7 days great Serengeti Migration safari on Northern Serengeti for Mara River Crossing in 2026 and 2027

7 days wildebeest migration safari on Mara crossing

7 days wildebeest migration on the Northern Serengeti during the Mara River Crossing safari in Tanzania is safari tour to see animals, particularly wildebeest, crossing the Mara River in 2026 and 2027. 7 days Masai Mara migration river crossings usually occur on the Northern Serengeti during mid-July, August, September, and October. Migration begins in Masai Mara shortly after crossing the Mara River on July to early October. This 7-day wildebeest migration safari is designed to complement Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater to ensure a satisfying 7-day wildebeest migration crossing on the Mara River.

7 days wildebeest  migration package on Mara river crossing in 2026 and 2027

This 7 days wildebeest migration safari package starts with Lake Manyara National Park in 2026 and 2027. Manyara is an unspoiled paradise of groundwater forests fed by underground springs and teeming with wildlife such as elephants, buffaloes, hippos, giraffes, and antelopes. Then, travel to Serengeti National Park, where you can see wildebeest crossing the Mara River to reach the Masai Mara in Kenya. The 7 days Serengeti wildebeest package concludes with a visit to Ngorongoro Crater, where you will see all five of the African big 5 animals.

7 days Tanzania Northern Serengeti (Mara River crossing) itinerary

Day 1: From Arusha to Lake Manyara

On the first day of our 7 days Masai Mara wildebeest migration tour, you depart Arusha and drive to Lake Manyara National Park. You will stop at a supermarket (if desired) to do any last-minute shopping for personal items, then drive for two hours to Lake Manyara. Your driver will take care of the paper work at the park’s gate, then you will embark on your first game drive. Lake Manyara is one of Tanzania’s smaller parks but still offers a rewarding and diverse safari experience.

There are a surprising number of elephants, hippos, giraffes, buffaloes, and antelopes, and the striking cliffs on the Rift Valley escarpment form a dramatic backdrop. Following the game drive, we return to Manyara or Karatu for the night. 

Day 2: From Manyara/Karatu to Serengeti

The second day, we leave Manyara (Mto wa mbu) early after breakfast and travel to the Serengeti National Park via the Great Rift Valley's floor, up an escarpment, and through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This will ultimately turn out to be a pleasant and enjoyable scenic drive as you take in the stunning surroundings and breathtaking sights.

As far as the eye can see, Serengeti National Park's boundless plains are visible in the distance. We'll head to the Lobo region, which is near the Seronera region (central Serengeti National Park). The wildebeest migration often travels through the Lobo region twice a year, once in late October or early November on its way to Kenya's Masai Mara Game Reserve and again around July or August on its way to the southern Serengeti National Park.

Day 3: Full-day game drive in Serengeti (Seronera Area) for great migration safari

On the third day of our 7 days Tanzania trip to the northern Serengeti and the Mara River, enjoy a full-day game drive in the park after breakfast. All year long, there is good resident game in the area near Lobo and the Grumeti River. Elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards, gazelles, zebras, and cheetahs are among the animals that do not migrate through this area all year. One of the most underappreciated aspects of the Serengeti Plains is the excellent game viewing, which allows you to follow game for extended periods of time without seeing other vehicles. Along the river's banks are magnificent riverine trees and a variety of birds, including fish eagles and kingfishers.

Day 4: Serengeti (Central) – Northern Serengeti (Kogatende Area)

After breakfast, we depart for Tanzania's far northern Serengeti, where you can see the Masai Mara migration while wildebeest cross the river, also known as the Wagakuria. We will do a game drive from the Lobo area to the Wagakuria area. As we head north, good sightings of giraffe, plains game, herds of buffalo, and elephants can often be seen. We arrive in time for lunch at the lodge, and after lunch we will enjoy an afternoon game drive in the area.

Depending on rainfall patterns, the wildebeest migration can be found in the Wagakuria area from mid-July, August, September to October. A long stretch of the Mara River runs through the northern Serengeti National Park, and the Mara River provides the migration with its most difficult obstacle. Witnessing the frantic herds of wildebeest crossing the Mara River is amazing.

Day 5: Northern Serengeti (Kogatende) - Serengeti (Central)

After breakfast on this day, enjoy a full-day game drive in the Wagakuria area. Resident wildlife numbers are exceptionally high in this area of the park, with prides of lions up to 30 strong; however, from mid-July through October (August, September, and October), the area turns into a wildlife paradise. The Mara River is the main feature, and it is not uncommon to see herds cross to the north on one day and then back south a few days later.

Please take note:
Finding a crossing is very difficult and is sometimes a matter of luck. A herd can be seen next to the river and will not decide whether to cross or not until a couple of days later. Similar to Kenya's Masai Mara Game Reserve, this area is beautiful with kopjes, woodland, riverine vegetation, and wide plains.

Day 6: Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

Proceed with morning and afternoon game drives in the Serengeti, with a lunch and leisure break at the lodge in the midafternoon. In the central Serengeti plains, there are carnivores like lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas. This park is normally the scene of the annual migration of wildebeest and zebra that occurs between the Kenyan Mara and the Tanzanian Serengeti. Varied bird species can be seen here, including eagles, geese, egrets, ducks, vultures, ibis, storks, secretary birds, herons, kites, pelicans, cranes, and guinea fowl. About 35 species of plains animals can be seen there, including the "African big 5 animals": lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo. After lunch, you will continue with the game drive in the Serengeti, heading to the Serengeti gate to check out of Serengeti National Park, and then continuing with the game drive on the route to Ngorongoro Crater. Dinner and overnight at a camp or lodge at the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater.

Day 7: Full game drive in Ngorongoro Crater and back to Arusha

After breakfast on the last day of 7 days Tanzania migration safari, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater with a lunch box and enjoy the game drive for more than 7 hours. Millions of years ago, a volcano the size of Mount Kilimanjaro rose from the highlands of northern Tanzania. Its eruption formed the largest unflooded caldera in the world, the Ngorongoro Crater. The crater, now inactive and teeming with wildlife, is a playground where you can go on game drives in search of the Tanzania Big Five.

Ngorongoro Crater is supported by a year-round water supply and fodder. The crater supports a vast variety of animals, which include herds of wildebeest, zebra, giant African elephants, buffalo, eland, warthogs, and hippopotamuses. Another major draw to this beautiful national park is its large predator population, which includes lions, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, and the elusive leopard on the crater floor. After a picnic lunch, you will go on a game drive. After the game drive, we drive to Arusha.