10-Day River Crossing Safari
Ten days in river crossing season, with three nights in the northern Serengeti. Tarangire on the way in, the central Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater on the way out, and a last night near Arusha National Park.
- Length
- 10 days, 9 nights
- Comfort
- Premium
- Price
- Price on request
From around July to October the herds are usually in the northern Serengeti, moving back and forth across the Mara River. Crossings depend on the herds and the rain, so nobody can promise one on a given day. Time near the river is what gives you a fair chance.
Three nights in the north is the point of this longer route. It gives you more days by the Mara River and a better chance of seeing the herds cross. Tarangire, the central Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater fill out the rest of the trip.
The lodges named on each day are options, not fixed choices. Similar camps can be used to suit your dates and budget.
Day by day
- Day 1: Arrive in Arusha. You are met at Kilimanjaro International Airport and driven to Arusha, about an hour. Both Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru can be seen from this road when the cloud lifts. The rest of the day is yours. Arusha is the starting point for safaris in northern Tanzania, and a quiet evening here is a good way to recover from the flight before several long days out. Overnight at Arusha Farm House or similar.
- Day 2: Tarangire National Park. Drive to Tarangire, about two hours, for a day among the baobabs and the dry-season elephant herds. When the plains around it dry up, wildlife comes to the Tarangire River, so a single stretch of river can hold elephant, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe and the lions that follow them. In the late afternoon continue to Mto wa Mbu, about an hour and a half. The town sits at the foot of the Rift Valley wall, close to Lake Manyara. Overnight at Escarpment Luxury Lodge or similar.
- Day 3: To the northern Serengeti. A long drive north, about five hours plus game viewing, over the Ngorongoro highlands and across the Serengeti. Climb the Rift Valley wall, pass through farms and cool forest, then drop to the plains at the southern end of the park. From there the road runs north through the Seronera valley and into the hills and woodland of the far north. It takes most of the day, but it shows you how big this park really is. Overnight at Enkutoto Migration Camp or similar.
- Day 4: Northern Serengeti. Start early and take breakfast out on the plains. Then spend the day near the Mara River, following the herds. Your guide looks for animals building up on the banks and for the places they favour for crossing. Crossings can't be scheduled, and a herd may hesitate for hours before going, or give up altogether. Two full days here give you a much fairer chance than one. Hippos and big crocodiles are at home in the river all the while. Overnight at Enkutoto Migration Camp or similar.
- Day 5: Northern Serengeti. Another full day in the north. If the herds have moved away from the river, your guide follows them across the plains. The migration doesn't move in one tidy line: at this time of year herds can cross the river in both directions, and groups may be scattered widely. Lion, cheetah and hyena all work the edges of the herds, and the open country around Kogatende and Lamai gives you long views. Overnight at Enkutoto Migration Camp or similar.
- Day 6: North to the central Serengeti. Drive south to the central Serengeti, about three and a half hours without stops, though with game viewing it will take longer. You leave the hills of the north behind as the land opens into the wide Seronera valley. After the crowds of wildebeest, the central park has a different appeal: resident prides, leopards in the riverside trees and good numbers of giraffe and elephant. Overnight at Melia Serengeti Lodge or similar.
- Day 7: Central Serengeti. A full day around Seronera, looking for lion, leopard and cheetah along the rivers and kopjes. Three big cats in one area makes this a good place to fill any gaps in your list. Kopjes are the granite outcrops scattered over the plains, and they offer lions shade and a view. Your guide will follow recent reports, and the hippo pools are good for a stop. A whole day lets you move at an easy pace. Overnight at Melia Serengeti Lodge or similar.
- Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater. Drive to the Ngorongoro Crater, about three hours, and spend time on the crater floor. The road crosses the southern plains and passes near Olduvai Gorge, known for its early human fossils, before climbing into the highlands. The floor is about 600 metres below the rim, and black rhino, lion, elephant and buffalo all live there. Rhino numbers are small, so a sighting is never certain. Then continue to Karatu, a farming town just below the rim. Overnight at Country Lodge Karatu or similar.
- Day 9: Karatu to Ngare Nanyuki. A long drive east past Arusha to Ngare Nanyuki, near Arusha National Park. Allow most of the day. It is a change of scene, leaving the Rift Valley for the country between Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro. This is Maasai land, with open bush and wide views of the mountains when the cloud clears. After so many days on game drives, a quieter last evening here gives you time to take it all in. Overnight at Original Maasai Lodge or similar.
- Day 10: Departure. Drive to Kilimanjaro International Airport, about two hours, with lunch before your flight. The road crosses the plains between Meru and Kilimanjaro, so if the sky is clear, this is a good last chance for a photo of Africa's highest mountain.
Who checked this route
- Checked by Bariki, Senior safari guide, 10 November 2026.
- In crossing season I recommend three nights in the northern Serengeti. Waiting at the river takes patience, and the extra day often makes the difference.