On this 13 days Mkomazi Serengeti safari, go from rare black rhinos in Mkomazi to flamingo-filled Lake Natron and the Great Migration across the Serengeti, ending with the Big Five in Ngorongoro Crater.
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Read our reviews on Google →This 13 days Mkomazi Serengeti safari, with Lake Natron and the Great Migration, offers a unique alternative to the traditional Northern Circuit. Then, begin in the quiet, conservation-focused Mkomazi National Park, home to Tanzania’s black rhino and African wild dog recovery programs. Add cultural stops at Materuni Waterfalls and Mto wa Mbu, spend two nights following the migration in Northern Serengeti, and finish with an extended Ngorongoro Crater game drive.
The safari is private and mid-range. In addition, it can start any day subject to availability and allows minor customization to accommodations and destinations. Request a quote for this 13 days Mkomazi Serengeti safari and we will adapt it to your dates and group size.
In short, this 13 days safari is a fresh option next to the usual Northern Circuit. First, you start in Mkomazi National Park, a quiet park known for its black rhino and wild dog programs. Then you add a waterfall and coffee visit at Materuni. Next, you see Tarangire and Lake Natron.
After that, you spend time in Northern and Central Serengeti. Finally, you visit the Ngorongoro Crater rim and Mto wa Mbu before you return to Arusha. Because the trip has many stages, you see wildlife, culture and landscapes. Overall, it suits travelers who have time and want variety.
Locations are approximate and shown for orientation. Your exact route may vary slightly with conditions.
Searching for black rhino inside Mkomazi
Learn Chagga coffee growing and roasting traditions
A guided walk to the Materuni Waterfalls
Cycling through Mto wa Mbu village life
Day by Day Plan
Day01Drive from Moshi into Mkomazi for an afternoon game drive before settling into Babu’s Camp inside the park. Mkomazi plays a major role in protecting Tanzania’s endangered black rhino and supporting African wild dog recovery. Also, this makes it a conservation-focused start rather than just a scenic one. Optional add-ons include a guided rhino sanctuary visit and a ranger conservation briefing. Finally, the park’s low visitor numbers mean quieter, more private sightings.
Highlight: Search for Mkomazi's rare black rhino and African wild dogs in this quiet reserve.
Day02After breakfast, continue exploring Mkomazi with a focus on the rhino sanctuary and dry-country species such as gerenuk and fringe-eared oryx before a second morning game drive. You then head back to Moshi. This stop breaks up the long drive west and eases you into the highland and cultural experiences ahead.
Highlight: Continue exploring Mkomazi's rhino sanctuary and dry-country wildlife.
Day03Visit Materuni Waterfalls, a 70-metre cascade on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, on a guided walk through banana and coffee farms. Also, meet local Chagga families to learn traditional methods of growing, roasting and brewing coffee. This adds culture and light hiking to the trip. Then drive roughly 80 km to Arusha for the night.
Highlight: Hike to Materuni Waterfalls and learn Chagga coffee traditions on a guided walk.
Day04Drive to Tarangire for a full day of game viewing among its famous elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. During the dry season animals gather along the Tarangire River, keeping sightings close and steady — expect elephant families, giraffe, zebra and predators trailing their prey. Overnight in the park area.
Highlight: Search for elephant herds and ancient baobabs on a full day in Tarangire.
Day05Travel through Maasai land to Lake Natron in the Great Rift Valley, an alkaline lake that draws thousands of flamingos during breeding season. Volcanic formations and views of Ol Doinyo Lengai transform the scenery. You can walk to a nearby waterfall or along the shoreline with a local guide before an overnight stay near the lake.
Highlight: Discover the volcanic scenery and flamingo-lined shores of Lake Natron.
Day06Enter the Serengeti and head to the central plains. This region has year-round wildlife thanks to permanent water sources and rocky kopjes where lions rest and cheetahs patrol the open grassland. Spending your first Serengeti night here builds momentum before moving north into the heart of the migration. Afternoon game drive en route to your tented camp.
Highlight: Enter Central Serengeti and search among its rocky kopjes for resting lions.
Day07Head toward the Mara River in Northern Serengeti, home to the Great Migration’s dramatic river crossings roughly between July and October. Wildebeest gather on the banks before braving strong currents and crocodiles. Your guide positions near active crossing points and adjusts as the herds move. Overnight in Northern Serengeti.
Highlight: Head toward the Mara River for a chance to witness a dramatic crossing.
Day08Spend a full day following the migration herds as your guide tracks fresh movement using radio updates and spoor. Beyond the crossings themselves, you may spot lion, hyena and leopard near the riverine forest. Two nights here improves your odds of witnessing an actual crossing rather than passing through too quickly. Overnight Northern Serengeti.
Highlight: Spend a full day tracking the migration and its trailing predators.
Day09Return to Central Serengeti with a full game drive en route rather than a straight transfer. Breaking the long drive to Ngorongoro into two stages keeps the following day relaxed. Central Serengeti’s permanent water and resident predators keep the odds of lion, leopard and cheetah sightings strong right up to the crater.
Highlight: Return to Central Serengeti's resident wildlife on a scenic game drive.
Day10Drive up to the Ngorongoro highlands and settle on the crater rim. It is close to the descent gate, so you can enter the crater early tomorrow before traffic builds. Also, the cooler climate and forested slopes are a welcome change from the Serengeti’s open plains. Resting here means no long transit time cuts into your crater morning.
Highlight: Settle on the Ngorongoro Highlands ahead of tomorrow's crater descent.
Day11Descend 600 metres into the Ngorongoro Crater for concentrated wildlife viewing in a relatively small area — many animals stay inside year-round, so sightings are consistent and often close. After the game drive, continue to Karatu rather than back up to the rim. This shortens tomorrow’s final transfer toward Arusha.
Highlight: Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a chance to spot the Big Five and black rhino.
Day12Stop in Mto wa Mbu for some local interaction before the safari winds down. A guided bike ride moves through farms and village paths for ground-level contact with daily life. A visit to a Maasai Boma explains pastoral traditions and livestock culture — closing the trip with social and cultural context alongside the wildlife memories.
Highlight: Join a cultural bike ride and Maasai Boma visit near Mto wa Mbu.
Day13Your final day in Arusha is planned around your flight time. An early departure means a direct transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport. A later flight leaves time to explore Arusha’s craft markets, cultural shops and coffee houses before a relaxed, unhurried transfer to the airport.
Highlight: Enjoy a relaxed final morning with time for shopping before your flight home.
Get a personalized price for this 13 Days Mkomazi, Lake Natron & Serengeti Great Migration Safari. Your final cost depends on your travel dates, number of travelers, and any requested accommodation or itinerary changes.
per person, sharing
Final price depends on your travel dates, group size and accommodation preferences.
This safari allows minor customization to accommodations and destinations, and can start any day subject to availability. Add extra nights, request a different lodge, or combine this journey with Mount Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar — just let us know what matters most to you. To time your trip well, read our Serengeti calving season guide and best time to visit Serengeti. See what past travelers say about us on SafariBookings, TripAdvisor and Google reviews, or read our customer reviews page.
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