Here, everything that is Africa converges in a beautiful display. This Tanzania safari follows the migration of the great herds of the Serengeti from our luxurious tented camps.

The mountains and plains of Tanzania - the Great Rift Valley, the Ngorongoro Crater, and of course, the Serengeti itself - are vibrantly alive. Here, everything that is Africa converges in a beautiful display, from the remarkable variety and sheer numbers of wild animals, to the epic landscapes that inspired the writings of Isak Dinesen, to the rich culture of the Maasai, who live a predominantly traditional lifestyle to this day. Our Tanzania migration safari takes in the wonders of these places at a relaxed pace, allowing us plenty of time to come to understand what has drawn travelers to East Africa for generations. We plan our safaris carefully to correspond to important times in the annual Serengeti migration, and no matter when you go, our tented camp allows us to be close to the action. Whether you come for the wildlife, the scenery, or the culture, it is the things that are impossible to predict – a pride of lionesses on the hunt, or a rainbow breaking over a herd of elephants, or the thrilled grin of a child for the simple gift of a pencil – that will stay with you long after you leave Tanzania.

Days 1 & 2: Evening arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha, Tanzania. Transfer to our beautiful lakeside lodge on the grounds of a former coffee plantation. Explore the Great Rift Valley and Lake Manyara National Park, known for its beautiful soda lake often full of flamingoes, hippo pools, and tree-climbing lions.

Days 3-4: Arise early to be the first on the crater floor as the sun comes up and while the wildlife is most active. Enjoy extended game drives, taking time to observe the interactions of the lions, cheetah, hyena, wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, buffalo and black rhino.

Day 5: Descend to the Serengeti, visiting a traditional boma along the way, where our guide introduces us to the Maasai who live and raise their livestock here. Hike into the Olduvai Gorge, known to the world as the cradle of humanity, where the Leakeys made their incredible discoveries of remains of the earliest humans. Known to the Maasai as Oltupai, for a flower that grows abundantly here, the gorge is steeped in history. Continue to our luxury seasonal tented camp on the Serengeti.

Days 6-7: Game drives in the Serengeti from our private luxury seasonal tented camp. Enjoy sundowners by the campfire and delicious meals prepared by our bush chef. Soak in the sounds of the Serengeti – distant roars of lions and the rhythmic beat of hooves.

Days 8-9: Game drive to our permanent luxury tented camp, home for the next two nights. Located in a remote corner of the national park, far from the often crowded common game drives, Kusini Camp allows us to discover our own private Africa. The migration is often quite close by, and we enjoy it in relative solitude. Early in the morning, sip coffee on the magnificent kopjes (rock outcroppings) overlooking this very exclusive area of the Serengeti.

Day 10: Experience an incredible flight over the Serengeti and Great Rift Valley on our way back to Arusha. Say goodbye before your evening flight, or extend your tour on the exotic island of Zanzibar.

• Unique, award-winning itineraries. Our flexible, hand-crafted journeys have received accolades from the world’s most revered travel publications. Our seasonal luxury camps allow us to be close to the action in privacy and in comfort. Hotel quality linens, full-sized beds (not cots), individual bathroom facilities attached to each tent (including warm showers!), a professional camp staff and indulgent touches like French-press coffee in the morning make Boundless Journeys' tented camp an experience not to be missed.
• Small groups. We tread softly, and our average group size is just 6-8 guests, and never more than 12 in our safari groups. We limit passengers in each vehicle so everyone has a window seat and plenty of space, and fully retractable roofs allow 360 degree wildlife observation.
• Flexibility to suit your travel style. We offer both small-group departures and Private Collection safaris, so that you can choose which works best for you.
• Insider connections. There is simply no substitute for traveling with a knowledgeable insider. Our Tanzanian guides are experienced naturalists, and they know the park rangers and keep in touch with them regularly, so they always have the inside track on where to find the most exciting wildlife.
  
• A passion for travel. Simply put, we love to travel, and that is woven into every one of our journeys. For example, our flight over the Serengeti allows you to maximize your vacation time - and not spend it on long drives as some others do. It adds an unforgettable element to our journey, seeing the plains from above.
• Customer service that goes the extra mile. There is no request that is too big – or too small – for our staff to handle.
  
• Sustainability. We are committed to traveling responsibly – striving to preserve traditions and cultures around the world, and to protect fragile natural habitats.
  

Most Convenient Airport:
Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha, Tanzania (JRO)

Meeting Time and Place:
Upon arrival of your international flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha on Day 1 of the trip.

Departure Time and Place:
Kilimanjaro International Airport by 4 p.m. To accommodate our return from the Serengeti and afternoon activities in Arusha, please schedule your departing flight after 6 p.m.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Trip Rating
Boundless Journeys’ trips are designed for energetic and flexible individuals who like to be active and have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. Migration Safari is rated 1, easy, on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most strenuous). We combine camping and lodges as the base for our primary activity – game-viewing drives by 4WD vehicle. Depending on current conditions, there may be opportunities for optional guided bush walks, which can be enjoyed by anyone who is in reasonably good health.  

Preparing for this Trip
Although the activities on this trip are easy, game drives can be quite bumpy. If you would like to take part in the possible optional walks, you may consider walking a few times a week for several weeks before the trip. As always, consult your doctor before undertaking any new fitness programs.

The Boundless Journeys Mobile Camp
Boundless Journeys’ mobile tented camping allows us to be close to the action in privacy and style. Full-height walk-in tents are 10’ x 24’, with attached private bathroom facilities (a hand-pumped flushing camp toilet and solar shower). Amenities such as a wash basin and vanity, towels, terry bathrobes, full-size queen (or twin) beds, hotel-quality linens, writing table and covered outdoor sitting area are standard. There is also a dining tent with waiter service, a personal bush chef, a fully stocked bar, and personal tent valets to look after your tent, laundry, and other needs while camping. A state-of-the-art quiet generator is run during the day to supply power for recharging camera equipment.

Camp sites are regulated by the national parks, and Boundless Journeys has exclusive use of our sites; we do not use group sites as some other companies do. We have chosen the best sites based on migratory patterns of the herds at each specific time of year, so we can always be close to the action.

Camp life is relaxed and comfortable. Upon returning from the day’s game drive in the afternoon, there is time to wash up, rest, read, write, or chat with your guides and each other over a drink. As evening falls a campfire is lit, and our chef prepares dinner. If the weather is particularly fine we may dine al fresco, surrounded by torches, or we may dine in the dining tent. Either way, our table is set with linens and restaurant quality dinnerware, silverware, and glasses.

Game Drives
Unforgettable full and half-day game drives are the primary activity of Boundless Journeys’ Tanzania safari. On most days, we will depart our lodge or camp early and spend the morning tracking various animals in our custom-built, 4WD safari vehicles. Each day is unique and unpredictable – which is why our guides say never put away your camera, even on the way to the airport!

Drives may last from a few morning hours to a full day. Sometimes we will take a picnic lunch, and other days we will return to the lodge or camp for lunch. As we come upon groups of animals, we allow plenty of time to simply observe and also take photographs. Our guides are experienced naturalists and will add greatly to your understanding of the animals. We keep a respectful distance – although the same cannot always be said about the animals; it is not unusual to come nose-to-car with baboons, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, and elephants.

Weather
The weather in Arusha and the national parks is generally pleasant though the equatorial sun is strong. It can also rain at any time, but chances are higher during the months of April, May, June, November, and December. In the Ngorongoro area, evenings and early mornings can be chilly, and dressing in layers is a good strategy, so that you can shed or add layers as the day heats and cools.

The following are average temperatures in Arusha:
                       high          low

March:           81°F        53°F
July:              69°F        49°F
December:     81°F        50°F

You may obtain more detailed weather information on www.weatherbase.com.

When to Go
Our safaris coincide with important times in the annual migrations, as well as take advantage of other significant animal activities and weather patterns.

December: During the month of December, the migration is heading south to the short grass plains, and many zebras give birth around this time. Predators trail behind the herds. Being with your family in Tanzania is a memorable way to spend the holidays, and a great reason to consider a December departure. (Plan ahead, however, as airfare can sell out well in advance!)

March: The herds have typically arrived in the southern short grass plains of the Serengeti by now, and tens of thousands of wildebeest have their babies over the course of just a few weeks. A safari at this time of year will certainly offer sightings of enormous herds of wildebeest, along with all of the other African wildlife one would expect.

July: The large herds are on their way north and have scattered a bit around the northern Serengeti. If you are lucky, we may witness herds crossing one of the large northern rivers – truly a sight to behold. We also explore the private Loliondo reserve bordering Serengeti National Park, and include a few nights in Tarangire National Park, known for its large elephant herds and wonderful baobob trees. Please request our Beyond the Serengeti itinerary if you’d like to plan at safari at this time of year.

Other times: We suggest avoiding November and April through the first half of May, as those months comprise the rainy seasons in Tanzania. Outside of those months, there are great reasons to visit Tanzania at any time, and no matter when you choose to go, you will see more elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, buffalos, hippos, ostriches, baboons, and lions than you can keep track of. If you are interested in organizing a private safari for your own group of family or friends on the dates that work for you, please contact our office at 800-941-8010 for our Private Collection sample itineraries.

Overview:  First-class hotels and lodges, private seasonal camp, and deluxe permanent camp; all private baths.

Night 1: Mountain Village
Arusha, Tanzania
               
Nestled at the foot of the wooded slopes of Mount Meru, this unique hotel stands amid coffee plantations on the shores of tranquil Lake Duluti. Designed to echo the traditional style of the colonial coffee farm, which originally stood on this site, Mountain Village offers a range of tastefully presented cottage-styled rooms set amid extensive landscaped grounds.

Night 2: Bougainvillea Lodge
Karatu, Tanzania
               
In the center of the bustling village of Karatu, Bougainvillea Lodge was built in 2004 and is in a great location for exploring the Great Rift Valley. Comfortable individual cottages are complemented by a restaurant whose chef is locally renowned as the best in the region.

Nights 3 & 4: Sopa Lodge
Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
                   
The only lodge on the eastern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, Sopa Lodge allows easy access to the crater floor, beautiful sunsets, and a private solarium for each room.

Nights 5 & 6: Kusini Camp
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Perfectly sited in a cluster of kopjes, Kusini is a permanent luxury tented camp blended seamlessly into the delicate environment of the predator-rich plains of the Serengeti. The surrounding short grass plains provide the setting for the most spectacular natural phenomenon on the continent, the wildebeest migration, during which time the herds amass in the vicinity of the camp for the birthing of their young. Kusini sits exclusively in this remote region of the Serengeti, affording guests the rare opportunity for secluded game drives well away from the usual tourist circuit.
 

Nights 7, 8 & 9: Boundless Journeys’ Luxury Seasonal Camp
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Tented camping allows us to be close to the action in privacy and in style. Full-height walk-in tents are 10’ x 24’, with attached private bathroom facilities. Amenities include a wash basin and vanity, towels, terry bathrobes, full-size queen (or twin) beds, hotel-quality linens, writing desk and spacious veranda. There is also a dining tent with full waiter service, a personal bush chef, fully stocked bar, and personal tent valets to look after your tent, laundry, and other needs while camping.

Day 10 (day-use only): Kia Lodge
Arusha, Tanzania
               
Beautifully situated with views of Mt. Kilimanjaro, day-use rooms are provided for resting and repacking before your international flight, if you have not reserved the Zanzibar: The Spice Island trip extension.

Please note that this is a typical itinerary, and actual activities may vary to take advantage of weather conditions, local events, and to allow serendipity to play a hand in your experience. Accommodations are as outlined in the itinerary, although we reserve the right to change these should the need arise.

DAY 1  
Arrival to Arusha

Upon arrival of your flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport, you are met by a Boundless Journeys representative who will transfer you to our lodge, set quietly aside Lake Duluti on the grounds of a former coffee plantation on the outskirts of Arusha.

Upon arrival to the lodge, you are greeted by a friendly staff, offering refreshments before turning in to rest after your travels.
Mountain Village, Arusha

DAY 2  
Lake Manyara

Game drive through Lake Manyara National Park.

After a pre-safari briefing, we drive through Arusha, entering the Great Rift Valley, where the Earth’s plates are separating. This geologic phenomenon allows for the formation of the volcanoes in the region – one reason the Serengeti supports such a unique ecosystem. On the far side of the valley we reach Lake Manyara National Park.

Even though Lake Manyara is one of Tanzania’s smaller national parks, its jungle-like forest and immense “soda lake” support a great variety of wildlife. As we slowly make our way along a dirt track through the park, we may encounter pools of water full of hippos and see countless pink flamingoes, dainty gazelles, and graceful giraffes meandering through tall grass. We enjoy lunch at a viewpoint overlooking the lake, spying on animals through binoculars and scanning the trees for elusive tree-climbing lions.

Upon leaving the park, we drive to Karatu and our home for the evening, a comfortable lodge featuring private bungalow accommodations and the best restaurant in the region.
Bougainvillea Lodge, Karatu

DAY 3  
Ngorongoro Crater

Game drive through Ngorongoro Crater.

This morning we drive to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, and then descend into the 100-square-mile caldera that is home to a huge concentration of wildlife –  including the “big five” –  elephant, buffalo, leopard, lion, and rhinoceros.

One of seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites designated in Tanzania, Ngorongoro is the world’s largest unflooded caldera. While only 100 square miles in area, the crater is home to six distinct habitats: acacia forest, swamp, short grass plains, long grass plains, rivers, and woodland. Each habitat attracts a variety of animals. The rim of the crater reaches 7,800 feet in altitude and the crater floor rests at 5,000 feet. Home to almost 30,000 animals in an area naturally enclosed by the slopes of the volcano, this is the best location for viewing black rhinoceros and huge, old bull elephants. There is not enough vegetation to support the large cow and calf herds, but the old males “retire” to the crater for the wonderful swamp grass and acacia forest. The only animals we will not see in the crater are the impala and giraffe. It is not known why impala do not inhabit the crater, but giraffe are unable to descend the steep grade without lowering their heads, which raises their blood pressure to dangerous levels.

Later this afternoon, we arrive at our home for the next two nights, the only lodge on the eastern rim of the crater.
Sopa Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater

DAY 4  
Ngorongoro Crater

Full day game drive on the crater floor.

This morning we rise early to be the first on the crater floor. This is a magical time with the sun rising above the rim of the crater and the animals still active. We enjoy an extended game drive, with plenty of time for photography and to simply observe the interactions of the lions, cheetah, hyena, wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, buffalo and black rhinoceros. The sheer number of wild animals living in such close proximity is amazing.

Making our way slowly across the caldera floor, which contains sweeping grasslands, lerai forest, a soda lake, and marshy wetlands, people often have the sense of being in another time. The landscape is so primitive, the ecosystems so intact, that it is like taking a trip to prehistory. Coming upon a lone elephant, a beautiful giant with gracefully curving tusks quietly munching on the soft grasses, listening to him breathe, is something one won’t soon forget.

Tonight when we are back at the lodge, sitting comfortably by a crackling fire, our thoughts will be on the crater and the unseen drama unfolding in the darkness below, on the hunters and the hunted, completing life’s circle, as they have been for thousands of years.
Sopa Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater

DAY 5  
Olduvai Gorge, Maasai village, and into the Serengeti

Walk – easy to moderate, 1-2 hours on dirt tracks; afternoon game drive from the highlands into the Serengeti.

This morning we have time for another visit into the crater, before beginning our descent to the Serengeti. On the way, we explore the Olduvai Gorge, known to the world as the cradle of humanity, where the Leakeys made their incredible discoveries of the remains of the earliest humans. Known to the Maasai as Oltupai, for a flower that grows abundantly here, we enjoy a picnic lunch and a short walk, literally in the footsteps of history. Further along we have the unique opportunity to visit a Maasai boma, where we meet the village elders and learn about their traditional lifestyle.

We then continue into the short grass plains that define the southern Serengeti, to our exclusive, luxury permanent camp for the next two nights. It is a treat to shake off the dust after a day of walking and game viewing, and enjoy a cool drink on the beautiful kopjes overlooking the Serengeti. Staff rangers escort us through the grounds in the evening, in the event that some of the local animals may have come in close for a look.
Kusini Camp, Southern Serengeti, Tanzania

Day 6
The Serengeti

Full-day game drive through the Serengeti plains.

This morning we begin our first full day in the Serengeti. Known as Siringitu to the Maasai, a word meaning “where the land goes on forever”, the Serengeti covers 5,700 square miles of open grassland, acacia-dotted rolling hills, and rocky outcrops known as kopjes. It is home to millions of earth’s most impressive land animals, and one of the last great migratory ecosystems on the planet. Throughout the year, huge herds of wildebeest and zebra make their way from the southern plains, through the grassy woodlands, and into Kenya’s Masai Mara, before returning to the south to begin the cycle again. By now we each have favorite animals – for some it is the unflappable giraffe, standing with noble grace at up to 18 feet tall. For others it will be the herds of elephants, always protective of their young. Of course, for many it is the lions, confidently gazing from their sun-warmed kopjes, quietly planning what will be on the menu tonight.
Kusini Camp, Southern Serengeti, Tanzania

DAYS 7-9
The Serengeti

Full-day game drives through the Serengeti plains.

We continue our exploration of the Serengeti on our final three full days, now making our home in a deluxe seasonal tented camp. Using our camp as our base, we spend these unforgettable full days game viewing. As the bush is always changing, we make our plans on the night before based on information gained as to where the best wildlife viewing will be. Depending on the day’s plans, we may take a picnic breakfast, lunch or both. Game drives often begin early in the morning when the animals are most active and the lighting is best for photographs.

The location of our private camp will depend on where the best game-viewing opportunities lie. Boundless Journeys has exclusive use of our camp, far from the lodges, and we have chosen the best sites based on migratory patterns of the herds at each specific time of year, so we can always be close to the action. Even during moments when we are not in the midst of the migrating wildebeest and zebra, we will be getting to know the Serengeti’s other resident wildlife, including giraffe, buffalo, topi, hartebeest, waterbuck, impala, hippopotamus, elephant, crocodile, warthog, hyena, lion, cheetah, and leopard (to name a few).

After a cocktail by the campfire while the sun sets, we enjoy a delicious meal prepared by our personal bush chef. Each evening we drift off to sleep in the comfort of our safari tents, in full-size beds with hotel quality linens, soaking in the Serengeti – with distant roars of lions and a sky full of stars.
Private Luxury Seasonal Camp (three nights), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

DAY 10  
Serengeti fly-over and Arusha

After breakfast we drive to a nearby airstrip, where we say good-bye to our naturalist guide and board our flight to Arusha. Seeing the Serengeti from above is an experience few others will ever have, and it is unforgettable. We arrive to Arusha’s domestic airport in time for your flight to Zanzibar (if you have reserved Boundless Journeys’ Zanzibar: The Spice Island trip extension). If you have not reserved the trip extension, you will be met by a Boundless Journeys driver who will transfer you to KIA Lodge, just a few minutes from Arusha International Airport, where you will have a day-use room to rest and prepare for your evening international flight. On the way to the hotel we will stop at an indoor market where artisans from throughout Tanzania sell their work. This is a great place to purchase batik fabric, fine wood carvings, and even tanzanite. A transfer to the airport in time for your flight will be provided by the hotel.
KIA Lodge(day-use), Arusha, Tanzania

$6,795 per person

Children 11 and under sharing with two adults benefit from a $1,000 savings.

• Expert leadership and services of safari camp staff
• All accommodations
• All meals
• Guaranteed window seating in safari vehicles
• Membership in Flying Doctor Society
• All activities as noted in the itinerary