Our flagship luxury itinerary, Wildlife & Luxury Beach, pairs an in-depth eight-day pursuit of the Great Migration across the Serengeti with five nights of barefoot elegance at a boutique resort in Matemwe, on Zanzibar's northeast coast, just across the water from the pristine reefs of Mnemba Atoll.
Spend your days following the herds through Tarangire's baobab plains and the Serengeti's endless grasslands, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a Big Five encounter, and track the migration's dramatic river crossings when the season allows. Then exchange your safari vehicle for a private beachfront villa, where the diving and snorkeling around Mnemba Atoll rank among the finest in the Indian Ocean. Every lodge and resort on this itinerary has been chosen for its intimacy, service, and setting — this is Tanzania at its most complete, and its most indulgent.
8 days tracking the herds
Big Five in a natural amphitheater
5 nights of boutique beach luxury
This itinerary is built around the Great Migration, so timing matters. June through October brings the herds through the western and northern Serengeti, with dramatic Mara River crossings possible from July onward — this is also the best season for calm, dry conditions in Matemwe and prime diving visibility at Mnemba Atoll.
December through March finds the migration in the southern and central Serengeti, including the calving season in February, when hundreds of thousands of wildebeest give birth within a few weeks. Whichever season you travel, our guides track the herds daily to put you in the right place at the right time. Avoid the long rains in April–May if uninterrupted game viewing and beach time are priorities.
Your journey begins with a morning pickup from Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport, followed by a drive south to Tarangire National Park, home to some of Africa's largest elephant herds and its iconic ancient baobab trees. Enjoy an afternoon game drive along the Tarangire River before settling into your lodge for a relaxed first dinner under the stars.
Enjoy a final morning game drive in Tarangire before departing for the Serengeti, driving through the Ngorongoro Highlands en route. Arrive in the afternoon with time for a game drive as you make your way to your camp, set amid the endless plains that give the Serengeti its name — "the place where the land runs forever" in the Maasai language. Your guide will brief you on the migration's current position.
A full day exploring the Serengeti's central Seronera Valley, one of the richest wildlife areas in Africa, with resident populations of lion, leopard, and cheetah. Depending on the season, your guide will position you along the migration's path, whether that means the calving grounds of the southern plains or herds moving toward the western corridor. Enjoy a picnic lunch out on the plains and continue searching for wildlife into the late afternoon.
Transfer camp within the Serengeti to remain close to the migration, heading toward the Grumeti River in the western corridor or the Mara River in the north, depending on where the herds are concentrated. These regions offer the chance to witness the migration's most dramatic moments, as wildebeest and zebra gather to cross crocodile-filled waters. Spend the day in the field, with a picnic lunch on the plains.
A second full day dedicated to the migration, with your guide adjusting the plan each morning based on the herds' movement overnight. Beyond the wildebeest and zebra columns, this region holds excellent predator sightings, with lion and hyena often shadowing the migration. Enjoy a relaxed sundowner back at camp as the plains turn gold in the evening light.
Enjoy a final Serengeti sunrise before departing for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Optionally stop at Olduvai Gorge, the Cradle of Mankind, where some of humanity's earliest ancestral remains were discovered. Continue to your lodge perched on the crater rim, with sweeping views over the caldera below, and settle in for the night ahead of tomorrow's crater descent.
Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best places on Earth to see the Big Five in a single day. This natural amphitheater, formed by a collapsed volcano, is home to a dense concentration of wildlife including lion, elephant, buffalo, and the rare black rhino. Enjoy a picnic lunch beside the crater's hippo pool before ascending back to your lodge for a final safari-portion dinner.
After breakfast, transfer to the nearby airstrip for your scenic flight to Zanzibar, watching the landscape transform from savanna to coastline as you approach the Spice Island. Upon arrival, a private transfer takes you to Matemwe, on the island's northeast coast, directly across the channel from Mnemba Atoll. Settle into your boutique beachfront villa and toast the start of your relaxation with a sunset cocktail on the sand.
A full day to rest after your safari. Swim in the calm, turquoise waters off Matemwe, relax on your villa's private deck, or book an optional spa treatment. The reef here is a short boat ride from Mnemba Atoll, one of the finest snorkeling and diving sites in the Indian Ocean. Enjoy a fresh seafood dinner at the resort as the evening breeze rolls in.
A morning boat excursion to Mnemba Atoll, a protected marine conservation area ringed by coral reef and famed for its clear water and abundant marine life, including turtles, reef sharks, and, in season, dolphins. Choose between a guided scuba dive with a PADI-certified instructor or a snorkeling excursion over the shallow reef. Return to the resort in the afternoon to relax or repeat the experience.
Today is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Choose to join an optional excursion to historic Stone Town for a guided tour of its winding alleys, the former Sultan's Palace, and the House of Wonders, or opt for a second dive at a different site along the reef. In the late afternoon, consider an optional sunset dhow cruise along the coast, with the sky glowing orange and pink over the Indian Ocean. Otherwise, simply continue relaxing at the resort.
Your last full day in paradise. Spend it however you wish — one more dive or snorkel, a walk along the beach at sunrise, or simply lounging with a good book on your private deck. Enjoy a farewell dinner at the resort's restaurant, reflecting on the journey from the plains of the Serengeti to the reefs of Mnemba Atoll.
Enjoy a final breakfast with ocean views and a last swim in the warm Indian Ocean before checkout. A private transfer will take you to Zanzibar's Abeid Amani Karume International Airport for your onward flight, with connections available via Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, or Addis Ababa. Depart with memories of Tanzania's greatest wildlife spectacle and its most beautiful reefs.
Prices are per person, based on double/twin sharing.
| Season | Dates | Price (Per Person) | Single Supp. | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Season | Apr–May | $5,900 | $980 | Available |
| Shoulder | Mar, Nov, Dec | $6,650 | $1,080 | Available |
| Peak (Migration) Season | Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb | $7,450 | $1,220 | Limited |
Price includes the full 8-day Great Migration safari, internal flight to Zanzibar, 5 nights at a Matemwe boutique beach resort, one Mnemba Atoll diving or snorkeling excursion, most meals, and all transfers.
| Day | Accommodation | Type | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Tarangire Treetops Lodge | Luxury Lodge | ★★★★★ |
| Days 2–3 | Serengeti Migration Camp | Luxury Tented Camp | ★★★★★ |
| Days 4–5 | Kogatende Migration Camp | Luxury Tented Camp | ★★★★★ |
| Days 6–7 | Ngorongoro Crater Lodge | Luxury Lodge | ★★★★★ |
| Days 8–13 | Matemwe Boutique Beach Resort | Boutique Beach Resort | ★★★★★ |
Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to begin the safari portion. Most international airlines serve JRO. On Day 8, you'll fly from the Ngorongoro area to Zanzibar. Your departure flight should be from Zanzibar's Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), or via Dar es Salaam (DAR). We can help arrange multi-city flights.
Your guide will pick you up from any hotel in Arusha city center or from Kilimanjaro International Airport. Pickup time is typically 8:00 AM on Day 1. An overnight stay in Arusha before the safari is recommended.
Day 8: Ngorongoro area to Zanzibar, approximately 1.5 hours. During the migration-tracking days, an in-Serengeti camp transfer replaces a long road transfer. Luggage limit: 15 kg in soft-sided bags. Excess luggage can be stored at our Arusha office.
Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival for USD $50 (USD $100 for US citizens). The visa covers both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. A valid passport with at least 6 months remaining is required. Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if arriving from an endemic area.
Arusha, Tanzania • Established 2015
Nashivai Safaris is a locally owned and operated safari company based in Arusha, Tanzania. Wildlife & Luxury Beach is our top-tier itinerary, built for travelers who want the very best of the Great Migration paired with a genuinely indulgent stay on the Zanzibar coast, all handled seamlessly by our experienced team.
We saw a Mara River crossing on our third day in the north — something we never thought we'd witness in person. Then a few days later we were diving Mnemba Atoll from our own boat. This trip was worth every cent.
— Helena & Marcus B., Sweden • September 2025Nashivai's guides really do track the migration daily rather than following a fixed route, which made all the difference. The Matemwe resort afterward was the most relaxing five days of our lives. Cannot recommend this itinerary enough.
— Priya S., United Kingdom • July 2025
