Wildebeest River Mara Crossing
Number of Days:
8 Days
Destinations
Lake Manyara National Park, Karatu, Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti National Park,
Tour Overview
8 Days Wildebeest River Mara Crossing:
When millions of herds arrive at the Mara River, the great wildebeest river crossing symbolizes the pinnacle of the never-ending lifetime expedition of the wildebeest migration. However, the crossing is still unpredictable not even the wildebeests know when they will cross.
Some of the herds may choose to cross the river and begin their journey to the south, while others may decide to stay in the northern portion of the Serengeti, with rainfall serving as the primary determinant of the wildebeest migration. The migration herds probably start their journey back to the Serengeti’s southern plains in late October or early November in preparation for the calving season in February.
Day to day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport
Meet your Bhutto Tours and Safaris guide at Kilimanjaro International Airport after greetings and welcome procedures. Drive for 45 minutes to a hotel in the city of Arusha, where you will spend the night and have dinner.
We appreciate you choosing to travel with us and wish you a warm welcome to Tanzania. We wish you a pleasant journey and plenty of leisure for your safari in Tanzania the following day.
Day 2: Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park
Your tour starts with a pickup from your hotel in Arusha when you are ready, followed by a drive to Lake Manyara National Park for a full day of wildlife viewing. As you reach Tanzania's Lake Manyara National Park, a truly beautiful park, you will be treated to a stunning panorama of lush woods with a variety of tree types. You've finally found the ideal opportunity, so start preparing your thoughts for what's ahead.
You will have several opportunities to go on a game drive till dusk, and there are many sites to discover. You will take a brief break in the afternoon to have a picnic lunch in the most breathtaking location.
Following a break for lunch, you get the opportunity to fully appreciate Manyara's natural splendor as you continue your game drive in search of wildlife until you have a better understanding of the park's value. Animals including buffalo, giraffes, impalas, baboons, and blue monkeys may be present. If you're lucky, you might see the lions that are known for climbing trees in Manyara.
Additionally, you'll proceed to Lake Manyara, where you might view a huge flock of flamingos swimming in the river. Congratulations on a day well spent! Your guide will take you to a lodge in Karatu for dinner and the night following the wildlife drive.
Day 3: Karatu to Ngorongoro Crater
You will visit one of the world's natural wonders sites right after your great morning breakfast, making today yet another fantastic day. This scenic location, also known as the "home of the big five," which includes the endangered black rhinos, is sustained by a year-round water supply and fodder, which allows it to support a wide range of species, including herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, hippo, eland, and elephants.
Numerous predatory creatures, including lions, jackals, cheetahs, and leopards, live in the crater as well. You will also proceed to Lake Magadi, which is one of the biggest attractions in the crater. Because the lake is vast, shallow, and alkaline, numerous flocks of flamingos, hippos, and other types of water birds congregate there.
The crater floor is the most deserving location for your midday picnic lunch and likely short break so that you can get a sense of the largest intact Caldera before continuing with the game drive. Your guide will drive to the Lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Ngorongoro to Serengeti National Park
As we begin to travel along the major route of the great migration, today is yet another inspirational day. After breakfast, we will drive to the Serengeti National Park, a wildlife reserve.
As we leave the highlands and descend into the boundless plains to reach Serengeti's center, also known as Seronera, keep your eyes open and watch a lot. After that, you will continue driving until you reach the Lobo area in northern Serengeti.
The great migration often crosses through the Lobo region twice a year, once in late October to early November and again between July and August (when it departs for the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya for the gestation period) (going to the southern plains of Serengeti for calving season). After lunch, we do a game drive around the Lobo area. After a few hours of wildlife viewing in the evening, your guide will drive you to the Lodge where you will spend the night and have dinner.
Day 5: Lobo Area in Serengeti
Enjoy a full-day game drive across the Lobo region and Grumeti River after breakfast. Elephants, buffalo, gazelle, zebra, lion, leopard, and cheetah are just a few of the year-round residents that you might see. Since this route is less traveled, you will have the best chances to see wildlife and have a picnic lunch stop.
Along the river banks, you might see spectacular riverine trees and birds like kingfishers and fish eagles. Spend the day doing a game drive through this worthwhile region, which is filled with sights to see till dusk.
Your guide will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight after the wildlife drive.
Day 6: Lobo to Wagakuria area
Set out for the Northern Serengeti's Wagakuria region after a well-earned breakfast. Enjoy a fantastic en-route game drive before arriving at the destination. This will be a wonderful opportunity to see one of the greatest routes for the wildebeest's yearly migration.
Depending on your luck, you might see giraffes, herds of buffalo, or even elephants along the route. You'll likely arrive in the afternoon, have a cooked lunch in the lodge, have a quick rest, and then go on a game drive in the late afternoon. The herds are often in the Wagakuria region from August to October.
One of the most memorable aspects of your Tanzania safari is getting to witness the Mara River crossing. The Serengeti National Park's northern regions are traversed by the river. After a successful day, your guide will take you to the Lodge. Enjoy the excellent bush meal, unwind, and prepare for the adventure of the following day.
Day 7: Northern Serengeti
Another fantastic day at the Northern grounds awaits you today. After breakfast, you can have a full-day game drive through the Wagakuria region. It is not surprising to observe a significant number of locals; this region is amazing and deserves to be visited.
The region is indeed a wildlife haven from August to September. The finest place for a picnic lunch where you will enjoy your lunch is in this area, which is very magnificent and filled with kopjes, woodland, riverine flora, and wide grasslands. The Mara River crossing is the primary attraction of the excursion, and with any luck, you might watch herds of animals crossing the river while being pursued by hungry crocodiles.
Your guide will return to the Lodge for dinner and the night after the wildlife drive.
Day 8: Kogatende Airstrip to Arusha
Congratulations on a successful safari; you deserve to be counted among the legends who have experienced such breathtaking things. The Serengeti is a true haven for wildlife. After breakfast, we take a scheduled flight from Kogatende airstrip to Arusha airport or drive to Arusha.
Enjoy a hot lunch when you arrive in Arusha, then unwind after a long safari. Depending on when your flight departs, you will be escorted to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Start Plan Your Trip
6 Days Wildebeest Calving Season
7 Days Tanzania Romantic & Honeymoon Safari
8 Days Wildebeest River Mara Crossing
9 Days Tanzania Wildlife and Cultural Excursions
10 Days Tanzania Wildlife Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday
11 Days Tanzania Southern & Zanzibar Beach Holiday
- Accommodation and meals as stipulated in the itinerary.
- Transport in a chauffeur driven Landcruiser with pop-‐‑up roof for easy game viewing & photography.
- Services of an English speaking driver-guide.
- Game viewing drives and parks entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary.
- All Government taxes and levies.
- Mineral water during game drives only.
- All meet and greet services.All arrival transfers.
- 24 hours stand-‐‑by contact number.
- Guaranteed window seat in the vehicle
- Water, Tea and coffee during game drive
- Visa fees and travel insurance.
- All items of personal nature e.g. telephone call bills, fax/email bills etc.
- Tips and gratuities to hotel, lodges, camp staff and driver-‐‑ guide(s)
- Alcoholic and non-‐‑alcoholic drinks.
- Any local or international flight and departure taxes.
- Laundry services.
- Any other item(s) not included in our itinerary.
