Northern Tanzania Crossing Season

Don’t miss the unbelievable spectacle of Tanzania’s famous river crossings in Northern Serengeti between July and October. Herds face a dangerous hurdle to reach fresh grazing grounds.

Overview

Witness Tanzania’s famous river crossings at the legendary Mara River in Northern Serengeti. Between  July and October, the herds will gather at the steep riverbanks, waiting for the perfect moment to cross,  while the strong current and dangerous Nile crocodiles are a hurdle that they must overcome to reach  fresh grazing grounds! An unbelievable spectacle for any safari goer!

Trip Highlights

Trip Highlights

Information

Trip Info

Dry Season in Tanzania – June to October

During this time, the weather is generally dry, with little to no rainfall (between 15mm – 36mm per month). The average temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F), making it a popular time for wildlife safaris and visits. The dry season is also ideal for witnessing the Great Migration, as herds of wildebeest and other animals migrate across the plains.

Wet Season in Tanzania – November to May

The peak of rainfall is typically in March (178mm / 7”), April (368mm / 14.5”), and May (211mm / 8.3”). The wet season is characterized by intermittent showers and occasional heavy downpours. Average temperatures during this time range from 20°C to 28°C (68°F to 82°F). The landscapes become lush and green, offering beautiful scenery and opportunities for birdwatching. However, it’s important to note that some roads and trails may become impassable due to muddy conditions.

Best Times To Spot Wildlife in Tanzania

As one of the best game viewing countries on the continent, Tanzania offers year-round opportunities for seeing some of Africa’s most impressive animals. 

For the Great Serengeti Migration: head to Southeastern Serengeti from December through April, Western Serengeti and Grumeti from May through July, and Northern Serengeti from July through November. 

For other wildlife in Tanzania, December through January is equally great for Lake Mantra and Ngorongoro, while July through November is excellent for Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Selous, Ruaha, Mahale, Gombe, Katavi.

Itinerary

Trip Itinerary

Lake Manyara National Park

Meet & Greet in Arusha with your professional driver/guide. Drive to Manyara National Park – located directly along the Rift Valley. The park is squeezed in between the steep sloping Rift Valley Wall and the shallow, alkaline soda lake. The dry season from June to October is best for viewing large mammals such as elephants, giraffes, zebras and cats; while the wet season, from November to May, is ideal to spot birds. Proceed to your accommodation.

Ngorongoro Crater

Departure with picnic-lunch to Ngorongoro Crater for game drive. The Ngorongoro Crater is an intact volcanic caldera and a natural sanctuary for wildlife. Expect to encounter prides of lions, elephants with huge tusks due to the rich volcanic soil, plain game, hippos, birds and many more. With a little luck you might spot the highly endangered black rhinoceros. Proceed to your overnight stay.

Serengeti National Park – Central

Road journey to Serengeti National Park with picnic-lunch. Serengeti is Tanzania’s most famous national park and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981. Game viewing is fantastic throughout the year with resident game including buffalos, cheetahs, crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, hippos, hyenas, leopards, lions, servals, warthogs, wildebeests, zebras and many more!

Serengeti National Park – Northern

Between July and October, thousands of wildebeest will gather at the legendary Mara River in Northern Serengeti – always waiting for the perfect moment to cross in order to reach fresh grazing grounds. The crossing of Mara is much more challenging than the crossing of Grumeti (between May and June) due to the steep river banks and strong streams.

The herds will gather on the river bank, undecided about what to do. Once the first begins to cross, the rest will follow almost blindly. Nile crocodiles, predators including cheetahs, leopards and lions are ready to pounce as the migration crosses their territory. The herds will spread over the northern grasslands and will cross back and forth between Serengeti and Masai Mara. What a spectacle!

Flight back to Arusha

In the morning we’ll have a short transfer to Kogatende Airstrip for a scheduled flight back to JRO.

Northern Tanzania Classic Safari

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Itinerary

Trip Details

Inclusions

Exclusions

Prices

  • 2 pax based on a double room $5,190/person
  • 4 pax based on 2 double rooms $4,645/person
  • 6 pax based on 3 double rooms $4,460/person

Our tailor-made trips are designed to offer you the best possible value to make your East African safari experience a memorable one. As a boutique tour operator, we are happy to personalise your trip budget and package according to your needs.

Please treat all pricing as a guide only, as customisations made to this itinerary, style of travel, and number of guests may raise or lower the overall cost. All rates are subject to availability and may change without notice. Single supplements may apply.

For the best, most current rates available, request a quote or speak to one of Kikooko Africa Safari’s travel experts.

Warren Anwkasa,
Founder, Kikooko Africa Safaris

Inquire About This Tour

All our itineraries can be adapted to suit your personal interests and preferences. 

Please feel free to discuss these with us so we can personalise your tour for your maximum enjoyment.

For the most current rates for your party, request a quote or speak to one of Kikooko Africa Safari’s travel experts.

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