Safari
Arusha, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Zanzibar
your journey
The wildebeest migration is the reason many people come to Tanzania, and this trip gives it room. After two easy days in Arusha to recover from your flights, you head straight for the Serengeti, where your camp is chosen for the season so that you are close to the herds.
On the way back you drive down onto the Ngorongoro Crater floor and spend two unhurried days at Lake Manyara, with its forest, flamingos and tree-climbing lions. Then you fly to Zanzibar for six nights of beach, reef and history.
The herds move all year: calving in the southern Serengeti from about January to March, the central and western plains around May and June, and the Mara River crossings in the north from about July to October. Your specialist will plan the Serengeti days around the month you travel.
Travellers who want to see the migration without rushing, couples and families who value a private vehicle and a gentle pace, and anyone who wants a long, restful beach stay after the safari.
Parks visited
Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Lake Manyara National Park · Zanzibar
what makes it special
day by day
A Honesha representative meets you in the arrivals hall at Kilimanjaro International Airport and drives you to your hotel in Arusha. You then have a full day to rest after the journey, adjust to the time zone and perhaps take a gentle walk in town. On the evening of Day 2 your guide joins you for a briefing on the safari, the parks you will visit and where the migration herds are likely to be.
After breakfast you drive west over the Ngorongoro highlands and down onto the Serengeti plains, arriving at your camp in the afternoon. You then have a full day with the herds. Depending on the month, that might mean calving on the southern short-grass plains, long columns crossing the central plains, or crowds gathering at the Mara River in the north. Lion, hyena and cheetah are never far from the wildebeest.
You leave the Serengeti in the morning and drive back into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, then descend onto the crater floor. The crater is about 20 km across and holds a remarkable concentration of wildlife: black rhino, lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo and flamingo are all possible in a single game drive. In the late afternoon you climb out and stay in the Ngorongoro highlands.
A short drive down the Rift Valley escarpment brings you to Lake Manyara National Park, where you have two unhurried days. Explore the groundwater forest with its baboons and blue monkeys, follow the lakeshore where flamingos and pelicans feed, and search the acacias for the park's tree-climbing lions. The slower pace after the Serengeti gives you time for birdwatching, which is excellent here, and for a restful evening before the beach.
After breakfast on Day 8 you are driven to the airport for your flight to Zanzibar, where a driver meets you and takes you to your hotel. You then have six days on the island. Wander the lanes and markets of Stone Town, snorkel or dive over the reef, go fishing in a traditional boat, or simply swim and rest on the white sand. In the evenings, try the seafood that the island is known for.
Enjoy a last breakfast by the sea before your driver takes you to Zanzibar's airport for your flight home. If your international flight leaves from Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam, your specialist will book a connecting flight and plan the timings so that you have a comfortable margin. Extra nights on the island can be added before you book your flights.
the price
Price on request
before you ask
You can go on safari here all year. The dry season from June to October is the easiest time for game viewing, because animals gather near rivers and the grass is short, but it is also the busiest. From November to May the parks are green, quieter and excellent for birds, with short rains around November and the long rains in April and May. Where the wildebeest migration is depends on the month, so tell us your dates and we will plan the route around them.
Our safaris use 4x4 safari vehicles with a pop-up roof, so you can stand up for game viewing and photography. On a private safari the vehicle and driver-guide are yours alone for the whole trip.
Each tour page lists exactly what is included and excluded. On our northern circuit safaris, such as the 7-day Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire trip, national park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area entrance fees are included. If you are not sure, ask your specialist before you book.
Yes. Every itinerary on this site is a starting point. We can add or remove days, swap parks, or change the accommodation to suit your budget, and your specialist will send you a revised plan and quote.
Bring light, neutral-coloured clothes, a warm layer for early mornings and for the Ngorongoro Crater rim, which is cold at night, comfortable shoes, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellent. Binoculars and a camera with spare batteries and memory cards make a big difference. Soft bags pack into safari vehicles more easily than hard suitcases.
Most visitors need a visa. Apply online in good time through the official Tanzania Immigration website at eservices.immigration.go.tz, and do not use unofficial agents. Your passport should be valid for at least six months after arrival. Requirements differ by nationality, so check the official site for your country.
There is no single best month, because the herds are somewhere in the Serengeti all year. Calving is around January to March and river crossings around July to October. Tell your specialist what you most want to see and they will match the dates and camp.
Enquire
Every AAA Express Adventure trip can be changed to suit you: the pace, the lodges, the number of days. Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and our team in Arusha will come back to you with a plan and a price.
Your journey
Price on request
14 days · 13 nights
also consider
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Tarangire National Park · Lake Manyara National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Serengeti National Park · Zanzibar
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Price on request
karibu
Call us on +255 784 281316, email sales@aaaexpressadventure.com or send an enquiry. Our team in Arusha will get back to you.
Price on request
Plan your trip
Enquiry about: 14-Day Great Migration Safari & Zanzibar Holiday
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