7-Day Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Camping Safari
trip overview
A full week chasing the wildebeest migration across northern Tanzania.
This 7-day budget camping safari gives you real time on the ground in the Serengeti, rather than just passing through — three full nights inside the park itself, timed around the wildebeest migration. Along the way you'll take in Tarangire's elephant herds and baobab plains and finish with a full day inside the Ngorongoro Crater, before returning to Arusha. You'll travel throughout in a private 4×4 safari vehicle with an experienced driver-guide, staying in budget hotels in Arusha and Tarangire and camping inside the Serengeti itself.
day-by-day itinerary
Where you go, what you do, and where you sleep each night.
You'll stay at Arusha Tourist Inn on Night 1 and Night 6, Fanaka Lodge on Night 2, and camp inside the Serengeti for Nights 3, 4 and 5. Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost.
Arrival in Arusha
You'll be met on arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport and transferred to your hotel in Arusha town. The rest of the day is free to rest after your flight, with your driver-guide briefing you on the week ahead.
Arusha to Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, you'll drive south-west into Tarangire National Park, home to more elephants than anywhere else in Tanzania, with herds of 50 to 100 gathering along the Tarangire River among the park's scattered baobabs.
You'll spend the day on a game drive through the park before continuing to Fanaka Lodge for the night, roughly a 1–2 hour drive away.
Tarangire National Park to Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, you'll drive up onto the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, crossing the crater highlands before descending onto the vast open plains of the Serengeti. You'll enter Central Serengeti in the afternoon with a game drive en route to camp.
You'll spend the night at a budget camp inside Central Serengeti National Park, the first of three consecutive nights spent inside the park itself.
Serengeti National Park Migration Tour
A full day is dedicated to tracking the wildebeest migration, with your driver-guide following the latest movement reports to put you in the best position for the herds. Depending on the time of year, you may encounter river crossings, mass grazing on the open plains, or the predators that follow the migration — lion, cheetah and hyena among them.
You'll return to camp inside the Serengeti for another night, with a packed lunch enjoyed out on the plains.
Serengeti Plain to Ngorongoro Crater
You'll enjoy a final morning game drive on the Serengeti plains before beginning the drive back east towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, keeping the migration herds in view for as long as the route allows.
You'll spend your third and final night camping inside Serengeti National Park, positioned to give you an early start into the Ngorongoro Crater the next morning.
Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha
An early start takes you down into the Ngorongoro Crater — a collapsed volcano 600 metres deep and 260km² wide, home to more than 30,000 animals. Expect the highest density of lions in Africa, resident black rhino, large bull elephants and flamingos gathered at the soda lake on the crater floor.
After a picnic lunch on the crater floor, you'll climb back up to the rim and drive back to Arusha, arriving in the evening for your final night at Arusha Tourist Inn.
Arusha to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport — Tour Ends
After breakfast, you'll be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport in time for your onward flight, marking the end of your 7-day migration safari.
what's included
Exactly what's covered — and what isn't.
- Experienced English-speaking driver-guide
- Airport pick-up & drop-off
- 2 nights at Arusha Tourist Inn & 1 night at Fanaka Lodge (twin/double occupancy)
- 3 nights budget camping inside the Serengeti, tents & camping equipment included
- Meals as listed on the day-by-day itinerary above
- Ground transportation throughout in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Drinking water on game drives
- All national park & camping fees for Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
- International flights
- Travel & medical insurance (required)
- Meals not listed above — lunch & dinner on Day 1, and lunch & dinner on Day 7
- Alcoholic & bottled soft drinks
- Souvenirs & personal expenses
- Tips for your driver-guide — guideline $20–25/day
- Additional accommodation before or after the tour
- Sleeping bags (available to rent on request)
Important to know before booking
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost — ask us when booking if you need a night either side.
- This is a budget camping safari — camps have shared toilet/shower facilities and basic tents rather than lodge-style rooms.
- Migration timing and location vary by month — ask us for current herd positions when you enquire so we can advise on the best route.
- A Tanzania e-Visa is required for most nationalities — apply at immigration.go.tz at least 3 weeks before travel.
- A yellow fever certificate may be required depending on your transit country. See our Tanzania vaccinations guide for details.
- Wildlife sightings, including the migration, depend on season and location and cannot be guaranteed.
pricing
What you'll pay — no hidden extras.
Placeholder price shown below — update to your actual rate before publishing.
| Option | Price per person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 7-day migration camping safari 2 hotel nights, 1 lodge night, 3 nights budget camping, meals as listed | $1,750 | Per person, twin/double sharing |
Payment & extras
A deposit confirms your booking, with the balance due before departure. Full terms are on our booking policy page.
Additional accommodation before or after the tour can be arranged for an extra cost.
Ready to book this safari?
Reach out and we'll confirm availability for your dates and the latest migration positions, then send you a full quote.
frequently asked questions
Questions we get asked most often.
The tour starts with airport pick-up in Arusha on Day 1, and ends with a transfer back to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport on Day 7.
The migration moves through the Serengeti ecosystem in a broad annual pattern, so exact positioning depends on your travel month. Three full nights inside the park gives your driver-guide the best chance to reach the herds, and we'll advise on timing when you enquire.
You'll sleep in dome tents at public or budget campsites with shared toilet and shower blocks. Camping equipment is provided; sleeping bags can be rented if you don't want to bring your own.
Yes. Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost — just let us know when booking.
Most nationalities need a Tanzania e-Visa, available at immigration.go.tz. A yellow fever certificate may also be required depending on your transit country — check with your doctor or travel clinic before departure.
We recommend taking out travel insurance as soon as you confirm your booking. Full cancellation and payment terms are on our booking policy page.
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