Day 1
Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Leave Arusha for Tarangire, where baobabs, river country and elephant habitat create an exciting first game drive. Continue towards Karatu for the night.
Farm of Dreams Lodge in Karatu
Compact northern migration safari
5 Day Northern Serengeti River Crossing Safari
A compact private road safari for travellers determined to reach Northern Serengeti in five days, with Central Serengeti and Ngorongoro built into the route.
From $1,795 USD per person for 6 travellers · $2,260 per person for 2 travellers
Duration5 safari days
Best seasonJuly to October
Safari stylePrivate migration safari
Route focusCentral and Northern Serengeti
★★★★★
“Everything was well organised from the first day until the end and our guide was very kind and patient with us and the kids.” — Henri Lefebvre, Google review
Why this route works
A route planned for how this season works on the ground
We start with your travel dates, then check the seasonal area, camp position and route direction before confirmation. The goal is simple: use your safari days well and avoid adding distance that does not improve the experience.
Guided by Serengeti experience
Private guiding gives the day room to respond
Your vehicle and guide are private to your group. That gives the safari more flexibility to spend useful time in one area, start early when appropriate, or adjust the day around road and wildlife conditions without following a shared group timetable.
A private migration safari built around you
Make this Serengeti journey yours
The itinerary below is our recommended route for this season, but your safari should still feel personal. Tell us your travel dates, preferred camp style, room setup, pace and any extra nights you would enjoy. Our Tanzania-based team checks where the seasonal camps are operating for your travel period, protects the days that matter most in the migration area, and sends you the final route, accommodation and price before you confirm.
No obligation. Tell us your dates and preferences; we will confirm what works before you decide.Who this route is best for
Choose this safari if it matches how you want to travel
- Travellers with a firm five day safari window
- Guests who want northern Serengeti as the main priority
- Private groups comfortable with an active road itinerary
- Visitors who also want Ngorongoro Crater
Consider another route if
Another migration page may suit you better
- You want two full days near the Mara River
- You prefer shorter driving days
- You want time for Lake Manyara or an extra Tarangire day
Day by day itinerary
5 Day Northern Serengeti River Crossing Safari itinerary
The safari days below are included in the stated duration. Pre safari and post safari hotel nights are added only when they appear in your confirmed booking.
Day 2
Karatu to Central Serengeti
Cross the Ngorongoro highlands and enter Serengeti National Park. Game viewing begins as you travel towards Central Serengeti.
Tukaone Camp or Robin Tented Camp in Central SerengetiDay 3
Central Serengeti to Northern Serengeti
Travel north through changing landscapes, watching resident wildlife along the way. Your first northern game drive is shaped by your guide's knowledge of herd behaviour, river approaches and seasonal movement.
Pamoja Africa or Kontiki seasonal camp in Northern Serengeti, subject to availability and the migration locationDay 4
Northern Serengeti to Ngorongoro crater rim
Begin early near the Mara River area, then travel south through the Serengeti with game viewing along the way. Continue into the Ngorongoro highlands and settle on the crater rim for the night.
Ngorongoro Wild Camp in the Ngorongoro Conservation AreaDay 5
Ngorongoro Crater and Arusha
Descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a final game drive and picnic lunch, then return to Arusha.
Safari ends in ArushaLocal planning note from Tanzania
Five days can reach the north, but every hour has to work
Kogatende is a long way from Arusha, so on a five day road safari we keep the route moving efficiently and choose a northern camp with location in mind. If the Mara River area is the main reason for your trip and you can spare one extra day, we will normally point you to the six day route because it creates a full northern game-drive day instead of treating the north mainly as a transfer stop.
Accommodation
Standard stays used for this route
We price the safari around the standard accommodation shown below. On a migration safari, location is part of the value: a cheaper camp that adds long transfers can cost you useful game-drive time. If the standard stay is full, we check a comparable option with you before confirming anything. Upgrades can also be quoted on request.
Karatu base
Farm of Dreams Lodge in Karatu
A comfortable base outside the conservation area that fits naturally before or after Ngorongoro and keeps the route practical.
Central Serengeti
Tukaone Camp or Robin Tented Camp in Central Serengeti
Chosen to keep you close to the central plains and reduce unnecessary driving away from the next day’s game-viewing area.
Northern Serengeti
Pamoja Africa or Kontiki seasonal camp in Northern Serengeti, subject to availability and the migration location
A seasonal northern stay selected with the Kogatende and Mara River area in mind; camp position matters because it affects useful time on game drives.
Ngorongoro area
Ngorongoro Wild Camp in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Positioned for the Ngorongoro part of the route so the crater day can begin without adding an avoidable long transfer first.
Complete private safari prices
Choose your group size
These are complete private-safari prices per person for the midrange itinerary shown. Your group keeps its own 4x4 and guide; the safari is not shared with other travellers.
2 travellers$2,260per person
4 travellers$1,910per person
6 travellers$1,795per person
Why the rate falls with group size: the private vehicle and crater vehicle fee are shared within your own group. We confirm the exact camp and total price before you pay the deposit.
Compare the complete safari, not only the first number
When comparing quotations, match the same number of travellers, a private or shared vehicle, the nights actually spent in the migration area, the camp location and the park, conservation and crater fees included. A lower headline price can describe a different safari.
Our price is tied to the route and standard stays shown above. If a listed camp is unavailable, we discuss the comparable alternative and any price difference with you before confirmation — no silent camp downgrade.
What your migration-safari price covers
This is the complete private-safari price per person for the route and standard accommodation shown. Your private 4x4, guide, park and conservation fees, listed accommodation, safari meals and drinking water are covered as detailed below. Group size changes the per-person price because vehicle-based costs are shared within your own group.
Included
Included in your safari
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop up roof
- Professional English speaking safari guide
- Park, conservation and crater fees shown in the itinerary
- Accommodation selected in your confirmed booking
- Full board safari meals, drinking water and picnic lunches
- Airport transfers included in your confirmed safari plan
Not included
Plan separately
- International and domestic flights and Tanzania visa
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips for your guide and camp staff
- Alcoholic drinks and personal purchases
- Balloon safaris, bush meals and other optional experiences
- Any accommodation before or after the listed safari days unless confirmed
The season in pictures
A look at the landscapes on this route
From the calving plains to the river country, every route reveals a different chapter of the Great Migration.
Questions before booking
Helpful answers for this migration safari
When should I book a northern Serengeti river crossing safari?
July to October is the main planning window for northern Serengeti river activity. Booking early gives you a stronger choice of well located seasonal camps.
Will I see an actual river crossing?
The route places you in northern crossing country during the main season, and the longer itineraries give you more time near the river. The herds and conditions decide the exact crossing moment, so your guide responds to what is happening during your safari.
Why spend more than one day in northern Serengeti?
River activity can build quickly or remain quiet for hours. Extra time lets your guide read the herd direction, revisit promising areas and avoid treating the north as a rushed stop.
Can I book the route exactly as shown?
Yes. The itinerary remains the foundation of your safari. We only suggest a camp-location or route-flow adjustment when your actual dates make it clearly more sensible, and we explain the change and the price before you confirm.
Where does the safari begin?
The road safari begins in Arusha. If you are staying in Moshi, we can arrange transport to the agreed departure point.
Is travel insurance included?
Travel insurance is not included. We recommend suitable travel and medical cover before arriving in Tanzania.
Keep exploring
Other migration routes you may prefer
Why travellers choose Serengeti Wild Tours
Plan your migration safari with a Tanzanian team that knows why the route details matter
You are planning directly with a Tanzanian team that works with these safari routes on the ground. Before you confirm, we look at your travel month, route direction, camp position and the amount of useful game-drive time in each area. The aim is not to sell you more days than you need; it is to make the days you choose work properly.
Local, licensed and easy to reach
Licensed Tanzanian Tour Operator and TANAPA / NCAA authorized operator. You are planning directly with a locally operated team, not passing your safari through an unknown chain of suppliers.
We check position, not only availability
For migration trips, where you sleep can affect how much useful safari time you have. We look at the camp location for your dates and discuss a comparable alternative before confirmation if the standard stay is not the right fit or is unavailable.
Clear booking steps and flexibility
A 10% deposit confirms the safari, with the balance due 10 days before travel. Bank transfer, Wise and card are available, and flexible rescheduling can be discussed around your travel dates.
Simple booking process
What happens after you enquire
Send your dates and group size
Tell us when you want to travel, how many people are coming and the comfort level you prefer.
We check the right camp position
We check seasonal camp availability and where the property sits for your route, not only whether a room is open.
We fine-tune the route and quote
If another overnight sequence or comparable camp makes better sense for your dates, we explain it before sending the final safari and price.
Confirm with the deposit
Once you are happy with the plan, the 10% deposit confirms the safari and we secure the agreed arrangements.
5-star Google review
What guests say about travelling with us
"Everything was well organised from the first day until the end and our guide was very kind and patient with us and the kids. The lodges were comfortable and the food was good, so my family felt safe and happy the whole trip."
- Henri Lefebvre, Google review
Check this safari for your dates
Send your dates and group size. We first check camp position and availability, then reply with the route as shown or a clearly explained adjustment. You see the exact accommodation and total price before the deposit.