The migration moves in a broadly predictable clockwise loop, but its exact position shifts with rainfall each year. Rather than commit you to a fixed route that might miss the herds, this itinerary reserves eight flexible days and confirms your specific lodges and legs only once we know precisely where the herds are for your travel dates.
How This Itinerary Works
Every booking follows the same eight-day structure — four zones, two nights each, moving as the season dictates:
DAYS 1–2
December through March, this is the Ndutu Plains for calving season; April through June, the central Serengeti as herds begin moving north.
Zone One: Southern Plains or Central Serengeti
Accommodation
Mid-rangeNdutu Safari Lodge or Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
LuxuryLake Masek Tented Camp or Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAYS 3–4
June through July, the Grumeti River’s western corridor as herds move through; August through October, the northern Serengeti near the Mara border.
Zone Two: Western Corridor or Northern Serengeti
Accommodation
Mid-rangeConfirmed per season
LuxuryConfirmed per season
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAYS 5–6
July through October, a cross-border flight to the Maasai Mara for river crossings; November onward, a return south as the herds head back toward the short-grass plains.
Zone Three: Maasai Mara or Return South
Accommodation
Mid-rangeSarova Mara Game Camp (seasonal)
LuxuryAngama Mara (seasonal)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAYS 7–8
Every season closes the same way, with two days on the Ngorongoro Crater floor before departure — a constant, year-round highlight regardless of where the herds are.
Zone Four: Ngorongoro Crater and Departure
Accommodation Options
Mid-rangeNgorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
LuxuryNgorongoro Crater Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Permits & Costs
| Park/reserve fees, all zones | Confirmed per final route, ~$70–$100 per person per day |
| Ngorongoro crater descent | ~$295 per vehicle |
| Cross-border flight (if route includes Mara) | Quoted separately |
Who This Itinerary Suits
Travellers booking well in advance who’d rather trust current migration data over a fixed route decided months ahead of time.Tour Includes
- All ground transport in 4×4 safari vehicles
- Professional English-speaking driver-guides
- All accommodation per confirmed itinerary
- Meals as specified
- Park entry & crater descent fees
Tour Excludes
- International flights
- Cross-border flight (if applicable)
- Visas
- Tips & gratuities
- Travel insurance