Tanzania Migration Safari

7-day Safari – Small Group – Set departures guaranteed min 2 people

This East African Migration Safari visits Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti – with three nights in the Serengeti, and a recommended one-way scenic flight back to Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport.

A Bucket List Safari, staying at intimate, comfortable, eco-friendly camps – the Serengeti Wilderness Camps are located in pristine areas of the Serengeti/Ndutu eco-system. A one way scenic flight is quoted separately and strongly recommended.

This Bucket List Safari package rate includes all game drives, all meals, drinks when staying at Serengeti Wilderness Camps (house wine, beers, soft drinks and mineral water) and water on the safari vehicle. A hot balloon flight is optional and highly recommended. A hot air balloon safari over one of Africa’s most famous and majestic national parks is not easily captured in words.  The quiet of floating over plains, the exhilaration of climbing into the pink-blue of the early dawn on invisible currents, the breathless awe of peering over the basket’s edge at this vast swathe of wild Africa. Take off is at dawn and a champagne bush breakfast completes this memorable must-do adventure.

When booking a Tanzania Essence scheduled departure safari, see below which area each departure is staying at in the Serengeti.

During the months January-mid March, we include nights at Ndutu for the wildebeest calving in the south.

Between April – June, central Serengeti is well located for the herds moving through, and in July – October we include time in the north for anticipated river crossings through the Mara River.

If the last night is in SERENGETI NORTH, then a ONE WAY FLIGHT from Kogatende to Arusha / Kilimanjaro is compulsory – due to the distance, as it is not possible to drive back in one day.

The Migration Explained

The following could be used as a guideline when planning your safari to East Africa – movement of wildlife depends on a great many aspects. The following migration calendar helps to explain the seasonality of what wildlife you might expect to see aka game viewing.

Remember there is resident wildlife / game throughout the year in the Serengeti/Ngorongoro eco-systems.

January / February / March

The large herds of wildebeest are generally in the southern plains of the Serengeti eco-system, calving takes place over approximately two weeks. An abundance of predators, good visibility of game, mix of open plains and some woodland.

April / May

The herds start moving toward central Serengeti. This is typically the rainy season, however, game viewing is still excellent and there are some great discounts available at lodges and camps. It generally doesn’t rain all day.

Conditions for photography are generally superb with moody skies and good depth of colour.

June / July / August

The wildebeest move from the central area and split to the west and north, continuing their trek toward the Mara River. River crossings may be seen in both the western corridor (Grumeti area) and north (Mara River).

September / October

Whilst some of the wildebeest successfully reach the Masai Mara, there are still hundreds of thousands remaining in the northern region of Serengeti, offering those with guests with loads of patience the chance to see exciting river crossings (the Mara River runs through the Serengeti).

November / December

The massive herds start to return from the north to the southern plains before the cycle repeats again.

Published: November 9, 2024