parts of the journey. After the dinner, you will get an opportunity to watch the mesmerizing starlit 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 enjoying a sumptuous breakfast at the lodge, hop on your private 4x4 safari vehicle and set off on a 2-hour (130 km) drive to Tarangire National Park. Sprawling over 2,850km squared, the park is famous for its colossal elephant populations and baobab trees. You'll ride along the Tarangire River on a full day game drive and watch elephants frolic in the river (the herd can number in the hundreds during the dry season of June-October), zebras and wildebeests feeding together, acacia leaves being nibbled by giraffes, lady lions watching over her cubs near water sources, and, if you cross your fingers, leopards perched in trees while over 550 species of birds adorn the sky, including the regal lilac-breasted roller. A guide will help point out the different scenic overlooks the park has to offer and proudly explains the rich heritage of the park's ecosystem while you savor a delectable picnic lunch under the glorious sun on an acacia tree shaded rest point. Move to luxurious tented camp accommodation which come with spacious suites, en-suite bathrooms with hot showers, and private decks overlooking the river while a multi-course dinner enjoyed beneath the stars coupled with the authentic sounds of the bush wrap up the day splendidly.

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 waking in the tented camps I indulge in a gourmet breakfast, before my 3 hour journey (150 km) towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area begins. To appreciate the scale of the crater, a viewpoint is convenient from the side of the road. This feeds into a 4-5 hour offroad activity where you descend 600 m into the 260 km² Ngorongoro Crater, lovingly referred to as Africa’s Garden of Eden, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will meet black rhinos (approximately 30 reside in these grounds which makes this location prominent on the Big Five list), lions in close knit families, buffaloes in vast quantities, elephants elegantly trodding across the plains, and if you are fortunate, leopards hidden in forested areas with hyenas, zebras, and flamingos beside them at Lake Magadi (seasonal). My guide organized a lavish picnic for me beside a nearby hippo pool offering comfort, delicious food, stunning views of the dramatic walls comprising the crater, and chilled beverages which was served in fine linens. Ascend to a lavish lodge on the crater rim, now offering opulent suites, en-suites, and private balconies boasting the most exquisite panoramic views of the caldera. Now multi-course dinners with matured beverages are served during the evenings relaxed by the refreshing highland breeze.

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

Following a splendid breakfast at the crater-rim lodge, the next plan of the day is to drive for 3 hours (about 145km) to Serengeti National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for the Great Migration and for it's endless scenic views. Activities include an afternoon game drive around the Central Seronera area where you will see lions resting on the kopjes (rocky outcrops) alongside the cheetah gracefullly sprinting in the open grass fields, while the leopards relax on acacia trees, and elephants along with their calves busy searching for food. If you are lucky and if it aligns with the migration season (June-July) you might spot some early migratory hoards of the wildebeests and zebras the first phase of their northbound journey. You will get a chance to utilize binoculars providing highly detailed commentary on what you’re witnessing the biodiversity of the Serengeti while enjoying a refined gourmet picnic lunch with spectacular panoramic views underneath acacia trees. Moving on from there you will be taken to an extravagant lodge where you will find opulent suites with sweeping views of the plains and luxurious en-suite facilities, accompanied with exquisite dinner that will be served afterward followed by a quiet night under the profoundly starry Serengeti sky coming from the sounds of nature.

Activities: Afternoon game drive
Animals to See: Lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, wildebeests (seasonal), zebras
Accommodation: Luxury lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Start your day with a lovely sunrise breakfast that can be enjoyed from your private deck, then embark upon a 3-4 hour drive (with a distance of roughly 150 km) to The Northern Serengeti, which is considered to be the ‘center stage’ for viewing the Great Migration river crossings which takes place from July to October. In addition, an afternoon game drive activity along the Mara River often features tracking massive herds of wildebeests and zebras on the edges of the river, gearing up to cross the crocodile-infested waters while lions, hyenas, and crocodiles hold their breath in anticipation in the hopes of an easy meal and if luck smiles on you, cheetahs or leopards prowl in the background of the scene. Your guide will put you at a viewpoint that strikes the balance between providing detailed accounts of this amazing wildlife sight while gourmet picnic lunches are served against the backdrop of a river in full flow. Afterwards, check into a luxurious mobile tented camp that is positioned close to the migration route. The camp is quite fancy as it has large tents that feature en-suite bathrooms, comfortable beds, and private balconies. Enjoy a fireside dinner while the sounds of the countless migrating herds echoing around the camp serve as a perfect soundtrack to the evening.

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

This morning, I removed the window of the tent and began my sunrise game drive with light breakfast of pastries and coffee. As the sun shined at the Northern Serengeti, we enjoyed a full load day on the Great Migration, including a two-part game drive on the Mara River. While on the river, we watched thousands of zebras and wildebeests to escape predators and dive into the water. As they crossed the river, they were welcomed by a pack of lions and hyenas. A few lucky cheetahs sprinting across the planes made the view more picturesque. We had a professional wildlife expert alongside us that caressed all our lunch preparations while guiding on where to spot them. While picnicking at a shaded riverside, he set up with us amazing river side views and shared mind-blowing facts about this phenomenon along with a gourmet picnic lunch that he made himself. With fine beverages and canapes to wrap up the tent, we made our way to the tented mobile camp in time to enjoy the sunset. As the patriotic intoxicating vibes of the African bush came alive all around us, we reflected on how our mind-blowing day from the multi course dinner that was served under the sky filled with twinkly stars.

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

Following a soothing breakfast in the tented camp, we will head out towards the departure point whilst indulging in a game drive. Look out for the females’ hunting lions, leopards resting on acacia trees, elephants feeding and giraffes top browsing. One can also spot Passerines as well as exotic migratory birds ostriches that join the party when the migration trails are present. Along the way to the sunset point, we will stop at a picturesque view site. Imagine a water hole packed with hippos. Take it in because when we arrive at the lavish lodge, we are greeted with delicious packed lunch. The lavish lodge is equipped with modern architectural marvels like elegant suites complete with en-suite facilities, and expansive plains views in the form of windows. After relishing a delicious meal, the tourists can avail spa services or do nothing by the pool. Take delight in a sumptuous dinner from local to internationally mixed cuisines followed with exquisite wines and reminisce of the happenings from the week under the wide-open sky of the serengeti.
Activities: Morning game drive, lodge relaxation
Animals to See: Lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, wildebeests (seasonal), zebras, ostriches, hippos
Accommodation: Luxury lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After enjoying a lavish breakfast at the lodge, take a chartered flight of one and a half hours from the airstrip to Arusha. The flight includes a splendid view of the Serengeti and its vast plains, serving as a majestic farewell to the wilderness. The estimated time of arrival in Arusha is around midday, which makes for an effortless transition to the hotel or the Kilimanjaro International Airport. This marks the end for your lavish safari filled with astonishing memories of The Great Migration, Tanzania’s natural splendor, diverse wildlife, alongside the Arusha National Park, all witnessed in immense comfort and luxury.

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