Experience an extraordinary 8-day Wildebeests Migration safari, delving into the heart of the Great Migration across Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.
This meticulously crafted, wildlife-focused itinerary highlights the dramatic river crossings of the Great Migration, featuring private game drives along the Mara River, overland transfers for an authentic journey, and accommodations in intimate tented camps that seamlessly blend rustic elegance with comfort.
Observe millions of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles, pursue the Big Five, and traverse iconic savannahs, with cultural encounters excluded to maintain a focus on nature’s grandeur.
For those desiring additional experiences, optional Maasai village visits in the Masai Mara provide cultural insights at an additional cost, while optional hot-air balloon safaris in the Masai Mara or Serengeti offer a breathtaking aerial perspective, also at an extra cost.
Highlights of the 8-day Migration safari in Masai Mara & Serengeti
This 8-day Wildebeests Migration safari focuses on two of East Africa’s most iconic wildlife reserves: Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.
Together, they form the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, a vast region where the Great Migration unfolds, involving over 1.5 million wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles.
Both destinations are renowned for their expansive landscapes, exceptional biodiversity, and the dramatic Mara River crossings that define the migration’s peak.
With opportunities to witness the Big Five and a rich array of other species, these reserves offer unparalleled game viewing, enhanced by strategic camp locations and expert-guided drives tailored to the migration’s rhythm.
Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Situated in southwestern Kenya, the Masai Mara National Reserve is a globally renowned safari destination, celebrated for its expansive savannahs, abundant wildlife, and critical role in the Great Wildebeest Migration. Covering 1,510 km², the Mara constitutes the northern segment of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, with unfenced borders enabling free movement of animals between Kenya and Tanzania.
Its golden grasslands, acacia-studded plains, and the Mara River provide a dramatic backdrop for one of nature’s most spectacular events. From July to October, over 1.5 million wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles converge, their perilous Mara River crossings drawing crocodiles and predators such as lions, cheetahs, and leopards.
The reserve hosts the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino—with robust predator populations ensuring frequent sightings. Year-round, giraffes, hippos, hyenas, and over 450 bird species, including lilac-breasted rollers, thrive.
Game drives along the Mara River offer prime views of migration crossings, and an optional hot-air balloon safari at sunrise showcases the plains’ vastness (additional cost). The Mara’s compact size ensures consistent wildlife encounters, solidifying its status as a migration epicenter.
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Encompassing 14,763 km² in northern Tanzania, the Serengeti National Park represents the pinnacle of African safari experiences, distinguished for its boundless plains, exceptional biodiversity, and central role in the Great Migration.
Derived from the Maasai term “Siringit” (endless plains), the park features grasslands, rocky kopjes, and riverine forests. As the southern counterpart to the Masai Mara, it supports the same migratory herds, with dramatic Mara River crossings in the northern Serengeti from July to September.
The park is home to the Big Five, with Africa’s largest lion population (over 4,000), 1,000 leopards, 500 cheetahs, and 8,000 elephants, alongside rare black rhinos and hyenas. Over 500 bird species, such as kori bustards and martial eagles, enhance its diversity.
The northern Serengeti (Kogatende) excels for migration viewing, while the central Seronera region is renowned for big cat sightings. Game drives along the Mara River capture the migration’s intensity, and an optional hot-air balloon safari provides a panoramic perspective (additional cost). The Serengeti’s vastness ensures an immersive and exclusive experience.
Accommodations for the 8-Day Wildebeests Migration Safari in Kenya & Tanzania
This 8-day migration safari features a carefully selected array of intimate, eco-conscious tented camps, chosen for their strategic proximity to migration routes, authentic safari ambiance, and comfortable amenities. Each camp is positioned to optimize your Great Migration experience, fostering a profound connection to the wilderness of the Masai Mara and Serengeti.
Enkakenya Mara Camp, Masai Mara
Within the Masai Mara National Reserve, Enkakenya Mara Camp provides an intimate tented safari experience near the Mara River, perfectly suited for migration viewing. The camp features spacious canvas tents equipped with en-suite bathrooms, hot showers, and private verandas overlooking the savannah.
The central mess tent offers substantial meals, while evening campfire gatherings under starry skies cultivate a genuine safari atmosphere. Its eco-conscious design and proximity to river crossing points facilitate exceptional game drives, positioning Enkakenya as an ideal base for your Mara exploration.
Enkutoto Migration Camp, Northern Serengeti
In the Northern Serengeti’s Kogatende region, Enkutoto Migration Camp offers a rustic yet comfortable stay along the Mara River, tailored for Great Migration sightings. The camp’s large tents provide en-suite bathrooms, comfortable beds, and private verandas with expansive views of the plains, balancing simplicity with functionality.
The open-air dining area serves refined meals, and the campfire fosters an authentic wilderness experience. Its remote location ensures exclusivity and unparalleled access to river crossings, enhancing your migration-focused safari.
Enkirari Wilderness Camp, Central Serengeti
In the Central Serengeti’s Seronera Valley, Enkirari Wilderness Camp delivers an elegant tented retreat in a premier big cat habitat. The camp features spacious tents with en-suite facilities, private decks, and rustic sophistication, surrounded by acacia-dotted plains.
The dining tent provides gourmet cuisine, while the lounge and firepit offer refined spaces to unwind. Its strategic location ensures outstanding game drives, with seamless access to Seronera’s lion and leopard territories, making it a distinguished conclusion to your Serengeti journey.
Best time for the 8-Day Migration Safari in Masai Mara & Serengeti
This safari is ideally undertaken between July and October, when the Great Migration’s dramatic Mara River crossings reach their peak in the Masai Mara (July to October) and Northern Serengeti (July to September). During this dry season, millions of wildebeests and zebras navigate the river, pursued by predators, delivering unmatched wildlife spectacles.
Reduced vegetation and concentrated water sources enhance visibility, with daytime temperatures of 20-28°C ensuring comfortable game drives.
The itinerary can be tailored year-round by selecting optimally located camps based on the wildebeest herds’ movements, such as southern Serengeti for the calving season (January to February) or western Serengeti for Grumeti River crossings (May to June). For prime river crossing action and favorable weather, July to September remains the most advantageous period.
Logistics of the 8-Day Wildebeests Migration Safari
This migration safari integrates overland travel for an authentic experience with an optional air transfer for convenience, utilizing private 4×4 safari vehicles equipped with pop-up roofs for superior game viewing.
The journey begins with a pick-up from Nairobi, followed by a 5-6 hour drive to the Masai Mara.
On Day 4, a 4-5 hour drive to the Isebania/Sirari border facilitates the crossing into Tanzania, with border formalities efficiently managed by your guide, before proceeding to the Northern Serengeti.
Day 7 entails a 3-4 hour drive to the Central Serengeti.
On Day 8, a 5-6 hour drive to Arusha (or an optional 1-1.5 hour flight from Seronera Airstrip at additional cost) precedes a transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for departure.
All transfers and game drives are conducted by expert guides, with vehicles designed for comfort and photography.
Luggage should be packed in soft bags (no weight limit for overland travel; 15 kg limit if opting for the flight).
Required travel documents include passports, visas for Kenya and Tanzania, and yellow fever vaccination certificates.
Bottled water, all meals (except premium drinks), and park fees are included, ensuring a streamlined and immersive migration experience.
Have a couple of days more to spend on safari? We can include a safari at the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater’s floor.
Why Choose This 8 day Wildebeests Migration Safari in Masai Mara & Serengeti?
This 8-day safari offers an unrivaled opportunity to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration, with a focus on Mara River crossings in the Masai Mara and Northern Serengeti. Accommodations at Enkakenya Mara Camp, Enkutoto Migration Camp, and Enkirari Wilderness Camp provide rustic elegance amidst the wilderness.
Overland travel enhances your connection to the landscapes, while private game drives with expert guides deliver tailored migration experiences. Optional hot-air balloon safaris in the Masai Mara or Serengeti and optional Maasai village visits in the Masai Mara offer flexibility (additional cost).
From river crossings to the Big Five, this safari captures the migration’s profound drama. Reserve your journey now for an unforgettable experience, or extend with a Zanzibar beach retreat for a seamless blend of safari and relaxation.
8-day Migration safari in Masai Mara & Serengeti Itinerary
Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve
Your 8-day Wildebeests Migration safari commences with a morning pick-up from Nairobi, followed by a 5-6 hour scenic drive to the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s foremost safari destination. Upon arrival, check into Enkakenya Mara Camp, an intimate tented camp blending rustic elegance with modern comforts, situated amidst the Mara’s golden savannahs.
Enjoy a hearty lunch at the camp, then proceed on an afternoon game drive along the Mara River, where the Great Migration (July to October) delivers dramatic wildebeest and zebra crossings.
Observe lions stalking prey, crocodiles patrolling the river, or herds navigating treacherous currents. Return to the camp for a dinner served under the stars, with the camp’s serene ambiance and savannah sounds fostering a profound connection to the wilderness. An optional Maasai village visit is available for cultural enrichment (additional cost).
Accommodation: Enkakenya Mara Camp. Lunch and dinner included.
Migration safari in Masai Mara,Kenya.
Devote two full days to the Masai Mara’s dynamic ecosystem, with morning and afternoon game drives strategically focused on the Mara River to observe the Great Migration’s river crossings (July to October).
Begin each day at sunrise, when the savannah is most active, positioning at key crossing points to witness wildebeests and zebras confronting crocodiles and predators during their river crossings. Encounter lion prides, cheetahs, and leopards exploiting the migration, alongside elephants, giraffes, and hippos along the riverbanks.
Choose a full-day game drive with a bush picnic on one day to maximize time at prime crossing sites, or opt for shorter drives with returns to Enkakenya Mara Camp for substantial meals and relaxation in your tented suite.
Afternoon drives offer additional migration encounters, with hyenas and vultures contributing to the spectacle. The camp’s eco-conscious design, private verandas, and starlit evenings elevate the safari experience. An optional hot-air balloon safari at sunrise provides a stunning aerial view of the migration, while an optional Maasai village visit remains available (both at additional cost).
Accommodation: Enkakenya Mara Camp.
Meals & Drinks: All meals included.
Transfer from Masai Mara through Isebania border to Northern Serengeti.
After a final morning game drive and breakfast in the Masai Mara, undertake a 4-5 hour drive to the Isebania/Sirari border crossing into Tanzania. Complete border formalities with assistance from your guide, then continue to the Northern Serengeti (Kogatende region), arriving at Enkutoto Migration Camp, a rustic tented camp ideally positioned near the Mara River for migration viewing.
Enjoy lunch en route or at the camp, then settle into the tranquil surroundings. The camp’s spacious tents, equipped with en-suite bathrooms and verandas overlooking the plains, provide an authentic safari setting.
Dine under the stars, with the Serengeti’s nocturnal sounds signaling the start of your Tanzanian migration safari experience.
Accommodation: Enkutoto Migration Camp.
Meals & Drinks: All meals included.
Migration safari in Northern Serengeti
Allocate two full days to the Northern Serengeti, with morning and afternoon game drives along the Mara River to capture the Great Migration’s iconic river crossings (July to September). Commence each day at sunrise, stationing at strategic crossing points to observe wildebeests and zebras braving the river’s currents, pursued by crocodiles and shadowed by lions, leopards, and hyenas.
The northern region’s open plains and riverine thickets host elephants, giraffes, and over 500 bird species, enriching the migration narrative. Select a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch on one day to extend time at crossing sites, or return to Enkutoto Migration Camp for meals and relaxation in your tented suite.
Afternoon drives yield further migration encounters, with predators targeting vulnerable herds. The camp’s secluded location, campfire gatherings, and eco-friendly design deepen your immersion in the Serengeti’s untamed heart.
The optional hot-air balloon safari remains a highlight for an aerial perspective (additional cost).
Accommodation: Enkutoto Migration Camp.
Meals & Drinks: All meals included.
Move to Central Serengeti
After breakfast and a final morning game drive in the Northern Serengeti, proceed on a 3-4 hour drive to the Central Serengeti (Seronera region), arriving at Enkirari Wilderness Camp, an elegant tented camp situated in the wildlife-rich Seronera Valley.
Following lunch, embark on an afternoon game drive to explore Seronera’s renowned big cat territory, home to dense populations of lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
With alittle bit of luck you will observe prides resting on kopjes, elephants grazing in grasslands, or resident herds of zebras and gazelles, with the region’s acacia-dotted plains offering a quintessential Serengeti vista.
Return to the camp for a refined dinner, with the camp’s intimate tents, en-suite facilities, and savannah views providing a restful retreat.
The optional hot-air balloon safari is available for a panoramic view of the central plains (additional cost).
Accommodation: Enkirari Wilderness Camp.
Meals & Drinks: All meals included.
Serengeti-Arusha-Kilimanjaro Airport
After breakfast, begin a 5-6 hour drive to Arusha, with an optional flight from Seronera Airstrip to Arusha available at an additional cost for a faster transfer (1-1.5 hours).
Upon reaching Arusha, savor a light lunch at a local restaurant and visit the Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre, a distinguished venue showcasing Tanzanian art, gemstones, and artifacts, ideal for selecting unique souvenirs.
A private transfer delivers you to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your onward flight, concluding your journey with enduring memories of the Great Migration. For late flights, a day-use room in Arusha can be arranged (additional cost).
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Book now for an unforgettable adventure, or extend with a Zanzibar beach escape for the perfect blend of East African safari and relaxation.
8-day Migration safari in Masai Mara & Serengeti Prices
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