10-Day Mara River Crossing Luxury Fly-in Safari (July – October)

Tour Overview

Discover Tanzania’s most spectacular wildlife destinations on this unforgettable 10-day luxury safari. Fly directly to Northern Serengeti for the famous Mara River crossings, explore the wildlife-rich plains of Central Serengeti, visit the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, and end your adventure in Tarangire National Park, home to Tanzania’s largest elephant herds. Throughout the journey, travel with your private professional guide, enjoy luxury accommodations, and experience some of Africa’s finest wildlife viewing.

Highlights & Activities

Quick Facts

10 Days | 9 Nights

Destinations

Nearest Airports

Perfect for: First-time safari travelers, photographers, couples, and wildlife enthusiasts who want to experience the Great Migration season in comfort with a luxury fly-in safari.

Moments from the Wild

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

Welcome to Tanzania! Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport, a Tanzalight Safaris representative will warmly welcome you and transfer you to Maasailand Safari Lodge, approximately 45–60 minutes from the airport. Along the way, enjoy your first views of Tanzania’s beautiful countryside and, on clear days, the impressive Mount Meru.

After checking in, the rest of the day is yours to relax after your international flight. Enjoy the peaceful surroundings, take a swim, or simply unwind before your safari begins. As the sun sets, enjoy a delicious dinner while looking forward to the unforgettable wildlife adventure awaiting you.

Day 2: Fly from Arusha to Northern Serengeti (Kogatende)

After breakfast, transfer to Arusha Airport for your scheduled flight to Kogatende Airstrip, a scenic journey of approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. During the flight, admire breathtaking aerial views of the Great Rift Valley and the endless Serengeti plains before meeting your private safari guide.

Your safari begins immediately with a game drive through Northern Serengeti, one of the best places to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration. Depending on nature’s timing, you may encounter thousands of wildebeests and zebras gathering near the Mara River while elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, topi, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and hippos roam the surrounding wilderness. As the afternoon comes to an end, arrive at your luxury camp and enjoy dinner surrounded by the sounds of the African bush.

Day 3: Full-Day Game Drive – Northern Serengeti

Today is dedicated to exploring Northern Serengeti and following the Great Migration. Your experienced guide will take you to the best wildlife areas in search of the famous Mara River crossings, where thousands of wildebeests and zebras bravely enter crocodile-filled waters in one of nature’s greatest spectacles.

Even when a river crossing is not taking place, Northern Serengeti offers exceptional game viewing. Watch lion prides resting beneath acacia trees, elephants crossing the open plains, giraffes browsing on tall trees, hippos relaxing in the river, and cheetahs searching for prey. With a little luck, you may also spot a leopard hidden in a tree while colourful birds fill the skies above. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush before continuing your afternoon adventure.

Day 4: Walking Safari & Full-Day Northern Serengeti

Begin the morning with a guided walking safari accompanied by an armed ranger. Walking through the Serengeti allows you to appreciate nature from a different perspective as you discover animal tracks, native plants, birds, and smaller wildlife while enjoying the fresh morning air.

After breakfast, continue with a full-day game drive following the migration across Northern Serengeti. Keep your camera ready as you search for wildebeests, zebras, Nile crocodiles, lions, hyenas, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, and possibly a leopard or cheetah. Every game drive is unique, and your guide’s local knowledge will help you find the best wildlife sightings throughout the day before returning to camp for another relaxing evening.

Day 5: Northern Serengeti – Central Serengeti

After breakfast, begin your journey toward Central Serengeti, a scenic drive of approximately 5–6 hours with wildlife viewing along the way. This is not simply a transfer but another exciting safari, as animals can appear at any moment across the endless plains.

Stop for a delicious bush lunch surrounded by nature before continuing your game drive. Along the route, you may encounter elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, gazelles, buffaloes, hyenas, and large lion prides resting on rocky kopjes. By late afternoon, arrive at your luxury camp in Central Serengeti, where you can relax and enjoy another beautiful African sunset.

Day 6: Full-Day Game Drive – Central Serengeti

Spend the entire day exploring Central Serengeti, one of Africa’s finest wildlife destinations and one of the best places to search for the famous Big Cats. The open grasslands provide excellent opportunities to see lions, cheetahs, and the elusive leopard, while elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, hyenas, jackals, and countless antelopes can often be seen throughout the day.

Your professional guide will take you to different habitats where predators are frequently spotted and explain the fascinating behaviour of the wildlife you encounter. Whether watching lions hunt at sunrise or elephants peacefully crossing the plains, every moment brings a new safari experience to remember.

Day 7: Central Serengeti – Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast, enjoy a final morning game drive in Central Serengeti before travelling toward Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a journey of approximately 3–4 hours. Along the way, continue searching for wildlife as the landscape gradually changes from endless plains to the beautiful green highlands.

You may encounter elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, lions, hyenas, and many bird species before reaching the Ngorongoro Crater rim. Arrive at your luxury lodge in the afternoon and spend the evening relaxing while enjoying breathtaking views over one of Africa’s most remarkable natural wonders.

Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater – Karatu

Start the morning with a guided nature walk along the Ngorongoro highlands before descending approximately 600 metres into the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best places in Africa to see the Big Five in a single day.

Enjoy a spectacular game drive across the crater floor, where you may encounter black rhinos, lions, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, zebras, wildebeests, hyenas, jackals, flamingos, and many other bird species. Stop for a memorable bush lunch beside the hippo pool before continuing your safari. In the late afternoon, drive approximately 30–40 minutes to Karatu, where your luxury lodge offers the perfect place to relax after another incredible day.

Day 9: Karatu – Tarangire National Park – Arusha

After breakfast, drive approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to Tarangire National Park, famous for its ancient baobab trees and some of Tanzania’s largest elephant herds.

Enjoy a full-day game drive through this beautiful park while searching for elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, buffaloes, impalas, warthogs, ostriches, secretary birds, and many colourful bird species. Stop for a bush lunch overlooking the wilderness before continuing your afternoon safari along the Tarangire River, where wildlife often gathers to drink. Later, drive approximately 2 hours back to Arusha for your final evening in Tanzania.

Day 10: Departure Day

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the lodge before checking out. Depending on your international flight schedule, you may have time to relax at the lodge or visit a local craft market for some last-minute souvenirs.

At the appropriate time, your driver will transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport, approximately 45–60 minutes away, for your onward flight. As your journey comes to an end, leave Tanzania with unforgettable memories of the Great Wildebeest Migration, incredible wildlife encounters, breathtaking landscapes, and the warm hospitality that makes this destination truly special.