7 Days: Wildebeest Migration Safari in Kenya & Tanzania (June to October)
7 days / 6 Nights Days
Nairobi, Kenya → Arusha, Tanzani
Migration
Easy
Why Choose This Safari?
This is the classic cross-border combination done properly three days in the Masai Mara, three in the Serengeti's river-crossing heartland and central plains, and a final descent into the Ngorongoro Crater, all in a single week. Crossing the Isebania border by road between Kenya and Tanzania lets you follow the Great Migration's own logic rather than flying over the gap between two of Africa's most famous ecosystems, with the Kogatende region's Mara River crossings as a genuine highlight if timing lines up. Seven days is tight for this much ground, but the route is built to maximize game-drive time at each stop rather than spend it all on transfers.
Destinations to Travel
Masai Mara National Reserve (Kenya) · Serengeti National Park — Kogatende/Northern & Central (Tanzania) · Ngorongoro Conservation Area & Crater · Karatu · Arusha
Itinerary
Day 1 — Nairobi to Masai Mara
After breakfast, you set off from Nairobi on a scenic drive into Kenya's Rift Valley, with sweeping views over one of the most dramatic geological features on the continent as you make your way toward the Masai Mara. You arrive at your lodge in time for lunch, with the afternoon given over to your first game drive through one of Africa's most celebrated reserves, a park that delivers the Big Five and, in season, a front-row seat to the Wildebeest Migration.
Day 2 — Full Day in the Masai Mara
You have two ways to start the day: an early morning game drive timed for the Mara's big cats hunting in the cool dawn light, or a hot air balloon safari drifting silently over the savannah at sunrise, touching down to a champagne breakfast out among the wildlife. After breakfast back at the lodge, you can continue exploring the Mara's plains for more game viewing or take some time to relax before heading out again for the afternoon drive a genuinely flexible day built around however much game driving you're after.
Day 3 — Masai Mara to Serengeti (Kogatende)
After breakfast and one more morning game drive in the Mara, you head for the Isebania border crossing into Tanzania bring your passport and any required visas for both countries, since this leg involves a formal immigration process. Once you've cleared the border, you'll meet your new Tanzanian driver-guide for the onward journey into Serengeti National Park, arriving in time for an afternoon game drive across its famously vast plains, already rich with both predators and the herbivores that draw them.
Day 4 — North Serengeti: Kogatende & the Mara River
Today is dedicated to the Kogatende region and the Mara River, the stage for one of the natural world's most dramatic spectacles wildebeest and zebra plunging into crocodile-infested water in search of fresh grazing on the far bank, assuming the migration's timing lines up with your visit. Even outside river-crossing season, the area holds resident hippos and a strong supporting cast of wildlife, making for a rewarding full day regardless of timing.
Day 5 — Central Serengeti
You travel south to Central Serengeti today, the region most associated with the park's big cats. The drive takes you through scenic kopjes, rocky granite outcrops that punctuate the plains, and acacia-dotted grassland where lion prides, cheetahs, and the more elusive leopard are all realistic sightings. The region's hippo pools and wide-open spaces round out a day built for serious predator viewing.
Day 6 — Serengeti to Ngorongoro
After breakfast, you begin the drive back across the Serengeti toward Ngorongoro, with plenty of opportunity for more wildlife sightings along the way — migrating herds and predators alike often put on a show right from the vehicle. You arrive at the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in time for dinner, overnighting either on the rim of the crater itself or in nearby Karatu town, both offering a good night's rest before tomorrow's descent.
Day 7 — Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha
Your final day brings a descent into the Ngorongoro Crater itself, one of the most reliable places in Africa to find the Big Five in a single day, including the endangered black rhino alongside large populations of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope. A picnic lunch by the hippo pool is a fitting way to close out a week of exceptional game viewing before you head out of the crater in the late afternoon for the drive to Arusha, where your safari comes to an end.
What's Included
Rate Includes
- Road transfers throughout (Nairobi to Masai Mara, Masai Mara to Serengeti via Isebania, and Serengeti to Ngorongoro to Arusha)
- Park and conservation area entry fees (Masai Mara National Reserve, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area)
- Professional driver-guides in both Kenya and Tanzania (handover at the Isebania border)
- 6 nights' accommodation (properties TBC throughout)
- Meals as specified or reasonably inferred in the itinerary
Rate Excludes
- International flights
- Kenya and Tanzania visa fees (both required for this cross-border route)
- Travel insurance
- Hot air balloon safari and champagne breakfast on Day 2 (likely a separately priced add-on)
- Tips for guides and lodge staff
- Personal expenses (drinks, souvenirs)
- Onward transfer or accommodation in Arusha after Day 7, if required
Best Time to Go
Timing this route around the Wildebeest Migration takes some planning, since the itinerary follows the migration's own general path — the Mara River crossings in the Kogatende region are most likely from around July through October, while Central Serengeti is a strong year-round bet for resident big cats regardless of migration timing. The Ngorongoro Crater, which doesn't depend on migratory movement at all, delivers excellent game viewing in any season, making it a reliable way to close out the trip whatever time of year you travel.
Pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need separate visas for Kenya and Tanzania on this trip?
Yes since this itinerary crosses the Isebania border from Kenya into Tanzania on Day 3, you'll need valid entry requirements for both countries (Kenya's eTA or visa, plus a Tanzania visa). It's worth sorting these out well before departure, since border crossings can be slow if paperwork isn't in order.
Will I see the Wildebeest Migration's river crossings?
It depends on timing the Mara River crossings in the Kogatende region are most reliable from roughly July through October, when the migration is typically moving through Northern Serengeti and the Masai Mara. Outside that window, the itinerary still delivers excellent game viewing across all the parks visited, just without the specific river-crossing spectacle.
How does the border crossing from Kenya to Tanzania work?
You'll complete immigration formalities at the Isebania border post after your morning game drive on Day 3, then meet a new driver-guide on the Tanzanian side for the rest of the trip it's a standard, well-practiced crossing for safari operators running this exact route, but it does add some time to the day, so patience helps.
Is the hot air balloon safari on Day 2 included in the price?
It's offered as an optional activity, but balloon safaris are almost always priced separately from the core safari package worth confirming the exact add-on cost with our accounts team before this goes live.
Where will I stay each night?
Accommodation isn't named for any of the six nights in this draft itinerary it's just described generically as a lodge in each region. We'll confirm specific properties for the Masai Mara, Kogatende, Central Serengeti, and Ngorongoro/Karatu before this is finalized.
Does the trip end with a flight home from Arusha, or do I need to arrange my own onward travel?
The itinerary as provided ends with the drive to Arusha in the late afternoon of Day 7, without specifying an airport transfer or overnight — worth confirming with our team whether your flight home departs the same evening or whether an additional night and transfer need to be added.