Safari Overview:
This is a Tanzania and Kenya combined safari that has been designed for travellers that want to witness the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti and Masai Mara from July to October every year.
DAY 1- Drive from Arusha to the Ngorongoro Crater
DAY 2- Ngorongoro Crater tour, drive to central Serengeti
DAY 3- Central Serengeti to Northern Serengeti
DAY 4- Northern Serengeti near the Mara River
DAY 5- Northern Serengeti to Masai Mara
DAY 6 & DAY 7- Masai Mara National Reserve
DAY 8- MASAI MARA- NAIROBI CITY- DEPARTURE
Day 1- Arusha City – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Pick up from your hotel in the city of Arusha (option for pick up from Kilimanjaro International Airport). Depart by road in a private 4x4WD safari vehicle for the Ngorongoro highlands, on a scenic drive through the country side with views of the Rift Valley in the lake Manyara area. Check in and lunch at your lodge. Afternoon will be at leisure to relax as you enjoy spectacular views of the lush Ngorongoro highlands and enjoy the cool, fresh air. Dinner and overnight stay at Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge / Acacia Farm Lodge / Ngorongoro Farm House / similar. Meals: Lunch, Dinner.
Day 2- Ngorongoro Crater Tour- Central Serengeti
Early breakfast will be served at your lodge. Collect your packed lunch, board your safari jeep and be driven down the steep walls of the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera for game drives on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater. Lions, Elephants (including huge bulls), Cheetah, Spotted Hyena, Black Rhino, Gnus, Jackals, Baboons, Buffalos, Flamingos (on the crater lakes), Hippos and even the rare Caracal are some of the animals you might spot here. Enjoy your lunch at the Ngoitoktok springs picnic site as you watch hippos, then begin your drive to Central Serengeti. Arrive in the evening, just on time for your game drives in the park, as you head to your camp where you check in at dusk. Overnight stay at Ole Serai Luxury Camp Turner Springs / Serengeti Sametu Camp / Serengeti Kati Kati Camp / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner.
Day 3- Central Serengeti- Northern Serengeti
Breakfast at your camp. Check out and enjoy morning game drives in the Central Serengeti plains as you head north of the park to trail the wildebeest migration near the Mara River. Overnight stay at Ole Serai Luxury Camp Kogatende / Serengeti River Camp / Mara Kati Kati Camp / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 4- Northern Serengeti
You will spend the day exploring the northern part of the Serengeti as you search for major wildlife sightings. This is where you can witness the great migration between June and October as they graze in the savannah woodlands and along the banks of the crocodile infested Mara River with frequent River crossings between the south and north being witnessed regularly. After the calving season in southern Serengeti between February and March, the migration moves to Central Serengeti between April and May, before arriving north from June. Big predators like Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, and scavenging opportunists like jackals, hyenas, vultures, Marabou Storks are always trailing the migration so you also have a chance of catching them in action. Dinner and overnight stay at Ole Serai Luxury Camp (Kogatende) / Serengeti River Camp / Mara Kati Kati Tented Camp / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 5- Northern Serengeti- Masai Mara National Reserve
After breakfast, collect your picnic lunch and depart to the world famous Masai Mara National Reserve. You will have a stop over at the Isebania border where you will clear with immigrations. You arrive Masai Mara in the afternoon and enjoy your game drives, arriving at your camp at dusk for check in. Overnight stay at Mara Mara Serena Safari Lodge or Engai Wilderness Lodge / Ashnil Mara Camp / Base Camp Masai Mara / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner.
Day 6 and Day 7- Masai Mara
You will spend the two days exploring this world renown reserve during your game drives. Your expert safari driver / guide with in-depth knowledge of the vast reserve will help you locate Lions, Elephants, Rhino, Leopard, Buffalo, Burchell’s Zebra, Hippos, Elands, Spotted Hyena, Topi, Hartebeest, Warthog, Black Backed Jackal, Mongoose, Masai Ostrich, Secretary Bird, Marabou Stork, Martial Eagle, Vultures, Egrets among several other mammal and bird species that call Masai Mara home. You simply need to have your animal checker guide ready, and get ready for the adventure.
Between the months of June and September, Masai Mara hosts the world’s biggest wildlife spectacle; the annual wildebeest migration when over 1.2 million wildebeest and Zebra cross over from northern Serengeti into Masai Mara in search of greener pastures, especially the red oat grass which is a delicacy to the marauding Gnus.
If you travel during these months, your guide will dedicate time to trailing the migrating herds both in the savannah and along the banks of the Crocodile infested Mara River. Overnight stay at Mara Mara Serena Safari Lodge or Engai Wilderness Lodge / Ashnil Mara Camp / Base Camp Masai Mara / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 8- Masai Mara- Nairobi- Departure
This morning, you check out and begin your drive to the city of Nairobi. (There is an option to book 50 minutes flight). On arrival in Nairobi, you may have your farewell lunch at the Carnivore Restaurant, followed by transfer to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on time for your evening departure flight, having enjoyed an enriching safari experience with Essenia safaris, the bespoke safari specialists. Meals: Breakfast. End of our Services!
Day 4- Northern Serengeti
You will spend the day exploring the northern part of the Serengeti as you search for major wildlife sightings. This is where you can witness the great migration between June and October as they graze in the savannah woodlands and along the banks of the crocodile infested Mara River with frequent River crossings between the south and north being witnessed regularly. After the calving season in southern Serengeti between February and March, the migration moves to Central Serengeti between April and May, before arriving north from June. Big predators like Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, and scavenging opportunists like jackals, hyenas, vultures, Marabou Storks are always trailing the migration so you also have a chance of catching them in action. Dinner and overnight stay at Ole Serai Luxury Camp (Kogatende) / Serengeti River Camp / Mara Kati Kati Tented Camp / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 5- Northern Serengeti- Masai Mara National Reserve
After breakfast, collect your picnic lunch and depart to the world famous Masai Mara National Reserve. You will have a stop over at the Isebania border where you will clear with immigrations. You arrive Masai Mara in the afternoon and enjoy your game drives, arriving at your camp at dusk for check in. Overnight stay at Mara Mara Serena Safari Lodge or Engai Wilderness Lodge / Ashnil Mara Camp / Base Camp Masai Mara / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner.
Day 6 and Day 7- Masai Mara
You will spend the two days exploring this world renown reserve during your game drives. Your expert safari driver / guide with in-depth knowledge of the vast reserve will help you locate Lions, Elephants, Rhino, Leopard, Buffalo, Burchell’s Zebra, Hippos, Elands, Spotted Hyena, Topi, Hartebeest, Warthog, Black Backed Jackal, Mongoose, Masai Ostrich, Secretary Bird, Marabou Stork, Martial Eagle, Vultures, Egrets among several other mammal and bird species that call Masai Mara home. You simply need to have your animal checker guide ready, and get ready for the adventure.
Between the months of June and September, Masai Mara hosts the world’s biggest wildlife spectacle; the annual wildebeest migration when over 1.2 million wildebeest and Zebra cross over from northern Serengeti into Masai Mara in search of greener pastures, especially the red oat grass which is a delicacy to the marauding Gnus.
If you travel during these months, your guide will dedicate time to trailing the migrating herds both in the savannah and along the banks of the Crocodile infested Mara River. Overnight stay at Mara Mara Serena Safari Lodge or Engai Wilderness Lodge / Ashnil Mara Camp / Base Camp Masai Mara / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 8- Masai Mara- Nairobi- Departure
This morning, you check out and begin your drive to the city of Nairobi. (There is an option to book 50 minutes flight). On arrival in Nairobi, you may have your farewell lunch at the Carnivore Restaurant, followed by transfer to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on time for your evening departure flight, having enjoyed an enriching safari experience with Essenia safaris, the bespoke safari specialists. Meals: Breakfast. End of our Services!
Price per person sharing a double / twin / triple room depending on the number of travellers in the safari vehicle (minimum 2, maximum 6 people in a safari vehicle).
| If staying at Acacia Farm Lodge / Serengeti Sametu Camp / Serengeti River Camp and Ashnil Mara Camp / similar:
Prices in US$ |
2 Pax | 3 Pax | 4 Pax | 5 Pax | 6 Pax | Single
Room Supp |
| 1st July – 31st October 2024 | 5,480 | 4,960 | 4,700 | 4,550 | 4,440 | 845 |
| If staying at Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge / Ole Serai Luxury Camp- Turner Springs / Ole Serai Luxury Camp Kogatende and Mara Serena Lodge or Mara Engai Wilderness Lodge / similar:
Prices in US$ |
2 Pax | 3 Pax | 4 Pax | 5 Pax | 6 Pax | Single
Room Supp |
| 1st July – 31st October 2024 | 5,790 | 5,280 | 5,020 | 4,870 | 4,760 | 1,440 |
| If staying at Ngorongoro Farm House / Serengeti Kati Kati Camp / Mara Kati Kati Camp and Base Camp Masai Mara / similar:
Prices in US$ |
2 Pax | 3 Pax | 4 Pax | 5 Pax | 6 Pax | Single
Room Supp |
| 1st July – 31st October 2024 | 4,395 | 3,880 | 3,620 | 3,470 | 3,360 | 580 |
All rates quoted are NET payable to Essenia Safari Experts Ltd and include:
Arrival and departure transfers at Kilimanjaro and Jomo Kenyatta International Airports respectively on private basis
1 nights’ accommodation at the Ngorongoro Crater on full board basis
3 nights’ accommodation while on safari in Serengeti on full board basis
3 nights’ accommodation while on safari in Masai Mara on full board basis
All Park entrance fees, concession and crater service fees applicable as per the itinerary
Transport and game drives on safari using a 4x4WD safari converted land cruiser on private basis
Services of a professional, English speaking safari driver / guide
Free enrolment on the AMREF Flying Doctor emergency medical evacuation scheme for all guests with valid travel insurance.
One pair of binoculars provided inside the safari vehicle for use by guests during the trip
Complimentary hand sanitizers inside the safari vehicle
Purified drinking water inside the safari vehicle
Applicable government taxes on tourist services
Not Included in the package:
Additional sightseeing or deviation from the itinerary, all International and domestic Flights, cost of Visa to Kenya and Tanzania, Vaccinations etc, all items of a personal nature such as tobacco; laundry; phone calls, etc., All extra costs incurred at the hotels including drinks, telephone services, Tip for safari guide & waiters, porters, extra guiding fees, Medical/Travel Insurance, any domestic Flights, Post Safari PCR testing, any Other Items not mentioned in the inclusions list.
All rates quoted are subject to availability at the time of booking. In a case where a quoted lodge will not be available, we shall do our best to provide an alternative, but the pricing might be affected.
PLEASE NOTE THAT:
The safari is operated on private basis and can begin any day, subject to availability of rooms
It is possible to make slight adjustments to the package
Prices are based on number of travellers in the vehicle, minimum 2 pax. Maximum 6 pax
It is possible to change lodges to ones of your choice subject to availability
Domestic flights can be added for the sectors Serengeti to Masai Mara and Masai Mara to Serengeti, at an extra cost and subject to availability of seats.
