Designed for families chasing the Great Migration without sacrificing comfort or pace, this 9-day circuit moves from Tarangire's elephant herds through Central and Northern Serengeti — home to the Mara River crossings — before finishing with a full day on the wildlife-dense floor of the Ngorongoro Crater.
Daily drives are kept shorter than a typical migration itinerary, camps are chosen for their family rooms and pools, and every day builds in downtime so kids and grandparents alike stay comfortable. From the wildebeest herds thundering across the Mara to a Maasai village morning, this is a migration safari built around the whole family.
Two nights positioned for prime crossing season
Family rooms & pools throughout
A cultural morning the whole family remembers
This itinerary is built around the Great Migration and is best travelled June through October, when herds concentrate in the Central and Northern Serengeti and river crossings are most likely near the Mara. Drive times, camp choice, and pacing are all designed with kids and grandparents in mind, but exact migration positioning varies year to year, so your guide will confirm the best camp placement closer to your travel dates.
Depart Arusha by private vehicle for Tarangire National Park, famous for its enormous elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. After a picnic lunch, enjoy an easy-paced afternoon game drive along the Tarangire River, where wildlife concentrates even in the dry season. Check in to your lodge in time for a swim before dinner.
A full day exploring Tarangire at a relaxed pace, with a scavenger-hunt checklist to keep younger travellers engaged — spot the giraffe, the baobab, the dik-dik, and more. Enjoy a picnic lunch in a shaded spot overlooking the river, then return to the lodge for an afternoon by the pool before an evening game talk with your guide around the campfire.
Drive up through the Ngorongoro Highlands, with a stop at a viewpoint over the crater, before descending into the Serengeti's endless plains. Break up the journey with a picnic lunch and a short, story-driven stop at Olduvai Gorge to learn about early human history. Arrive in the Seronera area, home to resident wildlife year-round, in time for a game drive before sunset.
A full day in Central Serengeti, known for reliable predator sightings year-round, with morning and afternoon game drives broken up by a relaxed lunch and pool time back at the lodge. Your guide keeps the pace family-friendly, with a wildlife scavenger-hunt checklist and plenty of stops to watch and photograph sightings at leisure.
Head north with game viewing along the way, following the herds toward the Mara River region. Stop for a picnic lunch en route before checking in to your family-friendly camp for an easy afternoon after several early starts, followed by a short late-day game drive and a relaxed dinner.
A full day positioned for the Great Migration, with your guide tracking herd movement toward the Mara River for a chance to witness a crossing. Morning and afternoon drives are broken up with a picnic lunch and downtime back at camp, keeping the day comfortable even with the excitement of the crossings. Enjoy an evening under some of the darkest, clearest skies in Tanzania.
Depart the Serengeti with a final game drive through the southern plains before driving to the Ngorongoro Highlands, stopping en route for a guided visit to a local Maasai village and school — a highlight for families, with a warm welcome, a look at traditional homes, and a chance for kids to meet local children. Continue to your lodge on the crater rim in time for dinner with sweeping views over the caldera.
Descend onto the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater for a full day among one of Africa's densest concentrations of wildlife, with a picnic lunch by the hippo pool. Return to the rim in the late afternoon for a final swim and a relaxed farewell dinner overlooking the caldera.
After a relaxed breakfast, descend from the crater rim and drive back to Arusha, arriving in time for onward or return flights from Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy, for the complete 9-day family migration safari. Child rates available on request.
| Season | Dates | Price (Per Person) | Single Supp. | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Season | Nov–May | $5,200 | $650 | Available |
| Migration Season | Jun, Oct | $5,950 | $750 | Available |
| Peak Crossing Season | Jul–Sep | $6,800 | $900 | Limited |
Price includes everything: private guiding, family-friendly camp accommodation, all meals, park and conservation fees, and transfers. Family rooms, connecting rooms, and reduced child rates are available on request. No hidden costs.
| Day | Accommodation | Type | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–2 | Tarangire Simba Lodge | Family Lodge | ★★★★ |
| Days 3–4 | Seronera Wildlife Lodge | Lodge | ★★★★ |
| Days 5–6 | Mara River Family Camp | Tented Camp | ★★★★★ |
| Days 7–8 | Ang'ata Ngorongoro | Tented Camp | ★★★★ |
Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to begin your family safari. Most international airlines serve JRO via Amsterdam, Doha, Nairobi, or Addis Ababa. Your safari begins and ends in Arusha, a short drive from JRO.
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, especially with young children adjusting to time zones.
The entire circuit is done by private 4x4 vehicle with regular rest stops, keeping the pace comfortable for children and grandparents alike. No internal flights are required on this itinerary, though a fly-in option between Northern Serengeti and Ngorongoro can be arranged on request.
Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival for USD $50 (USD $100 for US citizens), including children. A valid passport with at least 6 months remaining is required for every traveller. 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. Our family safaris are designed by parents and grandparents for families, with pacing, camps, and activities chosen to keep every generation comfortable and engaged, from toddlers to grandparents.
We were nervous about a migration trip with young kids, but the shorter drive days and the camp near the Mara made all the difference. We watched a crossing from the vehicle and the kids still talk about it.
— The Whitfield Family, Canada • August 2024Three generations travelling together and every single camp had a pool and family rooms. The pacing never felt rushed, even with the extra distance to the Mara River.
— Amara & Family, South Africa • September 2024