6-Day Tanzania Safari from Arusha: Serengeti Wildebeest Migration

Follow the wildebeest migration across the Serengeti while camping in the parks themselves.

A six-day group camping safari departing from Arusha that tracks the great wildebeest migration through Tarangire National Park, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, with a driver-guide, all meals, six nights of accommodation and hotel pickup included. The itinerary positions you in the parks during game drives rather than commuting from a distant town, and the guide adjusts the route to follow where the migration is moving that season.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Pick up from Arusha hotel at 8:00 am
• Drive 3 hours to Tarangire National Park
• Full day game drive in Tarangire
• Drive to Jambo Lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 2 — Tarangire to Serengeti National Park

• Breakfast and pack luggage
• En-route game drive to Serengeti with lunch in jeep
• View Rift Valley and Ngorongoro Crater
• Arrive Serengeti around 3:00 pm
• Evening game drive in central Serengeti
• Dinner and overnight at Seronera campsite

Day 3 — Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Tour

• Early breakfast
• Full day game drive following wildebeest migration
• Return to Seronera campsite for dinner and overnight

Day 4 — Serengeti to Ngorongoro

• Wake early for breakfast and sunrise
• Morning game drive until 11:30 am
• Return to campsite for hot lunch and pack
• Game drive en-route to Ngorongoro Crater
• Dinner and overnight at Simba campsite

Day 5 — Ngorongoro Crater and Mto wa Mbu Village

• Early breakfast
• Descend to Ngorongoro Crater floor for game drive
• Lunch inside crater watching wildlife
• Ascend from crater and pack luggage
• Drive to Mto wa Mbu village for cultural walking tour
• Return to Jambo Lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 6 — Lake Manyara and Return to Arusha

• Breakfast
• Full day game drive in Lake Manyara National Park
• Visit hot springs and see climbing lions
• Visit Maasai boma for cultural experience
• Drive back to Arusha for dinner and overnight

The Experience

The safari begins with hotel pickup in Arusha at 8am and a three-hour drive to Tarangire National Park, 115km away. You'll spend your first full day on game drive there, where the Tarangire River draws elephants, lions, leopards and climbing tree pythons, then overnight at Jambo Lodge. The next morning you pack into the safari jeep for an en-route game drive toward the Serengeti, stopping for lunch inside the vehicle. On the way you'll see the Rift Valley and views of the Ngorongoro Crater before arriving at Seronera Campsite by mid-afternoon for an evening game drive and sunset.

Days three and four are dedicated to the Serengeti itself. You wake early, have breakfast, then spend a full day driving to the key areas where the migration is moving—the guide will position you to see the wildebeest herds, which number around 1.5 million animals. The migration's location shifts seasonally: June through September the herds move north toward the Mara River crossings, while January through March is calving season in the south. Your driver knows where they are and adjusts the route accordingly. You return to Seronera Campsite each evening for dinner and overnight.

On day four you wake at 5:45am to watch the sunrise during an early game drive, then head back for a hot lunch before driving toward Ngorongoro, stopping for more game viewing along the way. Day five starts at 5:30am with breakfast, then you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater floor for six to seven hours of game drive. The crater is the world's largest inactive volcanic caldera, and animals trapped inside after descending have multiplied over time—you can see all five of the African big five here: black rhinos, elephants, lions, buffalo and leopards, plus high concentrations of flamingos and diverse bird species. Lunch happens inside the crater while you watch the wildlife. After ascending, you'll have a walking tour through Mto wa Mbu village to see how local people live, visit banana plantations and taste traditional food, then return to Jambo Lodge.

The final day is a full game drive through Lake Manyara National Park, where you'll see climbing tree lions and flamingos drawn by the algae in the water, visit a hot spring, and stop at a Maasai boma to learn about their culture and traditions. You'll be back in Arusha by evening. Throughout the six days you have a professional English-speaking guide, unlimited mineral water, coffee and tea, all meals as listed in the itinerary, and AMREF Flying Doctors emergency rescue coverage included.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Arusha.
• professional English-speaking driver-guide.
• all park entry fees.
• six nights of accommodation in campsites and hotels.
• all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) as per the itinerary.
• unlimited mineral water, coffee and tea throughout the safari.
• AMREF Flying Doctors emergency rescue coverage.
• free WiFi inside the safari jeep.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by MERU SLOPES TOURS AND SAFARIS

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to follow the wildebeest migration with a guide who knows where the herds are moving that season—staying inside the parks on camping rather than commuting from town means you're positioned for game drives from dawn, and the itinerary adjusts to the migration's actual location instead of following a fixed route.

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Top questions

What is the great wildebeest migration and when is the best time to see it?

The great wildebeest migration is the annual movement of around 1.5 million wildebeest and other herbivores across the Serengeti and into Kenya's Masai Mara, following rainfall and fresh grazing. The migration moves in a clockwise loop through the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The best time to see the migration is June through September, when the herds move north toward the Mara River crossings; January through March is calving season in the south. Your guide will drive to wherever the migration is located during your tour dates.

Can I really see the big five in Ngorongoro Crater?

Yes—all five of the African big five (black rhinos, elephants, lions, buffalo and leopards) can be seen in Ngorongoro Crater. The animals became trapped inside the crater after descending and could not leave, so they multiplied over time and remain concentrated there. You'll spend six to seven hours on the crater floor during day five, with lunch included while you watch the wildlife.

What kind of accommodation will I have on this safari?

You'll stay in campsites inside or near the parks: Jambo Lodge and Campsite near Tarangire (two nights), Seronera Campsite inside the Serengeti (two nights) and Simba Campsite near Ngorongoro (one night), plus two nights in a hotel in Arusha town before and after the safari. All six nights of accommodation are included.

Is the guide included, and what language does he speak?

Yes, a professional driver-guide is included throughout the entire safari and speaks English. The guide will track the wildebeest migration and adjust the route to position you where the herds are moving that season.

What meals are provided during the safari?

All meals listed in the itinerary are included: breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. Lunch is often served inside the safari jeep during game drives. Unlimited mineral water, coffee and tea are provided throughout the entire safari.

Does the price include flights to Tanzania?

No, flights are not included. The safari includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Arusha, all ground transportation, accommodation, meals, the guide and park fees, but you'll need to arrange your own flights to Arusha.