7-Day Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Camping Safari

7 days / 6 nights
from $1,750 pp
Tarangire · Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater
View full itinerary

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.

Trip Highlights

Three full nights camping inside the Serengeti
Timed around the wildebeest migration
Elephant herds & baobabs in Tarangire
A full day inside the Ngorongoro Crater
Highest density of lions in Africa & resident black rhino
Comfortable start & end nights in Arusha
Private 4×4 vehicle with driver-guide throughout
Nearly all meals included across the full week

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.

Day1

Arrival in Arusha

Airport pick-upFree time to settle in

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.

Airport pick-upRest & briefingNo game drive today
Overnight — Night 1Arusha Tourist InnBudget hotel in Arusha town.
Dinner Included
Day2

Arusha to Tarangire National Park

Full day game driveOvernight at Fanaka Lodge

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.

Elephant herdsBaobab scenery1–2 hr drive to lodge
Overnight — Night 2Fanaka LodgeBudget lodge, 1–2 hr drive from Tarangire NP.
All Meals Included
Day3

Tarangire National Park to Serengeti National Park

Long scenic driveAfternoon game drive

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.

Ngorongoro highlands crossingEnter Serengeti plainsFirst of 3 nights in-park
Overnight — Night 3Budget campingInside Central Serengeti National Park.
All Meals Included
Day4

Serengeti National Park Migration Tour

Full day migration-focused game driveSame area as Night 3

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.

Migration trackingPredator activityPacked lunch on the plains
Overnight — Night 4Budget campingInside Serengeti National Park.
All Meals Included
Day5

Serengeti Plain to Ngorongoro Crater

Morning game drive, then transferCamp near the Ngorongoro border

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.

Final Serengeti game driveDrive towards NgorongoroThird night camping
Overnight — Night 5Budget campingInside Serengeti National Park.
All Meals Included
Day6

Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

Full day inside the craterReturn 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.

Crater descent at dawnBlack rhino territoryReturn drive to Arusha
Overnight — Night 6Arusha Tourist InnBudget hotel in Arusha town.
All Meals Included
Day7

Arusha to Airport — Tour Ends

Departure transferNo overnight

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.

Breakfast at the hotelAirport transferEnd of tour
OvernightNo accommodation — end of tourTransfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport.
Breakfast Included

what's included

Exactly what's covered — and what isn't.

Included in your price
  • 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
Not included
  • 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.

OptionPrice per personNotes
7-day migration camping safari
2 hotel nights, 1 lodge night, 3 nights budget camping, meals as listed
$1,750Per 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.

Where does the tour start and end?

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.

Will I definitely see the wildebeest migration?

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.

What is the camping actually like?

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.

Can I add extra nights before or after the tour?

Yes. Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost — just let us know when booking.

Do I need a visa or vaccinations for Tanzania?

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.

What's your refund policy?

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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