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8 Days Ultimate Luxury Safari — Mara River & Serengeti
Safari

8 Days Ultimate Luxury Safari — Mara River & Serengeti

The 8 Days Ultimate Luxury Safari is our most comprehensive luxury migration safari, designed for travellers who want maximum time at the Mara River crossing — the most dramatic wildlife spectacle o...

Duration8 days / 7 nights
CategoryLuxury
USD 5,290 per person
At a glance

Trip Overview

Duration 8 days / 7 nights
Category Luxury
From $5,290
Trip overview

What to Expect

The 8 Days Ultimate Luxury Safari is our most comprehensive luxury migration safari, designed for travellers who want maximum time at the Mara River crossing — the most dramatic wildlife spectacle on Earth — combined with luxury accommodation and expert guides. This fly-in safari gives you five full days at the Mara River, maximising your chances of witnessing the extraordinary river crossing.

Fly from Arusha to the northern Serengeti in just over an hour, landing in the heart of the Great Migration corridor. Spend five nights at luxury tented camps along the Mara River, with private game drives and dedicated guides who know the crossing points intimately.

Continue to the Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day game drive — the best place in Africa to see black rhino — then return to Arusha in comfort.

This luxury safari includes all internal flights, luxury accommodation throughout, a private 4x4 vehicle with dedicated guide, gourmet dining, house drinks, and AMREF Flying Doctors emergency evacuation cover.

Book This Safari
Why this journey

Trip Highlights

Fly from Arusha to the northern Serengeti — save a full day of driving
Five full days at the Mara River — maximum chances to witness the crossing
Great Migration river crossing — wildebeest, crocodiles, and drama
Private 4x4 safari vehicle with dedicated professional guide
Luxury tented camps along the Mara River with panoramic views
Ngorongoro Crater full-day game drive — best place in Africa for black rhino
Internal flights between all destinations
Full-board luxury dining and house drinks included
8 stops

Day-by-Day Itinerary

1 Day

Arusha → Northern Serengeti (Flight) — Mara River

Morning transfer from your Arusha hotel to the local airstrip for a scenic light-aircraft flight to Kogatende in the northern Serengeti. As you fly over the Great Rift Valley, watch the landscape unfold below.

In just over an hour, you'll land at Kogatende airstrip in the heart of the Great Migration corridor. Your private guide and 4x4 vehicle are waiting. Transfer to your luxury tented camp on the Mara River.

In the afternoon, drive to the Mara River and find a vantage point overlooking a crossing site. Watch the herds gathering at the water's edge — thousands of wildebeest milling about, testing the water.

Return to camp for sundowner cocktails as the sun sets over the migration landscape. Gourmet dinner under the most spectacular star sky you've ever seen.
Distance~1 h flight
StayMara River Luxury Camp
MealsLunch, Dinner
  • Scenic flight over the Great Rift Valley
  • First views of the Great Migration herds
  • Afternoon at the Mara River crossing site
  • Massive Nile crocodiles in the water
  • Sundowner cocktails at camp
2 Day

Full Day Mara River — Day 1

Rise before dawn and drive to the river before sunrise. The early morning light transforms the landscape into a photographer's dream — golden light, long shadows, and herds of wildebeest silhouetted against the dawn sky.

The crossing is unpredictable — it could happen at first light, or the herds may wait for hours, even days. But when it does happen, it's one of the most extraordinary wildlife spectacles on Earth.

Return to camp for a late breakfast and midday rest. The heat of the day often brings a lull in activity, but the river never sleeps.

In the afternoon, drive to a different section of the river to observe the migration from a new perspective. Watch the herds from the far bank, where lions wait for stragglers.

Return to camp for dinner and reflect on a day that may have witnessed one of nature's greatest spectacles.
DistanceGame drives within the park
StayMara River Luxury Camp
MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Dawn at the Mara River crossing site
  • Wait for the dramatic river crossing
  • Big cat encounters along the river banks
  • Afternoon game drive in a new area
  • Dinner at camp with migration views
3 Day

Full Day Mara River — Day 2

Rise before dawn for another day at the Mara River. The herds move constantly, and your guide uses expert knowledge and radio communication with other guides to find the best crossing points.

Drive along the river, stopping at different vantage points to observe the herds. Watch the wildebeest gathering in huge numbers on the riverbank — the noise is extraordinary.

The Mara River is not just about the crossing — the river itself is a wildlife hotspot. Hippos surface and submerge in the dark water, crocodiles bask on the sandbanks, and fish eagles swoop overhead.

Return to camp for a late breakfast, then head out for a final afternoon game drive in the northern Serengeti.

End the day with sundowners on the Serengeti plains, watching the sun set over the endless horizon.
DistanceGame drives within the park
StayMara River Luxury Camp
MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Sunrise game drive along the Mara River
  • Track the Great Migration herds
  • Hippo pools and crocodile watching
  • Afternoon game drive in the northern Serengeti
  • Sundowners over the migration landscape
4 Day

Full Day Mara River — Day 3

Rise early for another day tracking the Great Migration along the Mara River. Today, focus on a different section of the river — perhaps one where the current is stronger, or where the banks are steeper.

The crossing is unpredictable, but the drama is constant — herds gathering at the water's edge, testing the water, retreating, and gathering again. The tension is palpable.

Return to camp for a late breakfast and midday rest. In the afternoon, drive to the northern Serengeti's resident predator areas. The northern Serengeti is home to several lion prides that have adapted to the migration corridor.

End the day with sundowners on the riverbank, watching the sun set over the migration landscape.
DistanceGame drives within the park
StayMara River Luxury Camp
MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Different section of the Mara River
  • Migration gathering at the water's edge
  • Predator tracking in the northern Serengeti
  • Lion prides on the kopjes
  • Sunset on the riverbank
5 Day

Full Day Mara River — Day 4

Rise early for another day at the Mara River — and the crossing could happen at any moment.

Today, try a different strategy — perhaps a dawn approach to a crossing site where the herds have been gathering for days. The patience required for a river crossing is extraordinary, but the reward is one of the most dramatic wildlife spectacles on Earth.

Return to camp for a late breakfast and midday rest. The heat of the day drives predators to seek shade, but the river remains active.

In the afternoon, drive to the western Serengeti to explore the Grumeti River area — another important migration crossing point. The Grumeti is home to the largest Nile crocodiles in East Africa.

End the day with sundowners on the Serengeti plains, watching the sun set over the endless horizon.
DistanceGame drives within the park
StayMara River Luxury Camp
MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Dawn approach to crossing site
  • Patience at the river
  • Afternoon drive to Grumeti River
  • Largest Nile crocodiles in East Africa
  • Sundowners over the Serengeti
6 Day

Northern Serengeti — Remote Wilderness

Rise early for a day focused on the northern Serengeti's remote wilderness and resident predators. The northern Serengeti is less visited than the central Serengeti, and the wildlife here is often more relaxed.

Drive to the kopjes where lion prides bask on the warm granite, their cubs playing among the rocks. The northern Serengeti lions are among the healthiest and most active in the Serengeti.

Continue to the granite outcrops where leopards rest in the shade. The northern Serengeti offers exceptional leopard photography.

Return to camp for a late breakfast, then head out for a final afternoon game drive. The northern Serengeti offers diverse landscapes — from the riverine woodland along the Mara River to the open grasslands.

End the day with sundowners on the Serengeti plains, watching the sun set over the endless horizon.
DistanceGame drives within the park
StayMara River Luxury Camp
MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Lion pride tracking on the kopjes
  • Leopard photography in the granite outcrops
  • Remote wilderness game drive
  • Sundowners over the migration landscape
  • Night sounds of the Serengeti
7 Day

Northern Serengeti → Ngorongoro — Crater Finale

Rise early for one final game drive in the northern Serengeti. The early morning light is extraordinary, and the Serengeti is particularly peaceful before other vehicles arrive.

Return to camp for breakfast, then check out and transfer to the airstrip for your flight to the Ngorongoro Crater. The scenic flight takes you over the Crater Highlands — the aerial views of the crater are extraordinary.

Land near the crater rim and transfer to your luxury lodge perched on the edge of the caldera. The lodge offers panoramic views across the crater.

In the afternoon, descend 600 metres to the crater floor for a game drive. This self-contained ecosystem holds over 25,000 animals, including around 25 black rhinos.

Ascend the crater rim in the evening and return to your luxury lodge. Watch the sunset paint the crater walls gold from your private balcony.
Distance~1 h flight + 3 h drive
StayNgorongoro Luxury Lodge
MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Final sunrise game drive in the Serengeti
  • Flight to the Ngorongoro Crater
  • Luxury crater rim lodge
  • Afternoon crater game drive
  • Sunset from the crater rim
8 Day

Ngorongoro → Arusha — Farewell Tanzania

Rise before dawn for a final experience — watch the sunrise over the Ngorongoro Crater from the rim viewpoint. As the first light touches the crater floor, the landscape transforms from shadow to gold.

After breakfast, begin the drive back to Arusha through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Stop at a Maasai boma for a cultural visit — watch traditional jumping dances, learn about Maasai cattle herding.

Continue through the Crater Highlands, descending through lush montane forest where Colobus monkeys leap between the branches.

Arrive in Arusha by lunchtime. Stop for a farewell lunch at a local restaurant, then transfer to your hotel or the airport. Eight days, one extraordinary migration, unforgettable luxury.
Distance5 h drive
StayPark View Inn Moshi (or similar)
MealsBreakfast, Lunch
  • Sunrise over the Ngorongoro Crater
  • Maasai boma cultural visit
  • Drive through the Karatu farmlands
  • Farewell lunch in Arusha
  • Transfer to hotel or airport
What's covered

Included & Excluded

Everything you need for a seamless journey — and a clear view of what to arrange yourself.

What's included

  • Premium airport transfers (pickup and drop-off)
  • Private Land Cruiser 4x4 with pop-up roof for game viewing
  • Dedicated professional English-speaking safari guide
  • 7 nights luxury accommodation — premium lodges and tented camps
  • All meals — gourmet breakfasts, bush lunches, multi-course dinners
  • Premium drinks — fine wines, spirits, cocktails, soft drinks, bottled water
  • Complimentary laundry service at all lodges and camps
  • Scheduled flight Lake Manyara → Serengeti
  • Scheduled flight Kogatende → Manyara
  • All national park and conservation area entry fees
  • Ngorongoro Crater descent and vehicle fees
  • Sundowner cocktails daily at scenic viewpoints
  • Balloon safari option (bookable in advance, extra cost)
  • AMREF Flying Doctors emergency evacuation cover
  • 24/7 operations support from our Arusha team
  • All government taxes and VAT

Not included

  • International and domestic flights (unless specified)
  • Tanzania visa (USD 50 on arrival)
  • Travel insurance (mandatory — must cover medical evacuation)
  • Tips for guides and camp staff (recommended USD 20–30 per day)
  • Balloon safari (USD 550 per person, bookable in advance)
  • Souvenirs, curios, and personal purchases
  • Spa treatments at lodges (where available)
  • Premium champagne and special-order spirits
Wildlife Awaits

Ready for Your Safari Adventure?

Book today with just 20% deposit. Our local experts will personalize every detail — from game drives to luxury lodges across Tanzania's most iconic parks.

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Pack smart

Packing list

A category-by-category checklist tailored to this safari. Items marked essential should not be skipped — rentals are available in Arusha.

Essentials

  • Daypack (20-30L) for game drives
  • Refillable water bottle
  • Sunscreen SPF 50+ and lip balm
  • Insect repellent
  • Personal medications
  • Passport and copies
  • Cash for tips and souvenirs (USD recommended)
  • Camera with zoom lens (200mm+ recommended)

Clothing

  • Neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, olive, brown) — avoid bright colours
  • Warm fleece or jacket for early mornings
  • Lightweight long-sleeved shirts for sun protection
  • Comfortable walking shoes or closed-toe sandals
  • Wide-brimmed sun hat or baseball cap

Gear & Electronics

  • Binoculars (essential for spotting distant wildlife)
  • Camera with zoom lens (200mm+ recommended)
  • Spare memory cards and battery pack
  • Sunglasses with UV protection
  • Small waterproof bag for electronics
Before you book

Important information

Practical details every traveller should read before confirming. We'll cover everything again in your pre-departure pack.

Migration Timing

The Mara River crossings happen between July and October. August and September are typically the peak crossing months. Your guide will use expert knowledge and radio communication with other guides to find the best crossing points.

Accommodation

Luxury tented camps along the Mara River with en-suite bathrooms, gourmet dining, and house drinks included. The camps are positioned for easy access to the crossing points.

Private Guide & Vehicle

You'll have a private 4x4 vehicle with a dedicated professional safari guide for the entire safari. Your guide specialises in the Great Migration and knows the Mara River crossing points intimately.

Best Time to Travel

July to October for the Great Migration river crossings. August and September are typically the peak crossing months.

Tipping Guidelines

Recommended: USD 20–30 per person per day for the safari guide. Tips should be given in cash (USD) at the end of the trip.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before your safari. Can't find your answer? Get in touch.

The river crossings happen between July and October, when the Great Migration moves from the southern Serengeti to the Masai Mara in Kenya. August and September are typically the peak crossing months.
Five full days at the Mara River significantly increase your chances of witnessing a crossing. Even without a crossing, the migration landscape is extraordinary. The river itself is a wildlife hotspot.
Luxury tented camps along the Mara River with proper beds, en-suite bathrooms, gourmet dining, and house drinks included. The camps are positioned for easy access to the crossing points.
Five full days at the Mara River significantly increase your chances of witnessing a crossing. The extra days also allow you to explore different sections of the river and the northern Serengeti's resident predators.
Absolutely! Many travellers add a Zanzibar beach stay, a Kilimanjaro climb, or a Lake Natron extension. Contact us for a customised itinerary.
Recommended: USD 20–30 per person per day for your safari guide. Tips should be given in cash (USD) at the end of the trip.
Yes. Tanzania is one of Africa's safest safari destinations. All our guides are trained in wildlife safety protocols. The lodges have 24-hour security.
Yes! An optional hot air balloon safari is available in the northern Serengeti for USD 550 per person. This includes a sunrise flight over the migration and a champagne breakfast on landing.
Get in Touch

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+255 783 884 129
+255 783 884 129
info@bushliontours.com

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8 Days Ultimate Luxury Safari — Mara River & Serengeti

8 Days Ultimate Luxury Safari — Mara River & Serengeti

Price Calculator

Price per person $5,290
Number of travelers × 1
Total Price $5,290
Deposit to confirm (20%) $1,058

Balance due 60 days before departure. Free cancellation up to 24 hours prior.

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