This is a strong choice when you want the migration first, not after several days of driving. Flying in helps protect your energy and gives you more time where the wildlife story is happening.

AngelWarriors of Africa Safari, Arusha

This 7-Day Great Migration Luxury Safari starts where the migration story is happening. Instead of a long first day on the road from Arusha, you fly straight into the northern Serengeti and begin close to the wildlife.

Two nights in the north put you in Mara River country, where travellers come for the herds and the river crossings. Crossings are never guaranteed, but staying in the north gives the safari a much stronger chance of meaningful migration moments.

From there you drive out through the central Serengeti for year-round big cats, to Ngorongoro Crater for its concentrated wildlife, and finish in Tarangire among elephants and baobabs.

The price starts at USD 5,702 per person, with the flight north, a private vehicle and guide, and luxury lodges throughout: Serengeti Ark, Meliá Serengeti, Lion's Paw, Oldeani Mountain Lodge and Gran Meliá Arusha. We confirm dates, rooms and rates before we quote.

A dense wildebeest herd gathered at the water's edge in rising dust

Right for you if you are…

Great Migration travellers: Two nights in the north, where the herds gather in season.
Couples and honeymooners: Luxury lodges, an infinity pool and a honeymoon suite on the crater rim.
Photographers: Herds, river country, big cats and the crater in one week.
Luxury safari guests: Comfortable, premium stays from the first night to the last.
Travellers short on energy: Flying in saves the long first-day drive.

Physical rating

Easy, level 1 of 3

Game drives in a private vehicle, a light-aircraft flight, and some long road days. Suitable for most travellers.

Early starts in the north and on the crater day.
Days 3, 4 and 6 include long drives, with game viewing along the way.
Light aircraft have strict luggage limits; soft bags are best.

Where the trip goes

You fly north from Arusha straight into the northern Serengeti, then drive back south with your own guide: through the central Serengeti, up to the Ngorongoro rim and the crater, round to Oldeani, and home through Tarangire.

ArushaDay 1 · Days 6–7
The flight north on Day 1, and your last night at Gran Meliá Arusha.
Northern SerengetiDays 1–3
Two nights at Serengeti Ark Safari Lodge in migration country.
Central SerengetiDays 3–4
Big-cat country and a night at Meliá Serengeti Lodge.
NgorongoroDays 4–6
A night on the rim at Lion's Paw, the crater game drive, then a night at Oldeani.
TarangireDay 6
Elephants and baobabs on the way back to Arusha.

The herds move with the rain; we check your month before you book so the lodges and the route match the migration. Open Kogatende in Google Maps

Day by day

Day 1
Fly into the northern Serengeti
Where
Northern Serengeti
Stay
Serengeti Ark Safari Lodge
Meals
Full Board
Your safari begins with a transfer to the airstrip in Arusha and a scheduled flight into the Serengeti. Flying in saves the long first-day drive and puts you straight into one of Tanzania's great safari regions.
Your driver-guide meets you at the Kogatende airstrip and your first game drive begins at once. The northern Serengeti is remote and dramatic: open plains, river valleys and rolling hills, and in season the wildebeest and zebra herds moving through.
After the game drive you check in at Serengeti Ark Safari Lodge, a new lodge of wooden chalets with an infinity pool over the plains. The first evening is for settling in and listening to the Serengeti night.
Day 2
A full day in migration country
Where
Northern Serengeti
Stay
Serengeti Ark Safari Lodge
Meals
Full Board
Today belongs to the northern Serengeti. Your guide plans the day around recent herd movement, the tracks, the weather and what you most want to see. If the herds are in the area you search for the big columns, the likely crossing points and the predators that follow them.
River crossings are the most famous moment of the migration, but they cannot be scheduled. Some days bring intense movement; others reward patience with lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles and the beauty of the north.
A packed lunch lets you stay out through the best hours and follow the action rather than the clock. You return to Serengeti Ark for dinner and your second night in the north.
Day 3
Northern Serengeti to the western Serengeti
Where
Central and Western Serengeti
Stay
Meliá Serengeti Lodge
Meals
Full Board
After breakfast you drive south through the heart of the park. It is a full safari day rather than a transfer: open plains, kopjes and river valleys, with your guide choosing the route by the conditions and the latest sightings.
The central Serengeti is one of Tanzania's most reliable year-round wildlife areas, known for lions, leopards and cheetahs as well as elephants, giraffes, hyenas, hippos and big numbers of plains game.
You arrive at Meliá Serengeti Lodge on the Nyamuma Hills, with an infinity pool and wide views over the plains: a softer, more comfortable evening after two intense days in the north.
Day 4
The Serengeti to the Ngorongoro rim
Where
Ngorongoro Crater
Stay
Ngorongoro Lion's Paw
Meals
Full Board
A last Serengeti game drive in the morning, when the predators are most active, before you start the journey out of the park.
The road from the Serengeti to Ngorongoro is long and scenic, climbing from the plains into the cool highlands. Your guide paces it carefully, balancing game viewing with reaching the rim in good time.
You spend the night at Ngorongoro Lion's Paw on the eastern rim of the crater, about ten minutes from the descent road, with the crater floor in view from the bar and lounge.
Day 5
Ngorongoro Crater and the Oldeani highlands
Where
Ngorongoro Crater
Stay
Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge
Meals
Full Board
After an early breakfast you descend to the crater floor for a game drive. Ngorongoro is one of Tanzania's most iconic wildlife places: a vast amphitheatre of grassland, swamp, forest and lake enclosed by volcanic walls.
You may see lions, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, hyenas, elephants and many birds, and with luck and good guiding an endangered black rhino at a respectful distance.
After the crater you drive round to the Oldeani highlands, cooler and greener, for a night at Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge, with its pool, fireplaces and views over the coffee country.
Day 6
Tarangire, then back to Arusha
Where
Tarangire National Park
Stay
Gran Meliá Arusha
Meals
Full board or half board, depending on arrival time
After breakfast you leave the highlands for Tarangire National Park, famous for its elephant herds, ancient baobabs and the wildlife that gathers along the Tarangire River in the dry season.
Your game drive may bring elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, impalas, warthogs, lions and a wealth of birds: a peaceful, very different last chapter after the Serengeti and the crater.
In the afternoon you continue to Arusha for your last night at Gran Meliá Arusha, in coffee gardens below Mount Meru.
Day 7
Departure from Arusha or Kilimanjaro
Where
Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport
Stay
No accommodation
Meals
Breakfast
After breakfast you have a relaxed morning, depending on your flight, before your driver takes you to Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport.
That is the end of your 7-Day Great Migration Luxury Safari with Warriors of Africa Safari: the northern Serengeti, central Serengeti big-cat country, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire in one luxury route. We can add a night if you need one.

Where you’ll sleep

A chalet on its deck at sunset
Serengeti Ark Safari Lodge
New lodge in the Mara River region · Kogatende, northern Serengeti · Nights 1–2
A new lodge at Kogatende, opened in 2024: wooden A-frame chalets with balconies over the plains, an infinity pool and a spa, in the heart of migration country.
A new lodge without its own website yet: its facts and photographs come from its Trip.com listing. We confirm the room category and the lodge's details directly with the lodge before booking.
Read about Serengeti Ark Safari Lodge
The lodge reflected in the infinity pool
Meliá Serengeti Lodge
Luxury hotel-style lodge · Western / Central Serengeti · Night 3
A Meliá Collection lodge on the Nyamuma Hills, with Maasai-inspired rooms, an infinity pool facing the plains and butler service.
Read about Meliá Serengeti Lodge
The main lodge among the trees at dusk
Ngorongoro Lion's Paw
Crater-rim camp · Eastern rim, Ngorongoro Crater · Night 4
A Karibu camp on the eastern crater rim, ten minutes from the descent road, with crater views from the bar, lounge and dining room.
Read about Ngorongoro Lion's Paw
Cottage looking over the highlands
Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge
Luxury highland lodge · Oldeani / Karatu · Night 5
A highland lodge in the Oldeani coffee country, with fireplaces in the suites, a pool and cool, green views after the crater.
Read about Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge
Lounge facing Mount Meru
Gran Meliá Arusha
Luxury city hotel · Arusha city · Night 6
A five-star hotel in coffee gardens below Mount Meru, with a pool, a spa and a calm last evening before the airport.
Lodges and room categories are confirmed against availability and season before the final quote.
Read about Gran Meliá Arusha

Prefer different lodges?

The route stays the same; the lodges, the price and the feel change. In the north, Lemala Kuria Hills and Singita Mara River sit near the river; on the crater, the Meliá Collection's Ngorongoro Lodge is on the rim.

All Serengeti lodges and camps

What’s included

Usually included

Scheduled flight into the Serengeti
Airport and airstrip transfers
Private safari vehicle with a professional English-speaking driver-guide
Accommodation as listed in the itinerary
Meals as stated in the itinerary
Park and conservation fees, as confirmed in your final package
Game drives in the northern and central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire
Drinking water on game drives
Government taxes and tourism levies where they apply

Not included

International flights
Tanzania visa
Travel insurance
Tips for your driver-guide, lodge staff and porters
Personal expenses, premium drinks, laundry and optional activities unless stated
Any accommodation or service not in the confirmed itinerary
Medical evacuation cover unless specifically included
Any rise in park fees, concession fees, taxes or flight costs after the quote

Final inclusions are confirmed on your quote.

Before you go

Visa and entry

Your passport

Choose your passport to see the visa you need.

Passport valid for at least six months, with at least one unused visa page.
Show your return or onward ticket on arrival.
One visa covers both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. Choose your first stop on the form.
Every passport holder, including children, needs their own application.
Online applications are processed in about 10 days. Apply only through the official portal.
Yellow fever vaccination may be required if you arrive from or transit certain countries.

Official Tanzania eVisa portal Our visa guide

Useful tips

Pack soft bags: The flight into the Serengeti uses a light aircraft with a strict weight limit. Soft-sided bags are easier to load; we confirm the allowance for your flight.
Be patient at the river: Crossings can take hours to build, or not happen at all. A packed lunch and an open mind are the best tools on Day 2.
Bring a long lens: Crossings and predators often happen at a distance. A 300 mm lens or longer and a beanbag for the vehicle make a real difference.
Layers for the highlands: Ngorongoro and Oldeani are cold at night and in the early morning. Bring a fleece and a warm layer for the crater descent.
Tips aren't included: Gratuities for your driver-guide and lodge staff aren't part of the price, so set a little aside for them.
Ask your doctor about malaria: Discuss malaria prevention with your doctor before you travel, and bring insect repellent for the evenings.

When to go

This route is strongest when the herds are in the northern Serengeti, usually around the Mara River from about July to October. Exact timing changes every year with the rain and grazing.

Outside those months the route still works, with more weight on the central Serengeti, the crater and Tarangire. We check your month before you book so the lodges and the route match what you want to see.

If a river crossing is your dream, the honest advice is to stay several nights in the north and accept that crossings are natural events, not scheduled shows.

Questions guests ask

Will I see a river crossing?

No one can promise one. Crossings depend on the herds, the rain and the animals' own timing. Two nights in the north give you the best chance, but they are natural events, not scheduled shows.

When is the best time for this safari?

The herds are usually in the northern Serengeti around the Mara River from about July to October. Outside those months we can shift the focus to central Serengeti, the crater and Tarangire, so check your month with us first.

Why fly in?

Flying to the north saves a long road day and puts you in migration country on the first afternoon. You then drive out through the Serengeti, the crater and Tarangire with your own guide.

What luggage can I bring on the flight?

Light aircraft have strict limits and prefer soft bags. We confirm the allowance for your flight, especially if you are connecting from an international flight.

Is it good for a honeymoon?

Yes. It is a luxury route with an infinity pool in the north, a crater-rim camp with a honeymoon suite, and a spa hotel in Arusha at the end.

Is the price fixed?

USD 5,702 per person is a starting price. The final price depends on your dates, the number of travellers, the rooms and seasonal rates, park fees and the flight, and we confirm it before you book.