3-Day Great Migration Safari: Southern Serengeti & Ngorongoro
3-Day Great Migration Safari: Southern Serengeti & Ngorongoro
This 3-day safari is designed to give you a focused and rewarding experience of Tanzania's Great Migration in the Southern Serengeti (Ndutu) combined with the world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater. You will witness vast herds of wildebeest during the calving season, explore predator-rich plains, and enjoy one of Africa's most wildlife-dense environments.
Despite the short duration, this itinerary delivers an immersive safari experience with excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography.
Safari Highlights
- Great Migration experience in Southern Serengeti (Ndutu)
- Calving season with thousands of newborn wildebeest
- High predator activity (lions, cheetahs, hyenas)
- Scenic drive through Ngorongoro Highlands
- Ngorongoro Crater Big Five experience
- Excellent wildlife photography opportunities
- Mid-range comfort throughout the safari
- Drinking water included throughout
Your safari begins with a morning pick-up from your accommodation in Arusha. Departing with packed lunch boxes, you travel toward the Southern Serengeti (Ndutu area), passing through the scenic Ngorongoro Highlands along the way.
As you approach the Ndutu plains, the landscape opens into vast grasslands supporting large concentrations of wildlife. This region is particularly active during the green season, when the Great Migration arrives for grazing and calving — with thousands of wildebeest gathering between December and March.
Enjoy a game drive upon arrival, with opportunities to spot lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, and large herds of wildebeest. The presence of newborn calves also attracts predators, making this an excellent location for dramatic wildlife encounters. Head to camp in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Start the day early with a morning game drive in the Ndutu area, when wildlife is most active. The open plains provide excellent visibility, increasing your chances of spotting predators on the move alongside large herds of grazing animals.
The Southern Serengeti offers one of the most complete views of the migration cycle — from grazing herds to calving season, where thousands of young wildebeest are born within a short period. This abundance of prey naturally attracts predators, making it one of the best areas for observing predator–prey interactions.
After morning activities and lunch, depart the Serengeti and drive toward Karatu near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The transition from open plains to lush green highlands offers a refreshing change of scenery. Arrive at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day game drive. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most unique wildlife destinations in Africa, featuring a high concentration of animals within a relatively small area.
The crater floor is home to elephants, lions, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, and the rare black rhino. Diverse habitats — ranging from open grasslands to wetlands and acacia forests — support both resident and migratory species, making wildlife sightings frequent and rewarding.
Enjoy a picnic lunch inside the crater, often near a hippo pool, before ascending the crater walls and beginning the drive back to Arusha, where your safari concludes.
- All park fees (non-resident rates)
- All activities as per itinerary
- Mid-range accommodation as specified
- Professional driver/guide
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle
- All meals as specified
- Drinking water throughout
- All taxes and VAT
- International flights
- Roundtrip airport transfers
- Travel insurance & visa fees
- Tips & gratuities for guides
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, etc.)
- Additional accommodation before/after safari
- Government increases in taxes or park fees