Day 1
Follow the Legendary Great Migration
This specially crafted safari itinerary is designed to trace the awe-inspiring path of the Great Migration. Over four unforgettable nights in the Serengeti, you’ll explore its rich central regions while also venturing to where the migration unfolds — whether in the lush southern Ndutu area between December and March, or the remote northern tip from July to November.
Day 1 – Arrival in Arusha
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, a warm welcome awaits you from an Alia Adventures representative who will escort you to your hotel in Arusha. Here, you can unwind, freshen up, and prepare for the incredible safari journey that begins tomorrow — a perfect blend of anticipation and comfort.
Where You’ll Stay
Luxury: Grand Melia Lodge | Mount Meru Hotel | Arusha Coffee Lodge
Mid-range: Ilboru Safari Lodge | Arusha Planet Lodge | Airport Planet Lodge
Budget: Outpost Lodge | Tulia Boutique Hotel | Green Mountain Hotel
Day 2
Day 2 – Discover Tarangire National Park
After a hearty breakfast, your safari adventure takes you to the breathtaking Tarangire National Park. Renowned for its majestic ancient baobab trees and a mosaic of nine distinct ecological zones, Tarangire is a true haven for wildlife enthusiasts. The life-giving Tarangire River attracts some of the largest elephant herds in Tanzania, a magnificent sight as these gentle giants roam freely across the plains.
As you journey through the park, keep your camera ready — lions may be seen prowling in the tall grasses, elusive leopards resting in the shade, while buffalo, zebra, giraffe, and countless colorful birds add life to the landscape. Around midday, enjoy a scenic picnic by the riverbank, where you might witness thrilling scenes of predator and prey unfolding at the water’s edge. As the sun dips low, painting the sky with hues of gold, you’ll return to your lodge to relax and swap stories of the day’s adventures.
Where You’ll Stay
Luxury: Kitela Lodge | Lake Manyara Kilima Moja | The Retreat at Ngorongoro
Mid-range: Eileen’s Tree Inn | Endoro Lodge | Karatu Simba Lodge
Budget Camping: Lilac Campsite | Panorama Campsite
Day 3
Day 3 – Journey into the Legendary Serengeti
After breakfast, your safari leads you to the iconic Serengeti National Park — a vast expanse of golden plains celebrated worldwide as the beating heart of the Great Migration. As the scenery unfolds into endless savannah, witness the staggering spectacle of over a million wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of zebras, and hundreds of thousands of gazelles roaming across the landscape.
This rich abundance of prey draws Africa’s most iconic predators: lions lounging under acacia trees, cheetahs poised for their swift chase, and hyenas patrolling their territories. Along the way, keep an eye out for fascinating smaller creatures — rock hyraxes perched on rocks, bat-eared foxes darting through the grass, mongooses scampering, lively monkeys and baboons, and over 500 species of birds filling the skies with color and sound.
After an exhilarating day of game drives, arrive at your camp where a delicious dinner awaits. As night falls, gather by the fire beneath a vast canopy of stars — the perfect end to your day on Africa’s timeless plains.
Where You’ll Stay
Luxury: Kubu Kubu Tented Camp | Melia Serengeti Lodge | Four Seasons Serengeti
Mid-range: Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp | Embalakai Camp | Acacia Central Camp
Budget Camping: Nyani Campsite
Day 4
Day 4 – Central Serengeti: Wildlife Encounters
Today, your journey takes you deep into the heart of the Serengeti for a full day of exploration led by your expert Alia Adventures guide. The central region, with its vast open plains and scattered acacia trees, is alive with wildlife year-round. Depending on the season, immense herds follow the rains — moving south between November and December, then returning north from April to June. While this timeless cycle shifts with the weather each year, your guide’s deep knowledge ensures you’ll be in the right place for the most rewarding sightings.
Expect to encounter a rich diversity of animals — from elephants ambling across the plains to cheetahs scanning for prey, and from hippos wallowing in the rivers to vibrant flocks of birdlife overhead. If time allows, you may also visit the Serengeti Visitor Centre, where engaging exhibits tell the story of the park’s unique history and the conservation efforts spearheaded by organizations like the Frankfurt Zoological Society.
Where You’ll Stay
Luxury: Kubu Kubu Tented Camp | Melia Serengeti Lodge | Four Seasons Serengeti
Mid-range: Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp | Embalakai Camp | Acacia Central Camp
Budget Camping: Nyani Campsite
Day 5
Day 5 – Tracking the Great Migration
Today, your adventure with Alia Adventures takes you deeper into the vast Serengeti plains, following the breathtaking journey of the Great Migration — one of nature’s most awe-inspiring spectacles. Depending on the season, your route may lead you northward toward the Kenyan border, or southward into the rich grazing lands of the Ndutu area. Each region offers unique wildlife encounters shaped by the rhythms of the migration.
To ensure the best experience, your accommodations are thoughtfully selected based on the migration’s current location:
May to June – Central Serengeti:
Luxury: Kubu Kubu Tented Camp | Melia Serengeti Lodge | Four Seasons Serengeti
Mid-range: Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp | Embalakai Camp | Acacia Central Camp
Budget Camping: Nyani CampsiteAugust to October – Northern Serengeti:
Luxury: Mara Mara Tented Lodge | Mara Under Canvas
Mid-range: Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp (Mara) | Acacia Migration CampJanuary to April – Southern Serengeti (Ndutu):
Luxury: Lake Masek Tented Lodge | Lake Ndutu Luxury Tented Lodge
Mid-range: Serengeti Heritage Ndutu | Ang’ata Ndutu CampJune to July – Western Serengeti (Ndutu / Western Corridor):
Luxury: Lahia Tented Lodge | Kirawira Serena Camp
Mid-range: Mbalageti Lodge | Tukaone Tented Camp
Day 6
Day 6 – Full-Day Safari in the Serengeti
After a hearty breakfast, prepare for a full day of immersive exploration in the iconic Serengeti with Alia Adventures. From the golden light of sunrise to the fiery hues of sunset, you’ll venture deep into this legendary ecosystem, seeking out great herds of migrating animals, stealthy predators, and unforgettable landscapes. With both morning and afternoon game drives, you’ll experience the Serengeti’s diverse habitats — from sweeping grasslands to hidden watering holes — uncovering the stories of its vibrant wildlife at every turn.
Where You’ll Stay
Luxury: Kubu Kubu Tented Camp | Melia Serengeti Lodge | Four Seasons Serengeti
Mid-range: Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp | Embalakai Camp | Acacia Central Camp
Budget Camping: Nyani Campsite
Day 7
Day 7 – Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater
As dawn breaks over the endless Serengeti plains, you embark on one final morning game drive — a last chance to catch sight of elusive wildlife you may have missed during the past days. Cameras poised and eyes scanning the horizon, you follow fresh tracks while the savannah slowly awakens: lions returning from a night’s hunt, herds of elephants moving gracefully, and antelope grazing peacefully in the soft golden light.
After a leisurely picnic lunch amid the wild, you bid farewell to the vast Serengeti horizons and begin your journey toward the legendary Ngorongoro Crater. Along the way, the landscape gently transforms into verdant highlands dotted with Maasai villages and rolling hills.
Soon, the spectacular caldera reveals itself — a breathtaking natural amphitheater formed millions of years ago by the collapse of an ancient volcano. The sight is humbling: steep crater walls embrace an untouched world brimming with thriving wildlife, as if nature itself is inviting you into this hidden paradise.
In the late afternoon, you arrive at your lodge perched on the crater rim — perfectly timed to witness the sun dipping slowly beyond the horizon. Bathed in hues of gold and crimson, you gaze out over the caldera vista, reflecting on the day’s adventures and the promise of tomorrow’s exploration within this natural wonder.
Every moment, from the Serengeti’s sunrise drive to the Ngorongoro sunset, reveals why this journey is truly unforgettable — a living tapestry of Africa’s beauty, waiting to be discovered.
Where You’ll Stay
Luxury: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge | Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp
Mid-Range: Rhino Lodge | Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp
Budget Camping: Nyani Campsite
Day 8
Day 8 – Ngorongoro Crater: Wildlife Exploration in a Natural Wonder
In the early morning, descend into the vast floor of the Ngorongoro Crater for an extraordinary day of wildlife discovery in one of Africa’s most iconic natural wonders. Recognized as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, this magnificent caldera was formed nearly three million years ago after the eruption of a colossal volcano that once rivaled Mount Kilimanjaro in height. Today, the crater stretches across roughly 260 square kilometers and plunges some 610 meters deep, creating a unique, self-contained ecosystem.
The name Ngorongoro echoes the gentle chime of Maasai cowbells drifting through the valley, a timeless sound linking the present to ancient traditions. The crater is famed as one of the continent’s best places to encounter the legendary Big Five — lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard — roaming freely in their natural habitat. Beyond these giants, the landscape teems with wildebeest, gazelle, reedbuck, and countless plains game, accompanied by nearly 500 bird species adding vibrant color to the skies.
Around midday, pause beside a serene hippo pool for a freshly prepared picnic lunch, soaking in the spectacular surroundings. The afternoon continues with more wildlife viewing across the crater floor, capturing final magical moments of this unforgettable safari.
As the light softens, ascend the winding road out of the caldera and journey back toward Arusha, carrying with you memories of extraordinary encounters and timeless landscapes. This marks the close of your Alia Adventures safari — an experience crafted to leave you with stories, photographs, and moments to treasure for a lifetime.
Where You’ll Stay
Luxury: Kitela Lodge | Lake Manyara Kilima Moja | The Retreat at Ngorongoro
Mid-range: Eileen’s Tree Inn | Endoro Lodge | Karatu Simba Lodge
Budget Camping: Lilac Campsite | Panorama Campsite
Day 9
Day 9 – Lake Manyara National Park: The Final Wildlife Haven
After breakfast, set out for the last remarkable stop on your safari: Lake Manyara National Park. Located about 120 kilometers west of Arusha, this enchanting park is named for the shallow alkaline lake that covers nearly seventy percent of its area. The lake dramatically changes with the seasons — swelling to vast expanses or retreating to reveal shimmering salt flats — attracting vast flocks of flamingos and more than 500 bird species, making it a paradise for birdwatchers.
As you explore Lake Manyara’s diverse habitats, you’re likely to encounter playful troops of monkeys, towering giraffes, graceful zebras, wildebeest, herds of buffalo, and elephants. With a bit of luck, you might even glimpse the famous tree-climbing lions, a rare and captivating sight that adds an extra touch of magic to the park.
Lake Manyara is also celebrated for its stunning scenery — from open grasslands and lush forests filled with primates to impressive cliffs dotted with ancient baobab trees. After a rewarding game drive, journey back to Arusha in the late afternoon, your heart and camera full of Africa’s wild beauty.
What’s Included
Park fees (for non-residents)
All activities (unless clearly marked optional)
All accommodation (unless listed as optional upgrades)
Professional driver/guide
All transportation during the safari (unless marked optional)
All taxes and VAT
Roundtrip airport transfers
Meals as specified in the day-by-day itinerary
Exclusions
International flights (from/to home)
Additional accommodation before or after the safari
Tips (recommended guideline: USD 10.00 per person per day)
Personal expenses (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Government-imposed increases in taxes and/or park fees