THE MIGRATION IN SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

From November through to June, Authentic Tanzania now offers a private seasonal migration special itinerary following one of nature’s truly spectacular migratory spectacles as thousands of wildebeest and zebra and their attendant predators follow their cyclical pattern.

NGORONGORO CRATER
The Ngorongoro Crater is a natural amphitheatre created about 2 million years ago when the cone of a volcano collapsed into itself, leaving a 100 square mile (259km²) caldron-like cavity. This caldera, protected by a circular unbroken 2,000-foot high rim (610-metres), contains everything necessary for Africa's wildlife to exist and thrive.

Ngorongoro is on Tanzania's 'northern safari circuit', and receives a good number of visitors who stay in lodges around the crater. Game viewing vehicles descend the steep crater wall every morning and spend the day on grass plains that are teeming with animals. However, the dark of night belongs to the animals, and all vehicles must leave the crater floor well before sunset.

Early man also flourished around here at Olduvai Gorge, not far from the Ngorongoro Crater. This is known because in 1960, Mary Leakey discovered a 1.75 million-year-old Homo habilis (nicknamed 'The Handyman' for his tool making skills), who represents man’s first step on the ladder of human evolution.

The Maasai are the current human inhabitants and are at liberty to live within the sprawling 2,500 square mile (6,480km²) conservation area around the crater. The Maasai never cultivate land as they consider it demeaning. Instead they graze cattle, which hold a god-like status in Maasai culture, and in return the cows provide almost everything necessary to live; meat, skin, milk, dung for the walls and floor of their huts

SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
Tanzania's oldest and most popular national park, the Serengeti is famed for its annual migration, when some six million hooves pound the open plains, as more than 200,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson's gazelle join the wildebeest’s trek for fresh grazing. Yet even when the migration is quiet, the Serengeti offers arguably the most scintillating game-viewing in Africa: buffalo, smaller groups of elephant and giraffe, topi, kongoni, impala and Grant’s gazelle.

But there is more to Serengeti than large mammals. Gaudy agama lizards and rock hyraxes scuffle around the surfaces of the park’s isolated granite koppies. A full 100 varieties of dung beetle have been recorded, as have 500-plus bird species, ranging from the outsized ostrich and bizarre secretary bird of the open grassland, to the black eagles that soar effortlessly above the Lobo Hills.
As endearing as the game-viewing is the liberating sense of space that characterizes the Serengeti Plains, stretching across sunburnt savannah to a shimmering golden horizon at the end of the earth. Yet, after the rains, this golden expanse of grass is transformed into an endless green carpet flecked with wildflowers. And there are also wooded hills and towering termite mounds, rivers lined with fig trees and acacia woodland stained orange by dust.

MIGRATION ITINERARY to NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA and SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

Day 1. Arrival Arusha (if arrival in Dar es Salaam you will fly to Manyara on Day 2)
Arrive Kilimanjaro International airport, transfer to KIA Lodge. BB

Day 2. Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Drive to Ngorongoro Crater. Afternoon game drive.
O/n Ngorongoro Wilderness Camp. FB

This new seasonal camp is situated within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
There are only 10 en-suite tents, with twin beds, solar lighting and hot water bush showers. A large dining tent with bar, as well as a comfortable lounge area with a small reference library, and a typical safari campfire make up the balance of the facilities. The camp runs in as eco-friendly way as possible, with all waste etc. being disposed of under Park’s guidelines.

Day 3. Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Morning game drive. Afternoon walk along crater rim with option to visit a Maasai cultural visitor centre. O/n Ngorongoro Wilderness Camp. FB

Day 4. Serengeti National Park
Drive to Serengeti, with optional visit to Olduvai gorge en route, afternoon game drive.
O/n Serengeti Wilderness Camp. FB

This new camp is a seasonal camp, which is relocated every three months or so. We endeavour to get sites that are close to the best game viewing at certain times of the year, but also preferably not in busy areas of the park - a true wilderness experience.
There are only 10 en-suite tents, with twin beds, solar lighting and hot water bush showers. A large dining tent with bar, as well as a comfortable lounge area with a small reference library, and a typical safari campfire make up the balance of the facilities. The camp runs in as eco-friendly way as possible, with all waste etc. being disposed of under Park’s guidelines. Please enquire at the time of booking as to where the camp will be located.

Day 5. Serengeti National Park
Full day game drive in Serengeti N.P.
O/n Serengeti Wilderness Camp. FB

Day 6. Serengeti National Park
Full day game drive in Serengeti N.P.
O/n Serengeti Wilderness Camp. FB

Day 7. Depart to Ruaha N.P., Zanzibar or the coast

RECOMMENDED EXTENSION TO RUAHA N.P.

Day 7. Ruaha National Park
Fly Seronera to Ruaha.
Met and transfer to start of 3 day/2 night walking safari trail.
Afternoon walk to Camp 1 (approx 6 km). FB

Day 8. Ruaha National Park
Morning and afternoon walks along the Ruaha River with time to rest at a shaded area beside the river in heat of the day. O/n Camp 2. FB

Day 9. Ruaha National Park
Morning walk to end of the trail.
Afternoon game drive to camp.
O/n Authentic Tanzania Private Camp. FB

Day 10. Ruaha National Park
Full day game drive in Ruaha N.P.
O/n Authentic Tanzania Private Camp. FB

Day 11. Ruaha National Park Full day game drive in Ruaha N.P.
O/n Authentic Tanzania Private Camp. FB

Day 12. Depart
Fly to Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar or the coast.