Epic 5-Day Great Migration Safari: Tarangire & Ngorongoro

Overview

This 5-Day Great Migration Safari is run by Serengeti Wildlife Safaris, a locally based Tanzanian operator. You travel with an experienced local guide, and we plan every detail with you.

Why book this 5-Day Great Migration Safari with us

First, every 5-Day Great Migration Safari we run is tailor-made, so we can adjust the dates, accommodation and pace. In addition, our local team supports you from arrival to departure. Before you travel, you can also read about the area on the official Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) website. For more ideas, see our other Serengeti National Park tours.

Experience the magic of Tanzania on an unforgettable wildlife adventure. This trip combines the famous Serengeti plains, the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater and the elephant-rich landscapes of Tarangire National Park. As a result, you explore three of Tanzania’s most remarkable ecosystems, with plenty of wildlife viewing and comfort along the way.

This journey is ideal if you want an immersive 5-Day Great Migration Safari. It gives you the chance to see vast herds of wildebeest and zebras roaming the Serengeti ecosystem. Because you fly from Arusha to the Northern Serengeti, the itinerary avoids long road transfers. So you spend more time in the wilderness, watching predators, grazers and spectacular landscapes.

Throughout the safari, you enjoy guided game drives, comfortable lodges and camps, and meaningful cultural encounters. In addition, you may witness the dramatic Mara River crossings, one of nature’s most intense wildlife spectacles. With wildlife photography, cultural visits and scenic exploration, this is an exceptional 5-Day Great Migration Safari. It suits couples, honeymooners and wildlife lovers who want a compact yet complete Tanzanian safari.

Itinerary

Day 01 :

Arrival & Transfer to Northern Serengeti

Early in the morning, we pick you up from your lodge and transfer you to Arusha Airport for a domestic flight to the Northern Serengeti. On arrival, you set off on your first game drive across wide plains where zebras, gazelles and wildebeest roam in large numbers. During the migration season, you may see the immense movement of herds that defines the 5-Day Great Migration Safari experience. This is especially true near the Mara River, where dramatic crossings may occur.

Meanwhile, your guide introduces you to the Serengeti ecosystem and explains wildlife behaviour, predator-prey interactions and migration patterns. In the evening, you transfer to Safari Haven Migration Camp. There you can relax and enjoy dinner while listening to the sounds of the Serengeti wilderness.

Accommodation: Safari Haven Migration Camp
Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Day 02 :

Full-Day Game Drive in Northern Serengeti

After breakfast, you head out for a full day in the Northern Serengeti, an area known for its high concentration of wildlife and migration activity. Large herds of wildebeest, zebras and antelope often gather here. Meanwhile, predators such as lions, cheetahs and hyenas follow closely.

Your guide searches for wildlife hotspots and explains the animal movements and ecological links that shape the migration cycle. Then you enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush, so you can keep watching wildlife throughout the day. In the evening, you return to Safari Haven Migration Camp for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Safari Haven Migration Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 03 :

Optional Balloon Safari & Transfer to Central Serengeti

The morning begins with an optional sunrise hot air balloon flight over the Serengeti plains. From the air, you gain a remarkable view of moving wildlife and the vast open landscapes. Seeing the herds from above also adds another dimension to the 5-Day Great Migration Safari. It offers unique photo opportunities and a deeper appreciation of the Serengeti ecosystem.

After breakfast, you head to the Central Serengeti with a scenic game drive along the way. This region is well known for its predators and its diverse habitats. By the afternoon, you arrive at Out in Africa Serengeti Camps. There you can relax, enjoy dinner under the stars and look back on the day’s wildlife encounters.

Accommodation: Out in Africa Serengeti Camps
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 04 :

Ngorongoro Crater & Maasai Village Visit

After breakfast, you depart for the Ngorongoro Highlands. On the way, you enjoy wildlife viewing before descending into the Ngorongoro Crater for a morning game drive. The crater has one of Africa’s densest wildlife populations, including elephants, lions, buffalo, hippos, flamingos and zebras. Occasionally, you may also spot the rare black rhinoceros.

In the afternoon, you visit a traditional Maasai village. Here, local community members share their customs, daily life and traditional dances. This cultural visit also gives you insight into one of East Africa’s most iconic pastoral societies. Later in the evening, you travel to Ngare Lodge in Mto wa Mbu for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Ngare Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 05 :

Tarangire National Park & Transfer to Arusha

After breakfast, you depart for Tarangire National Park, famous for its large elephant population and iconic baobab trees. During the morning game drive, you may see elephants, giraffes, lions, zebras and buffalo. You can also spot many bird species in the park’s savannah and riverine habitats.

After a picnic lunch inside the park, you begin the journey back to Arusha. Finally, the safari ends in the late afternoon with a transfer to your lodge, hotel or the airport. This marks the end of an extraordinary Tanzanian wildlife experience.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Included & Excluded

Domestic flight from Arusha to Northern Serengeti.
All transfers and transportation in a 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for game viewing.
Professional English-speaking safari guide and driver throughout the safari.
All national park entrance fees, conservation fees, and government taxes.
Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary including Safari Haven Migration Camp, Out in Africa Serengeti Camps, and Ngare Lodge.
Meals as indicated in the itinerary including breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Maasai village visit and cultural experience.
Bottled drinking water during game drives.
Wi-Fi where available at lodges or camps.

International flights to and from Tanzania.
Tanzania visa fees.
Travel insurance.
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, tips, laundry, and phone calls.
Optional activities including hot air balloon safaris.
Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks unless specified by the lodge or camp.
Vaccinations and medical requirements related to travel.

Map

Frequent Asked Question

What is the best time to experience the Great Migration?

The migration moves year-round across the Serengeti ecosystem. However, the Mara River crossings in the Northern Serengeti are most often seen between July and October. Wildlife sightings also remain excellent throughout the year.

Is the safari suitable for first-time visitors to Tanzania?

Yes. The itinerary combines the most famous parks with comfortable travel arrangements, so it suits first-time safari travellers well.

How physically demanding is the safari?

The safari mainly involves game drives in a 4x4 vehicle and short walks at the lodges. So it does not require much physical effort.

What wildlife can be seen during this safari?

Travellers often see lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, cheetahs, hyenas, buffalo, hippos and many bird species. However, sightings depend on wildlife movements and seasonal conditions.