Signature Masai Mara & Serengeti Great Migration Safari

Great Wildebeest Migration, Masai Mara, Kenya

What to expect on this itinerary

The iconic Mara River divides the grasslands to separate the Masai Mara from the Serengeti. From June to October, both sides of the river teem with wildlife as the resident mammals are joined by the marauding millions of the great wildebeest migration. Such abundance creates Africa's greatest wildlife spectacle and the signature cycle of predator and prey. Much like the ungulates, this 9-day safari intimately explores both sides of the Mara and East Africa's flagship experience.

Countries Visited

Kenya, Tanzania

Places Visited

Masai Mara, Serengeti

Suggested Duration

9 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Mara North Conservancy – First Game Drive

Even on the remote airstrip, you can sense the tension. Not from the aviation officials, but from a herd of Thomson's gazelle that are scattered across the plains. They are on high alert, although none of them seem quite sure where the threat is coming from? In your safari vehicle, you will have a higher vantage point, and the guide manages to betray the cheetah's camouflage. The spotted hunter moves furtively through the grass until a muffled call rings out and the gazelle scatters, skipping across the airstrip right in front of your eyes. Welcome to the Masai Mara, the land where predator and prey live out the circle of life and not even a plane can interrupt the show.

After landing at Nairobi International Airport, you will be transferred to Nairobi Wilson Airport for the light aircraft flight to the Mara North Conservancy. The journey from the airstrip to the lodge is a short one, but you are already on safari so the guide will take you on a leisurely game drive across the plains. Hippos open their enormous jaws as you stop for a picnic lunch by a river. Lionesses are also spotted hiding in the grass on the trail of a skittish hartebeest herd as the sightings of wildebeest and zebra seem never to end. When two million mammals are congregated on the plains, it's hard to go long without inspiring wildlife encounters. The length of the game drive is flexible, looping you across the ecosystem to the your lodge and the tranquility of a private cottage where you can gaze out from the verandah, and the wildlife sights continue.

What's Included:

Accommodation
Transfer
Activity
Dinner
Day 2

Mara North Conservancy – On the Trail of the Big Cats

Day 3

Mara North Conservancy – Hot Air Balloon Above the Mara

Day 4

Mara North Conservancy – Walking Safari with Masai Warriors

Day 5

Serengeti – A Rhino Sanctuary

Day 6

Serengeti – The Iconic Serengeti Masai Mara River Crossing

Day 7

Serengeti – Bush Walks and Game Drives in Northern Serengeti

Day 8

Serengeti – Masai Boma

Day 9

Kilimanjaro – Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Trace the wonders of the great wildebeest migration as you explore both sides of the Mara River, the Masai Mara, and northern Serengeti
  • Watch massive herds of wildebeest rumble across the crocodile-infested Mara River, one of Africa's most iconic sights
  • Hot air balloon above the Masai Mara and gaze down on the patchwork of grass and grazers to admire the patterns of the migration from the air
  • Surround yourself with zebra, wildebeest and Thomson's gazelle as hundreds of thousands of the ungulates reveal the scale and exquisite detail of the region
  • Follow the big cats on their stealthy journeys and discover an astonishing abundance of different predators: lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, jackal, vulture, and more
  • Explore the private Mara North Conservancy and find a version of the great wildebeest migration that is inaccessible to other tourists
  • Enjoy two of East Africa's finest safari accommodations, with a private cottage and a luxurious tented suite
  • Base yourself in northern Serengeti, an area that's filled with the migrating herds yet sees very few visitors
  • Compliment the thrilling game drives with walking safaris guided by Masai warriors, a chance to get even closer to the charms of the plains
  • Savor the unique extras, like bush dinners beneath the stars and bubble baths overlooking the migration

Starting Price

$5,300 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 798 reviews

Gina I.
Tanzania Travel Review: Safari, 8 Nights

This was an amazing trip. It was well planned by Zicasso's travel company and executed to perfection. The lodges were beautiful and strategically located. The game drives were so much fun. The guides were tremendous. I have never been on such a well-designed trip.

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Margarita M.
Tanzania, Kenya Vacation Review: 12 Nights

We had a wonderful journey, with every step detailed and escorted from end to end. Our Zicasso travel experts did a great job and were always available for support.

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Stephanie L.
Tanzania, Kenya Travel Review: Balloon Safari, Boat Ride, Culture, 12 Days

Without exaggeration, this was the most amazing trip of my life. Everything was perfect, from the itinerary to the lodging, food, and guides. We saw so much and so many varied topographies. We also got such a great flavor of the culture, people, and way of life in both countries. It truly was incredible from start to finish.

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Tracy C.
Kenya Travel Review: Nairobi, Elephant Experience, Local Cuisine, 8-Night Trip

We had a fantastic trip. There were a few hiccups, but they were minor and were resolved very quickly.

This was pretty much the trip we had envisioned coming to life! Zicasso's travel agents on the ground, assisting us, were on top of things and made the trip go super-smooth. Thanks!

The camps we stayed at were amazing, the food was fabulous at both camps, the hotel in Nairobi was very nice; all in all, a great trip. Thank you so much for putting together my bucket list, including the experience with elephants in Tsavo East National Park!

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Cathy W.
Tanzania, Rwanda Tour Review: Tented Cabins, Gorillas, 11 Nights

Zicasso's travel designer was easy to work with and, most importantly, listened to what we wanted our trip to be. He is a true professional and helped guide us to some truly spectacular places in Tanzania and Rwanda. We highly recommend his travel company!

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Jim K.
Kenya Vacation Review: Family Bonding, Wildlife, 10 Nights

There aren't enough superlatives to describe our safari. Every single aspect exceeded expectations. The Zicasso trip designer, who handled the in-country arrangements, was terrific, and literally every arrangement went smoothly. A few last-minute changes on the front and back end were handled effectively. 

Each of the camps was different, but wonderful in its own way. We liked the variation. The accommodations were great and the food was great. But the people – hosts, driver/guides, spotters, service personnel were really great – friendly, fun, helpful, enjoyable to be with, and really great. It's difficult to put into words how much we enjoyed being with them and with each other (me, my five adult children, and their spouses). And the wildlife and landscapes, again, quite different over the three camps, were spectacular. Every game drive was a much-anticipated adventure and the guides were, to a person, superb in helping us understand the animal behaviors we observed. 

There is nothing we would have done differently and we were constantly amazed at how smoothly everything worked out (literally no hitches, even minor ones), how much fun we had with each other and our hosts, and how much the people we were with contributed to our experience. I'm not given to hyperbole, but I'm left without words to describe how great the experiences we had were and how seamless the arrangements seemed to be.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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