9 Day Grumeti River Crossing Migration Safari

Grumeti River Crossing – a once-in-a-lifetime experience, escape the crowds and journey into the Western Corridor of the Serengeti

Overview

From March to June, witness the awe-inspiring migration of herds spreading across the Central Serengeti in search of new grass and fresh water. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, escape the crowds and journey into the Western Corridor of the Serengeti. Here, with a bit of luck, you might witness the Grumeti River Crossing (not to be confused with the Mara Crossings in the North of the Serengeti, which typically occur in August/September). This extraordinary adventure includes luxurious accommodation options where you’ll be treated to unparalleled service, exceptional food and wine, and expert safari guiding.

Best Time to Go on this Trip

March, April, May, and June offer a unique opportunity to witness this natural spectacle.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

Your journey begins as you land at JRO Kilimanjaro airport. After getting your bags and going through customs, our driver will meet you and take you to your hotel in Arusha. Depending on when your flight arrives, we can plan extra activities like a city tour, a visit to a coffee farm, a bike ride, a trip to Lake Duluti, or a half-day safari in Arusha National Park. Dinner is included at the lodge, where you can relax in beautiful gardens and by the pool, getting ready for an early start tomorrow.

Day 2-3: Exploring Tarangire National Park

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel, then meet your driver. You’ll have a game drive for the next few days as you explore Tarangire. Embrace a slower pace of life, where you can deeply connect with the natural world.

Day 4: Discovering Ngorongoro Crater

After breakfast, your safari guide will join you for the next part of your adventure. You’ll drive to Lake Manyara National Park for a few hours of wildlife exploration and have a light picnic lunch. The park has diverse landscapes, from a soda lake in the Rift Valley to thick forests and steep mountainsides. Lake Manyara’s shores are home to over 400 bird species and attract flamingos. You can also spot buffalo herds, Masai giraffes, and impalas. Then, continue to the Ngorongoro Crater Rim for dinner at your camp

Day 5: Exploring Ngorongoro Crater

Today we will start early to descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a few hours of game viewing before the crowds arrive. This caldera, Africa’s “eighth wonder of the world,” is a stunning sight. Formed 2.5 million years ago, it’s the largest of its kind globally. You’ll have the best chance to view the Big Five and enjoy a packed picnic-style lunch before returning to camp.

Day 6-8: Serengeti Western Corridor

Return to Manyara and fly to the Grumeti Airstrip. Transfer to the lodge, located in the remote western reaches of the Serengeti National Park. Here, you’ll find intimacy and exclusivity in a pristine section of the park . Daily game drives often encounter large lion prides, hyena clans, resident plains game herds. During March to June, you might witness splinter herds from the Great Migration gathering in the western corridor before heading north.

Day 9: End of Your Adventure

On your last morning in the bush, enjoy breakfast in camp and a leisurely drive to the airstrip. Say goodbye to your safari guide and catch the scheduled flight to JRO airport. Depending on your onward journey, we can arrange a day room nearby, provide leisure time for check-in, or extend your safari to Zanzibar