10 Day Serengeti Migration Safari
This 10 day Serengeti migration safari from Gosheni Safaris runs from Kilimanjaro International Airport to the Mara River and back, with nine nights in luxury camps and lodges. The price is $7,112.83 per person and the listing holds a 5.0 rating from 238 reviews on Viator. Days 2 to 4 sit at Enkutoto Migration Camp in Kogatende, the northern Serengeti area where the Mara River crossings happen in river crossing season. The route then moves to the central Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater rim and Tarangire. All park entry fees and the crater service fee are included. The flight to the north is not. If you want a shorter or cheaper alternative, compare it against other Serengeti safari packages before you commit.
About This Tour
Gosheni Safaris runs this 10-day route from Kilimanjaro International Airport through Kogatende, the central Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park. You sleep in five different camps and lodges, including three nights at Enkutoto Migration Camp near the Mara River. A professional English-speaking safari guide travels with you in a 4x4 with a pop-up roof, a fridge and binoculars.
The price of $7,112.83 per person covers the 4x4 and guide, nine nights of accommodation, nine breakfasts, lunches and dinners as listed, daily game drives with unlimited mileage, airport pickup and drop-off, all park entry fees, the Ngorongoro Crater service fee and government taxes. The flight from Kilimanjaro to Serengeti North is not included and must be booked in advance.
$7,112.83 per person, covering the vehicle, guide, 9 nights in luxury camps and lodges, 9 breakfasts, lunches and dinners as listed, all park entry fees, the Ngorongoro Crater service fee and government taxes
10 days and 9 nights
Kilimanjaro International Airport on day 1, or pickup from your Arusha hotel. Call at least 48 hours ahead to confirm airport pickup
Gran Melia Arusha, Enkutoto Migration Camp in Kogatende (3 nights), Enkirari Wilderness Camp in the central Serengeti (3 nights), Naserian Safari Camp on the crater rim and Serian Tarangire Camp
International and domestic flights including the Kilimanjaro to Serengeti North flight, Arusha nights before or after unless pre-arranged, travel insurance, visa fees, alcoholic drinks, optional activities and tips (USD 20 per person per day is suggested)
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. The booking can also be cancelled for bad weather or too few travelers
Check Dates and Availability
Starting times are shown when you check availability. A minimum of 2 adults per booking applies and the shared tour carries up to 6 travelers.
You'll confirm the exact date and time on the secure booking page.
Quick answer Price, route and the catch
This 10 day Serengeti migration safari costs $7,112.83 per person, runs from Kilimanjaro International Airport and includes all park entry fees plus the Ngorongoro Crater service fee. The flight from Kilimanjaro to Serengeti North is not included and must be booked in advance.
Key takeaways
- Three nights at Enkutoto Migration Camp in Kogatende put you near the Mara River crossing area in river crossing season
- The full route day by day covers the northern and central Serengeti, the crater rim and Tarangire in nine nights
- If the price is too high, the 8-day Serengeti migration safari costs $4,257 in mid-range lodges
What the Price Actually Covers
The listing is unusually clear about fees, which matters because park entry and crater fees are where cheap quotes hide their gaps. Here is what the $7,112.83 per person includes and what you still pay for yourself.
Included by the Operator
Gosheni Safaris lists all park entry fees, the Ngorongoro Crater service fee and government taxes and conservation fees as included. That removes a real cost line, because the 2023 to 2024 TANAPA tariff sets the Serengeti conservation fee for non-East African adults at US $70 per day in peak season and $60 in low season, VAT exclusive, and other listings on this site leave such fees unstated. Also in the price are the private 4x4 with pop-up roof, fridge and binoculars, the guide, nine nights of accommodation, 9 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 9 dinners as listed, unlimited bottled water, soft drinks, tea and coffee during game drives, daily game drives with unlimited mileage, and airport pickup and drop-off.
One honest note: the listing calls the vehicle private but also lists a shared tour of up to 6 travelers. Ask the operator before booking whether your departure runs private or shared, because that changes the feel of ten days in one car.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Park entry fees | Yes | All park entry fees, government taxes and conservation fees are listed as included |
| Ngorongoro Crater service fee | Yes | Named explicitly in the inclusions |
| Kilimanjaro to Serengeti North flight | No | Not included and must be booked in advance |
| International and domestic flights | No | Excluded |
| Arusha hotel before or after | No | Unless pre-arranged with the operator |
| Alcoholic drinks | No | Personal expenses, excluded |
| Tips | No | USD 20 per person per day is suggested |
| Travel insurance and medical evacuation | No | Excluded |
| Visa fees | No | Excluded |
Wildebeest at the Mara River near Kogatende. Photo: Reginald Victor Runyoro, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Route Day by Day
The itinerary starts at Kilimanjaro International Airport, flies or drives north to Kogatende for the Mara River, then works south through the central Serengeti, the crater rim and Tarangire before dropping you back in Arusha. The day numbers and camps below come from the listing itself.
Ten Days, Five Camps
Day 1 is a welcome at Kilimanjaro International Airport and a transfer to Gran Melia Arusha for dinner. On day 2 you fly or drive into the northern Serengeti, check in at Enkutoto Migration Camp and head out for an afternoon game drive in Kogatende. Days 3 and 4 are full days along the Mara River banks, the open plains and the rocky kopjes of the north.
Day 5 moves south to the Seronera region and Enkirari Wilderness Camp, where days 6 and 7 are full central Serengeti game drives. Day 8 brings a final morning drive and the road to Naserian Safari Camp on the crater rim. Day 9 descends into the Ngorongoro Crater, then continues to Serian Tarangire Camp.
Day 10 starts with a morning game drive in Tarangire and ends with a drop-off at your Arusha hotel or the airport.
| Day | Route | Night at |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha | Gran Melia Arusha |
| 2 | Arusha to the northern Serengeti (fly or drive) | Enkutoto Migration Camp, Kogatende |
| 3 | Full day in the northern Serengeti | Enkutoto Migration Camp |
| 4 | Full day in the northern Serengeti | Enkutoto Migration Camp |
| 5 | Northern Serengeti to the Seronera region | Enkirari Wilderness Camp |
| 6 | Full day game drive, central Serengeti | Enkirari Wilderness Camp |
| 7 | Full day game drive, central Serengeti | Enkirari Wilderness Camp |
| 8 | Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area | Naserian Safari Camp, crater rim |
| 9 | Ngorongoro Crater to Tarangire | Serian Tarangire Camp |
| 10 | Morning game drive in Tarangire, return to Arusha | Drop-off at hotel or airport |
Wildebeest Cross Crocodile-Infested Water
Wildebeest crossing a crocodile-filled river in a PBS Nature film. Third-party video by Nature on PBS. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Who This Trip Rules Out
Ten days at this price, with a northern leg you either fly or drive, suits a specific traveller. Here is who should look elsewhere, with a better fit for each.
Stated Limits
The booking age band runs from 16 to 80, the child band allows 0 travelers and an adult must be on the booking, so families with young children are out. A minimum of 2 adults per booking applies. The listing also says the trip is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health and asks for at least a moderate level of physical fitness. Days 2 to 4 depend on getting to the north, and the flight from Kilimanjaro to Serengeti North is your own cost, booked in advance. The tips suggested at USD 20 per person per day add up over ten days, so budget for them.
If $7,112.83 is above your budget, the 8-day Serengeti migration safari from Lion King Adventures costs $4,257 per person in mid-range lodges with 2 nights in the north. If you want mobile camps that follow the herds, the Mara River crossing safari runs 6 days for $3,763. If you want luxury but only a week, and a balloon flight included in the itinerary rather than bolted on, the 7-day luxury Serengeti safari costs $4,130. Shorter and simpler options sit on the homepage among the Serengeti safari tours.
Hippos packed into a pool in the Serengeti. Photo: Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Season, Fees and Paperwork
The route is built around the herds in the north, so timing decides whether the Mara River section delivers. Fees, the visa and packing matter just as much. All of this comes from published sources, not the operator.
When the North Is at Its Best
The Mara River crossings happen in river crossing season, which sources place between July and September, with some putting it as late as October. The migration involves more than 2 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle on a loop through the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, and it moves with the rain, so no operator and no guide can promise a crossing on your dates. SafariBookings puts the Serengeti dry season from June to October and high season from July to March, with daytime highs averaging about 27°C and chilly nights.
Trip cancellation by the operator for bad weather or too few travelers is written into the booking.
Fees That Apply
The tour price already covers park entry fees, the crater service fee and government taxes, so your main fee planning is done. For context, the 2023 to 2024 TANAPA tariff sets the Serengeti conservation fee for non-East African adults aged 16 and over at US $70 per day in peak season and $60 in low season, VAT exclusive, with peak defined as 16 May to 14 March. Tanzania entry is separate: SafariFind lists a single-entry tourist visa at $50 USD valid up to 90 days, while Duma Explorer says US passport holders pay $100 for a mandatory Multiple Entry Visa with no cheaper single-entry option, so check the rule for your nationality.
Visa fees are excluded from the tour price. Ask a travel clinic about malaria prophylaxis before you travel.
Packing and Baggage
If you fly to Serengeti North rather than drive, baggage rules on light aircraft apply. Coastal Aviation strongly recommends soft bags and lists a soft duffle of 40 x 40 x 80 cm as fitting the hold, while a small suitcase or hard-shell bag must fit its cargo pod door of 76 x 48 x 29 cm. Confirm the weight limit with whoever sells your flight.
Expert Africa advises light summer clothing for midday heat and warm layers for cool mornings and nights, and khaki, green, brown and dark beige over white or bright colours. Read the full safari packing list and the guide to what to wear on safari before you pack.
Sources: TANAPA tariff, SafariBookings, SafariFind visa guide, Coastal Aviation, Expert Africa
Day by Day Itinerary
The phases below follow the operator's own day numbers and camp names.
-
Day 1
Arrival in Arusha
Welcome at Kilimanjaro International Airport and a transfer to Gran Melia Arusha. Dinner at the hotel. Call the operator at least 48 hours ahead to confirm the airport pickup.
-
Day 2
Into the northern Serengeti
After breakfast, fly or drive into the northern Serengeti and settle into Enkutoto Migration Camp in Kogatende, then an afternoon game drive. The flight is not in the price and must be booked in advance.
-
Days 3 to 4
Mara River game drives
Two full days in the northern Serengeti along the riverbanks, open plains and kopjes. This is the region where the Mara River crossings happen in river crossing season, though the animals and the rain decide what you see.
-
Days 5 to 7
Central Serengeti
Travel south to the Seronera region for three nights at Enkirari Wilderness Camp with full-day game drives in the big cat country of the central plains.
-
Day 8
To the crater rim
A final morning game drive in the Serengeti, then the road to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Naserian Safari Camp on the crater rim.
-
Day 9
Crater floor and Tarangire
Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a morning among lions, elephants, buffalo, zebras, hippos and the chance of black rhino. After lunch, continue to Serian Tarangire Camp.
-
Day 10
Return to Arusha
A morning game drive in Tarangire among the baobabs and elephant herds, then a drop-off at your Arusha hotel or the airport for your onward flight.
Pros and Cons
The strengths are real and so are the costs and gaps. Read both sides before you book.
What we genuinely like
- All park entry fees, the Ngorongoro Crater service fee and government taxes are in the price, which many cheaper listings leave unstated
- Three nights in Kogatende give more Mara River time than the 2 nights at Heritage Mara Camp on the 8-day migration safari
- A 5.0 rating from 238 verified Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and the booking can be cancelled for bad weather or too few travelers
- Five different camps and lodges across three parks, from Gran Melia Arusha to Serian Tarangire Camp
The honest downsides
- The flight from Kilimanjaro to Serengeti North is not included and must be booked in advance, so the listed price is not the whole cost
- Tips are suggested at USD 20 per person per day and are not in the price
- The listing calls the vehicle private but also lists a shared tour of up to 6, which is ambiguous
- Arusha accommodation before or after the safari costs extra unless pre-arranged
- Ten days is a long commitment and day 9 packs the crater and the drive to Tarangire into one day
Who it's NOT for: Families with children under 16, solo travellers, anyone on a mid-range budget or with poor cardiovascular health should book a shorter or cheaper listing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the price include the Serengeti park fees?
Yes. The listing includes all park entry fees, the Ngorongoro Crater service fee and government taxes and conservation fees, which puts it ahead of listings that leave fees unstated, like the 3-day Serengeti camping safari.
Is the flight to the northern Serengeti included?
No. The flight from Kilimanjaro to Serengeti North is not included and needs to be booked in advance, so price it early, or compare with the Serengeti fly-in safari where a scheduled flight sits in the day 1 itinerary.
When should I go for the Mara River crossings?
River crossing season is the window the trip is built for, generally July to September with sources differing on the end, and the herds move with the rain, so a crossing is never guaranteed. The Great Migration guide explains the calendar.
Who can book this tour?
The age band runs 16 to 80, a minimum of 2 adults per booking applies, and the trip is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. If you are over 64, note that the 8-day Serengeti migration safari caps its age band at 64.
How far ahead must I confirm the airport pickup?
Call the operator at least 48 hours in advance to confirm pickup at Kilimanjaro International Airport on day 1, or hotel pickup in Arusha.
Can I cancel if my plans change?
Yes, free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the operator can also cancel for bad weather or too few travelers. That is a contrast with the 5-day Serengeti Ngorongoro safari, where all sales are final.
Can I add a balloon flight to this safari?
The listing does not include or arrange a balloon, so you would book one separately. The standalone Serengeti balloon safari costs $599 per person and excludes park admission.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
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