5-Day Tanzania Safari – The Great Migration

Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater

Introduction (Overview)

On an unforgettable 5-day Tanzania safari, experience the greatest natural spectacle on Earth – the Great Migration! Over 1.5 million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles cross the endless plains of the Serengeti on their annual journey.

This safari takes you from Tarangire National Park through the Northern and Central Serengeti to the legendary Ngorongoro Crater. Watch dramatic river crossings at the Mara River, where the herds brave hungry crocodiles. See lions and cheetahs stalking the herds – African wilderness at its purest!

The best time for this 5-day safari in Tanzania is June to July for the migration, or January to February for the calving season.

ROUTE OVERVIEW

  • Day 1: Arusha – Safari in Tarangire National Park
  • Day 2: Tarangire – Northern Serengeti (Kogatende/Mara River)
  • Day 3 Northern Serengeti – Central Serengeti (Seronera)
  • Day 4: Central Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater Rim
  • Day 5: Safari in Ngorongoro Crater – Return to Arusha
5-Day Tanzania Safari – The Great Migration

Budget accommodations

2 people

2.266 € *

4 people

1.750 € *

6 people

1.578 € *

Mid-range accommodations

2 people

2.256 € *

4 people

1.742  € *

6 people

1.571 € *

Luxury accommodations

2 people

2.564 € *

4 people

1.965 € *

6 people

1.765 € *

Indicative costs per person, excluding flights to Tanzania

Our offer includes:

24-hour service
All overnight stays
All meals
Drinking water in the car
Admission to all parks
Tour possible in German
Own Safari car

Optional additions:

Flights within Tanzania
Fly-In Doctors Insurance
Airport transfers
Local activities

Not included:

Visa for Tanzania
Travel insurance
Flights to Tanzania (we can book these for you upon request)

Customer testimonial

“Everything perfect – great trip and great price

Our safari with Safari Tanzania was unforgettable! Thanks to their collaboration with local providers, they offered us a huge selection of accommodations. While other providers were often hard to reach and had limited options, Safari Tanzania put together a tailor-made tour perfectly suited to our budget and preferences. We saw the Big Five and experienced the Great Migration! Our guide was top-notch, and the organization ran smoothly. Absolutely recommended for a personalized and affordable dream vacation!

Philipp Grünewald, a customer from Vienna

Daily Descriptions

Day 1: Arusha – Tarangire National Park

Karibu Tanzania! You will be picked up from your hotel in Arusha at 8:00 AM and your 5-day safari in Tanzania begins. The 150 km drive will take you to Tarangire National Park in approximately three hours.

Welcome to the land of giants! Ancient baobab trees tower majestically into the sky, making even giraffes seem tiny. The 3,000 km² park takes its name from the Tarangire River, which attracts an incredible diversity of wildlife. It boasts the highest concentration of elephants in Tanzania – witness the fascinating interactions between elephant families! Lions, antelopes, zebras, and giraffes will cross your path as you explore the park on an extended game drive. A picnic lunch in the heart of the wilderness perfectly rounds off this first day of safari.

Day 2: Northern Serengeti – Kogatende & the Mara River

Today is going to be spectacular! You'll set off early at 6:00 a.m. and drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area into the Northern Serengeti. The landscape transforms dramatically – from open grass plains to rolling hills and riverine forest.

You'll reach the Kogatende region, one of the best places in the world to witness the Great Migration up close! Thousands of wildebeest and zebras gather at the Mara River for the legendary river crossings. Hold your breath as the herds plunge into the water and brave hungry crocodiles – a natural spectacle you'll never forget! Along the way you'll spot elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards and cheetahs. This region turns your 5-day safari in Tanzania into a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Day 3: Central Serengeti – Seronera

After breakfast, the journey continues south into the Central Serengeti. The four-hour drive from the Mara River Valley takes you through hilly landscapes, the Lobo area and wooded terrain before the endless grass plains of the Seronera region open up before you.

Welcome to one of the richest wildlife habitats in the entire park! The Seronera region is known as Africa's "big cat capital." It's home to numerous lion prides, whose interactions and hunting behaviour make for spectacular sightings all year round. From sunrise to starry skies, you'll fall into step with the rhythm of the wild. A picnic lunch during your game drive keeps you refreshed as you scan the acacia trees for leopards.

Day 4: Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater Rim

After one final morning game drive in the Serengeti, you'll travel to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. The drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area already offers plenty of chances for wildlife sightings along the way.

Your lodge on the crater rim offers a front-row seat with a view that's almost too good to be true. From up here, you'll look down into the vast caldera – a lost paradise widely regarded as the "Eighth Wonder of the World." The crater spans 260 km² and is enclosed by walls over 600 metres high. Enjoy the spectacular sunset and the anticipation of the crowning finale of your 5-day safari in Tanzania the next morning.

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha

The highlight of your safari! After an early breakfast, you'll descend at 6:30 a.m. into the Ngorongoro Crater begins – the world's largest intact volcanic caldera. A five-hour game drive on the crater floor awaits you. Have your camera ready!

It's like stepping into Noah's Ark! The crater is home to the highest concentration of wildlife on the planet. Elephants, buffalo, black rhinos, hippos, hyenas, cheetahs and lions – all gathered together in one compact space. A picnic at the famous Hippo Pool, surrounded by flamingos on the soda lake, makes for the perfect finale. Then comes the steep climb back out of the crater, before you arrive back in Arusha at around 6:00 p.m. With a heart full of memories, your unforgettable 5-day safari in Tanzania comes to an end.

Tanzania Maasai

Customer testimonial

“Top-organized safari with fantastic memories

Safari Tanzania, as an intermediary, enabled us to have highly individualized planning and saved us the effort of comparing dozens of providers online. They adapted everything to our wishes, connected us with the ideal local team, and offered flexible, prompt support – a relaxed highlight full of lasting memories.

Many safari organizers pushed for a personal call, only to offer a package tour in the end. Safari Tanzania sent us an offer after the first email, which we then minimally adjusted and swapped out one accommodation. This saved my girlfriend and me a lot of effort. Thank you very much!

Michael Simann, a customer from Frankfurt

Discover other tours

All prices listed are former prices for short and price-optimized trips. Current prices may be higher due to the respective season and inflation. Our terms and conditions apply.

 

Discover other 5-day safaris here.

Your local tour guide
Joseph Mongitta

passionate tour guide in Tanzania for 6 years

"Even as a child, I loved the animals and landscapes of my homeland – today I get to share them daily with people from all over the world.

It fills me with pride to show guests the beauty of Tanzania and give them unforgettable moments. I love it when my guests see a lion in the wild for the first time or marvel at the savanna at sunset. It is important to me that my guests feel safe and well looked after – and return home with many beautiful stories.

My profession is not just a job for me, but something I'm passionate about."
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German-speaking contact person

In Germany & Tanzania

Available for emergencies every day

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Frequently Asked Questions

 June to July for the river crossings at the Mara River, or January to February for the calving season with thousands of newborns.

 The migration is a year-round cycle. Depending on the month, you'll experience different phases – river crossings, the calving season or the herds on the move.

 Pick-up and drop-off take place at your hotel in Arusha. You'll return on the final day at around 6:00 p.m.

 Over 1.5 million wildebeest and zebras, the Big Five, cheetahs, crocodiles, hippos, giraffes and a rich variety of birdlife.

 Absolutely! The river crossings and predator hunting scenes offer once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities. A pair of binoculars is recommended.

 The driving times are longer than on shorter safaris, but you'll travel in comfort in a 4x4 vehicle with an experienced guide.

 Yes! You can combine this 5-day Tanzania safari with a Kilimanjaro climb or a beach holiday in Zanzibar.

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