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Serengeti Northern Migration

12 Days / 11 Nights

The northern part of Tanzania is renowned for its stunning landscapes and rich wildlife experiences. This region encompasses several world-famous parks and conservation areas. Here are some luxurious sample itineraries focused on the northern circuit, combining iconic destinations with high-end accommodations and exclusive experiences.

Day to Day Itinerary
DAY 1:Karibu! Safari begins!

A representative from Aardvark Safaris Tanzania will meet and greet you as soon as you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and take you to the Mt. Meru Hotel, for your overnight. Arusha, nestled in the shadow of majestic Mount Meru, is a dynamic, fast- growing town and a famed embarkation point for Tanzania safaris. Because of its altitude (roughly 4,600 feet above sea level), Arusha is blessed with a pleasant climate, perfect for the coffee plantations that surround it.

Staying two nights at the amazing Kichuguu Camp, built in 2017 and rated Excel- lent on TripAdvisor. You’ll love the service, the food, the surrounding wildness, the eco- friendly design. Here we will have the rare opportunity to do a night game drive, a privi- lege that few safari goers can get today. We’ll look for nocturnal mammals that few see (for example, civet, genet, African porcupine, maybe even the odd aardvark) and preda- tors during their most-active periods. Lions and leopards at night are completely differ- ent from the snoozing animals to be found in mid-day. We feel that a night drive could well be among the finest highlights of your entire safari. Kichuguu Camp
DAY 4: Driving to Lake Manyara.
This small but productive park includes the western wall of the Great Rift Valley and lies at 3,150-feet altitude. It is noted for its high elephant population and tree-climbing lions. Flamingos, pelicans, storks, and hippos inhabit the lakeshore; which is surrounded by groundwater forest, with fig, palm, tama- rind, and baobab trees hosting blue and vervet monkeys, baboons, hornbills, and much more. We may encounter bushbucks, waterbucks, giraffes (some surprisingly dark), im- pala, perhaps even a monitor lizard. Over- night: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge

Brace yourself for a trip back into the Pleistocene! Today we’ll explore one of the world’s largest calderas,
10-11 miles in diameter and 2500 feet deep. This diverse ecosystem of forests, swamps, grasslands, and lakes supports lion, cheetah, serval, hyena, three kinds of jackal, zebra, rhino, hippo, elephant, and thousands of antelopes, including the massive eland. Because poaching is not a problem here, rare black rhinos and elephants with enormous tusks are present. It’s also a birding hotspot. Walt has recorded over 100 species of birds in a day even when most of our time has been watching big mammals! Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge.

Five full days in the fabled Serengeti, one of the most productive and important wildlife areas
in the world. With its vast rolling plains, dramatic outcrops of Precambrian rocks (kopjes), flat-topped acacias, crocodile- and hippo-inhabited rivers lined with riverine gallery forests, and huge herds of animals, the Serengeti is about the ultimate in “wild Africa.” The famous “Great Migration” of wildebeest, zebra, and oth- er grazing herbivores is one of the last mass movements of animals still taking place on earth. We could not be here at a better time of year!

There is a lot of history here—both human and animal—and you will be enriched and informed by
our guides.
We’ll spend our first night at Pamoja Tented Lodge (or equivalent) in the central Serengeti, which is noted for leopards, hippo pools, and the Maasai Kopjes. Then we’ll proceed north for three nights at Mara Mara Kati Kati Tented Camp, which should be close to the heart of the migration, and we will venture to some areas of extraordinary beauty where large predators thrive. With good luck, we hope to see the herds undertaking the treacherous crossing of the Mara River. Camping in the Serengeti surrounded by the exotic sounds of wild Africa is truly an in-tents experience!

After our final breakfast in the Serengeti, we’ll drive across the plains, ascending again into the high- lands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a World Heritage Site dedicated to the peaceful union of pastoralism, conservation of natural resources, and responsible tourism. We will stop to visit Oldupai (or Olduvai) Gorge, world-renowned for the discoveries of early hominids made by archaeologists Mary and Louis Leakey. We will visit the wonderful museum here and, if time permits, explore the gorge where the discoveries were made.

Today we drive back to Arusha for a visit to the Cultural Heritage Center (wonderful wildlife art gallery and excellent shopping, including for precious Tanzanite jewelry), a scrumptious buffet lunch, and some time to rest and prepare for your trip home that evening or for continuation to Mkomazi National Park for those doing the extension. Day rooms or overnight at Mt. Meru Hotel., depending on your plans.

Booking Tips

  • Advance Planning: Book your safari and accommodations well in advance to ensure availability, especially during peak seasons.
  • Customizing Itineraries: Work with Aardvark Safari specialists to tailor your itinerary to your specific interests and preferences.
  • Travel Insurance: Ensure you have comprehensive insurance covering luxury travel and special activities.

Tailor make your Tour