Expedition Details
Experience the thunder of the legendary wildebeest migration on a wildlife safari in Tanzania. This trip varies slightly by season to provide travelers with the best opportunity to witness the great migration. Take in extraordinary vistas of the Great Rift Valley and the vast savannas of the Serengeti, and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater to spot lions, cheetahs, elephants, and more.
Trip Highlights
- Meet renowned anthropologist Meave or Louise Leakey — both National Geographic Explorers-in Residence — at Olduvai Gorge.*
- Witness the great annual wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park.
- Spot spectacular wildlife in the Ngorongoro Crater, a unique habitat sheltering almost 30,000 animals.
- Join a Maasai chief on a visit to his village, witness a traditional ceremony, and learn firsthand about Maasai culture.
Itinerary - 11 Days
Days 1 & 2 — U.S./Arusha, Tanzania
Depart on an overnight flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport via Amsterdam, and arrive the following evening.
Arusha Coffee Lodge
Day 3 — Arusha/Lake Manyara National Park
Drive to Lake Manyara National Park, famous for its elephants, hippos, giraffes, flamingos, and tree-climbing lions. This afternoon, set out on our first wildlife safari.
Plantation Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 4 — Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast, enjoy a morning safari in Lake Manyara National Park. In the afternoon, visit a coffee plantation to learn about the coffee production process.
Plantation Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 5 — Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast, travel to the Ngorongoro Crater where a nearby Maasai community welcomes us into their village on a special visit. Far from the tourist circuit, enjoy a rare opportunity to view traditional singing and dancing, visit a school, witness an initiation ritual, and learn about this fascinating culture from the village chief and his wives. After lunch, descend 2,000 feet to the base of the crater, where volcanic slopes shelter almost 30,000 animals. Enjoy an afternoon on safari viewing elephants, rhinos, buffalo, cheetahs, lions, hyenas, hippos, wildebeests, and much more of East Africa's spectacular wildlife.
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 6 — Ngorongoro Crater
After an early breakfast, enjoy a morning safari in the Ngorongoro Crater. In the afternoon, watch the sun set over the crater from our lodge. Tonight, Meave Leakey or her daughter Louise, both National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence, joins us for dinner and a discussion about the Leakey family's research.*
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 7 — Olduvai Gorge/Serengeti National Park
Drive to the Olduvai Gorge where, on a National Geographic-sponsored expedition in 1960, Louis and Mary Leakey discovered Homo habilis, one of the earliest members of the human genus. Meave or Louise Leakey, who unearthed a 3.5-million-year-old-skull and partial jaw believed to belong to a new branch of hominid, will join us on our visit here.* In order to provide travelers with the best opportunity to witness the moving wildebeest migration, the Serengeti days differ by season. During the summer and fall months, the wildebeest migration is at its best in the central and northern Serengeti. This afternoon, drive to our lodge in the central Serengeti, looking for lions, cheetahs, and leopards along the way.
Serengeti Sopa Lodge (B,L,D)
Days 8 & 9 — Serengeti National Park
Rise early for a morning game drive before flying to the northern Serengeti to witness the dramatic river crossings of the wildebeest migration. The great herds of wildebeest and zebra eye predators warily as crocodile snouts break the surface of the Mara River. Stay in a luxury tented camp, and on morning and afternoon game drives, take in the region's spectacular array of wildlife including lions, cheetahs, giraffes, and elephants. On our last evening, gather for a candlelit farewell dinner in the bush.
Sayari Camp (B,L,D daily)
Days 10 & 11 — Serengeti/Arusha/U.S.
After an early morning safari, fly back to Arusha. Relax at our hotel before connecting with your evening flight home, arriving the next day.
KIA Lodge (B,L)
Optional Extensions
- Zanzibar - Post-Trip Extension, 4 Days
- Kenya - Post-Trip Extension, 4 Days
- Rwanda Gorilla Tracking - Post-Trip Extension, 6 Days
Related Trip
View LargerNational Geographic Expert
David Bygott
Biologist and artist David Bygott first came to Tanzania in 1969 to work on Jane Goodall's National Geographic-funded team studying wild chimpanzees. David spent four years as a lion biologist for the Serengeti Lion Project, researching lion behavior in northern Tanzania. He later taught zoology to future wildlife managers at the University of Dar es Salaam. David worked with Dian Fossey sketching gorillas, and has contributed illustrations to numerous East African guidebooks and to National Geographic magazine. David and his wife lived in Tanzania for more 25 than years.
David will join the following departures:
Jul 05 - 15, 2012 • Jul 25 - Aug 04, 2012Dec 27, 2012 - Jan 06, 2013
Expedition Dates 
2012
- Jul 05 - 15, 2012 (waitlist only)
- Jul 25 - Aug 04, 2012 (waitlist only)
- Sep 08 - 18, 2012
- Oct 04 - 14, 2012
- Dec 08 - 18, 2012
- Dec 27, 2012 - Jan 06, 2013
indicates a departure that has a slightly different itinerary than the one shown on this page. Click the icon to see the day-to-day itinerary.
From December to March, the wildebeest migration is at its best in the southern Serengeti. On these departures, Days 7, 8, and 9 have been adapted to maximize our migration viewing. Please click on the Alt icon above for a detailed itinerary.
* The Leakeys are not able to join the July departures, or the December 2012 departures. Instead, meet Dr. Fidelis Masao, co-director of research at Olduvai Gorge.
