The Great Migration: Best of Kenya and Tanzania in Style
Follow the herds of the Great Migration through some of Africa's most iconic safari destinations in the utmost luxury
Days: 10| From: $12,450/per person
- Includes accommodations at luxury hotels and lodges perfectly situated for the best possible migration experience
- Expert naturalist guides and custom-built safari vehicles
- A range of unique, optional safari activities included at each lodge
- Experience three world class safari destinations for ultimate game viewing
Descend into the enchanting Ngorongoro Crater, home to a breathtaking multitude of animals. Arrive by bush plane to your luxury mobile migration camp in the Serengeti, perfectly situated to have you at the center of the action for the greatest show on earth. Follow the ancient route of this natural phenomenon and complete your journey with a safari in the iconic Maasai Mara, for the best of both Kenya and Tanzania.
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We tailor itineraries to your dates and interests, adjusting hotels, excursions and length as desired.
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At a glance
- Arusha
1 night: Discover this gateway city at the base of volcanic Mount Meru, with the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance - Ngorongoro Crater
2 nights: Descend the steep walls of this ancient caldera to experience the exceptional game viewing below - Serengeti National Park
3 nights: Experience the Great Migration from your exclusively positioned camp - Maasai Mara National Reserve
3 nights: Follow the traditional migration route to Maasai Mara; gaze out over the vast plains and track dense populations of wildlife with your expert guide
All itineraries are fully customizable. We will send you a personalized variation that reflects your interests and travel dates at no extra cost. Call to discuss your travel plans with one of our Specialists who know this region firsthand.
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Sample itinerary
Welcome to Tanzania!
Arrive to Arusha, a bustling city and the gateway to some of the continent’s best safari destinations. Your private guide will be waiting to transfer you to your boutique hotel, composed of spacious chalets located in a verdant coffee plantation.
Accommodations: Legendary Lodge
Legendary Lodge is located at the foothills of Mount Meru, on the outskirts of the bustling town of Arusha. Set among tropical gardens and surrounded by a working coffee farm, the lodge’s peaceful cottages are an excellent base for the Northern Safari Circuit of Tanzania. Each of the 10 Garden Cottages offers a private veranda and views of Mount Meru. The larger Meru Cottage and Kahawa Cottage are great for families or friends, and also feature a private veranda. The property features a restaurant and bar, swimming pool, and spa.
*Includes: BreakfastFrom Arusha to the Ngorongoro Crater via Lake Manyara National Park
Set out from Arusha with your private guide, taking in the local life along the road: vibrant markets, women with impossibly large loads balanced elegantly on their heads, and traditional Maasai people walking with their livestock.
Your first stop today is Lake Manyara National Park. Explore the area around this shallow alkaline lake and see the giant fig trees within the park. Nestled at the base of the Rift Valley, Lake Manyara is home to a vibrant variety of birds and wildlife.
In the afternoon you will arrive at your lodge for the evening, nestled in the lush, tropical highlands on the edge of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Accommodations: Gibb’s Farm, 2 nights
Gibb's Farm is a historic organic farm and family coffee plantation covering over 80 acres on the forested outer slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater in Northern Tanzania, overlooking the Great Rift Valley. Comprising two family houses and seventeen cottages, Gibb’s Farm is a tranquil place deeply rooted in East African culture and community. Beautiful architectural details, such as the farmhouse’s original wooden beams and colorful artworks, are inspired by local African artists. The farm’s organic vegetable and terraced flower gardens provide a peaceful setting for afternoon tea or a quiet walk.
*Includes: All InclusiveExplore the Ngorongoro Crater
Descend the steep walls of the Ngorongoro Crater in your private safari vehicle. This spectacular caldera is almost three million years old and was formed as the result of a gigantic explosion that caused the original volcano to collapse in on itself, creating the massive crater we see today. Twelve miles wide and approximately 2,000 feet deep, the journey from the edge of the rim to the bottom of the floor takes roughly 45 minutes by vehicle.
The crater floor has an abundance of wildlife, all taking advantage of the fertile soil and lush grazing. Roughly 25,000 animals call this place home. Flocks of flamingos, hippos in the pools, and a range of herds, solitary predators, and even a few very rare black rhino make this one of the most interesting safari landscapes on earth.
From the Crater to the Plains of the Serengeti
Bid farewell to your private safari guide as they drop you at the Manyara airstrip for your flight to the Serengeti. You will be treated to spectacular views of the Great Rift Valley from the window of your bush plane as you approach your next stop. Nothing says safari in Africa like arriving at your lodge by safari plane.
As you land you will be greeted by your expert guide for this next leg of the journey and whisked away in an open Landcruiser for a leisurely game drive to your secluded lodge.
Accommodations: Lemala Nanyukie, 3 nights
Located in Eastern Serengeti, Lemala Nanyukie sits in the park’s central region, with outstanding views across the fascinating endless plains. The camp itself is set on a grassy savanna dotted with rocky kopjes and shaded by ancient giant acacia trees. With canvas walls, arching ceilings and broad hardwood decks, the tented suites at Lemala Nanyukie offer the best in luxury bush camping. The main area features a comfortable lounge and bar, outdoor viewing deck leading to a refreshing swimming pool, and indoor and outdoor dining areas. Guests can arrange special meals like bush breakfasts and lantern-lit dinners, and the campfire is perfect for a post-dinner drink and sharing tales about the day on safari. A separate spa tent among the trees offers secluded relaxation.
*Includes: All InclusiveA full day on Safari
Rise with the sun and embark on your first morning on safari in the Serengeti with your expert tracker-guide. This iconic park, roughly the size of Connecticut, is renowned for its resident wildlife species, including the famous Big Five: buffaloes, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and lions.
This sea of grass and savannah is also home to herds of grazers, and not just the wildebeest and zebra that form the Great Migration. The presence of Topi, gazelle, waterbuck and hartebeest means local carnivores, including cheetahs, hyenas and African wild dogs, are always lurking as well. The Serengeti is also home to more than 500 species of birds, including some very large specimens like ostriches, crowned cranes, marabou storks, and secretary birds.
Tracking the Great Migration
Experience one of nature’s most impressive sights: the Great Migration. Track the movements of the vast herds as they move on their continuous, clockwise journey around the Serengeti and Maasai Mara Reserve. You may catch an adrenaline-filled crossing as thousands of these creatures dive into the Mara or Grumeti rivers, risking the hippos and crocodiles below to make it the other side and continue their march.
Outside of the famed river crossings, another peak time to visit is January to March, when the wildebeest are calving their young on the short grass plains of the Ndutu area. Changing weather patterns due to climate change have started to affect the regularity of the movements of the migration, and it is getting slightly harder to predict, but mobile camps will always be well situated.
Spend an afternoon at leisure at camp, relax in the private jacuzzi on your deck, or just sit back an enjoy an ‘arm chair safari’ from the comfort of your luxury tent.
Fly from the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara
After another glorious sunrise in the African bush and an early morning game drive, you will be transferred to the airstrip for your flight north to the Maasai Mara.
This famed reserve is situated in the southwest of Kenya and is separated from the Serengeti by the mighty Mara River. Home to an incredible concentration of game year round, this reserve also plays host to the millions of wildebeest, zebra and other antelope that comprise the Great Migration in late summer and early fall. Your lodge is set high on the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, offering endless views over the wilderness.
This afternoon, set out with your knowledgeable guide to explore this new landscape, see new wildlife, and continue your quintessential safari.
Accommodations: Angama Mara, 3 nights
High above Kenya’s Maasai Mara Reserve sits Angama Mara. The property comprises two separate and intimate camps, each with 15 tented suites. Built on the edge of the Great Rift Valley on one of the most sought-after sites on the continent, this lodge offers incredible views as far as the eye can see. The lodge boasts outstanding game viewing 12 months of the year, with private access to the Maasai Mara Reserve.
*Includes: All InclusiveSafari in the Maasai Mara
Rise before the dawn, with fresh coffee or tea delivered to your room, and before you know it you are whisked away on the safari vehicle and ready for what the morning might bring. This is the best time of day to see wildlife as it wakes for the day or settles down after a night of hunting. Awaken your senses with the sights and sounds of the bush as the bird calls swell with the rising of the sun.
There are a variety of optional safari activities on offer here aside from game drives. Opt for a bush walk along the dramatic escarpment with a local Maasai guide, and discover the smaller details of the bush. Arrange a hot air balloon flight for a totally new perspective on game viewing, and touch down for a champagne breakfast in the bush. Visit the onsite photographic studio for a private tutorial with a resident photographer, or ask your Vaya specialist about arranging a private photographic safari with a professional on a custom photographic vehicle. Try your hand at beading with the Maasai women who work out of the beading studio, creating bespoke pieces with this traditional craft.
Another day on Safari in the Maasai Mara
Game drive in the famed Mara Triangle with your expert safari guide, explore the escarpment, or see conservation in action with a visit to the Mara Conservancy canine anti-poaching unit. There are numerous safari options for your last full day in the bush. Enjoy a final spectacular sunset over the African plains with a drink in hand as you reflect on your safari experience.
Farewell Africa
Enjoy a final morning at your lodge before transferring to the airstrip and saying goodbye to the bush, flying back to Nairobi where you will connect with your international flight home or continue your journey elsewhere. If you have a long layover we are happy to arrange a comfortable day room to relax before your flight.
Popular Ways to Customize This Itinerary
Choose from a selection of carefully curated lodges and hotels to ensure this trip fits your exact travel style.
Consult with your Vaya specialist and expand your trip with another safari destination for the most in-depth experience.
Engage with local communities in an authentic and culturally sensitive way with a visit to a local project or village and see the benefits of tourism first hand.
Arrange a hot air balloon flight over the plains of the Serengeti or the Maasai Mara for a completely unique game viewing experience, and touch down to a champagne breakfast in the bush.
Add a beach extension and spend some relaxing downtime on the pristine white sand of the Indian Ocean. The Kenyan coast, Zanzibar, and Seychelles are all a short flight away.
Make it the ultimate East African journey with a trek to see the mountain gorillas of Uganda or Rwanda.
Contact us to learn about more options for designing and customizing your trip.
Why Travel with Vaya?
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From the first phone call to after you get back, we're here for you every step of the way. We listen, create, customize and advocate for you, and design experiences that go beyond the expected.
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