Kenya & Tanzania Great Migration Safari - 10 Days

Fly or drive to the legendary Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya's premier wildlife destination and the northern terminus of the Great Migration. The Mara's open grasslands provide exceptional visibility for wildlife viewing, and its predator density is among the highest in Africa. Arrive at your luxury tented camp, positioned for optimal migration viewing. After settling in, embark on your first afternoon game drive across the golden savannah. Search for lion prides, cheetah families, and the vast herds of wildebeest and zebra that characterize this iconic landscape. The Mara supports over 95 mammal species and 570 bird species in just 1,510 square kilometers.

Dedicate a full day to exploring the Maasai Mara's incredible wildlife. During migration season (July-October), your guide will use their expertise and radio network to position you at the Mara River for the chance to witness one of nature's greatest spectacles - wildebeest river crossings. The drama is intense: thousands of wildebeest mass on the riverbank before plunging into crocodile-infested waters, driven by ancient instincts toward fresh grazing. Even outside migration season, the Mara's resident wildlife is exceptional. The reserve has the highest lion density in Africa, and cheetahs and leopards are regularly spotted. Optional hot air balloon safari at dawn (additional cost) offers breathtaking aerial views of the herds.

After breakfast, drive south to cross the Kenya-Tanzania border at Isebania (your guide handles all formalities). Continue into Tanzania, descending towards the legendary Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti ecosystem spans 30,000 square kilometers - one of the world's largest wildlife areas. Your camp location varies seasonally to maximize migration sightings: western Serengeti (May-June), northern Serengeti (July-September), or central Serengeti (October-April). Arrive at your mobile or permanent camp and embark on an afternoon game drive. The Serengeti's endless plains stretch to every horizon, dotted with millions of herbivores and the predators that follow them.

Full day exploring the Serengeti, following the Great Migration herds. The wildebeest move in a clockwise direction through the ecosystem, and your guide positions you for the best sightings. The Serengeti supports the highest concentration of large mammals on Earth - over 3 million animals including 1.5 million wildebeest, 500,000 zebras, 350,000 Thomson's gazelles, and 70,000 buffalo. Predators thrive: 3,000 lions, 1,000 leopards, and 500 cheetahs hunt these endless herds. Morning game drive tracks the herds and predators. Picnic lunch in the bush. Afternoon continues the safari as the light softens, creating spectacular photography conditions.

Another full day in the Serengeti, exploring different areas and habitats. Visit the famous kopjes - granite outcrops that dot the plains, serving as lookout points for lions and shelter for leopards. The Simba Kopjes are particularly famous for their photogenic lion prides. Search for cheetah families teaching cubs to hunt, wild dogs ranging across the grasslands, and hippo pools along the Grumeti and Mara rivers. Optional morning balloon safari (additional cost) offers incomparable views of the migration from above - watching sunrise paint the herds golden while drifting silently at tree level. Return for champagne breakfast before continuing game drives.

After morning game drive in the Serengeti, drive south to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This UNESCO World Heritage Site encompasses the world's largest intact volcanic caldera - a natural amphitheater 20 kilometers across with walls rising 600 meters. The crater floor supports approximately 30,000 large mammals including the Big Five, with the highest predator density in Africa. Arrive at your lodge perched on the crater rim with spectacular views into this ancient volcano. Watch the afternoon light shift across the crater floor, where elephants appear as dots and flamingos paint the soda lake pink. Evening briefing prepares you for tomorrow's crater descent.

Descend 600 meters to the crater floor for a full day of game viewing in this extraordinary natural wonder. The crater's enclosed ecosystem supports remarkable wildlife density - you'll likely see more animals in one day here than anywhere else in Africa. The Big Five are well-represented, with excellent chances for black rhino (approximately 55 live in the crater). Lion prides hunt the wildebeest and zebra herds, elephants browse in the Lerai Forest, and flamingos flock on Lake Magadi. Hippo pools, cheetahs on the grasslands, and jackals scavenging complete the ecological picture. Picnic lunch at the hippo pool before continuing afternoon exploration. Ascend the crater wall at sunset.

Morning crater rim walk offers fresh perspectives on this geological wonder. Optionally visit a traditional Maasai boma (homestead) where cattle-herding families share their culture - witness traditional dances, learn about Maasai coexistence with wildlife, and understand their conservation partnership. The Maasai have lived alongside Ngorongoro's wildlife for centuries. After lunch, drive down the highlands to Arusha, Tanzania's safari capital at the foot of Mount Meru. The journey passes through lush coffee and banana plantations with views of Mount Meru and, on clear days, Mount Kilimanjaro. Arrive for a farewell dinner celebrating your cross-border migration adventure.

After breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight, or continue to Zanzibar for a perfect beach extension. Zanzibar's pristine white beaches, historic Stone Town (UNESCO World Heritage Site), and world-class diving offer the ideal complement to your wildlife safari. Your Great Migration adventure has taken you across two countries, following in the footsteps of millions of wildebeest along their eternal journey. You've witnessed nature's greatest wildlife spectacle - memories that will last forever.