7 DAYS WILDEBEEST MIGRATION - GRUMETI RIVER

CATEGORY: WILDLIFE SAFARI

DESTINATION

Tarangire | Ngorongoro | Serengeti

DURATION

7 Days | 6 Nights

PICK UP

Kilimanjaro International Airport

Tour Overview

Wildebeest Migration Grumeti River Safari is designed to include both the Seronera area (central Serengeti national park) and western corridor (western Serengeti national park) where the majority of the wildebeest migration can normally be found from May to July. To save on unnecessary travel time and to increase your game viewing time, this itinerary has been designed that you fly back from the Serengeti national park to Arusha town. The itinerary also includes a visit to the world famous Ngorongoro crater.

The travel itinerary below is a suggested or sample Tanzanian migration safari itinerary – it can be adapted to suite your own personal needs and preferences or to any seasonal changes and migratory animal movements. In order to offer you the wildest possible tour budget options, please do not hesitate to contact us directly. Please note that it is difficult to predict the exact timing and location of the migration at any time, as this can vary considerably from year to year, depending on factors such as rainfall, water availability, food abundance, predators and the phosphorus content of the grasses.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arusha – Tarangire National Park

Experience the Wildebeest Migration at Grumeti River Safari. We start by picking you up from your prebooked accommodation in the morning and heading to Tarangire National Park for game viewing. Located in Manyara Region, this park is home to diverse wildlife including the rufous-tailed weaver and ashy starling, both endemic to the dry savannah of north-central Tanzania. Tarangire’s unique features include pythons climbing trees, lions and leopards resting in branches, and sausage trees masking subtle movements of tails.

Accommodation: Tarangire Sopa Lodge

Day 2: Tarangire – Ngorongoro Crater Tour

Early in the morning, leave the lodge and head towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at the lodge followed by an afternoon safari tour descending over 600 meters into the crater.

Ngorongoro National Park boasts a diverse array of wildlife supported by year-round water and abundant fodder. Encounter herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and majestic African elephants. The park is renowned for its dense predator population including lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and the elusive leopard, often requiring a keen eye to spot. Our visit includes Lake Magadi, a large shallow alkaline lake in the southwest corner where flamingos, hippos, and various water birds are commonly sighted.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

Day 3: Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Central Serengeti National Park

Journey towards Serengeti National Park, leaving the highlands behind as we descend into the heart of wild Africa. The Serengeti unfolds with its vast plains stretching endlessly into the horizon. Our destination is the Seronera area, renowned for abundant wildlife and the Seronera River, a vital water source attracting diverse species throughout the Serengeti. Enjoy a game drive en-route, arriving at the lodge for lunch and commencing an afternoon safari in Serengeti National Park.

Accommodation: Serengeti Tortilis Camp

Day 4: Central Serengeti National Park with Optional Hot Air Balloon

Experience an exhilarating Hot Air Balloon ride over the Serengeti Plains, available for an additional fee with prior arrangement. Drift silently above the awakening bush, spotting wildlife and marveling at the African landscape over rivers and small villages.

After breakfast, embark on a full day game drive in Serengeti National Park. While the wildebeest migration mainly occurs in April and May, the Seronera area offers year-round wildlife viewing opportunities. Encounter elephants, buffalo, gazelle, zebra, lions, and other predators and herbivores in diverse habitats like swamps, woodlands, soda lakes, and the iconic Serengeti short grass plains.

Witness vast herds of wildebeest and zebra. In February, experience the calving season lasting approximately three weeks, where most wildebeest calves are born. Despite predators, newborn calves quickly learn to run within minutes and typically join the herd within three days, showcasing nature’s resilience in the Serengeti.

Accommodation: Serengeti Tortilis Camp

Day 5: Central Serengeti – Western Serengeti

Proceed towards the western reaches of Serengeti National Park, known as the Western Corridor. Enjoy a game drive en-route from Seronera to the Western Corridor area. Arrive at the lodge for lunch and partake in an afternoon game drive. The wildebeest migration can often be found in the Western Corridor area from June to July, depending on rainfall patterns.

Accommodation: Lahia Tented Lodge

Day 6: Western Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, indulge in a full-day game drive in the Western Corridor. Highlighted by the Grumeti and Mbalageti rivers, flowing nearly parallel with lush green forests, this region sustains year-round populations of zebra, wildebeest, predators, and abundant birdlife. Along the Grumeti River, large groups of hippos and massive crocodiles are common sights. By mid-morning, wildebeest often gather around waterholes in such dense numbers that they resemble swarming ants, offering a remarkable wildlife spectacle.