Crossing crocodile-infested rivers, calving amidst constantly stalking lions, walking endless mile after mile, all in search of the fabled savannah grass of the rolling Serengeti plains… come and marvel in the wonder of the Great Migration.
The Serengeti. To a wildlife enthusiast, one hardly has to say more, to conjure up an image of endless plains teeming with herds in a constant state of panic as lurking beasts stalk them. Every year, millions of wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle take up an ancient route that searches out fresh grass, leading them in a roughly clockwise path around the Serengeti ecosystem, which encompasses the Ngorongoro Crater and the Maasai Mara.
To truly understand the complexity and the uniqueness of this ecosystem, one needs to look deeper than simply locating the herds and leaving again, and this safari tours all the different aspects of the ecosystem. The trip begins at the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The caldera of this ancient volcano was long ago blown open, leaving behind richly fertile soils sheltered by the crater walls. The floor of the crater is lush paradise of well-watered rolling grasslands, and at the beginning of the year this is the area where the milling herds draw together before setting off on their migration. Many a predator knows this, and lurking lions and leopards are ever-present.
Next, the safari moves on to the central part of the Serengeti plains, right at the heart of the epically endless savannah. This area is filled with life and is well watered, and the Moru Kopjes make for an awesome vantage point to take it all in. This landscape provides the ‘quintessential Serengeti plains’ experience. Then, the trip takes you to the lush grasslands of the southern Serengeti where the herds calve in the first quarter of the year. The treeless grasslands provide an epic feeling of endless plains filled with whatever the imagination fancies.
The Grumeti region in the western Serengeti is next on the list. Here, the herds must cross the Grumeti River, which holds crocs that sharpened their teeth of the forefathers of todays herds many decades ago. These wise old monsters present a formidable challenge, and river crossings are extremely high-adrenaline affairs. Even when the herds are not present, however, the Grumeti region is breathtaking, with beautiful forests and large prides of lions.
The final stop on this itinerary is the Maasai Mara. This is the northern-most point that the herds will reach before turning back, and here they will face another famed river crossing – that of the Mara River. The Maasai Mara is also famed for its people. The Maasai are noble warriors, gentle herdsmen and fierce dancers, and their culture makes a beautiful point that humanity can coexist with such a treasured and valuable wildlife spectacle as the Great Migration.
At some stage along this safari, you will encounter the epic herds, with your chosen date of arrival determining which portion of their journey you will witness. However, you will over the course of the itinerary see all of the challenges the herds must surmount each year, as well as the incredible landscapes they traverse. The perfect trip then, for those who like to dig a little deeper.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located in the Crater Highlands of Tanzania. Occupying approximately 8 300 square kilometres, it extends over parts of the Rift Valley of eastern Africa and contains a diversity of habitats and landscapes, including grassland plains, savannah woodlands, forests, mountains, a volcanic crater, lakes, rivers and swampland. Also located in the Crater are the major archaeological sites of Olduvai Gorge and Laetolil. The area is part of the Serengeti ecosystem and, to the northwest, adjoins the Serengeti National Park and is contiguous with the southern Serengeti Plains. The Serengeti is Tanzania’s largest and most highly-recognised national park, with the ecosystem extending beyond the park to include several conservation areas and reserves, including the Maasai Mara in Kenya. A recently proclaimed seventh world-wonder, the Serengeti is famed for its annual great migration, when millions of hooves pound the open plains as zebra and Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeest in search of fresh grazing.
In the Maasai language, Serengeti means “endless plains”, and is an apt description of Tanzania’s largest and most highly recognised national park. This massive ecosystem actually extends beyond the park to include several conservation areas and reserves, including the Ngorongoro conservation area and the Maasai Mara in Kenya. A recently proclaimed seventh world-wonder, the Serengeti is famed for its annual great migration, when millions of hooves pound the open plains as zebra and Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeest in search of fresh grazing. The herds are stalked by prides of lion, spotted hyena, striped hyena, golden jackal, side-striped jackal and black-backed jackal. The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the world’s most complex and least-disturbed ecosystems, and with the climate alternating between dusty summer droughts to green winters and lush springs, with open plains transformed into endless green carpets splashed with wildflowers, there is always something new waiting around the next corner.
Inhabiting a remarkable spot right on the rim of the Crater, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is undeniably one of the most luxurious and architecturally spectacular safari lodges in Africa, with breathtaking views and excellent wildlife to complete the experience. Located in the south-east of the Serengeti in Northern Tanzania, the Crater is a place of rare natural wonders. From its phenomenal terrain to the lavish fauna and flora it supports, it is undeniably worthy of its status as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What better way then, to experience this brilliant gem of a wildlife location than from &Beyond’s flagship property. With luxurious rooms, food and service to complement the stunning views and complete serenity of the property, one might not want to leave... but the rich wildlife of the crater floor will soon draw even the most relaxed guests out for a thrilling game drive. Descending from the rim of the crater to the floor is a unique but time-consuming experience, so unlike most lodges, the format here is to offer one daily drive.
The lodge comprises three camps, where North and South have 12 suites each, and the intimate Tree Camp has 6. Each camp has separate dining and lounge areas, with breathtaking views, and each suite has a personal butler.
The main feature of the Ngorongoro Conservation Authority is the Ngorongoro Crater. Situated within the plains of south-east Serengeti, this breathtaking natural wonder is approximately 20km across, 600 meters deep and has a surface area of about 300 square kilometres.
The Crater floor is mostly open grassland, home to lush green, rain-watered vegetation, as well as desert plants. The Crater bush is covered by open short-grass plains with fresh and brackish-water lakes, marshes, swamps, and two patches of Acacia woodland. The rolling plains to the west are grass-covered with occasional Umbrella Acacia and Commiphora Africana trees.
The Crater, once a gigantic volcano, is the largest intact caldera in the world. A number of highly-endangered black rhino are protected within its rim, elephants wander its forest, black-maned lions track its grasslands, and flamingos crowd its salty lakes. An estimated 25 000 large mammals are resident in this bowl, including a population of approximately 6 000 resident wildebeest, and 70 lions. Cheetah move in and out of the Crater, while leopard are most often encountered in the picturesque Lerai Forest.
The Crater is the starting point for the annual migration when wildebeest, zebra and gazelle gather here in their thousands before setting off on the first leg of their journey around the Greater Mara Ecosystem early in the year, only to end back here at the end of the journey at year end.
Kusini Camp is perfectly situated atop a Kopje in a remote corner of southwest Serengeti. Surrounded by woodlands, the views from this rocky outcrop are spectacular, and it overlooks the plains where spotting wildlife is easy all year round. This eco-conscious camp is ideal for seeing the cheetah and the wildebeest that congregate on the grassy plain in the calving season from mid-December to March. When guests head out on their game drives they are likely to see zebra, Cape buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and various plains game, as well as cheetah and other predators.
The camp consists of 12 luxurious open-plan tents, spaced out to provide absolute privacy and exceptional views. Each tent has its own personal butler, en-suite bathrooms and a large private wooden veranda to take in the beauty of the vast plains. The camp’s communal areas include a dining area, lounge and library, as well as a campfire.
From bush breakfasts and private picnics, to sundowners on a kopje and three-course dinners, Kusini Camp offers an experience in true seclusion. Daily game drives are conducted by professional and knowledgeable guides who know every inch of the territory around the camp. This remote corner of this vast ecosystem never disappoints. At the end of your day, sundowners are a classic end to any day’s safari. At Kusini Camp they are truly spectacular as you climb the main Kopje to view the breathtaking sunsets with signature cocktails and snacks.
Singita Sasakwa Lodge is located in the Grumeti Reserve which is situated in Northern Tanzania, forming part of the Serengeti Mara ecosystem. The Serengeti is renowned for the annual wildebeest migration, when two million ungulates move across the plains in search of grazing and water. The predators closely follow the wildebeest and zebra, looking for easy pickings. During your experience at the lodge you will spot a great variety of wildlife, including the Big Five and the thrills of the Great Migration. The reserve was created by the Tanzanian government in 1994 in order to protect the path of the annual wildebeest migration and the indigenous biodiversity of this vast and important ecosystem. In 2006, Singita took over the management of the property, developing three luxury lodges within the 350 000 acres.
Sasakwa Lodge is the flagship property of the Grumeti Reserve, and comprises 9 private cottages and 1 four-bedroom villa, each of which boast a private infinity pool overlooking the plains. The elegantly-furnished cottages have en suite bathrooms, fireplaces for chilly evenings, wood-panelled dressing rooms, beautiful chandeliers and wingback chairs. Authentic European style and East African influences have been woven throughout the turn-of-the-century manor house and private cottages.
Children over the age of 10 are welcome. If you choose to book the entire lodge, children of all ages are welcome. For the adventurous, a mountain bike ride through the reserve just can’t be beat. Your guide and tracker will accompany you as you explore the varied landscape of the Serengeti.
Situated on a 10 000ha private concession in Loliondo, Klein’s Camp is an exclusive safari lodge located on the north-eastern edge of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Resting on the edge of the Kuka Hills, Klein’s Camp boasts stunning views of the vast Serengeti Plains. With captivating views over the diverse landscape, the camp offers exceptional year-round big 5 game viewing and is perfectly placed to experience the annual wildebeest migration that passes through the plains. With 10 charming thatched stone cottages, a large swimming pool and shaded veranda, and spa treatments, Klein’s Camp is the perfect place to enjoy the rustic ambiance of the Serengeti without forgoing any comfort or luxury.
There are few spectacles of nature as impressive as the Great Migration, and Klein’s Camp offers superb access when the herds are passing by. The twice-yearly passage of the herds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra can be enjoyed from the comfort of twice-daily game drives with professional, informative guides. Guests can also enjoy fantastic walks in the bush, as Klein’s Camp owns the land immediately surrounding the lodge. Alternatively, visits to the local Maasai village can be arranged to experience this unique culture. Afterwards, a drink at the bar or a quiet hour in the library rounds off the perfect day in Africa.
During the annual migration, over a million wildebeest, two hundred thousand zebra and four hundred thousand gazelle move throughout the southern and eastern plains of the Serengeti in an indistinct clockwise direction following the fresh green grass germinated by the rains.
It can be difficult to foretell the exactly path and timing of the migration, but if the rains had been on time, the broad pattern is reasonably predictable: From December to April, at the end of the short rains, the great herds gather and commence their journey from the Ngorongoro Plains to southern Serengeti in Tanzania (January to March in the southern Serengeti is calving season). May to June see the restless herds journey north through the central Serengeti and the western corridor, between the Grumeti and Mbalageti Rivers, where they commence their mating season. In June or July, the herds split up. Some continue west, other head north, and hundreds of thousands move steadily north-west towards the long golden grass of the Maasai Mara. September sees the herds spread out across the northern Serengeti, where the Mara River provides the migration with its most momentous obstacle. It is here that the iconic images of the herds crossing the Mara River are taken. With the onset of the short rainy season in October and November, the herds begin their move back to the south in wait of the onset of the next migration cycle.
Apart from the migrations, some area of the Serengeti provide exceptional year-round game viewing: some of the largest buffalo herds and elephants are to be found in the unspoiled woodlands to the north, the Seronera valley in the centre of the park has plentiful grazing and abundant animals, Lake Ndutu attracts huge flocks of flamingos, and in the west the Grumeti River contains some of the largest Nile crocodiles you will ever see.
This safari commences in Arusha, Tanzania and ends in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
The Serengeti. To a wildlife enthusiast, one hardly has to say more, to conjure up an image of endless plains teeming with herds in a constant state of panic as lurking beasts stalk them. Every year, millions of wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle take up an ancient route that searches out fresh grass, leading them in a roughly counter-clockwise path around the Serengeti ecosystem, which encompasses the Ngorongoro Crater and the Maasai Mara.
To truly understand the complexity and the uniqueness of this ecosystem, one needs to look deeper than simply locating the herds and leaving again, and this safari tours all the different aspects of the ecosystem. The trip begins at the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The caldera of this ancient volcano was long ago blown open, leaving behind richly fertile soils sheltered by the crater walls. The floor of the crater is lush paradise of well-watered rolling grasslands, and at the beginning of the year this is the area where the milling herds draw together before setting off on their migration. Many a predator knows this, and lurking lions and leopards are ever-present.
Next, the safari moves on to the central part of the Serengeti plains, right at the heart of the epically endless savannah. This area is filled with life and is well watered, and the Moru Kopjes make for an awesome vantage point to take it all in. This landscape provides the ‘quintessential Serengeti plains’ experience. Then, the trip takes you to the lush grasslands of the southern Serengeti where the herds calve in the first quarter of the year. The treeless grasslands provide an epic feeling of endless plains filled with whatever the imagination fancies.
The Grumeti region in the western Serengeti is next on the list. Here, the herds must cross the Grumeti River, which holds crocs that sharpened their teeth of the forefathers of todays herds many decades ago. These wise old monsters present a formidable challenge, and river crossings are extremely high-adrenaline affairs. Even when the herds are not present, however, the Grumeti region is breathtaking, with beautiful forests and large prides of lions.
The final stop on this itinerary is the Maasai Mara. This is the northern-most point that the herds will reach before turning back, and here they will face another famed river crossing – that of the Mara River. The Maasai Mara is also famed for its people. The Maasai are noble warriors, gentle herdsmen and fierce dancers, and their culture makes a beautiful point that humanity can coexist with such a treasured and valuable wildlife spectacle as the Great Migration.
At some stage along this safari, you will encounter the epic herds, with your chosen date of arrival determining which portion of their journey you will witness. However, you will over the course of the itinerary see all of the challenges the herds must surmount each year, as well as the incredible landscapes they traverse. The perfect trip then, for those who like to dig a little deeper.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located in the Crater Highlands of Tanzania. Occupying approximately 8 300 square kilometres, it extends over parts of the Rift Valley of eastern Africa and contains a diversity of habitats and landscapes, including grassland plains, savannah woodlands, forests, mountains, a volcanic crater, lakes, rivers and swampland. Also located in the Crater are the major archaeological sites of Olduvai Gorge and Laetolil. The area is part of the Serengeti ecosystem and, to the northwest, adjoins the Serengeti National Park and is contiguous with the southern Serengeti Plains. The Serengeti is Tanzania’s largest and most highly-recognised national park, with the ecosystem extending beyond the park to include several conservation areas and reserves, including the Maasai Mara in Kenya. A recently proclaimed seventh world-wonder, the Serengeti is famed for its annual great migration, when millions of hooves pound the open plains as zebra and Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeest in search of fresh grazing.
In the Maasai language, Serengeti means “endless plains”, and is an apt description of Tanzania’s largest and most highly recognised national park. This massive ecosystem actually extends beyond the park to include several conservation areas and reserves, including the Ngorongoro conservation area and the Maasai Mara in Kenya. A recently proclaimed seventh world-wonder, the Serengeti is famed for its annual great migration, when millions of hooves pound the open plains as zebra and Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeest in search of fresh grazing. The herds are stalked by prides of lion, spotted hyena, striped hyena, golden jackal, side-striped jackal and black-backed jackal. The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the world’s most complex and least-disturbed ecosystems, and with the climate alternating between dusty summer droughts to green winters and lush springs, with open plains transformed into endless green carpets splashed with wildflowers, there is always something new waiting around the next corner.
Located on the Ngorongoro Crater rim in the Ngorongoro National Park, the Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp provides the best setting for a nature lover’s dream with its spectacular views of the unique landscape and a diversity of wildlife leading from the Crater rim to its floor. The Ngorongoro National Park indulges guests with invigorating game drives to the Crater floor, combining special scenery with diverse wildlife. With approximately 30 000 animals roaming around the park’s vast landscapes, it is a game viewing gem. The area in which the camp is situated is home to a large variety of wildlife including zebra, wildebeest, hippo, buffalo, elephant and an amazing population of predators including lion, hyena, jackal, cheetah and leopard.
10 luxury tented suites offer en-suite bathrooms with an indoor bucket shower and stunning views of the surrounds. The main common area includes a dining area, bar and lounge area as well as comfortable sofas carefully situated in prime locations around the camp.
Twice-daily game drives are led by highly-trained and knowledgeable guides in an open 4x4 game viewing vehicle. The guides will take you to the Crater floor to witness the massive variety of animals, including its impressive population of predators. Guests can also enjoy guided walking safaris and cultural interactions by visiting the nearby Maasai villages.
The main feature of the Ngorongoro Conservation Authority is the Ngorongoro Crater. Situated within the plains of south-east Serengeti, this breathtaking natural wonder is approximately 20km across, 600 meters deep and has a surface area of about 300 square kilometres.
The Crater floor is mostly open grassland, home to lush green, rain-watered vegetation, as well as desert plants. The Crater bush is covered by open short-grass plains with fresh and brackish-water lakes, marshes, swamps, and two patches of Acacia woodland. The rolling plains to the west are grass-covered with occasional Umbrella Acacia and Commiphora Africana trees.
The Crater, once a gigantic volcano, is the largest intact caldera in the world. A number of highly-endangered black rhino are protected within its rim, elephants wander its forest, black-maned lions track its grasslands, and flamingos crowd its salty lakes. An estimated 25 000 large mammals are resident in this bowl, including a population of approximately 6 000 resident wildebeest, and 70 lions. Cheetah move in and out of the Crater, while leopard are most often encountered in the picturesque Lerai Forest.
The Crater is the starting point for the annual migration when wildebeest, zebra and gazelle gather here in their thousands before setting off on the first leg of their journey around the Greater Mara Ecosystem early in the year, only to end back here at the end of the journey at year end.
Dunia Camp is located in the south west corner of the Central Seronera Valley, deep in the fabled Serengeti in Northern Tanzania. The intimate mobile camp is perfectly situated to experience the beauty of this remote wilderness, and the splendour of the wildebeest migration. The area is renowned for its abundance of wildlife, and in particular for its big cats and the extraordinary annual Great Migration when hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra pass through the area.
The lodge offers 8 luxurious tents, elegantly furnished and with bathrooms en-suite. Their private verandas allow guests to indulge in the serenity of the vast plains of the Serengeti and the picturesque Moru Kopjes that rise from the plains. The atmosphere is that of a classic colonial-style safari, with great attention to detail. Whether from the luxury of a daybed on the tent porch, or right in the action on a game drive vehicle, this makes for a fantastic location to experience the Great Migration between December and March, with the big cats such as lion, leopard and cheetah trailing the herds and adding to the thrill. Of particular interest is the way predators use the elevation of the Moru Kopjes to give them a stalking advantage.
At night, guests can swap stories in the traditional dining tent with its long table, with lantern lighting that completes the ambiance. Afterwards, the campfire will keep guests warm while they enjoy the tranquility of nighttime in the bush.
Grumeti River Camp is located in the western corridor area of the Serengeti in the North of Tanzania. With the camp set on the banks of an offshoot of the Grumeti River, it is perfectly situated to view the annual Great Migration. Located deep in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, nestled in an emerald forest on the water’s edge, Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp offers a wild and remote experience in the thick of the animal action.
The Serengeti offers a wildlife experience beyond comparison, both when the milling herds of the Great Migration are passing through, and in the ‘quiet’ period, with the Big 5, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and 35 species of plains game. Even dedicated twitchers will have a hard time ignoring all this non-avian commotion while glassing the wide variety of birdlife. When the herds are present, Grumeti River Camp’s location offers the opportunity to see a river crossing - arguably the most exciting and dangerous thing the herds have to do.
10 luxurious tented rooms make for an intimate camp, and each tent has a private veranda and a selection of exercise equipment. Once the blood is flowing, guests can follow beautiful mosaic walkways to the pool, bar and outdoor pizza oven, Grumeti River camp provides a great experience when guests are not enjoying the thrill of the African landscape.
Sayari Camp is located in the far north of the Serengeti National Park. Set close to the banks of the Mara River, it is home to game throughout the year, including the spectacular annual migration between July and October. The camp is seasonal, providing remote and exclusive tented accommodation from June 1st to March 31st. During this time guests can enjoy awe-inspiring game drives and walking safaris in search of big cats, elephant, giraffe, hippo and crocodile. The intensity of the wildlife experience multiplies infinitely when the great herds are present, but Sayari Camp offers a truly authentic safari experience whenever guests choose to come.
Sayari Camp comprises of 15 luxurious tents which blend perfectly into the majestic Serengeti landscape. Each room includes en-suite bathrooms with spacious showers and an egg-shaped bath tub. With a vast deck outside each tent, guests can lie on the shaded daybed or simply sit on a director’s chair to enjoy the tranquillity of the bush. Sayari Camp’s chefs prepare a unique blend of European and African cuisine. Meals at the camp are a social affair and are served communally in the camp’s intimate dining room.
When guests are not experiencing the wonders of the bush on game drives, it is the perfect opportunity to relax beside the infinity pool, or in cooler weather, curl up in front of the fire place. Sayari Camp also boasts a spa facility which offers a range of pampering treatments to leave you more relaxed than you could ever imagine.
During the annual migration, over a million wildebeest, two hundred thousand zebra and four hundred thousand gazelle move throughout the southern and eastern plains of the Serengeti in an indistinct clockwise direction following the fresh green grass germinated by the rains.
It can be difficult to foretell the exactly path and timing of the migration, but if the rains had been on time, the broad pattern is reasonably predictable: From December to April, at the end of the short rains, the great herds gather and commence their journey from the Ngorongoro Plains to southern Serengeti in Tanzania (January to March in the southern Serengeti is calving season). May to June see the restless herds journey north through the central Serengeti and the western corridor, between the Grumeti and Mbalageti Rivers, where they commence their mating season. In June or July, the herds split up. Some continue west, other head north, and hundreds of thousands move steadily north-west towards the long golden grass of the Maasai Mara. September sees the herds spread out across the northern Serengeti, where the Mara River provides the migration with its most momentous obstacle. It is here that the iconic images of the herds crossing the Mara River are taken. With the onset of the short rainy season in October and November, the herds begin their move back to the south in wait of the onset of the next migration cycle.
Apart from the migrations, some area of the Serengeti provide exceptional year-round game viewing: some of the largest buffalo herds and elephants are to be found in the unspoiled woodlands to the north, the Seronera valley in the centre of the park has plentiful grazing and abundant animals, Lake Ndutu attracts huge flocks of flamingos, and in the west the Grumeti River contains some of the largest Nile crocodiles you will ever see.
This safari commences in Arusha, Tanzania and ends in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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