Experiencing the wildebeest migration first hand is a whole new experience compared to just reading about it. For many people, going on a safari brings to mind the image of expansive savannahs, magnificent lions and leopards hidden amongst the golden grasses, and immense herds of animals roaming all over the place as if being drawn along by an invisible force. With this 6 Days Wildebeest Migration Safari, we take you right into the spectacle of nature, through Tarangire’s ancient baobabs, over the Serengeti’s sprawling plains where herds move almost perpetually, and down into the quiet Ngorongoro Crater.
Though the trip is long, you will want to stretch it out and enjoy every moment.
Starting from Arusha or Moshi, we meet you halfway to lodge for the night to recuperate after traveling. After Taranagire, which features an intimate yet spacious feel and elephants traversing ancient pathways, you continue to the Serengeti for three nights immersed in the migration. During this time, herds may be either sparse and stretched out into endless lines or tightly packed around river crossings, but regardless, the experience is beyond anything you could have imagined.
Your final night will be in Karatu near Ngorongoro Crater and you will stop by Mto Wa Mbu village en route back to Arusha. Each day presents a new atmosphere and a magnificent new view.
Landing at Kilimanjaro International Airport or arriving via road in Moshi or Arusha provides a small moment of relief. The sense of ease really comes from the friendly driver waiting to greet you while holding a sign with your name on it.
The distance from Arusha to the other town is not far. It has small stalls beside open fields, and on some clear afternoons, Meru can be seen behind the town. Most people are astonished at how fast the view shifts from city to more rural.
At the lodge you booked, you can rest, stay still and watch time go by while the sunlight illuminates everything. Some more active travelers prefer strolling around the gardens or grabbing a drink on the terrace, but staying idle is also a good option. The real adventure starts tomorrow.
Accommodation
Ilboru Safari Lodge
Ther Outpost Lodge
Arusha Serena Hotel
Arusha Coffee Lodge
After eating, we start going to the West. Farms and small villages will be shared with customers from the windows for the first hour. By mid-morning, you will arrive at Tarangire NP.
This part of the world has a unique wildlife hallmark. The older looking baobabs separated by the river which gently slices through the land, the park itself has a unique character. You may encounter some elephants which will most likely be the first sight before anything else. Sometimes, you can even spot family gatherings where the entire family moves together.Your guide drives slowly, stopping for any movement in the grass. A giraffe may show itself at any moment. A lilac-breasted roller may zip through the sky, bright to the point of being unreal.
Lunch is taken with bare minified out in the open close towards the tree area, half expecting something to come out.
When the day is almost done the light changes to a soft golden hue. You depart the park and make your way to the lodge, already sensing the quiet tiredness setting in from all the watching and “life watching” from different angles.
Accommodation
Migombani Public Campsite
Manyara Safari Camp
Marera Valley Lodge
Gibbs Farm
Waking up early in the morning is a sure sign you’re headed for the Serengeti. The drive is bound to be long and serves as a gradual shift from farmland to unoccupied land visualizing an endless stretch. Slowly merging into open, bare, plains.
You see Maasai villagers, herds of cattle, along with a handful of children cheering from the side of the road. By midday the terrain is becoming less hilly. The area is covered in grass which slowly fades into the distance.
Getting started on your safari in Serengeti feels like something lifted straight out of Hollywood. Nothing could prepare you for the size of everything until you are actually there. The guide will stop every time migration is in sight…herds of thousands of wilder beast constantly rustling.
Lunch consists of eating outside which is accompanied with a beautiful wind carrying dry grass and dust.
As you reach the camp, dusk spreads in. The sky is filled with a blend of purple and orange while the sounds of the plains drowns out every single thought that you walked in with.
Accommodation
Seronera Public Campsite
Melia Serengeti Lodge
Kati Kati Tented Camp
Tanganyika Wilderness Camps
Settle Kati Kati Tented Camp
The cool feels invigorating as you begin to walk pre dawn. With each step, the air starts to feel thin and clean. The guide takes the lead and follows the herding animals while occasionally stopping to let you gaze at the amazing flow of animals crossing the grassland.
It never ends with the wildebeests. The herds are accompanied by zebra and predators like lion prides on the edge with hyenas circling them restlessly. You can watch it stand still as you adjust to your new surroundings and then just forget about the idea of time.
Breakfast is eaten on-site in the vehicle or packed to eat at the camp. The day unfolds at your own pace. Occasionally, you can catch a glimpse of every animal at once like elephants and giraffes along with high flying vultures. At other moments, you remain in silence as you await the migration which is just slightly out of sight.
Evenings are dustier and quieter as compared to the mornings bringing you back to camp.
Accommodation:
Seronera Public Campsite
Kati Kati Tented Camp
Melia Serengeti Lodge
Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp
You are greeted by the gentle rays of light, however, every two mornings here are different in their own special way. You may decide to head towards the river which is known for sudden chaos due to crossings. On the other hand, you could keep to the edges of the herds and observe them disappearing into the horizon.
Lunch is not a fixed event and occurs when it feels most appropriate for the travelers. In fact, it would feel most appropriate when the vehicle is parked mid-way for the entirety too. One of the many reasons tourists come back, is the simple fact that chaos on the migrations does not follow a certain schedule.
There are more observations to be made in the afternoons. In contrast to the hectic mornings, this is an opportunity to sit in peace allowing the vast space to make you feel tiny.
Accommodation
Seronera Public Campsite
Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp
Kati Kati Tented Camp
Melia Serengeti Lodge
On this day, you drive east after the hotel breakfast. The flat grasslands give way to green rolling hills and elevated terrain. If stopping at Olduvai Gorge is enticing to you, it is entirely your choice. Some people enjoy the view of the Olduvai gorge that holds the memories of the early humans.
The stunning view of Ngorongoro’s rim is captivating the first time you witness it, but breathtaking once you reach the mid-surface to look at the vast hollow baked earth that resembles a bowl with immense walls.
Accommodation
Simba A Campsite
Eileen’s Trees Inn
Acacia Farm Lodge
The Manor At Ngorongoro
In the morning, you head down toward the Mto Wa Mbu, A village filled with narrow pathways intertwined with roads and banana orchards. Guided walks are available which allow you to uncover hidden fruits or watch women weaving the baskets that are famous in this region.
Local lunch is served to people who visit, and many find it very tranquil in comparison to the places people expect to eat in when they go travelling.
There is a sense of winding down as you travel back to Arusha. There is a sense of coming back that you may feel, and there are more stories than you thought you would have.
Step into the heart of Africa. Witness Tanzania’s wild wonders up close. Your soul-stirring safari begins here.
Address: 7th Floor, Market Street, Arusha – Tanzania
Phone: +255 767-837-026
Email: book@ngorongorocratersafaris.com
