10 Days Kogatende Migration Safari
10 Days Kogatende Migration Safari
Price
Overview
This safari lets you witness the Great Wildebeest Migration. Over two million wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle move through the Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystems, searching for green pastures and safe calving ground. Their movement is highly weather-dependent and dynamic, yet with planning and a bit of luck, you can witness this natural wildlife wonder. This safari covers other national parks too, where you can witness the resident game. The tour is available throughout the year, but opting for it in the right season will leave you awestruck.
The high drama of a river crossing at the Mara River is arguably the highlight of the Wildebeest Migration, a stunning life-and-death display as hundreds of thousands of wildebeest brave the treacherous currents and lurking crocodiles in a last-ditch attempt to reach the safety of the Maasai Mara in Kenya.
Our river crossing safari takes you into the northern Serengeti. It offers the best chance of seeing death-defying leaps and heart-wrenching near misses as you spend multiple nights and days in the world-famous Serengeti National Park.
Details of Wildebeest Migration River Crossing Safari (mid-June – September)
About the Mara River Crossing
During this period, the herd continues its movement north toward the Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya. There is no tight schedule that these animals follow. So, tracking the herd’s movements becomes a day-to-day prospect as they meander slowly but inexorably toward the next big obstacle in their path: the Mara River.
The Mara River poses yet another deadly barrier for the herd, who must once again brave swollen waters and the opportunistic predators if they are to find relative safety on the far side. Photographers and documentarians from around the world gather to witness the death-defying crossing. Still, the surrounding landscapes are every bit as memorable as the life-and-death struggle taking place at the Kogatende crossing.
Tour Map
Group Price
- The price per person for group expeditions are fixed based on a group size. However, we have optional arrangements for individual private and tailor-made preferences best suited for you, your family and friends.
- All prices are based on shared accommodation. Please inquire for a 1 guest private room accommodation quote
- Prices listed are not final. Please inquire for your final price quote.
| Number of People | Budget Camping | Mid-range Safari | Luxury Safari |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 pax | $ 5,700 | $ 6,900 | $ 9,800 |
| 3-5 pax | $ 5,500 | $ 6,700 | $ 9,600 |
| 5-6 pax | $ 5,300 | $ 6,500 | $ 9,400 |
Included/Excluded
- Park Fees (for Non-Residents)
- Concession/Camping Fees
- Daily game drives while on safari
- All accommodations (unless listed as upgrade)
- All transportation (unless labelled as optional)
- A professional driver/guide
- 4×4 Land Cruiser
- All Taxes/ VAT
- Meals while on Safari (From lunch on day 1 till lunch on last day)
- Drinking water while on safari
- International flights (From/ To Home)
- Round Trip Airport Transfer (Unless Paid)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour (Unless Paid)
- Tips
- Personal Items (Souvenirs, Travel Insurance, Visa Fees, etc.)
- Government-imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Meals while in Arusha
- Serengeti Balloon Safari – 600 USD per person (Unless Paid)
Day 1: Arrival Day
Upon your arrival time at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), a Nature Horizons team member will be waiting to greet you. We will transfer you to your hotel accommodation for your first night, where you will meet your safari guide that you will be with for the remainder of your tour. Once you are settled in your hotel, you will receive a briefing on our tour. You can now relax at your hotel. Your safari starts tomorrow! As always, if you need anything or would like to head out into town, your guide will be there to assist you 24/7. Welcome to Africa!
Day 2: Arusha/Moshi to Tarangire National Park
Your safari will begin at 8 AM with a pick-up from your hotel at Arusha. With everyone aboard, you will head toward Tarangire National Park. The 150-km drive will be covered in about three hours. The national park is extremely famous for its diverse landscape and nine different vegetation zones. As you begin your game drive, you will be welcomed by the ancient and gigantic baobab trees, making even the giraffe look tiny. The game drive goes on till the late afternoon and includes a small stop for a picnic lunch. The 3,000 sq kms park gets its name from the Tarangire River that flows through it.
The river attracts a lot of diverse animals, and you should be able to spot a lot of elephants, giraffes, lions, antelopes, and zebras. If it’s your lucky day, you might be able to spot the tree-climbing python and the long-necked Gerek. Tarangire National Park has the highest concentration of elephants, which offers a unique chance for you to observe interactions between elephant families. Don’t forget to capture this beautiful scenery with your camera. After the game drive, you will head back to your camp/lodge, where a delicious dinner awaits you. Have a good night’s sleep so you can prepare for tomorrow’s adventure.
Day 3: Tarangire to Serengeti National Park
The excitement for today will be quite high as you make your way into the most famous wildlife park in the world – the Serengeti. After finishing up a good breakfast, you will head out toward Serengeti National Park and travel across the never-ending grasslands. The Serengeti means “endless plains” in the local African language, and watching the grassland stretch out as far as the eye can see and eventually merging with the sky at the horizon is an absolutely breathtaking view. With an overall land area of 14,763 sq kms, it puts our notion of distance to shame. The Serengeti also houses the glorious “Big 5” (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, and leopard).
Along with the “Big 5” is a very pleasant sighting would be one of Africa’s most beautiful animals – the Impala. The Serengeti ecosystem supports the greatest remaining concentration of plains game in Africa. The legendary Serengeti National Park is the most renowned safari destination for its incredible population of lions and leopards. The central portion of the Serengeti – known as the Seronera area – is one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park. It features the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and attracts wildlife well representative of most Serengeti species. In Seronera, one must really look out for the many lion prides that thrive in this region. You must also look out for the Serengeti “Kopjes” which are massive boulders of granite standing in a sea of grass. They provide ample shelter to a large variety of flora and fauna. A picnic lunch will be served during the day-long game drive itself. The eventful day comes to an end with a hearty dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.
Day 4: Central Serengeti to North Serengeti
Starting by 8 AM after a filling breakfast, you will explore the central portion of the Serengeti National Park today and move toward the northern part of the park. The game drive toward the Kogatende region will offer mild action from resident game. As you approach the northern part of the Serengeti, you will notice the terrain change from the usual plain grassland to more hilly and broken terrain. The northern region offers various resident game such as zebras, topi, gazelle, buffaloes, leopards, and lions. A picnic lunch will be served during the day-long drive itself. Based on your arrival time, you will be able to spend a few hours by the Mara River. The eventful day comes to an end with a delicious dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.
Day 5 & 6 – North Serengeti
As usual, you will finish a filling breakfast and begin your day by 8 AM. In the months between mid-June to September, the migration can be found in this region. From mid-June to September, the Mara River in this region offers the most dramatic river crossing of the great migration. Fierce, deep, and heavily rain-fed, the river takes an enormous toll on the migrating wildebeest. Watching the wildebeest surging through the torrential flow, some drowning and a few falling prey to lurking crocodiles is an unforgettable sight.
If it’s your lucky day, you will be able to witness this natural wonder and watch nature take its course. Tracking the great migration, you might even move toward the Lobo Valley. The pristine Lobo Valley is scattered with woodlands, plains, hills, and famous granite Kopjes. It offers an enormous amount of big cat game with lions, leopards, and cheetahs in plenty. During the dry season, the permanent water sources in the valley attract plenty of resident and migratory animals, resulting in excellent game viewing. During the full-day game drive, we will stop for your picnic lunch. The day comes to an end with a tasty dinner and a good rest in your choice of accommodation.
Day 7: North Serengeti to Central Serengeti
Starting your day at the routine time of 8 AM after a heavy breakfast, today you will head south toward the central Serengeti. The four-hour drive to the center will offer a lot of wildlife along the way. The drive south from the Mara River Valley takes you through hill country, the Lobo area, woodlands, and then back into the Seronera terrain. The central portion of the Serengeti – known as the Seronera area – is one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park. It features the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and attracts wildlife well representative of most Serengeti species. As you make your way into the Seronera region, you will begin to notice the hilly and broken terrain altering into plain grasslands. In Seronera, one must really look out for the many lion prides that thrive in this region. The interactions and survival of these lion prides provide an excellent game viewing experience all year round. A picnic lunch will be served during the day-long drive itself. The eventful day comes to an end with a heavy dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation. The next day you will head toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Day 8: Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro
Today your safari will begin by 9 AM, and you will head out for a short game drive in the Serengeti after a good breakfast. After completing a half-day game drive along with a picnic lunch, we will branch out and head toward the Ngorongoro Crater Rim. The 75-km drive to Ngorongoro Crater Rim will take about 2.5 hours, with mild game action to see along the way. The crater is one of Africa’s impressive geological attractions and supreme mecca of wilderness. The eventful day comes to an end with a heavy dinner and a good rest in your choice of accommodation. Get a good rest and refuel yourself, as for the following day you will descend into the massive crater.
Day 9: Ngorongoro Crater Tour – 5 hours ( Ngorongoro to Arusha/Moshi )
On the last day of your safari, you will have an early start. Finishing up with a quick breakfast, you will make an early descent at around 6:30 AM into the crater floor. The Ngorongoro crater is the world’s largest inactive, intact and unfilled volcanic caldera. It has a massive floor of about 260 sq kms with a depth of over 2,000 feet. The 5-hour game drive on the crater floor will show you a lot of animal action. Keeping the camera ready is recommended. The African elephant, buffalo, black rhino, hippos, hyenas, cheetahs, and lions are found in plenty. Post the picnic lunch at the beautiful Hippo pool, you will begin a steep ascent to the top exit of the crater. This is the last leg of your safari, with a 4-hour drive left to Arusha. You will be dropped off at your Hotel accommodation by 6 PM.
Day 10: Departure Day
With an incredible experience and loads of memories to cherish, this is the time you say goodbye to your team. We are so happy that you made it to the Motherland and experienced an authentic Serengeti safari. We know you will be back. Today your guide will be with you up until we escort you to the airport and say our goodbyes. Thank you for coming on safari with Nature Horizons!
HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
BUDGET CAMPSITES
Lake Manyara National Park – Fanaka Campsite
Serengeti National Park – Simba Campsite
Ngorongoro – Nyani Campsite
MID-RANGE LODGES
Lake Manyara & Tarangire National Park – Eileen Trees Inn
Serengeti National Park – Serengeti Heritage Tented Lodge
North Serengeti – Mbugani Camp
Central Serengeti – Nyati Migration Camp
Ngorongoro – Rhino Lodge
LUXURY LODGES
Ngorongoro/Lake Manyara & Tarangire – Gibbs Farm
North Serengeti – Chaka Camps
Central Serengeti –Melia Serengeti
Where is the best place / time to go for Safari in Tanzania?
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I am a solo (single) traveler, how can I join your tour?
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Can we buy extra bottles of water along the safari?
Are the guides on safari certified?
Can I get a visa upon arrival?
Do you accommodate people with dietary restrictions?
When is the best time to see the migration?
Tanzania Safari Packing list
If this is your first time in Tanzania or your first time on safari, this packing list below can help to be well prepared and comfortable during your adventure. If you do forget a few things, do not worry, you can pick up most everyday items in town before you leave.
Travel Documents
- Valid passport
- Yellow fever vaccination records/ certificate.
- Tanzania visa, available at airport upon arrival, USD $100 payable in cash only for US citizens or USD $50 for residents of UK/European Union and most other countries.
- Copy of flight itinerary.
- Copy of travel and/or medical evacuation insurance.
- Personal medical/dental insurance cards.
- Credit card (Visa and MasterCard are most widely accepted).
- Cash in U.S. Dollars (bills MUST have been issued in 2004 or later)
Clothing
Remember, it’s not a fashion show out there, so be a bit more practical when choosing your safari wardrobe. Try to stay away from bright colours – khaki and other neutral colours tend to work well. It is probably best if you dress in layers since it can get cold, but also very hot.
- Sweater or fleece pullover to keep warm
- Sturdy boots or sandals
- Sun hat
- Sun glasses
- T-shirts or polo shirts (2-5 depending on how often you want to change)
- Long sleeve shirts (light weight)
- Shorts
- Long trousers
- Underwear
- Socks
- Sleepwear
- Travel towel
- Thermal underwear, gloves and warm hat (during May – Sept)
- Rain coat and rain trousers (During rainy season Mar – May and Oct – Dec)
Highly recommended
- Camera and memory cards
- Binoculars
- Sunscreen
- Hand sanitizer and wet wipes
- Insect Repellent
- Personal toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, eye drops etc)
- Malaria tablets
- Basic first aid kit and prescription medicines
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Chargers and extra batteries for your camera, phone etc
- Power adapter to fit the UK style electrical socket
Others tips
- Bring soft luggage such as a duffel bag, hiking pack or sports bag. These are ideal for packing into a safari vehicle. Hard suitcases can often be difficult to fit into the vehicles.
- Bring a backpack to carry all of your important items including travel documents, money, camera, medication etc. You should keep this backpack with you at all times.
- Keep luxury items such as hair dryers/ straighteners, expensive jewellery, make up and bulky toiletries to an absolute minimum. If in doubt, leave them out.
- If you plan to bring cash, divide it into different areas of your carry-on luggage, wallet and money belt just in case something happens to one of those carry items.
- Leave some space in your luggage for the all-important souvenirs that you will probably buy. There are places where you can send packages home via DHL etc, however this can sometimes be an expensive option.
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Our TripAdvisor Reviews
Kika C2024-12-16Amazing experience and customer service!!! I highly recommend Dominick with Nature Horizons Tours!! I am a travel advisor who had a bit of a last-minute booking with a family to Peru. I reached out to Dominick immediately, since I knew he’d be fabulous!! He went above and beyond with communication, response, time, organization, and more! He got the very happy clients booked within a few days and I am super grateful for his services!!! he was so kind to start a WhatsApp group chat with me and my clients to answer any and all questions we had! Thank you!!!!Evan L2024-10-29Amazing time at Machu Picchu We had a great time in the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco! Great views and excellent guide and transportation. Everything was great!Karen H2024-10-29Excellent experience I have worked with Nature Horizons as a travel advisor and it was an excellent experience. I 100% trust this team to deliver an exceptional trip for my clients. They are quick to respond to questions and the communication while my clients were traveling was outstanding. They had excellent knowledge of the area and were able to provide more local tips and suggestions that I would have been able to provide alone.Highly recommend.Rosie H2024-08-18Epic African Safari to Tanzania My husband and I planned a trip with 2 other couples to go on an African Safari in Tanzania for the Great Migration experience as well as the Serengeti which was epic all by itself. We visited and stayed across Moshi (Mt. Kilimanjaro area), the North & Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Maynara, nKomazi Black Rhino Sanctuary, Tarangire and probably a few other places I can't recall. We stayed at tented temporary camps to luxury camps. We stayed at Weru Weru lodge, Serengeti Heritage lodge, Central Serengeti Luxury camp, Rhino Lodge, Lake Maynara Safari Lodge and finally at Kilimanjaro Luxury camp. These venues each had their own beauty with furnishings, mosquito nets, traditional African tribal entertainment, good food and amazing staff who catered to our every need and comfort. Even in the bush, we still had access to electricity, hot water, bottled water, showers, toilets and yes of course, the internet but you have to be realistic since the bush is the bush with hyenas, big cats and elephants moving around the property. I really loved the Masai warriors who made us feel safe as they escorted back and forth between tents and the main camp. We were so blessed to experience the BIG 5 largely due to the expertise of our guides Praygod and Victor. They were the best and boy did they make the trip. I was grateful for their knowledge of the terrain, their respect for the wildlife, education and tolerating our 1000s of questions. We had 3 couples plus the owner operator Dominick and we rotated across 2 Land Cruisers. I wouldn't have it any other way, I never felt cramped and being able to pop my head up in the open roof was great for photos and viewing the animals with my binoculars. This was a once in a life time trip that I highly recommend to anyone that has grown up watching animal planet and national geographic as a kids. When you see these animals only feet away from you, the kid in you returns and you will definitely cry at the beauty of these animals in their natural habitat. I highly recommend Nature Horizons since they are well connected across the different operators and local partners. They lodging was great and it provided a little bit of raw nature in the bush, feeling like a roughed it a bit (but not really) to the beauty Kilimanjaro luxury camp the last 2 nights to be at the foot of Kilimanjaro, and being able to see her greatness above the clouds. I have been back a month and I can't stop talking about my experience in Tanzania. I was able to experience the beauty of the people of Tanzania, an actual Masai village, shopping at the awesome African Galleria, and getting souvenir's at the cool places our guides felt were respectable locations for tourists. I am not sure when, but I plan to go back to explore more of Tanzania and Africa.Nikole2024-07-17No Words I feel very fortunate to have gone on this safari with Nature Horizons. I went with a group of people and only knew one. Each place that we stayed at was very special in its own way. Dominick is a very kind, intelligent, fun human. He has built all the right relationships to ensure all of his clients are taken care of. We were able to see all of the big five. Our guides felt like family. I’ve never been on a trip that was so magical and was so hard to leave. It has nearly been half a year and our group still talks with each other. We bonded so much that we committed to going on a trip together every 5 years. If you’re thinking about this, DO IT! Do it with Nature Horizons! They will go the extra mile for you to get the experience of a lifetime. They even made sure we had opportunities to connect with the people of Tanzania.Rebecca M2024-06-23Unforgettable vacation We worked with Nature Horizons for our honeymoon to Peru and it far exceeded any expectations we had! It was the most incredible experience and itinerary they created for us and Deivis was always on top of everything and extremely responsive if we had questions. I give this company my highest/strongest recommendation if you are thinking of going to any of the countries they service!Dream224010839132024-06-12Great Travel Team! I am a travel advisor and just sent my clients on their honeymoon with Nature Horizons. They visited Peru and had the most amazing time. The Nature Horizons team was so easy to work with. listened to my requests, and made all the revisions I needed. They took wonderful care of my clients as if they were their own. I can't wait to work with them again!Noe V2024-06-11Full service trip to Perú We had a wonderful time traveling through Perú for two weeks on an itinerary planned by Deivis, through nature horizons.The experience was so much more than we originally expected. Every detail was accounted for. From private drivers to knowledgeable tour guides, there was nothing lacking.I don't know if we'll ever be able to take a trip like this again, but I'm so glad we did at least once. Thank you so much. I'll never forget these amazing days.Jill D2024-04-20Not enough stars to rate this company- THE BEST time ever!!! If there were a million stars to rate this company and my recent trip, it wouldn't be enough. Nature Horizons is amazing. I first met the owner, Dominick at a convention for travel advisors in 2023. I knew immediately that he was a very special person and he had a very obvious love for the tours he had created in the destinations he adored. The story of developing his company is inspiring and his work ethic has continued to impress me during all stages of my Safari planning, from its conception to preparation to hosting us during the Great Migration in Tanzania. His communication is efficient, sincere and organized. He is thorough and thoughtful. He is fun and personable. He is extremely knowledgeable and has vetted resources to execute adventures across many countries. Our Safari was 12 days of awesome-ness. We truly couldn't have asked for a better experience. Each day was well-planned and our guides helped us see so many animals, sites and natural wonders. They knew where to be and when for us to see the most miraculous things. Dominick was such a friendly host, helping us gain perspective and a true taste of Tanzania. He listened to our wishlist, considered our requests and delivered days that we will never forget. Dominick truly cares about each and every guest and also has such respect for some of the most treasured creatures and places on our planet. I can't imagine a better Safari ever happening. But, knowing Dominick, he will make sure the next one and the next and the next are better than the one before it. That's how much he cares.I have to share a couple of our favorite moments were totally unplanned, though. Our Safari vehicle got stuck in the mud as rains started in the Central Serengeti. Dominick stayed calm, assured us that all was well and we sipped champagne as we watched the men try to get us unstuck...comical. Everything happens for a reason and we saw a perfectly complete rainbow soon after our vehicle was moving down the road. It couldn't have been scripted any better! As we continued on the way back to our lodge, we came across a Lioness and her brand-new cub. This is something rarely seen and we were sure Dominick paid the Lioness to appear for us. LOL. These examples are merely a glimpse of memories we made. And, part of the reason these moments were so special was because we were in the moment, which was as Nature Horizons intended. We had not a care in the world and could simply "be" in nature. I can't thank the entire team enough for such a wonderful two weeks.416marlysl2024-04-04Amazing Experience! This trip was, by far, the most amazing trip I have ever taken! Dominick and his driver/guides were fabulous! They definitely found all the animals we wanted to see and many unexpected sites as well. They were so accommodating, stopping whenever we asked even if it was just for a bird or turtle crossing the road. Our guide, Praygod, was able to identify every bird we saw! Their knowledge of the wildlife was phenomenal. We learned so much about the culture, food, and local life from our casual conversations. The accommodations, while not luxury, were very comfortable and the food was very good, especially the soups. When I go back, it will definitely be with Dominick and Nature Horizons Tours!
