The Great Migration
The Great Migration
One of the “Ten Wonders of the Natural World” the migration of the wildebeest is an unforgettable experience. When mentioning the migration what leaps to mind of most everyone is the crossing of the crocodile infested Mara River of the migration herds. But the migration is a year round event. 1.5 million wildebeest accompanied by 200,000 zebra, 350,000 gazelle and 12,000 eland travel in a continuous circular path. The vast majority of this is inside of the Serengeti and the neighboring protected areas but it also enters Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) and Kenya’s Maasai Mara. Even during the times when herds venture into the Maasai Mara, a portion of the herds stay inside of Tanzania year round. Contrary to popular belief, where the majority of the herds cross the Mara River, both sides of the river are in Tanzania. This movement is driven by the search for the best grazing conditions. Grazing conditions in turn are weather dependent. Central Serengeti (Seronera) is a good compromise location for being able to view the migration herds. But there are two special times of the year that are highlights of the migration cycle that we offer special seasonal itineraries.
One highlight is from July – September where it is worth the trip to the far northern part of the Serengeti in hopes to see the spectacular river crossings. The actual river crossings are very unpredictable but there will be many animals in the area and the game viewing should be great. The best area of the Serengeti during this time is Kogatende, located in the far northwestern Serengeti. This is a long drive so 6 days or more is recommended. There is an airstrip there where you can fly in by small plane if you want to use your time most effectively. There are some good tented camps in this area but no campsites. If you are planning a basic camping safari, the Lobo portion of the Serengeti (northeast) is where you will stay.
Sample Itineraries for January – March Ndutu Area
4 Days Migration Safari
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This itinerary is optimized for travel during the months of January through March. You will be met by our tour guides at the airport and transferred to your hotel; we are happy to recommend hotels in the area and/or make your hotel bookings for you. At this day before your safari, you will receive briefing information from our tour guides concerning safari and game drive and other information about your safari.
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Day 1: After an early breakfast at your hotel your guide will pick you up and drive you to Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). You will spend the afternoon inside of Ngorongoro Crater game viewing. In the evening you will stay inside of the NCA at a campsite/lodge/tented camp.
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Day 2: After breakfast we travel to the Ndutu area for game viewing of the migration herds. Overnight at Ndutu area (tented camp) or Seronera portion of the Serengeti (camping).
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Day 3: Full day game viewing in Ndutu. Overnight at the same accommodations as the previous night.
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Day 4: Morning game viewing then we return back to Arusha/Kilimanjaro Airport/Moshi for the end of your safari.
5 Days Migration Safari
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This itinerary is optimized for travel during the months of January through March. You will be met by our tour guides at the airport and transferred to your hotel; we are happy to recommend hotels in the area and/or make your hotel bookings for you. At this day before your safari, you will receive briefing information from our tour guides concerning safari and game drive and other information about your safari.
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Day 1: After breakfast your guide will pick you up and take you to Lake Manyara National park for game viewing. Overnight will be spend just outside of the park.
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Day 2: After breakfast we will travel into Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) and to the Ndutu area. You will have permits for both Serengeti and NCA for game viewing. Overnight will be either ate Ndutu or Seronara portion of the Serengeti depending on you accommodation choice.
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Day 3: Game viewing in Ndutu and Serengeti. Overnight return to the same accommodations.
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Day 4: Game viewing in the Serengeti/Ndutu. The then head towards Ngorongoro Crater where you will relax at your accommodations near the crater.
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Day 5: Morning game drive inside of Ngorongoro Crater. The crater is a wonderful safari destination with a wide variety of animals present (including black rhino). it is not large though so in 4 – 5 hours all will be seen. At that time we return to Arusha/Kilimanjaro Airport/Moshi for the end of the safari.
Sample Itineraries for July – September Northern Serengeti (Kogatende)
6 Days Migration Safari
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This itinerary is optimized for travel during the months of January through March. You will be met by our tour guides at the airport and transferred to your hotel; we are happy to recommend hotels in the area and/or make your hotel bookings for you. At this day before your safari, you will receive briefing information from our tour guides concerning safari and game drive and other information about your safari.
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Day 1: After breakfast at your hotel in Moshi/Arusha your guide will pick you and drive you to Lake Natron. You will pass through several small villages where you can get a glimpse of typical rural life in Tanzania. Along the way you will see Ol Doinyo Lengai (mountain of god). This is a sacred mountain in the traditional Maasai religion. It is an active volcano and will often be seen smoking. We then get to Lake Natron, a shallow very alkaline lake. This lake is lifeless except for an algae that is favored by flamingos which can be found in great numbers there. This is a desolate and surreal experience viewing the flamingo filled lake with the volcano looming in the background. There are lodges and campsites for dinner and overnight.
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Day 2: Cultural activities at Lake Natron in the morning. In the afternoon we then proceed west, entering into the northern Serengeti where you will have game viewing for the rest of the day. Overnight in the Serengeti (Lobo or Kogatende).
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Day 3: Full day game viewing in the Serengeti. This day we will find the best spots for viewing the migration herds. Dinner and overnight at Lobo or Kogatende portion of the Serengeti.
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Day 4: Full day game viewing of the migration. Return to the same accommodations as the previous day.
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Day 5: Game viewing as we work our way south through the Serengeti. In the mid/late afternoon we will enter into Ngorongoro Conservation Area where we will spend the night.
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Day 6: Morning safari inside of Ngorongoro Crater. This is a superb safari destination but not a large one. In a few hours all will be seen. We then ascend out of the crater and drive to Arusha/Kilimanjaro Airport/Moshi for the end of the safari.
8 Days Migration Safari
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This itinerary is optimized for travel during the months of January through March. You will be met by our tour guides at the airport and transferred to your hotel; we are happy to recommend hotels in the area and/or make your hotel bookings for you. At this day before your safari, you will receive briefing information from our tour guides concerning safari and game drive and other information about your safari.
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We will pick you up after a very early breakfast and our experienced driver/guide will transfer you to Tarangire National Park. Tarangire national park has the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem. There are large herds of elephants, lions, wildebeest, zebras, buffalos, impalas, gazelles, hartebeests, waterbucks, elands, and a variety of birds.
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Day 2: After breakfast, we drive to Lake Manyara National Park for game viewing. Afterwards we will go to a campsite/tented camp/lodge for the evenings meal and overnight rest either close to Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) or inside of the NCA.
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Day 3: In the morning we go for a game drive inside of the famous Ngorongoro Crater. Here it is the best chance to spot all of the “Big 5”. We will spend the morning exploring the crater then afterwards travel west entering into the Serengeti where you will have some game viewing the the Seronera (central Serengeti). Along the way to the Serengeti there is an optional side trip visiting Olduvai Gorge Museum, one of the most famous paleoanthropological sites in East Africa (extra charge for museum visit). Overnight in Seronera portion of the Serengeti.
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Day 4: Morning game viewing in Seronera. This portion of the Serengeti has consistently good game viewing, especially the large cats. In the afternoon we will proceed north while game viewing along the way. Dinner and overnight in either Kogatende (tented camps) or Logo (basic camping).
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Day 5: Full day will be spend game viewing the migration herds which should typically be in Kogatende portion of the Serengeti. You guide will know the best location based on real time conditions. We will return to the same accommodations as the previous night.
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Day 6: Full day game viewing. Return to the same accommodations.
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Day 7: Last look at the Serengeti as we travel east, exiting out of the park. We will stop at Lake Natron for cultural activities. Overnight at Lake Natron at a campsite/lodge.
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Day 8: After breakfast we will travel back to Arusha/Kilimanjaro Airport/Moshi for the end of the itinerary.
