Great Migration
Serengeti · Ngorongoro · Mara River Crossing
5.0 Stars — 204 Reviews about Yera
Duration: 8 Days
Tier: Signature
Price From
$3,200 per person
Depends on number of people
Overview
The migration doesn't run on a schedule. Neither do we.
Group tours booked months in advance often miss the crossing entirely, or arrive at the wrong stretch of river on the wrong day. This journey is built differently: two full nights positioned at the Mara River, a private vehicle throughout, and twenty years reading the herds' movement, so you're there when the crossing happens rather than where a fixed itinerary hoped it would.
As our founder puts it: “The crossing doesn't happen on a schedule — it happens when the herds decide it's time. Twenty years reading the Mara's rhythm means we position you where it happens, not where we hope it will.”
What to Expect
On safari with Yera
- Two Full Nights at the Mara River
- Private Guide & Vehicle Throughout
- Hot Air Balloon Safari (Optional)
- Ngorongoro Crater Wildlife
- Handpicked Lodges & Camps
- Most Meals & Park Fees Included
- AMREF Flying Doctors Evacuation Cover
Day by Day
The Itinerary
◆ THE ROUTE
What You'll Do Today
Land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where your guide is waiting beyond arrivals — no shared shuttles, no queues. The drive into Arusha passes coffee plantations and Maasai settlements as the light softens over Mount Meru. No activities are scheduled today; it's a day for arrival, rest, and a proper night's sleep before Tarangire tomorrow.
What to Expect to See
Tonight's Stay
Meals
Half Board
Route
Kilimanjaro Airport → Arusha
Pool with Meru views · On-site coffee estate · Forest nature trails
What You'll Do Today
Depart Arusha after breakfast for Tarangire National Park, famed for its elephant concentrations and ancient baobabs, with morning and early-afternoon game drives along the Tarangire River where dry-season herds gather in real numbers. In the late afternoon, continue west toward Karatu and the Ngorongoro Highlands, arriving at Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge as the light fades over the coffee estate. It's a fuller driving day, balanced by the extended game drive in Tarangire — your guide paces it so it never feels rushed.
What to Expect to See
Optional Activities
Tonight's Stay
Meals
Full Board
Route
Arusha → Tarangire → Ngorongoro Highlands
Working coffee plantation · Ngorongoro Highlands setting · WiFi access
What You'll Do Today
An early departure takes you down the crater wall as the morning mist lifts off the caldera floor. The Ngorongoro Crater holds an estimated 25,000 large mammals across 260 square kilometres — lion, elephant, hippo, and one of East Africa's last strongholds of black rhino. Spend the full morning tracing the crater floor before ascending back to the rim for lunch, with the afternoon at leisure at the lodge — your second night here — overlooking the coffee estate.
What to Expect to See
Tonight's Stay
Meals
Full Board
Route
Ngorongoro Crater · ~600m descent to the crater floor
Working coffee plantation · Ngorongoro Highlands setting · WiFi access
What You'll Do Today
Cross the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a stop at Olduvai Gorge — the “Cradle of Mankind,” where some of the earliest hominid fossils were discovered — and the Shifting Sands, a wandering volcanic dune sacred to the Maasai. Descend onto the Serengeti's short-grass plains and arrive at Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti in time for lunch, with an afternoon game drive through Seronera's rivers and kopjes — prime territory for resident lion prides and leopard.
What to Expect to See
Optional Activities
Tonight's Stay
Meals
Full Board
Route
Ngorongoro → Central Serengeti (via NCA)
Infinity pool overlooking a private waterhole · Central Serengeti / Seronera location · WiFi access
What You'll Do Today
With the crossing still days ahead in the north, today is given entirely to the Central Serengeti's year-round resident wildlife. Morning and afternoon game drives trace the Seronera Valley and its river systems, where leopard sightings are among the most reliable in Tanzania and lion prides hold territory along the kopjes. Return each time to Four Seasons — your second night — where the infinity pool overlooks a private waterhole, ready whenever you'd like an afternoon at leisure.
What to Expect to See
Tonight's Stay
Meals
Full Board
Route
Central Serengeti, in Depth
Infinity pool overlooking a private waterhole · Central Serengeti / Seronera location · WiFi access
What You'll Do Today
Depart Central Serengeti after breakfast for the long push north, tracking the migration's movement as the plains give way to the riverine woodlands of the Mara region. This is a game drive in its own right, not a transfer between them — expect stops for wildlife along the way, with your guide reading the terrain for where the herds are gathering. Arrive at Lemala Mara Camp by late afternoon, deep in Northern Serengeti's migration corridor.
What to Expect to See
Tonight's Stay
Meals
Full Board
Route
Central Serengeti → Northern Serengeti (Mara)
Northern Serengeti migration corridor location · WiFi at camp
What You'll Do Today
Before sunrise, lift off in a hot air balloon over the Serengeti plains, drifting above herds that stretch to the horizon, followed by a champagne breakfast on landing. The remainder of the day is dedicated to the Mara River, where your guide positions for the crossing — reading herd behaviour, river conditions, and the tension that builds before thousands of wildebeest and zebra commit to waters thick with crocodile. This is peak migration season, and the crossing is the reason the world comes to the Mara — your second night at Lemala Mara Camp.
What to Expect to See
Optional Activities
Tonight's Stay
Meals
Full Board
Route
Balloon Safari & the Mara River Crossing
Northern Serengeti migration corridor location · WiFi at camp
What You'll Do Today
A last early-morning game drive through the Mara before transferring to the local airstrip for your scheduled flight to Arusha, connecting on to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your international departure. Prefer not to go home just yet? Extend seamlessly to Zanzibar, Mafia, or Pangani for a private beach escape — we'll arrange the connection.
What to Expect to See
Tonight's Stay
Meals
Breakfast
Route
Mara → Arusha → Departure
Your Investment
What determines the price
Pricing on this journey starts from $3,200 per person and varies based on three factors.
Group Size
This is always a private safari — no group joining, ever. Your per-person rate depends on how many travelers share your private vehicle and guide; smaller private parties carry a higher per-person cost than larger ones.
Season
This itinerary is timed for the Mara River crossing — June through October, with August and September marking peak crossing season and the highest lodge rates. October offers strong value with thinner crowds; outside June–October the herds move south and this route is not recommended.
Lodge Tier
This is our Signature tier. Bespoke (fully custom, higher-end properties) and Classic (comfortable, value-focused) tiers are also available on this same route.
Included
Private guide and 4x4 safari vehicle for the full journey.
All park entrance and conservation fees, including the NCA.
Seven nights' accommodation as detailed in the itinerary.
Most meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner as outlined day by day.
Soft drinks and bottled water during game drives.
WiFi access at all lodges and camps.
Airport transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Ngorongoro Crater floor descent fee.
Domestic flight coordination for your Mara–Arusha departure.
Emergency medical evacuation cover (AMREF Flying Doctors).
Excluded
Dining on Safari
Most meals, included throughout
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included throughout as outlined day by day, prepared by each lodge and camp's own kitchen team. Simply let us know your dietary preferences when booking, and we'll confirm with each property in advance.
Before You Travel
Documents & Preparation
Valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, with two blank visa pages.
Most nationalities require a visa, available on arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport or in advance online via the e-Visa portal — we recommend confirming requirements for your specific passport before travel.
Required only if arriving from, or having transited through, a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
Emergency medical evacuation is covered by AMREF Flying Doctors throughout your journey; comprehensive travel insurance (medical treatment, cancellation, baggage) is not included, and we recommend arranging your own cover before travel.
Packing List for the Great Migration
Neutral safari colors, a warm layer for pre-dawn starts, and breathable clothing for long waits at the river — full list, PDF, 1 page
What Our Clients Say
Travelers who chased the crossing
“We stood at the Mara River for three hours before the herds finally committed — our guide knew exactly where to wait. Nothing on television prepares you for the sound of it.”
Daniel & Priya R. · Canada, September 2025
“Two nights at Four Seasons meant we actually rested between game drives. The balloon safari over the plains was the highlight of our entire trip.”
Anna K. · Germany, August 2025
“Our guide read the herds perfectly — we watched a crossing on our first full day at the river. Ngorongoro Crater the day before was already worth the trip on its own.”
Michael O. · United States, July 2025
Why Travel With Yera
What sets this journey apart
20+ Years Reading the Migration
Every stop on this itinerary is shaped by two decades tracking the herds' movement through the Serengeti and the Mara.
Always Private — No Group Joining
Private guide, vehicle, and route for the entire journey — you never share a vehicle with another party.
Free Changes & Evacuation Cover
Free itinerary changes up to 30 days before travel, plus AMREF Flying Doctors emergency medical evacuation cover included throughout.
Common Questions
Before You Go
No wildlife sighting can be guaranteed — the migration is a natural phenomenon, not a scheduled event. This itinerary is timed and routed using 20+ years of migration-pattern experience to maximize your chances during peak season (June–October), with two full nights at the Mara built in specifically for this reason.
June through October, with August and September typically offering the highest concentration of animals at the Mara River. See the seasonal breakdown in the Price section above.
1 night in Arusha, 2 nights in the Ngorongoro Highlands, 2 nights in Central Serengeti, and 2 nights in Northern Serengeti at the Mara.
It's an optional add-on — from $500 pp, on Day 7 — booked in advance due to limited daily capacity.
Central Serengeti (Seronera) holds strong resident wildlife year-round, with reliable lion and leopard sightings regardless of season. Northern Serengeti (the Mara region) is where the migration crosses the Mara River, typically June through October.
Neutral safari colors — khaki, beige, green. A warm layer is essential for the pre-dawn balloon safari and early mornings at the Ngorongoro Crater rim. River-crossing waits can take hours, so comfortable, breathable clothing matters.
Yes — private vehicle and private guide throughout, with no group joining.
Yes — popular extensions include Zanzibar, Mafia Island, or Pangani/Saadani for a coastal finish (see Day 8).
A blend of comfortable lodges and camps: Serena Mountain Village, Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge, Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, and Lemala Mara Camp.
Most nationalities require a visa, available on arrival or in advance online (e-Visa). We recommend confirming requirements for your specific passport before travel.
Yes, though some activities carry minimum age policies — the hot air balloon safari in particular. Let us know ages when enquiring so we can tailor the itinerary accordingly.