Zebras and wildebeest plunging off a rocky bank into a brown river

7-Day Great Migration Mid-Range Safari

Fly straight into the northern Serengeti for the migration, then drive out through the central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire

Location

Northern Serengeti migration

Safari Type

Mid-range fly-in, drive-out safari

Best Time

Best July to October in the north

Ideal For

Migration-focused travellers, couples, first-timers

$3,575/ Per Person

Overview

This tour is smart because it flies you straight into the migration side first. You save energy at the beginning, then slowly drive back through Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire.

AngelWarriors of Africa Safari, Arusha

This 7-Day Great Migration Mid-Range Safari gets you to the northern Serengeti quickly. Instead of a long first day on the road from Arusha, you fly straight into the Serengeti, close to the northern plains and the Mara River when the migration is there.

From there you drive south through Central Serengeti, on to the Ngorongoro area and down into the crater, and finish in Tarangire before the airport. You begin with migration drama and end with classic northern-circuit variety.

The stays are comfortable mid-range camps and lodges in excellent safari areas: Safari Haven Migration Camp in the north, Wildlux Serengeti in the centre, Ang’ata on the crater rim, Farm of Dreams in Karatu and Arusha Farm House at the end.

The price starts at USD 3,575 per person, with the flight north and a private vehicle and guide. It suits travellers who care more about wildlife time than city time, without adding Zanzibar. We confirm dates, rooms and rates before we quote.

Two elephants walking down a dirt track across green Serengeti grassland

Right for you if you are…

Migration-focused travellers
Two nights in the north, where the herds gather in season.
Travellers short on energy
Flying in saves the long first-day drive.
First-time safari guests
The Serengeti, the crater and Tarangire in one week.
Couples
A strong wildlife focus with comfortable camps.
Value seekers
The migration route of the luxury version, at a mid-range price.

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.
Route map: Day 1 · fly in, Day 3, Day 4, Day 6, Day 6 · to Arusha — Arusha → fly to Northern Serengeti → Central Serengeti → Ngorongoro → Tarangire → ArushaKilimanjaro1ArushaArusha2Northern SerengetiNorthern Serengeti3Central SerengetiCentral Serengeti4NgorongoroNgorongoro5TarangireTarangire

Where the trip goes

You fly north 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, down to Karatu, and home through Tarangire.

  1. ArushaDay 1 · Days 6–7

    The flight north on Day 1, and your last night at Arusha Farm House.

  2. Northern SerengetiDays 1–3

    Two nights at Safari Haven Migration Camp in migration country.

  3. Central SerengetiDays 3–4

    Big-cat country and a night at Wildlux Serengeti Camp.

  4. NgorongoroDays 4–6

    A night on the rim at Ang’ata, the crater game drive, then a night in Karatu.

  5. TarangireDay 6

    Elephants and baobabs on the way back to Arusha.

The herds move with the rain; we check your month before you book, and camps may be swapped for a similar standard if availability changes. Open Kogatende in Google Maps

Day by day

Itinerary detail
  1. Day 1

    Fly into the northern Serengeti

    Meals
    Full Board

    Your safari begins with a transfer to the airstrip for a scheduled flight into the Serengeti. Flying straight to the north saves a long first day on the road and puts you close to one of the great migration regions in season.

    Your guide meets you at the airstrip and game viewing starts on the way to camp. The northern Serengeti is wide valleys, rivers and resident wildlife; depending on timing you may see wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, elephants, buffalo, antelope and predators on the first afternoon.

    In the Mara River season the herds gather, move, pause and sometimes cross. Crossings are never guaranteed, but starting here gives you time in the right place instead of on the road.

    You settle in at Safari Haven Migration Camp for your first evening in the Serengeti wilderness.

  2. Day 2

    A full day in migration country

    Meals
    Full Board

    Today belongs to the northern Serengeti. Your guide plans it around the latest herd movement, the tracks and your interests: following the herds, scanning the crossing points and watching how the predators respond.

    The Mara River is famous for dramatic moments, but the herds move only when they decide to. Some days bring big drama; others reward patience with quiet behaviour, predators, elephants and river scenery.

    A packed lunch lets you stay out longer, so you don't miss movement when the pattern changes during the day. You return to camp in the late afternoon for dinner under the Serengeti sky.

  3. Day 3

    Northern Serengeti to Central Serengeti

    Meals
    Full Board

    After breakfast you drive south through the park. It is a full safari day, not a transfer: the habitat shifts as you go, and sightings can come at any point on the route.

    Depending on the season you may see plains game, giraffes, elephants, hyenas and lions along the way, with your guide choosing the route by time, conditions and recent sightings.

    Central Serengeti is one of the park's most reliable year-round wildlife areas, known for lions, leopards and cheetahs, with permanent water that keeps it productive outside the migration months.

    You spend the night at Wildlux Serengeti Camp, six tents near Seronera with private decks over the plains.

  4. Day 4

    Central Serengeti to the Ngorongoro rim

    Meals
    Full Board

    An early game drive in Central Serengeti, when the predators are active and the light is good for photography, exploring the rivers, kopjes and open grassland.

    Then you drive out of the Serengeti and climb into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, from open plains to cool highland country. It is a big travel day, paced to balance wildlife time with a comfortable arrival.

    You spend the night at Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp on the south-eastern rim of the crater, inside the park boundary, which allows an early descent tomorrow.

  5. Day 5

    Ngorongoro Crater, then Karatu

    Meals
    Full Board

    After an early breakfast you descend into Ngorongoro Crater, a dramatic amphitheatre of grassland, swamp, lake and forest enclosed by steep walls.

    You may see lions, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, hippos, hyenas, elephants and, with luck, a black rhino. Lunch is a picnic or a meal arranged by the lodge, depending on timing.

    After the crater you climb out and drive down to Karatu for a night at Farm of Dreams Lodge, gentle highland country after several intense Serengeti days.

  6. Day 6

    Tarangire, then the Arusha side

    Meals
    Full board or half board, depending on arrival time

    After breakfast you leave Karatu for Tarangire National Park, your last big safari: ancient baobabs, seasonal rivers and strong elephant country.

    Your game drive may bring elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, impalas, warthogs, baboons, a wide variety of birds and, depending on movement, lions. It is especially rewarding in the dry months, when wildlife gathers at the water.

    Tarangire gives the safari a warmer, more intimate final chapter and breaks the drive back. You continue to Arusha Farm House at Tengeru, on the Kilimanjaro side of Arusha, for your last night.

  7. Day 7

    Departure from Arusha or Kilimanjaro

    Where
    Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport
    Stay
    No accommodation
    Meals
    Breakfast

    After breakfast you transfer to Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport, timed to your flight. If it leaves later in the day, we can discuss a day room, lunch in Arusha or a short local activity.

    That is the end of your 7-Day Great Migration Mid-Range Safari with Warriors of Africa Safari: the northern Serengeti, Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire in one compact week. If you want time on the beach afterwards, the safari extends easily to Zanzibar.

Where you’ll sleep

  1. Safari Haven Migration Camp

    Seasonal migration camp · Kogatende (Jul–Oct) and Ndutu (Dec–Mar) · Nights 1–2

    Safari Haven's seasonal camp, at Kogatende from July to October: walk-in tents with verandas, canopied beds and candle-lit dinners in the dining tent.

    A seasonal camp: at Kogatende from July to October and near Lake Ndutu from December to March. Its photographs come from its seasonal sites; outside those months we use a camp where the herds are.

    Read about Safari Haven Migration Camp
  2. Wildlux Serengeti Camp

    Boutique tented camp · Central Serengeti, near Seronera · Night 3

    Six tents near Seronera, each with a canopied bed and a private deck over the plains.

    Read about Wildlux Serengeti Camp
  3. Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp

    Crater-rim tented camp · Ngorongoro Crater rim, Ngorongoro Conservation Area · Night 4

    Eight tents on the south-eastern crater rim, inside the park boundary for an early descent.

    Read about Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp
  4. Farm of Dreams Lodge

    Mid-range lodge · Karatu · Night 5

    Thatched clusters in flower and vegetable gardens in Karatu, with a pool and views of the hills.

    Read about Farm of Dreams Lodge
  5. Arusha Farm House

    Country farmhouse hotel · Tengeru, east of Arusha · Night 6

    A country house in green gardens at Tengeru, on the Kilimanjaro side of Arusha, with a pool and views of Mount Meru.

    Camps may be replaced by a similar standard if availability changes; we confirm them before the final quote.

    Read about Arusha Farm House

What’s included

Usually included

  • Scheduled flight into the northern Serengeti
  • Airport transfers as per the itinerary
  • 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 for the confirmed route
  • 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 guide, lodge staff and porters
  • Optional activities not in the confirmed itinerary
  • Drinks not included by the accommodation
  • Laundry unless included by the property
  • Personal expenses and any item not clearly listed as included

Final inclusions are confirmed on your quote.

Before you go

Visa and entry

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.

Useful tips

Pack soft bags
The flight north 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.
Book early for July to October
Camps in the strongest migration locations sell out fast in peak months, so plan well ahead.
Layers for the highlands
The Ngorongoro rim is 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 guide and camp 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.

Packing list

Tick things off as you pack; your list is kept on this device. 0 of 27 packed

Angel’s full packing guide
Bags
Clothing
Shoes
Health
Documents
Gear

When to go

This route is strongest in the northern Serengeti migration season, usually around the Mara River from about July to October. Exact timing changes with the rain, the grazing and the herds' own movement.

Outside those months the route can be adapted to where the herds are expected. For the calving season, an itinerary built around Ndutu and the southern Serengeti is the better choice.

If the migration is your main dream, plan early: camps in the strongest locations sell out quickly in peak months.

Questions guests ask

Will I see a river crossing?

No one can promise one. Crossings happen only when the herds decide to move. Two nights in the north give you a real chance, but they take patience.

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 adapt the route to where the herds are expected; for the calving season, the 7-Day Calving Season Safari focuses on Ndutu instead.

How is this different from the luxury version?

The route is the same. The 7-Day Great Migration Luxury Safari uses lodges such as Meliá Serengeti and Gran Meliá Arusha; this one uses comfortable mid-range camps and lodges, from USD 3,575 per person.

What luggage can I bring on the flight?

Light aircraft have strict limits and prefer soft bags. We confirm the allowance and schedule for your flight before booking.

Can I add Zanzibar?

Yes. A few nights on the beach after the safari is an easy extension from Arusha or Kilimanjaro.

Is the price fixed?

USD 3,575 per person is a starting price. The final quote confirms whether it is based on double occupancy, the season, the number of travellers and the room category.

Request this safari

Ready to begin your safari in the Great Migration region? Tell us your dates and we will confirm the right migration season, match the camps to your comfort level and plan a smooth fly-in, drive-out route, then send a line-item quote.

From $3,575 per person

  1. You send the request. As shown, or with your changes.
  2. We check it for your dates. Flights, camp availability and park logistics, then a line-item quote.
  3. You confirm. A deposit holds the flights and camp. How booking works

Prefer to talk? WhatsApp +255 758 328 750 or info@warriorsofafricasafaris.com

What would you like to do?

Request this exact safari: we check flights and camp availability for your dates and send a quote.

No payment now. We confirm everything with you before anything is booked.

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