THE GREAT TANZANIA MIGRATION SAFARI

Itinerary

On the East African savannah, the pulse beat of the planet reverberates. Our Land Cruiser is a tiny island in a vast, grassy sea, its idle drowned out by waves of pounding hooves. Like endless, shaking thunder, wildebeests and zebra flow in a living current across the Serengeti. Lions and cheetahs follow in their wake, finely tuned hunting machines ready to stalk and take down the weakest members of the herds. In the center of the world’s greatest ancient migration route, we are subsumed in a primal spectacle as the drama of predator and prey unfolds before us.

Day 1: Arusha, Tanzania


Arrive in Arusha and transfer to Arumeru River Lodge, in view of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. Explore the 12 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens which offer a relaxing respite after our long travels or relax by the pool or on your private veranda. This evening, we gather for a welcome dinner.



Days 2 - 4: Northern Serengeti / NHA Luxury Semi-Permanent Camp


The legendary Serengeti derives its name from a Masai word meaning “endless plains.” We fly to Serengeti National Park, where vistas of yellow savannah stretching to the horizon beneath a bowl of sky are iconic images of Africa. Meeting our safari vehicles and drivers, we commence our first game drive. Our destination is Alamana Reserve, an exclusive private concession bordering the park. Spanning open grasslands, kopje outcrops, acacia woodland sand water holes along the river, Alamana offers fabulous game viewing in diverse habitats.

The mobility of the NHA Luxury Semi-Permanent Camps ensures that we experience our natural setting, rather than tourist crowds. Reminiscent of an earlier safari era, our spacious canvas tents offer exceptional comfort despite our remote location. A full range of activities is offered to match every mood and pace. Safari on day and night game drives or on foot with one of the resident specialist walking guides. This land is home to the Masai, East Africa’s traditional cattle herders, and we visit them to learn about their pastoral tribal culture. For a real adventure, spend a night in our fly camp, with just a net between you and the stars.



Days 5 - 7: Southern Serengeti / NHA Luxury Mobile Camp


Depart for the southern Serengeti with a game drive en route. The days of heavy canvas hunting camps set for the likes of Roosevelt and Hemingway were nearly over until photographic safaris gained popularity. The NHA Luxury Mobile Camp exudes the ambience of old, with silver-service dinners presented on white linen by candlelight. While home to a profusion of wildlife year-round, there is nothing like the Serengeti during the phenomenon of the Great Migration.

We spend two full days following the sea of mammals in open-topped four-wheel-drive vehicles. Vast herds of wildebeest trek from Kenya’s Masai Mara to the southern Serengeti, in search of new grass during the short rains, then back again. Flowing in long columns, wildebeest migrate with thousands of zebra, whose superior vision and hearing serve as an early warning system for predators. The animals sometimes stampede, and we may witness wildebeest racing at 50 mph. Ninety percent of the females drop their calves within a three-week period, greatly swelling the herd. Predators follow, seeking out the most vulnerable members, and we may behold a lion taking down a sick wildebeest or a cheetah overtaking an infant. Leopard, hyena and jackal also prey on the migrating herds, as do less-frequently seen mongoose, serval and wild dog. Vultures hang in the air, waiting to feast on carrion.



Day 8: Depart for Home or Ngorongoro Crater Extension


From the nearest airstrip we board our flight back to Arusha, where day rooms await.

Transfer late this afternoon to Kilimanjaro Airport for international departures, or drive to Ngorongoro for an extension to the crater.