8-Day Wildebeest Migration from Maasai Mara to Serengeti
Overview
This 8-Day Wildebeest Migration from Maasai Mara to Serengeti safari combines the pristine wilderness of Kenya’s Maasai Mara with Tanzania’s legendary Serengeti National Park, offering unparalleled wildlife viewing opportunities. Your Kenya Safari expedition will take you through diverse ecosystems where millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles traverse ancient migration routes in their eternal search for fresh pastures.
This carefully crafted Kenya Safari itinerary ensures you experience the migration from multiple vantage points across both countries. From the rolling savannas of Maasai Mara National Reserve to the endless plains of Serengeti, each destination offers unique perspectives of this natural wonder. The Kenya Safari adventure includes encounters with the Big Five, dramatic river crossings, and breathtaking landscapes that have remained unchanged for millennia.
Your Kenya Safari journey concludes with a visit to the world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater, often called Africa’s Eden for its incredible concentration of wildlife. This 8-day Kenya Safari experience combines luxury accommodations, expert guides, and carefully timed game drives to maximize your chances of witnessing the migration in all its glory. Every moment of this Kenya Safari promises unforgettable memories and spectacular photographic opportunities that will last a lifetime.
Tour Highlights
Day 1: Arrival and pick up from Nairobi – Transfer to Maasai Mara National Reserve
Day 2: Full day game drive in Maasai Mara – Witness the Great Migration
Day 3: Continue with morning game drive – Cross border to Northern Serengeti
Day 4: Explore Northern Serengeti – Prime migration viewing area
Day 5: Proceed to Central Serengeti – Game drives in Seronera Valley
Day 6: Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Crater rim lodge
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater tour – Big Five encounters
Day 8: Return to Arusha – Departure arrangements
Price Includes
Park fees for all national parks and reserves
All activities mentioned in the itinerary
Ground transport per 4WD custom safari vehicle with pop-up roof
Bottled water in the safari vehicle throughout the trip
Full board accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
Service of an English-speaking driver-guide with extensive wildlife knowledge
Driver allowances and accommodation
All mentioned activities except for the optional ones
Price excludes
Kenya Visa processing and fees
International and Internal Flights to/from East Africa
Personal needs such as gratuities, beverages, etc.
Visa application costs
Air tickets for international travel
Optional Activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Laundry fees at accommodations
Tips for guides and camp staff
Life insurance coverage
Other drinks apart from provided bottled water
Itineraries
Day 1Arrival and pick up from Nairobi - Transfer to Maasai Mara National Reserve
Arrival and pick up from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi marks the beginning of your spectacular Kenya Safari adventure through East Africa's most celebrated wildlife destinations. Your professional English-speaking guide will transfer you directly to the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve, a 5-hour drive covering 280 kilometers through Kenya's scenic Rift Valley. This Kenya Safari journey takes you past dramatic escarpments and traditional Maasai villages, offering glimpses of local culture and stunning landscapes. Upon arrival at your luxury tented camp in Maasai Mara, settle in and prepare for the incredible Kenya Safari experiences that await you over the coming days.
Day 2Full day game drive in Maasai Mara - Witness the Great Migration
Transfer to the heart of Maasai Mara begins with an early morning game drive across the reserve's 1,510 square kilometers of pristine African wilderness. Your Kenya Safari expedition focuses on locating the massive herds of wildebeest and zebras that make this region famous during migration season. The morning drive spans approximately 3-4 hours, covering diverse habitats from riverine forests along the Mara River to open grasslands where predators hunt. This Kenya Safari experience includes visits to the Mara River crossing points where dramatic wildlife encounters unfold daily during peak migration periods.
Day 3Continue with morning game drive - Cross border to Northern Serengeti
Proceed to Northern Serengeti National Park after a final morning game drive in Maasai Mara, crossing the Kenya-Tanzania border at Isebania-Sirari checkpoint. This Kenya Safari transition involves a 4-hour journey covering 200 kilometers through changing landscapes and ecosystems that support the Great Migration. Your route takes you through the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, where wildlife knows no borders and continues their ancient migration patterns. The Kenya Safari adventure continues as you enter Tanzania's Northern Serengeti, renowned for hosting massive concentrations of wildebeest between July and October each year.
Day 4Explore Northern Serengeti - Prime migration viewing area
Continue with extensive game drives throughout Northern Serengeti's Kogatende and Lamai sectors, prime locations for witnessing spectacular Kenya Safari wildlife concentrations during migration season. Morning drives begin at sunrise, covering 80-100 kilometers across diverse terrain including kopjes (rocky outcrops) that serve as leopard hunting grounds and cheetah observation posts. This Kenya Safari day focuses on following the migration herds as they move between grazing areas and water sources along the Mara River. Afternoon game drives extend your Kenya Safari experience with visits to remote corners of Northern Serengeti where predator-prey interactions create dramatic wildlife encounters throughout the day.
Day 5Proceed to Central Serengeti - Game drives in Seronera Valley
Proceed to Central Serengeti National Park through the famous Seronera Valley, traveling 150 kilometers south through the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your Kenya Safari journey continues through changing landscapes from northern woodland savannas to the classic short-grass plains of central Serengeti. This 3-hour drive offers continuous game viewing opportunities as resident wildlife populations thrive year-round in this fertile valley ecosystem. The Kenya Safari experience intensifies in Central Serengeti where the legendary kopjes provide perfect hunting grounds for big cats and scenic backdrops for photography enthusiasts.
Day 6Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area - Crater rim lodge
Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area involves a scenic 4-hour drive covering 180 kilometers from Central Serengeti to the rim of Africa's most famous caldera. This Kenya Safari route takes you through the Ngorongoro Highlands where Maasai communities continue traditional pastoralist lifestyles alongside abundant wildlife populations. The journey includes stops at viewpoints overlooking the 610-meter-deep Ngorongoro Crater, offering spectacular panoramas of this natural wonder. Your Kenya Safari accommodation sits dramatically on the crater rim at 2,400 meters altitude, providing breathtaking views and cool highland climate after days in the African savanna.
Day 7Continue with Ngorongoro Crater
Continue with a full-day descent into Ngorongoro Crater, beginning with an early morning 30-minute drive down the steep crater walls to the 260-square-kilometer floor below. This Kenya Safari highlight offers unparalleled wildlife viewing density with over 25,000 large animals residing permanently within the crater ecosystem. Your game drives cover approximately 60 kilometers across grasslands, lakes, and forests where black rhinos, lions, elephants, and flamingos coexist in remarkable harmony. The Kenya Safari experience in Ngorongoro Crater includes picnic lunch beside hippo pools and afternoon drives to Lake Magadi where thousands of flamingos create spectacular pink carpets across the alkaline waters.
Day 8Return to Arusha - Departure arrangements
Proceed to Arusha town for departure arrangements, traveling 180 kilometers from Ngorongoro Conservation Area through Tanzania's northern highlands and coffee plantations. This final Kenya Safari journey takes approximately 3.5 hours through diverse landscapes including traditional Maasai villages and bustling local markets in Karatu and Mto wa Mbu towns. Your route offers last opportunities for souvenir shopping at local craft markets where Maasai artisans sell traditional beadwork and wood carvings. The Kenya Safari adventure concludes with drop-off at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha hotels, carrying unforgettable memories of East Africa's greatest wildlife spectacle and the incredible diversity experienced during your migration safari.
