Itinerary
Overview
Dive into the heart of the Great Wildebeest Migration during calving season, when over a million wildebeest—flanked by zebras and gazelles—surge across the Serengeti’s endless plains in one of nature’s most spectacular dramas. This 7-day safari places you front and center as the raw theater of survival unfolds: newborn calves taking their first wobbly steps, predators stalking the fringes, and life cycling forward in real time. With heart-pumping game drives through the Serengeti’s most iconic hotspots and plush accommodations awaiting each evening, this journey delivers the wild at its most authentic.
What stirs your soul more—the thunder of hooves during migration madness or the tension of a predator showdown?
Itinerary
Day by day
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha
Accommodation: Tumbili Lodge
Upon landing at Kilimanjaro International Airport, the Ralph & Robert team will greet you and transfer you comfortably to your Arusha hotel. Take a moment to refresh and settle in before gathering for a welcome dinner, where your guide will share insights and preview the incredible adventures awaiting you in the days ahead.
What's fueling your excitement as the journey begins?
Day 2 & 3: Arusha to Serengeti National Park (Southern Serengeti)
Accommodation: Serengeti Savannah Camp
After breakfast, your journey leads you to the southern Serengeti—the beating heart of calving season, where the Great Migration gathers in astonishing numbers. The drive itself offers a stunning introduction to this iconic landscape: endless savannahs stretching toward distant horizons, scattered acacia trees standing sentinel, and wildlife beginning to reveal itself along the way. By afternoon, you'll arrive in the thick of the action, with a game drive en route to your camp setting the stage for the days ahead. Serengeti Savannah Camp welcomes you warmly, followed by a cozy dinner beneath the stars—a perfect prelude to the wild drama awaiting at dawn.
Day 4: Southern Serengeti to Central Serengeti
Accommodation: Embalakai Authentic Tented Camp
After breakfast, journey into the heart of the Serengeti, where the landscape unfolds into rolling hills, acacia-dotted plains, and lush riverine woodlands. The central region offers a different rhythm—home to resident wildlife that thrives here year-round, including powerful prides of lions and the elusive leopards that drape themselves across fig branches. An afternoon game drive reveals the area's rich diversity before you return to Embalakai Authentic Tented Camp, where a relaxing evening awaits accompanied by the sounds of the African night.
Day 5: Full Day in Central Serengeti
Accommodation: Embalakai Authentic Tented Camp
Today is yours to immerse yourself fully in the heart of the Serengeti, where wildlife encounters unfold at every turn. Morning and afternoon game drives lead you through prime territory—tracking the sweeping herds of the migration and the resident predators that call these plains home. Between drives, return to the comforts of Embalakai Authentic Tented Camp, where you can cool off in the pool, lose yourself in a book on your private deck, or simply soak in the peaceful rhythms of the bush. As evening falls, gather for dinner under the stars, sharing stories of the day's discoveries.
Day 6: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater
Accommodation: Kuhama Camp
Depart for the Ngorongoro Crater, descending onto the floor of this UNESCO World Heritage Site in the afternoon. This ancient caldera cradles one of Africa's most concentrated wildlife sanctuaries—a self-contained world where the Big Five roam alongside wildebeest, zebras, hippos, and countless other species. Your game drive across the crater floor reveals lions lounging in the grasslands, elephants crossing the marshes, and black rhinos grazing near the shimmering lakes. As the sun sinks low, ascend to Kuhama Camp on the crater rim, where dinner awaits with sweeping panoramic views over the natural wonder below.
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha and Departure
On your final morning, enjoy a leisurely breakfast followed by one last game drive through the Ngorongoro Crater—a final chance to drink in the wildlife and landscapes that have made this journey unforgettable. From there, begin your journey back to Arusha. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time to visit a Maasai village, where you'll gain insight into their vibrant traditions and way of life. Your safari concludes with a transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward journey, carrying memories of an adventure that will linger long after you've returned home.
What's Included?
- Accommodation: 6 nights in luxury tented camps and lodges.
- Meals: Full-board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) throughout the safari.
- Transport: 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for game viewing, including airport transfers.
- Professional Guide: Services of an experienced, English-speaking safari guide.
- Park Fees: All national park entrance fees, including the Ngorongoro Crater.
- Game Drives: Daily game drives as per the itinerary.
Drinking Water: Bottled water during game drives. - Maasai Village Visit: A cultural visit to a Maasai village (if time permits on Day 7).
- Internal Flights: Domestic flight from Arusha to Serengeti (if applicable).
- Emergency Evacuation: AMREF Flying Doctors emergency evacuation insurance.
What's Excluded?
- International Flights: Flights to and from Kilimanjaro International Airport.
- Visas: Entry visas for Tanzania.
- Travel Insurance: Comprehensive travel and medical insurance.
- Gratuities: Tips for guides, drivers, and lodge staff.
- Personal Expenses: Items of a personal nature such as souvenirs, additional beverages, and laundry services.
- Optional Activities: Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary (e.g., hot air balloon safari).
- Alcoholic Beverages: Alcoholic drinks at lodges and camps unless otherwise stated.
- Covid-19 Related Expenses: Any testing or quarantine costs related to Covid-19 regulations.