9 Day Masai Mara, Serengeti Migration & Ngorongoro Crater Safari – Iconic Great Migration Tour 2025

9 Day Masai Mara, Serengeti Migration and Ngorongoro Safari

Tour Highlights

• Track the Great Migration across Masai Mara and Serengeti
• Big Five sightings: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino
• Explore Ngorongoro Crater – a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Luxury lodges and exclusive tented camps
• Daily game drives with professional safari guides
• Cross-border safari experience from Kenya to Tanzania
• Optional Maasai village cultural encounter
• Private or small-group options available

Destinations Covered

• Nairobi – Arrival and Safari Start
• Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
• Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
• Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
• Arusha – Departure Point

Detailed Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi, Kenya

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you’ll be met by our team and transferred to your Nairobi hotel. Depending on arrival time, optional activities include a visit to the Giraffe Centre or Karen Blixen Museum. Overnight stay in a Nairobi boutique hotel or luxury lodge.

Day 2: Nairobi – Flight to Masai Mara

After breakfast, take a short scenic flight to Masai Mara National Reserve. Arrive in time for lunch followed by your first game drive. The Mara is teeming with wildlife year-round and is a hotspot for the Great Migration from July to October. Overnight at a luxury tented camp overlooking the savannah.

Day 3: Full-Day Game Drive in Masai Mara

Enjoy a full-day safari with picnic lunch. Watch dramatic river crossings (seasonal), witness predator-prey interactions, and photograph large herds of wildebeest and zebra. Look out for cheetahs, hyenas, and elephants. Optional sunrise hot air balloon safari available. Return for dinner and a campfire experience.

Day 4: Masai Mara – Isebania Border – Serengeti (Northern)

After an early breakfast, depart by road to the Isebania border where you will cross into Tanzania. Proceed to northern Serengeti, known for its migration action and predator density. Arrive at your lodge or mobile tented camp in time for a sunset game drive. Overnight in the northern Serengeti.

Day 5: Northern Serengeti – Migration Safari

Spend a full day tracking the Great Migration. Watch wildebeest herds cross the Mara River, where crocodiles lie in wait. Enjoy close encounters with lions and other predators taking advantage of the movement. Return to your camp for relaxation under the African night sky.

Day 6: Central Serengeti Safari

Drive south to the Central Serengeti (Seronera region), renowned for resident wildlife and excellent predator sightings. This area has year-round populations of elephants, giraffes, hippos, and big cats. Arrive at your camp or lodge, then head out for an afternoon game drive. Overnight in central Serengeti.

Day 7: Serengeti – Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast and a final morning game drive in Serengeti, begin your journey to Ngorongoro. Optional stop at Olduvai Gorge, known for archaeological discoveries. Arrive at your lodge located on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. Dinner with views overlooking the caldera.

Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive

Descend 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day safari. This wildlife-rich area is home to black rhinos, large lion prides, herds of buffalo, flamingos, and hippos. Picnic lunch by the hippo pool before continuing the drive. Return to the crater rim in the evening for your final safari night.

Day 9: Ngorongoro – Drive to Arusha – Departure

After breakfast, drive to Arusha with an optional stop at a local crafts market. Day room or lunch at a hotel in Arusha (depending on your flight schedule). Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight.

Why Choose This Safari

• Combines Kenya and Tanzania’s top safari parks
• Timed to align with the Great Migration seasons
• Immersive cultural and wildlife experiences
• Small groups for personalized attention
• Experienced local driver-guides with migration tracking expertise
• Seamless cross-border logistics and luxury accommodation

Inclusions

• All park entrance fees and conservation fees
• 8 nights accommodation in lodges and tented camps
• All meals as indicated in itinerary
• Domestic flights (Nairobi – Masai Mara)
• Professional English-speaking guides
• All ground transfers and transport in 4x4 safari vehicles
• Bottled water during game drives
• Airport pick-up and drop-off

Exclusions

• International flights to/from East Africa
• Visa fees for Kenya and Tanzania
• Travel and medical insurance
• Optional activities (balloon safari, Maasai village visits)
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Alcoholic and soft drinks unless specified

Frequently Asked Questions

The best time is during the Great Migration crossings – July to October. However, all year-round offers great wildlife sightings with fewer crowds outside of peak months.

Yes. You will require a Kenyan visa and a Tanzanian visa. These can be obtained online prior to travel or at the respective borders (depending on your nationality).

Yes. The Isebania border is a well-used and secure crossing point for safari operators with experienced guides managing the process.

Absolutely. This safari can be personalized with extra days, upgraded camps, or a beach extension in Zanzibar after the tour.

You can choose either private or shared safari vehicles depending on your package. We recommend private vehicles for more flexibility, especially for photography enthusiasts.