Welcome to this amazing 9 Days Masai Mara & Serengeti Migration Safari in Kenya and Tanzania. It is a chance to make your safari dreams come true. You will explore Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, North Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park. Main highlights for this tour are: the Great Migration, Big Five, Masai Mara, North Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire elephants, wildlife & scenic landscapes
Day 1: Nairobi to Lake Nakuru National Park
Your safari begins in Nairobi, where you will be picked up in the morning and depart for Lake Nakuru National Park. The journey takes you through the scenic Great Rift Valley, with opportunities to stop at viewpoints overlooking the dramatic escarpment and surrounding landscapes. Continue to Lake Nakuru National Park, a renowned wildlife and birding destination in Kenya. After lunch, enjoy an afternoon game drive around the park. Lake Nakuru is home to rhinos, buffaloes, lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras and numerous antelope species. The lake and surrounding wetlands also attract a variety of waterbirds. After the game drive, proceed to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara National Reserve
After breakfast, depart Lake Nakuru and travel towards the famous Masai Mara National Reserve. The journey takes you through Kenya’s scenic countryside and Maasai communities before reaching the Mara ecosystem. After lunch, enjoy your first game drive in the Masai Mara. The reserve is one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife destinations and supports large populations of elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and numerous antelope species. During the Great Migration season, the Mara becomes particularly spectacular as large herds of wildebeest and zebras move through the ecosystem.
Day 3: Full-Day Great Migration Game Drive
Today is dedicated to a full-day game drive in the Masai Mara. After an early breakfast, set out with a packed lunch and spend the day exploring the reserve in search of wildlife. During the migration season, the Mara can receive enormous herds of wildebeest and zebras crossing from the Serengeti ecosystem. Depending on the timing and location of the herds, you may witness dramatic river crossings, large concentrations of animals and predator activity. The Mara is also home to the Big Five, including elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes and black rhinos. Your guide will explore different areas of the reserve based on wildlife movements and current sightings. Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and relaxation.
Day 4: Full-Day Wildlife & Migration Safari
Enjoy another full day exploring the Masai Mara ecosystem. An early morning game drive allows you to take advantage of the cooler hours when many predators and herbivores are active. Continue searching for lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras and wildebeest. If the migration herds are in the Mara during your visit, your guide will follow their movements and look for opportunities to observe the migration activity. You may also encounter smaller wildlife and a wide variety of bird species throughout the reserve. Return to the lodge in the evening.
Day 5: Masai Mara to North Serengeti, Tanzania
After an early breakfast, depart the Masai Mara and cross into Tanzania, continuing towards the Northern Serengeti. The journey follows the broader Serengeti–Mara ecosystem, which is part of the natural route used by migrating wildebeest and zebras. After completing the border formalities, continue towards northern Serengeti. Depending on the timing and location of the migration herds, you may enjoy a game drive along the way. The northern Serengeti is particularly important during the later stages of the Great Migration, when large herds move through the region and eventually cross back towards the southern Serengeti.
Day 6: Full-Day Great Migration Safari
Today is dedicated to exploring the Northern Serengeti. Set out after breakfast for a full-day game drive in search of the migrating herds and resident wildlife. The Northern Serengeti is known for its dramatic landscapes, large concentrations of wildlife and proximity to the Mara River, where wildebeest river crossings may occur during the migration season. River crossings are natural events and cannot be guaranteed. The timing, location and behaviour of the herds depend on rainfall, food availability and other environmental conditions. Alongside the migration, look out for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, hippos and numerous antelope species. Return to your accommodation after an exciting day in the Serengeti.
Day 7: North Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive as you gradually leave the Northern Serengeti. Continue towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, one of Tanzania’s most spectacular landscapes. The journey provides further opportunities to see wildlife along the way. The Serengeti ecosystem is home to an extraordinary variety of animals, so even the transfer between destinations can become part of the safari experience. Arrive at your accommodation near the Ngorongoro Crater in the afternoon and enjoy the surrounding scenery. The evening is reserved for relaxation and preparation for the following day’s crater safari.
Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater to Tarangire National Park
Wake up early and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive. The crater is one of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife areas. Its enclosed ecosystem supports large numbers of animals throughout the year. During the crater safari, look for lions, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles and hyenas. The crater is also one of the places where black rhinos may be observed. Enjoy a picnic lunch within the designated area before ascending from the crater.
Continue towards Tarangire National Park, famous for its large elephant populations, ancient baobab trees and seasonal wildlife concentrations. Enjoy an afternoon game drive in Tarangire as you search for elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, impalas and other wildlife.
Day 9: Tarangire National Park to Arusha
After breakfast, enjoy a final morning game drive in Tarangire National Park. The park’s combination of open grasslands, seasonal wetlands, woodland, and iconic baobab trees provides a beautiful final setting for the safari. Continue towards Arusha after the game drive. Depending on your onward travel arrangements, you can be dropped off at your hotel in Arusha or transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight. Your 9-day Masai Mara and Serengeti Great Migration safari comes to an end.
