7-Day Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Tour from Arusha

Watch millions of wildebeest cross the Mara River in the Serengeti's northern plains.

A 7-day private safari tour from Arusha covering Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, with a professional guide, all accommodation, meals and airport transfers. You start with early morning game drives in Tarangire to spot elephant herds and over 550 bird species, move into the Serengeti to witness the Great Migration, and finish at Ngorongoro Crater searching for the Big Five in a unique 600-meter-deep ecosystem. The tour includes sunrise and sunset game drives, picnic lunches in the parks, and stays at Serena Safari Lodges throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arriving in Arusha

• Meet Meru Slopes Tours representative
• Drive to hotel in Arusha
• Relax and unwind
• Optional city tour if time permits

Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire

• Early morning game drive in Tarangire
• Visit Tarangire River for bird watching
• Enjoy picnic lunch
• Afternoon game drive
• Return to lodge for dinner

Day 3: Central Serengeti National Park

• Arrive at Serengeti National Park
• Have lunch
• Afternoon game drive
• Check in at Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
• Dinner and briefing

Day 4: Northern Serengeti National Park

• Early sunrise game drive
• Explore wildebeest migration at Mara River
• Full day game drive with guide
• Dinner and overnight in northern Serengeti
• Enjoy campfire or evening entertainment

Day 5: Serengeti to Ngorongoro

• Early morning game drive in Serengeti
• Enjoy packed lunch in park
• Drive to Ngorongoro Crater
• Check in at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
• Relax at lodge

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater and then Arusha

• Early morning game drive in Ngorongoro Crater
• Explore crater habitats
• Picnic lunch in crater
• Drive back to Arusha
• Check in at Arusha Serena Safari Lodge
• Final dinner and relax

Day 7: Arusha Departure

• Enjoy breakfast
• Depart to airport
• Journey home

The experience

The route moves through three distinct ecosystems over seven days, each one built around what lives there and when. Tarangire draws its reputation from massive elephant herds and baobab trees. The Tarangire River is where wildlife congregates, especially in the dry season, and the park holds over 550 recorded bird species. You spend a full day there with morning and afternoon game drives, a picnic lunch in the field, and a night at Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge before moving on.

The Serengeti takes up the heart of the tour: a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning 14,750 square kilometers where the Great Migration unfolds. You arrive mid-afternoon on day three, then spend days four and five entirely in the park. Day four departs at 6 AM for a sunrise game drive heading north toward the Mara River, where millions of wildebeest and zebras cross during migration season. The guide focuses on areas that reveal the full range of what the park holds: the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, rhinoceros), cheetahs, giraffes and the river crossings themselves. Nights are at Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge in the central park and Mara Mara Tented Lodge in the north.

Day six moves you from the Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater with an early game drive and a 3-4 hour drive south. The crater sits 600 meters deep and holds its own closed ecosystem. You descend into it on day seven for a full morning game drive before returning to Arusha by afternoon. The final night is back at Arusha Serena Hotel, and day seven ends with airport transfer. All transportation between parks, all accommodation, all meals and a professional driver-guide are included. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language.

What’s included

• All transportation between Arusha, Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro.
• accommodation at Serena Safari Lodges throughout the seven days.
• all meals.
• airport transfers on arrival and departure.
• a professional driver-guide for the entire tour.
• park entry fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (61 to 98 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by MERU SLOPES TOURS AND SAFARIS

Is this one for you?Early morning departures, typically 6 AM, are built into days four, five and six to catch wildlife when it is most active, so plan for an early bedtime each night and be ready to move quickly after breakfast. The tour moves through three parks across seven days with long drives between them, making it suited to travelers who want comprehensive coverage of Northern Tanzania's ecosystems rather than deep time in a single location.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 5).

What wildlife will I actually see on the Serengeti during the Great Migration?

The Serengeti holds the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros) plus cheetahs, giraffes and millions of wildebeest and zebras that move across the plains in search of water and grass. The guide focuses on areas where these animals concentrate, with particular attention to the Mara River crossings where the migration is most dramatic.

How much time do I spend driving between the parks?

The drive from Tarangire to Serengeti takes place on day three and is built into the afternoon arrival. The drive from Serengeti to Ngorongoro on day six is approximately 3-4 hours. The final return from Ngorongoro to Arusha on day seven is also 3-4 hours, ending with airport transfer.

What are the lodges like during the tour?

You stay at Serena Safari Lodges throughout: Arusha Serena Hotel in the city on arrival and departure, Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge after Tarangire, Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge in the central park, Mara Mara Tented Lodge in the northern Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge on the crater rim with views into the crater itself.

What time do the game drives start each day?

Sunrise game drives depart at approximately 6 AM on days four, five and seven to catch animals when they are most active. Afternoon game drives follow lunch. Day three includes a mid-afternoon arrival and game drive, and day six includes an early morning drive before the drive to Ngorongoro.

Is the Ngorongoro Crater different from the Serengeti?

Ngorongoro Crater is a self-contained ecosystem 600 meters deep with its own population of the Big Five and other wildlife, including elephants, lions and rhinos. The closed environment concentrates animals in a smaller area, offering different sighting opportunities than the vast open plains of the Serengeti.