Wonderful Wildebeest Migration Safari

This safari has been planned to co-incide with the the period when the great herds are in the southern Serengeti plains area.

Moving more slowly to savour the sweet new grass, this is where the wildebeest give birth in one short period – creating a glut to great for the the awaiting predators.

With the lush green grass, newborn animals and occasional rainfall, this is a wonderful time to experience the new life of the plains and is particularly popular with photographers due to the richer tones and colours.

We suggest staying in a smaller private camp to avoid the more crowded times around Christmas.

Today you will be met at Kilimanjaro International Airport by our local representative and transferred to Arusha for one night at the Rivertrees Country Inn in a Garden Room (or similar) for one night – BB

Activities, including swimming, shopping, or visiting the Tanzanite Experience museum are available for those who arrive early.

Rivertrees Country Inn

The inn is a tranquil haven outside the bustling, dusty safari hub of Arusha. It is charming country estate that was once an old coffee farm, and still retains the nostalgic air of a well-loved homestead. Sprawling ten acres of fertile greenery, the grounds are a natural extension of Mt Meru’s sloping foothills, and offer a sanctuary for the birds and wildlife indigenous to the area.

Elegantly rustic cottages are dotted along the river and in thickets of tall trees, while lush lawns and birdsong make for a peaceful and picturesque setting. Set in the heart of an area rich in nature reserves, montane forests and vibrant village culture, the scope for exploration is endless.

The restaurant concocts tasty meals of garden-fresh ingredients and old family recipes, as well as oven-fired pizzas and the best of the region’s locally grown coffees. Delicious candle-lit dinners are served by the warmth of the fireplace, or under the stars and the watchful eyes of resident owls.

Rivertrees combines unpretentious comfort with subtle accents of style to create a perfect rest stop at the beginning or end of your safari.

Today your experienced safari guide will meet you in your specially adapted 4 x 4 safari vehicle. You will depart for Lake Manyara National Park with a packed lunch.

Lake Manyara – Here, you’ll take a short game drive through its lush groundwater forest where you might even see its famous tree-climbing lions.

In the early evening you’ll arrive at Kitela Lodge.

Kitela Lodge rises up on the hillside of a valley with beautiful views of a coffee plantation and a waterfall within the incredible highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It consists of 20 colonial style cottages surrounded by beautiful gardens, a coffee plantation and a working farm.

In the setting of the majestic mountains, this exclusive hotel is a haven of peace and comfort with all the attentions and the luxury of a traditional country villa. The relaxation the spa offers and its swimming pool are the perfect contrast to the intense excursions and safaris available from the lodge to the Ngorongoro area.

Chalet type bedrooms situated at ground level with a private terrace or balcony. Overlooking the gardens and/or coffee plantation. Ample and comfortable. Rooms with a double bed or two single beds. The rooms have a bathroom with bathtub and shower. The family room consists of two rooms with a connecting door.

After a nightcap, retire and fall asleep to the comforting sounds of the African night.

Today you will ascend to the montane rainforest before descending to the Ngorongoro Crater floor with a picnic lunch for some of Africa’s finest wildlife viewing.

Ngorongoro Crater is a natural haven for the wildlife which live within its steep walls. Here, if lucky, you can see all of the ‘Big 5’ plus most other important plains game and species.

Spend the best part of the day here before returning to Kitela Lodge for the evening.

Leaving the lodge after breakfast you will drive to the Serengeti National Park, passing through rich farmland until reaching the lush montane forests of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Crater Highlands. After ascending and descending the rift escarpment, stop first at Olduvai Gorge, one of the world’s most famous fossil and archaeological sites, dating back two million years and where many finds of early humans were discovered.

Tour the Olduvai Museum before a picnic lunch. In the afternoon, continue game-viewing in the Serengeti. Undoubtedly the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world, the Serengeti is home to the highest density of animals in the world as well as being unrivalled for its natural beauty, diversity and scientific value. During your daily game-drives you’ll witness the annual ancient drama of life, death and rebirth in this primeval wilderness.

Spend the next three nights and two whole days in the classic Kirurumu Serengeti Camp – a traditional safari camp – on a fully inclusive basis.

Although the wildebeest split up and move around, the camp is located so that it follows the pattern of the annual migration and great wildlife viewing is never far away.

Today say farewell to your guide and take the morning flight back to Arusha where you will be met and taken to the airport for your flight out.

Alternatively, you can choose to return by road with your guide, stopping at the Ngorongoro Crater or Tarangire National Park en route back to Arusha. It’s your trip so your choice – just ask us for our expert advice for each option

This safari has been planned to co-incide with the the period when the great herds are in the northern part of the Serengeti. Gathering along the banks of the rivers to make the famous river crossings to reach the lush new grasslands to the north.

Some of the herds will remain in the north of the Serengeti and some will cross over to the Masai Mara – crossing the man-made border into Kenya. They move constantly, grazing as they go. This is also the noisy ‘rutting’ season when the males fight each other for the right to mate with groups of females.

Sometime around late October/early November when the first rains start the herds turn to move swiftly south once again.

The camps and lodges in this area are positioned so that guests can view the great herds and their accompanying predators, but the area is further to reach by vehicle than the southern plains, so either a longer safari is needed or short flight in and/or out.

Whilst the river crossings are dramatic they don’t happen continuously and we would advise at least 3 or 4 days, or longer, for those wishing to experience one.

You should also be prepared for many other vehicles in the areas when a crossing is happening or about to happen. One of the world’s great safari events is not a quiet and tranquil safari experience.

This itinerary is just a suggestion and different combinations are possible.

Today you will be met at Kilimanjaro International Airport by our local representative and transferred to Arusha for one night at the Rivertrees Country Inn in a Garden Room (or similar) for one night – BB

Activities, including swimming, shopping, or visiting the Tanzanite Experience museum are available for those who arrive early.

Rivertrees Country Inn

The inn is a tranquil haven outside the bustling, dusty safari hub of Arusha. It is charming country estate that was once an old coffee farm, and still retains the nostalgic air of a well-loved homestead. Sprawling ten acres of fertile greenery, the grounds are a natural extension of Mt Meru’s sloping foothills, and offer a sanctuary for the birds and wildlife indigenous to the area.

Elegantly rustic cottages are dotted along the river and in thickets of tall trees, while lush lawns and birdsong make for a peaceful and picturesque setting. Set in the heart of an area rich in nature reserves, montane forests and vibrant village culture, the scope for exploration is endless.

The restaurant concocts tasty meals of garden-fresh ingredients and old family recipes, as well as oven-fired pizzas and the best of the region’s locally grown coffees. Delicious candle-lit dinners are served by the warmth of the fireplace, or under the stars and the watchful eyes of resident owls.

Rivertrees combines unpretentious comfort with subtle accents of style to create a perfect rest stop at the beginning or end of your safari.

Today after breakfast, your experienced safari guide will meet you in your specially adapted 4 x 4 safari vehicle. You will depart for Lake Manyara National Park with a packed lunch.

Lake Manyara – Here, you’ll take a short game drive through its lush groundwater forest where you might even see its famous tree-climbing lions.

In the early evening you’ll arrive at Kitela Lodge.

Kitela Lodge rises up on the hillside of a valley with beautiful views of a coffee plantation and a waterfall within the incredible highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It consists of 20 colonial style cottages surrounded by beautiful gardens, a coffee plantation and a working farm.

In the setting of the majestic mountains, this exclusive hotel is a haven of peace and comfort with all the attentions and the luxury of a traditional country villa. The relaxation the spa offers and its swimming pool are the perfect contrast to the intense excursions and safaris available from the lodge to the Ngorongoro area.

Chalet type bedrooms situated at ground level with a private terrace or balcony. Overlooking the gardens and/or coffee plantation. Ample and comfortable. Rooms with a double bed or two single beds. The rooms have a bathroom with bathtub and shower. The family room consists of two rooms with a connecting door.

After dinner and a nightcap, retire and fall asleep to the comforting sounds of the African night.

Today you will ascend to the montane rainforest before descending to the Ngorongoro Crater floor with a picnic lunch for some of Africa’s finest wildlife viewing.

Ngorongoro Crater is a natural haven for the wildlife which live within its steep walls. Here, if lucky, you can see all of the ‘Big 5’ plus most other important plains game and species.

Spend the best part of the day here before returning to a lodge on the crater rim for the evening for dinner and a chance to relax with a sundowner drink before the long drive to the Serengeti tomorrow.

Leaving the lodge after breakfast you will drive to the Serengeti National Park, stop first at Olduvai Gorge, one of the world’s most famous fossil and archaeological sites, dating back two million years and where many finds of early humans were discovered.

Tour the Olduvai Museum before a picnic lunch. In the afternoon, continue game-viewing in the Serengeti.

Undoubtedly the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world, the Serengeti is home to the highest density of animals in the world as well as being unrivalled for its natural beauty, diversity and scientific value.

During your daily game-drives you’ll witness the annual ancient drama of life, death and rebirth in this primeval wilderness.

Spend tonight in the classic Kirurumu Serengeti Camp – a traditional safari camp – on a fully inclusive basis.

The central Serengeti is home to many animals which do not follow the migration. It is a chance to see the local populations of zebra, antelope, lion, cheetah, elephant etc in a relaxed and uncrowded safari environment.

Today you will head to the Northern Serengeti to spend the next 3 nights near to the migratory herds. The herds don’t all travel together and so wherever you stay you will be within reach of some of the action.

Stay at the classic tented camp Kirurumu Serengeti North for 3 nights on a fully inclusive basis.

Today say farewell to your guide and take the morning flight back to Arusha where you will be met and taken to the airport for your flight out.

Alternatively, you can choose to return by road with your guide, stopping at the Ngorongoro Crater or Tarangire National Park en route back to Arusha. It’s your trip so your choice – just ask us for our expert advice on the different options.