Most northern Tanzania itineraries give the Serengeti two days at most. This one gives it five, and moves you between two different parts of the park so you see more than one landscape.
The first stretch is in the central Seronera area, where permanent water keeps resident wildlife around all year and big cat sightings are frequent. Mid-trip you relocate to either the northern Serengeti near the Mara River or the western corridor, depending on where the migration and the best game viewing are when you travel. Tarangire opens the trip and the Ngorongoro Crater closes it.
You travel privately in a 4x4 with a pop-up roof. Accommodation is mid-range lodges and tented camps, upgradeable to luxury, and in the right season we can include mobile camps that are set up near the migration. The trip is for serious wildlife watchers and photographers who would rather spend time waiting at a sighting than moving on to the next park.
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TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
Five days in the Serengeti across two different areas
Better odds of finding the migration than on a shorter circuit
Tarangire's elephants and baobabs to start
A game drive on the Ngorongoro Crater floor to finish
Pick-up in Arusha and the drive to Tarangire National Park for an afternoon game drive among the elephants and baobabs.
Drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the central Serengeti. The Seronera area has water all year, so resident wildlife stays put even when the migration is elsewhere. Afternoon game drive on arrival.
A full day exploring the Seronera River valley and surrounding plains. The density of prey here makes it one of the more consistent parts of the park for lion, leopard and cheetah.
A game drive that doubles as a transfer to your second base - either the northern Serengeti towards the Mara River or the western corridor. Your guide decides which, based on where the herds and the best game viewing are at the time.
A full day in this part of the park. In the north that usually means open grassland and the river, where crossings happen in season; in the west it means woodland, the Grumeti River and riverine habitat.
One more full day here, to follow up on yesterday's sightings or cover ground you have not yet seen, before you start heading back towards the crater.
The drive back east to the crater rim. Depending on timing, you descend for a crater game drive this afternoon or keep it for the following morning.
A crater-floor game drive if you did not do one yesterday, then the drive back to Arusha for onward travel or flights.
Planning tip: see our guide on Planning a Family Safari in Kenya or Tanzania.
Accommodation: Mid-range lodges and tented camps, upgradeable to luxury. Seasonal mobile migration camps can be included when the timing suits.
Vehicle: 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
The dry season, roughly June to October, is the best time for large herds along the river. In the wet season animals disperse outside the park, but the landscape is green and bird-watching is excellent.
Full Tarangire National Park destination guide »
The Serengeti is enormous, and the best areas change with the seasons. A longer stay lets your guide move you to where wildlife activity is strongest instead of committing to one area for the whole trip.
Yes. Several airstrips in the park have scheduled light-aircraft flights, which can replace some of the longer repositioning drives. Ask us about mixing flying and driving.
No. Crossings depend on where the herds are and on their behaviour on the day. Being based near the river in season gives you a good chance, but no operator can promise one.
Send us your travel dates and group size and we'll confirm availability and pricing.
