13-Day Tanzania Great Migration Safari & Zanzibar (Mara River),
If you are hoping to see all of the famous big five – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo – then this package is the perfect choice for you.
Overview
This 13-day journey blends Northern Tanzania’s Great Migration with the spice, culture, and beaches of Zanzibar—perfect for travelers who want iconic wildlife moments and a relaxed island finish. You’ll warm up in Tarangire, where elephant families move between ancient baobabs and river loops; we mix a guided walking experience (where permitted with park rangers) and unhurried game drives so you start close to nature without rush. From there, you arc up to the Ngorongoro Crater, a natural amphitheater where lions, hyenas, buffalo, and hippos share one vast caldera—often delivering a day’s worth of sightings before lunch. Then it’s onward to the Serengeti.
The safari’s heart is three full days in North Serengeti, timing dawn starts and late returns to follow the herds and predators along classic movement corridors. In the July–October window (nature-dependent), this northern sector offers the best chances to witness Mara River action—massings on the banks, crocodiles in the currents, and dramatic back-and-forths as the migration searches for safe crossings. Even when a crossing isn’t on the cards, the sheer scale—thousands of wildebeest and zebra pulsing across open country—feels cinematic. Your guide focuses on patience, smart positioning, and respectful distances so natural behavior—not crowds—shapes your experience.
After the wildlife crescendo, you fly to Zanzibar to change tempo. Begin in Stone Town, a UNESCO-listed maze of coral-stone alleys, carved doors, and rooftop views; a guided wander and Spice Tour connect you to the island’s history and flavors. Then head north to Nungwi, where clear water, pale sand, and easy sunsets set the tone. Fill your days with as much—or as little—as you like: snorkeling or diving around Mnemba, a dhow sunset cruise, reef walks at low tide, or simply a book and a hammock. Evenings bring grilled seafood and mellow beach bars.
Throughout, pacing is deliberate: early starts for golden hours, relaxed middays, and flexible picnics that keep you with the action. You travel in a private 4×4 with a window seat guaranteed, and we’ll tailor mid-comfort or upgrade lodges to your style. The result is a balanced itinerary that pairs headline wildlife with cultural depth and barefoot downtime—ending your trip rested, sun-kissed, and very glad you stayed the extra days.
Safari Itinerary
Meet & greet at JRO/ARK, private transfer to Arusha, and an unrushed briefing on route, park etiquette, and what to expect during migration season. Settle in, organize bags, and confirm any dietary needs or special requests. If time allows, enjoy a gentle stroll in the gardens to shake off travel and spot sunbirds. Early night so you’re fresh for the first safari day.
Meals: Not Included
Comfort Accommodation: Forest Hill Hotel
Premium Accommodation: Ngaresero Lodge
Drive through Maasai country as the scenery opens to baobab-studded savanna and the Tarangire River corridor. Enter the park for a slow game drive, scanning for elephant families, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and (with luck) lions along sandy banks. Pause at a shaded picnic site, then follow afternoon loops as herds drift back to water. Golden-hour light is perfect for classic silhouettes under giant baobabs.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Comfort Accommodation: Ang'ata Tarangire Camp
Premium Accommodation: Acacia Tarangire Luxury Camp
Begin with a ranger-guided walking experience (where permitted) for safe, ground-level encounters—tracks, plants, and quiet moments you miss from a vehicle. Later, switch to the 4×4 for wider coverage: Silale Swamp for elephants and birds, then river circuits for predators. Your guide balances active viewing with comfortable breaks so you return rested, not rushed. Sunset often paints the dust trails copper as wildlife funnels toward water.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Comfort Accommodation: Ang'ata Tarangire Camp
Premium Accommodation: Acacia Tarangire Luxury Camp
Early morning loop in Tarangire to catch elephants and cats while it’s cool, then depart mid-morning for Ngorongoro (scenic escarpment views and a brief rim stop). After permit formalities, descend into the Crater this afternoon for a focused game drive across open grasslands, Lerai Forest, and hippo pools—great chances for lions, hyenas, buffalo herds and, with luck, black rhino. Enjoy a picnic at a designated site, then ascend to the rim at sunset with sweeping caldera views and a clear plan for tomorrow’s transfer.
Meals: Full Board
Comfort Accommodation: Ang’ata Camps
Premium Accommodation: Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge
Catch first light at a rim viewpoint, then set off toward Central Serengeti via Naabi Hill Gate. Treat the traverse as a mobile game drive: watch for cheetah on short-grass flats, lions around kopjes, and large plains herds as the ecosystem opens up. Enter Seronera by mid-afternoon for river-line loops and granite outcrops—prime habitat for resident leopards and lion prides. Wrap with a golden-hour circuit so you’re well positioned for tomorrow’s northbound migration push.
Meals: Full Board
Comfort Accommodation: Serenity Camps and Lodges
Premium Accommodation: Serengeti Luxury Retreat
Treat the northbound journey as a mobile game drive. As grass shortens and horizons widen, look for broad columns of wildebeest and zebra, dust plumes, and rutting behavior—signs you’re in the migration’s path. Your guide picks productive valleys, drainage lines, and river approaches, arriving in the northern sector by afternoon. Settle close to the action and plan tomorrow’s first-light positioning.
Meals: Full Board
Comfort Accommodation: Serengeti Kifaru Tented Lodge
Premium Accommodation: In The Wind
Two unhurried full days maximize chances for migration drama. At dawn, position near Mara River corridors or movement routes; mid-morning and afternoon loops cover predator territories and quieter valleys for natural, unrushed scenes. Expect lions on rocky perches, cheetahs scanning termite mounds, elephants in open woodland, and—everywhere—the living river of wildebeest and zebra. Even if a crossing isn’t on the cards, the scale and sound of the migration are unforgettable.
Meals: Full Board
Comfort Accommodation: Serengeti Kifaru Tented Lodge
Premium Accommodation: In The Wind
Morning game drive or relaxed breakfast depending on flight time, then transfer to the airstrip for your bush flight to Zanzibar. On arrival, meet your island host and transfer to Stone Town. Later, wander the alleys with a local guide: carved doors, lively markets, and waterfront views at Forodhani. Dinner options range from rooftop restaurants to simple seafood grills by the sea.
Meals: Breakfast
Comfort Accommodation: Forodhani Park
Premium Accommodation: Zanzibar Serena Hotel
After breakfast, head to a working spice farm to see, smell, and taste the island’s famous cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and tropical fruits. Continue by road to Nungwi, the north-coast beach known for clear water and soft sand. Check in and exhale—afternoons are for swimming, a dhow sunset cruise, or simply letting the tide and sky do the storytelling.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Comfort Accommodation: The Z Hotel Zanzibar
Premium Accommodation: Zuri Zanzibar
A full day to go at your own pace. Popular options include snorkeling or diving around Mnemba atoll, reef walks at low tide, stand-up paddleboarding, or a relaxed massage. Cafés and beach bars line the shore for effortless lunches, while sunset paints the dhows in silhouette. Your host can help arrange activities on the day or in advance—your call.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Comfort Accommodation: The Z Hotel Zanzibar
Premium Accommodation: Zuri Zanzibar
Second beach day to soak in the island rhythm. Consider a half-day sailing/snorkeling trip, a cultural visit to a local village, or simply beach-chair duty with a good book. If you’re a foodie, a cooking class pairs beautifully with yesterday’s spice knowledge. Evenings are mellow—fresh seafood, warm breeze, and easy conversation under starry skies.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Comfort Accommodation: The Z Hotel Zanzibar
Premium Accommodation: Zuri Zanzibar
Transfer from the coast to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) for your outbound flight (or onward connection). Built-in buffer time keeps the day calm and unhurried. Farewell to the islands with a camera roll full of moments—from wildebeest massings and crater drama to Stone Town’s history and Nungwi’s blue horizons.
MID-RANGE INCLUDES
- All Meals as per Itinerary
- Airport Transfers
- National Park Fees
- Private 4x4 safari Jeep with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking safari guide
- Government taxes and levies
- Soft Drinks & Wines/Beers
MID-RANGE EXCLUDES
- Travel Insurance
- International Flights
- Tipping
- Personal Equipments
- Visa fees
LUXURY INCLUDES
- All Meals as per Itinerary
- VIP airport pick-up and drop-off
- All national park and conservation area fees
- Private 4x4 safari Jeep with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking safari guide
- Government taxes and levies
- Soft Drinks & Wines/Beers
- Premium accommodation in high-end lodges or luxury tented camps
LUXURY EXCLUDES
- Travel Insurance
- International Flights
- Tipping
- Personal Equipments
- Visa fees
- Premium wines and spirits (unless specified)
FAQs
The Great Migration is the largest land-based wildlife migration on Earth, involving over 1.5 million wildebeest, 300,000 zebras, and thousands of gazelles as they move in a circular path through the Serengeti ecosystem in search of fresh grazing and water. This incredible journey is filled with dramatic scenes of river crossings, predator hunts, calving, and long-distance movement—making it one of the most breathtaking wildlife spectacles in the world.
The migration is year-round, but the best time depends on what you want to see:
Dec–Mar (Calving Season): Southern Serengeti (Ndutu) – Wildebeest give birth; predator action is intense.
Apr–May (Green Season): Central Serengeti – Herds begin moving north.
Jun–July (Grumeti River Crossings): Western Serengeti – Smaller river crossings; good predator sightings.
Aug–Oct (Mara River Crossings): Northern Serengeti – Dramatic river crossings, crocodile attacks.
Nov: Herds return south toward Ndutu.
No. While wildebeest dominate the scene, the migration includes zebras, gazelles, and eland, as well as predators like lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, jackals, and vultures. It's an interconnected drama of prey and predators across the plains.
The migration is continuous and cyclical, with the herds covering 1,800+ km (1,100+ miles) each year. It’s a full-year phenomenon, not just a single event.
Ideally, 6–12 days allow for deep exploration, including time in Serengeti, Ndutu, and/or Ngorongoro Crater. This provides flexibility to track the herds and enjoy other parks along the way.
Yes! The migration can be part of a romantic honeymoon, family safari, or photography tour. It’s perfect for all ages, although kids under 6 may need custom arrangements.
While Kenya's Maasai Mara is part of the migration route, Tanzania hosts 80% of the migration—including calving season and longer durations of the herds' stay. Tanzania offers more diversity and larger wildlife populations over a longer period.
Yes. Popular combinations include:
Ngorongoro Crater
Tarangire National Park
Lake Manyara
Zanzibar beach extension
Tanzaniatrail can tailor your trip based on your interests and timing.
Dec–Mar (Ndutu): Warm days, occasional showers, green scenery
Jun–Oct (Serengeti North): Dry season, cooler nights, best for river crossings
April–May: Rainy, but fewer tourists and lush landscapes (great for photographers)
Tanzaniatrail offers expert-guided, mid-range photographic safaris with flexible routing, small group sizes or private tours, and up-to-date tracking of herd movements. We personalize each safari to ensure you’re in the right place at the right time—with comfort and great service.
Contact us directly:
📧 info@tanzaniatrail.co.tz
📱 +255 764 987 596
We’ll help you plan the perfect route, pick the best dates and locations, and ensure you get the most from this once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience.
Giving Back Through Every Journey
At Tanzaniatrail, we believe that travel should create lasting memories and make a positive difference. That’s why 1% of every safari package you book goes directly back to local communities in Tanzania. We regularly visit and support orphanages and community centers, and our dream is to establish a dedicated children’s home under Tanzaniatrail’s care. When you travel with us, you’re not only exploring Tanzania’s beauty — you’re also helping provide education, food, and brighter futures for vulnerable children. Your adventure changes lives. Travel with purpose.