Package Summary
This 9-night, 10-day cross-border small-group safari is the most geographically authentic way to witness the Great Migration. Rather than confining you to one country, it follows the herds’ actual route—from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park across the border into Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve—during the peak migration window of July to October . The itinerary includes a hot-air balloon flight with champagne bush breakfast, three internal flights that eliminate long overland transfers, and game drives in six-passenger open-top vehicles with guaranteed window seats for every guest . Group sizes average 15 guests (maximum 18), ensuring an intimate experience with expert trackers in both the Serengeti and the Mara. With departures running January through October 2027 and limited dates available, this is a flagship itinerary for bucket-list travelers and photographers who want the complete migration story, not just a single chapter.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Arusha, Tanzania
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and transfer to your lodge in Arusha. Meet your fellow travelers and safari guide for a welcome briefing and dinner. The adventure begins.
Accommodation: Safari lodge in Arusha (Dinner)
Day 2: Ngorongoro Crater & Isoitok Village
After breakfast, depart for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Visit a traditional Isoitok village for a cultural immersion with the Maasai people, learning about their customs and way of life . Continue to your lodge on the crater rim or in the highlands for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Lodge in Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater Floor Game Drive
Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera—for a full morning of game viewing. A picnic lunch is served on the crater floor. The crater offers one of the best chances in Tanzania to see all of the Big Five in a single day, including the critically endangered black rhino . Return to the lodge in the afternoon.
Accommodation: Lodge in Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4: Fly to Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, transfer to Lake Manyara Airstrip for your first internal flight to the Serengeti. On arrival, transfer to a mobile safari camp positioned to follow the migrating herds. Afternoon game drive with expert trackers. The camp moves with the wildlife, ensuring you are always close to the action .
Accommodation: Mobile safari camp, Serengeti (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 5: Full Day Serengeti – Migration Tracking
A full day of game drives in the Serengeti with expert trackers. The mobile camp’s location is chosen specifically to intercept the migration columns of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle as they move north toward the Mara River. Predators—lions, hyenas, leopards—follow the herds, creating dramatic wildlife encounters .
Accommodation: Mobile safari camp, Serengeti (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6: More Game Drives in the Serengeti
Another full day in the Serengeti, tracking the herds and exploring the surrounding ecosystem. Depending on migration movements, your guide may position you near the Grumeti River or the northern corridors. The mobile camp’s flexibility means your itinerary adapts to real-time wildlife activity, not a fixed schedule.
Accommodation: Mobile safari camp, Serengeti (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7: Fly to Masai Mara, Kenya
After a morning game drive or breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your second internal flight—crossing the border into Kenya. Arrive in the Masai Mara National Reserve and transfer to your safari camp. Afternoon game drive in the Mara’s golden plains, home to resident lion prides, cheetah, and leopard.
Accommodation: Safari camp, Masai Mara (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 8: Full Day Masai Mara – Hot-Air Balloon Safari
An early start for the hot-air balloon flight over the Masai Mara—a signature inclusion of this itinerary. Float above the plains as the sun rises, viewing the migration herds and predators from above. Land for a champagne bush breakfast before continuing with game drives . The afternoon is spent tracking the herds along the Mara River, where river crossings may occur.
Accommodation: Safari camp, Masai Mara (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 9: Final Game Drives in the Maasai Mara
A final full day in the Mara. Your guide positions you at the best crossing points based on real-time intelligence. The Mara’s private conservancies and river viewpoints offer exceptional opportunities to observe the migration’s climax—wildebeest plunging into crocodile-filled waters—if the herds cooperate. Sundowners on the plains close the safari.
Accommodation: Safari camp, Masai Mara (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 10: Fly to Nairobi – Journey Home
After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your third internal flight to Nairobi. Connect to your international departure from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). The cross-border migration journey concludes.
Meals: Breakfast
Includes & Excludes
What’s Included
Hot-air balloon safari over the Masai Mara with champagne bush breakfast
3 internal flights: Lake Manyara to Serengeti; Serengeti to Masai Mara; Masai Mara to Nairobi
All game drives in 6-passenger open-top vehicles with window seats for every guest
Expert trackers and guides in both the Serengeti and the Masai Mara
Accommodation: 9 nights in safari lodges and a mobile camp designed to follow the migration
Meals: As specified in the itinerary (breakfast, lunch, dinner on safari days)
Park and conservancy fees for Tanzania and Kenya
All transfers between airports, airstrips, and lodges
Small-group guarantee: Maximum 18 guests, averaging 15
What’s Not Included
International flights to/from Kilimanjaro (JRO) and from Nairobi (NBO)
Tanzania and Kenya visa fees (both required for this cross-border itinerary)
Travel insurance (comprehensive coverage strongly recommended)
Gratuities for guides, trackers, and camp staff
Alcoholic beverages beyond those specified
Optional activities not listed (e.g., additional balloon flights, cultural visits beyond Isoitok)
Personal expenses: Souvenirs, laundry, telephone charges
Pre- and post-safari accommodation in Arusha or Nairobi
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Great Migration guaranteed to be visible on this itinerary?
No safari can guarantee wildlife sightings. The migration’s timing and location are driven by rainfall and grazing conditions. This itinerary maximizes your chances by traveling during the peak migration window (July–October) and using a mobile camp that follows the herds . The inclusion of both Serengeti and Maasai Mara portions ensures you are positioned in the correct ecosystem as the herds move north.
What makes this “cross-border” itinerary different from a single-country safari?
Most Tanzania-only safaris never cross into Kenya, and most Kenya-only safaris miss the Serengeti. This itinerary follows the herds’ actual migration route across the border, providing the complete story of the migration rather than just a single chapter . The three internal flights make the cross-border logistics seamless.
What is the maximum group size?
The maximum is 18 guests, with departures averaging 15 guests . Game drives are conducted in six-passenger open-top vehicles, ensuring every guest has a window seat.
When should I book for 2027?
The travel period runs January through October 2027. Peak migration season (July–October) sells out first, and the mobile camps in the Serengeti are the most constrained component. Book 12+ months ahead for the best availability and pricing.
What is the luggage limit for the internal flights?
A Tauck duffle is provided prior to departure for use as your main luggage piece on the internal flights . Standard bush flight limits typically apply (15 kg / 33 lbs in soft-sided bags). Confirm specific requirements with your operator.
Booking Notes for 2027
Pricing: From **AUD $23,741 per person** (approximately USD $15,500), based on departure date and season .
Travel period: January 2027 – October 2027. Peak migration departures (July–October) command a premium.
Group size: Maximum 18 guests; average 15. This is a small-group tour, not a private safari.
Booking urgency: This is a flagship itinerary with limited departures. Peak-season dates sell out earliest. Secure your 2027 departure as soon as possible.
Cross-border requirements: Both Tanzania and Kenya visas are required. Ensure your passport has sufficient blank pages and validity for both countries.
