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Wake up to the call of the wild on this intimate and authentic tour through Kenya and Tanzania, without sacrificing any comfort or service. You will set off after a welcome overnight stay at Arusha Coffee Lodge for the warm and friendly atmosphere of Gibb’s Farm, nestled against the forested slopes of the magnificent Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This working farm is ideally located to explore the surrounding wildlife areas like the Ngorongoro Crater, which offers the easiest and most rewarding Big 5 viewing in East Africa. It is not unusual to see elephant, rhino, leopard, lion and buffalo in a single game drive in the Crater, whose fertile floor is fed by the rich minerals left over from a volcanic eruption millions of years ago.
Your next stop is the intimate and down-to-earth Ubuntu Migration Camp, which follows the migrating plains game comprising millions of wildebeest as well as a smattering of antelope and zebra across the Serengeti. Expect to get the most authentic experience of the Great Migration at this semi-permanent safari camp.
Then you answer the call of the Masai Mara and head for your final destination, Rekero Camp. Your privacy is top of mind, yet the reassuring and knowledgeable presence of some of the best guides in the Mara is never far away. A cultural visit is on your ‘to-do’ list to learn more about the traditional ways of the Maasai. Spend the rest of your time watching the game come to drink at the Talek River from your veranda.
Make a Positive Impact Through Travel
This Positive Impact Safari includes a donation to a Community initiative
When you book this safari Stories Experiences Travel will donate $5 to the VETA Hotel and Tourism Training Institute to support the annual sponsorship of two students.
Day 1: Farming coffee in Arusha
Arusha, Tanzania
The Arusha Coffee Lodge is a fine way to start your East African travels: with Mount Meru in the distance, the emerald bushes studded with red beans surrounding you, and the smell of coffee in the air. Your first night on safari is spent in a welcoming Plantation Room, deep in the estate. Each room is comfortably furnished and has a romantic log fire to ward off the evening chill.
The lodge is on the outskirts of Arusha, the nearest town to all the northern Tanzanian game parks. While here, visit the Tanzanite Museum or the Maasai Market, or learn more about coffee on the estate tour. Be sure to make time for a relaxing spa treatment to ease into the adventure mood.
Travel through Lake Manyara National Park en route to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Lake Manyara is renowned for its rich birdlife and tree-climbing lion population (they clamber into the branches to escape the heat and several members of a single pride can all be in the same tree at once). Your home for the next two nights is the magical Gibb’s Farm, set against the forested highlands of the Big 5-rich Ngorongoro Crater – the biggest intact and unfilled volcanic caldera in the world.
Enjoy the warm and friendly atmosphere of the original farmhouse and your charming suite, set in the heart of a working coffee plantation and dairy farm. Savour healthy, home-cooked meals featuring garden-fresh vegetables and organic fruit from the farm. Take the opportunity to unwind with a variety of treatments at the African Living Spa, featuring traditional Maasai healing techniques.
Go on guided walks on the rim of the famous Crater and go on exhilarating game drives down into the caldera. The scenery is absolutely spectacular and the Ngorongoro is home to about 30 000 animals that are protected by the caldera and sustained by the Crater’s springs and rich grazing. It is not unusual to see all the Big 5 in a single day.
Time marches on and it is time for you to migrate to the Serengeti, where the traditional Ubuntu Mobile Camp is waiting to welcome you. Offering the feel of raw wilderness and authentic safari, it keeps comfort in mind. Ubuntu Camp moves with the Great Wildebeest Migration, always offering you the best game-viewing opportunities: from May to July, it is in the Western Corridor between the Nyakoroma Hills and the border of the Serengeti; from July to October it moves to the northern Serengeti; from December to March, the tents are pitched at the Ngorongoro Conservancy Area.
All eight tents have safari classics, such as fire-heated bucket showers. Bathrooms are en-suite, and with 20 metres or 66 feet between tents, you are guaranteed privacy while the barriers between you and the wild are kept to a minimum.
You have your own vehicle and guide, who spends 11 months of the year with the herds and passes on this intimate knowledge of their behaviour to you. Game drives are a top activity at Ubuntu Mobile Camp but during the months in the south, the best option is a guided walking safari, which can last an hour or half a day (depending on your fitness and preferences) and sometimes brings you up close to elephant, giraffe, buffalo or even far-off lion.
Close to the confluence of the Mara and Talek rivers, in one of the most game-rich areas of the Masai Mara, sits Rekero Camp, a deceptively simple eco-camp that is ideally situated for the annual Wildebeest Migration, and which is your next destination. This mobile camp is set up seasonally, from June to October, and December to March. There are nine spacious tents, each en-suite with flush toilets and showers. Each tent also has a deck with a daybed that invites you to have a quiet siesta after a morning or afternoon of adrenaline-inducing game viewing. Each also has its own personal butler to attend to your needs.
Rekero offers an in-depth and truly authentic Mara experience, and its guides share their knowledge willingly. Take a cultural tour or visit a local village to learn more about the ancient Maasai warriors who have long trod this land. There is also birding, game drives, guided walks and picnics on the menu, as well as hot-air ballooning.
At the end of your East African odyssey, you return to Arusha for your onward arrangements home.
- Conservation levies
- Intercamp transfers ; camp to airstrip transfers
- Park fees
- Scheduled activities
- Scheduled flight from Manyara to Serengeti South ; Scheduled flight from Serengeti South to Tarime ; Scheduled flight from Migori to Mara ; Scheduled flight from Mara to Wilson.
- Tourism Levy
- International flights
- Airport taxes
- All meals and drinks not specified
- Tips and gratuities
- Items of a personal nature
USD
- ZAR
- CAD
- AUD
- GBP
- EUR
| Dates | Price |
|---|---|
| 2023-07-01 — 2023-07-31 | $10,405 |
| 2023-08-01 — 2023-08-31 | $10,865 |
| 2023-09-01 — 2023-09-30 | $10,305 |
| 2023-10-01 — 2023-10-31 | $9,825 |
| 2023-11-01 — 2023-11-30 | $8,310 |
| 2023-12-01 — 2023-12-20 | $9,955 |
Our rates are per person sharing unless we note differently. Please treat all pricing as a guide only:
- All rates are subject to availability and may change without notice.
- Single supplements may apply.
- Request a quote or speak to one of our African Safari Experts for the best, most current rates available.
Embark on an Unforgettable East Africa Year-Round Migration Safari Adventure!
East Africa’s spectacular wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and awe-inspiring migration are awaiting adventurous travelers. A year-round migration safari presents an unrivaled opportunity to witness one of the world’s most iconic natural events while immersing oneself in the wonders of the African wilderness. Prepare for an unforgettable journey as we unravel the secrets of this awe-inspiring phenomenon.
East Africa, home to the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, provides the perfect setting for an immersive migration safari experience. Every year, millions of wildebeests, zebras, and other herbivores traverse vast distances in search of fresh grazing lands, crossing treacherous rivers and surviving against formidable predators. This epic journey is not confined to a specific season but takes place year-round, offering safari enthusiasts the opportunity to witness this spectacular event at any time of the year.
The migration cycle varies throughout the year, each presenting its own unique highlights. In the Southern Serengeti, from January to March, the calving season commences, an extraordinary spectacle as thousands of wildebeest calves are born overnight. Witnessing these newborns take their first steps and navigate the African savannah is an experience that fills the heart with awe and joy.
As the dry season approaches, the migration takes up a relentless pace towards the western and northern Serengeti, and eventually to the Maasai Mara. From June to November, the animals face their biggest challenge—the Mara River. This crossing is fraught with danger, as crocodiles lie in wait for their next meal, and hungry predators line the riverbanks. Catching a glimpse of this dramatic river crossing, as thousands of animals risk their lives to reach the other side, is an adrenaline-pumping encounter that will leave a lasting impression.
While witnessing the migration is undoubtedly the main highlight of any safari adventure, East Africa offers a myriad of other unparalleled experiences. A vast array of wildlife, including the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo), calls this region home, alongside countless other species. Whether it’s game drives or guided walks led by experienced rangers, encounters with these majestic creatures bring visitors closer to the untamed natural world.
In addition to wildlife encounters, East Africa’s landscapes captivate the imagination. The Serengeti’s expansive plains, punctuated by acacia trees and rocky outcrops, offer breathtaking vistas that seem to stretch into eternity. The Maasai Mara’s rolling grasslands, dotted with termite mounds and towering kopjes, provide a stunning backdrop to the migration spectacle. These landscapes, ever-changing with the seasons, contribute to the unique charm and allure of this safari adventure.
Choosing the right tour operator is essential to maximizing the East Africa migration safari experience. Opt for companies with extensive knowledge of the region, ensuring knowledgeable guides who contribute valuable insights and expertly navigate these natural wonders. Consider operators with a commitment to sustainable tourism practices, respecting and conserving the fragile ecosystems they operate in.
Embarking on an East Africa year-round migration safari adventure is an opportunity to connect with the untamed beauty of the African wilderness on a deeply personal level. Witnessing the migration unfold, with all its triumphs and challenges, is an experience that will remain etched in memory forever. From captivating landscapes to close encounters with iconic wildlife, East Africa offers an adventure that satisfies the wanderlust of even the most discerning traveler. So, pack your bags and prepare for an unforgettable journey into the heart of East Africa!
