Tanzania and the Great East African Migration

13 days
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Small Group Tour
Each year 2 million animals migrate between the plains of the Serengeti in Tanzania and Masai Mara in Kenya, a journey of 800 miles. The migration is dramatic — considered to be the largest movement of wildlife on earth. Witness the highlights of the migration from strategically placed mobile tented camps and study this phenomena and its impact on the land, t...
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • Look for the “Big Five” while following the animals of the Great Migration.
    • Learn about the contribution of Louis and Mary Leakey during a field trip to Olduvai Gorge.
    • At a Maasai village and a rural community, learn how the migration impacts the lives of the indigenous people.

What's this trip about?

    Each year 2 million animals migrate between the plains of the Serengeti in Tanzania and Masai Mara in Kenya, a journey of 800 miles. The migration is dramatic — considered to be the largest movement of wildlife on earth. Witness the highlights of the migration from strategically placed mobile tented camps and study this phenomena and its impact on the land, the animals and the people living on the periphery of the migration route. Visit the Ngorongoro Crater and Olduvai Gorge — the Cradle of Mankind — as we follow in the hoof prints of the migrating animals.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 24 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityArusha
End CityArusha

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • Education / Learning
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Safari

Destinations

  • Africa

Attractions

  • Arusha
  • Lake Manyara National Park
  • Maasai Mara
  • Ngorongoro Crater
  • Serengeti National Park
  • Tarangire National Park

Activities

  • Culture
  • Game drive
  • Historic sightseeing
  • Nature
  • Safari
  • Wildlife viewing

Trip includes

    • 11 nights of accommodations
    • 9 expert-led lectures
    • 16 expert-led field trips
    • An experienced Group Leader
    • Customary gratuities throughout the program
    • The Road Scholar Travel Protection Plan, 24-hour-a-day emergency assistance coverage
    • Taxes

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: In Transit to Program

In Flight

Day 2: Check-in, Registration: Kilimanjaro/Arusha

Accommodation: Mt. Meru Hotel

Evening: Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport. After clearing Immigrations and Customs, please look for the Road Scholar representative who will be waiting outside the secured arrivals area with an Road Scholar sign (applies...

Day 3: Program Orientation, Transfer to Tarangire National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Tarangire Osupuko Lodge

Activity note: Please be aware that program activities and scheduled times could change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possibl...

Day 4: Tarangire National Park - Target Species Game Drive

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Tarangire Osupuko Lodge

Breakfast: Early morning target species game drive in the national park. Our focus today will be on the elephants of Tarangire and the seemingly inverted baobab trees that dot the ...

Day 5: Lake Manyara - Village Visits, Cultural Interaction

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Manyara Wildlife Safari Camp

Breakfast: At the lodge.

Morning: Begin transfer to Lake Manyara. Visit to a local school* (if in session) for interaction with the students, followed by walking orient...

Day 6: Central Serengeti - Maasai Village, Game Drive

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Semipermanent Tented Camp - Central Serengeti

Breakfast: At the lodge.

Morning: Early morning visit to a Maasai village to experience the simple and uncluttered lifestyle of the Maasai. Begin trans...

Day 7: Central Serengeti - Game Drives, Searching for Big Cats

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Semipermanent Tented Camp - Central Serengeti

Breakfast: Early morning breakfast at the camp.

Morning: Game drive in search of the big cats (lion and cheetah,) with site lecture, ‘Do the lions foll...

Day 8: Game Drives, Monitoring & Protecting Wildlife, South Serengeti

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mobile Tented Camp - Southern Serengeti

Breakfast: At the camp.

Morning: Transfer south to Ndutu. En route, enjoy a game drive and a visit to the Serengeti Park Headquarters. Lecture: The Role of t...

Day 9: Game Drives, Wildebeest Calving, Zebra Migration, South Serengeti

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mobile Tented Camp - Southern Serengeti

Breakfast: Early morning breakfast at the camp.

Morning: During this morning's game drive we will be looking to witness the birthing of wildebeests. In the s...

Day 10: Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Olduvai Gorge Site, Ngorongoro

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge

Breakfast: At the lodge.

Morning: Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater via Olduvai Gorge. Stop at the "Cradle of Mankind" for a field trip to Olduvai Gorge's famous archeological...

Day 11: Ngorongoro- Game Drives in the Ngorongoro Crater, Karatu

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Acacia Farm Lodge

Breakfast: Early breakfast at the lodge.

Morning: Descend into the crater in 4x4 vehicles for a full morning game drive among one of the most unique concentrations of wildlife on ...

Day 12: Arusha, Cultural Heritage Center, Kilimanjaro/Arusha

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Mt. Meru Hotel

Activity note: Hotel day rooms in Arusha - checkout is at 6:00 pm in preparation for a group transfer to the international airport. This marks the end of your Road Scholar program. Please note that...

Day 13: Return Flight to U.S.

In Flight

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,999
Price per day$385
Last Updated: 2/23/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Road Scholar.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Road Scholar, the not-for-profit leader in educational travel since 1975, offers 5,500 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries. Alongside local and renowned experts, experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural tours and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Programs For Whatever You Love to Do:

Much more than a tour, a Road Scholar program is a true learning adventure. Whether you join us in Seattle or Santiago, Beijing or Berlin, Road Scholar programs all share four unique attributes:

--Exceptional opportunities for learning and exploration through special behind-the-scenes access to the world's most fascinating treasures, led by our passionate and knowledgeable instructors.

--The shared fellowship of learning and warm camaraderie, whether a solo traveler or with a companion.

--Comfortable accommodations and appetizing meals.

--Excellent value.

Explore Your Mind and the World:

There are no grades or tests on Road Scholar programs. All that's needed is an inquiring mind, an adventurous spirit, and the belief that learning and discovery are lifelong pursuits.

Established in 1975, Road Scholar offers participants once-in-a-lifetime experiences delivered by local and world-renowned experts. Experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural excursions and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Our Most Popular Tours:

Adventures Afloat Cruises: On these educational cruises, you’ll traverse some of the world's most spectacular waterways, offering you a convenient and rewarding way to learn and explore aboard ocean liners, riverboats and small ships.

Independent City Discoveries: Combine structured learning with independent discovery — each program includes hotel accommodations and some meals, lectures, expert-led field trips and detailed outlines for four self-guided excursions.

Grandparent Travel: Discover and explore together with your grandchild through interactive learning experiences and field trips. Both you and your grandchild will share the joy of learning with other grandparents and their grandchildren, bridging generations and opening doors to discovery and friendship.

National Parks: From Denali to the Everglades and countless beautiful, historic places in between, field trips to America’s National Parks reveal what tourists can’t see on their own, with specialized experts showing you how to track wildlife or lead you to the spot with the most awe-inspiring view.

Outdoor Adventures: From hiking in the Grand Canyon to exploring France by barge and bicycle, to sharpening your golf or tennis skills, these active programs exercise the body and the mind.

Service Learning: From tutoring school children or helping restore a crucial forest habitat for wildlife, to assisting with artifact restoration and museum curatorial work, Service Learning adventures are an opportunity to make a difference in the world.

Small Groups: Love to learn in a small-group setting? Check out this collection of programs that have 10-24 participants.

Why Road Scholar?

You Can't Beat Road Scholar's Remarkable Value: Our all-inclusive prices have no hidden costs. Compare the price of one of our programs to what it would cost to duplicate the experience on your own (if that's even possible) and you'll see what we mean by "remarkable value."

Lifelong Learning and Lifelong Friends: When you participate in a Road Scholar program, you will not only expand your mind, you will be in the company of other people who believe that learning is one of the best parts of life.

Instructors Who Inspire: Road Scholar instructors are both experts in their field and lifelong learners themselves who are excited to answer your questions, hear your opinions and share in your experience.

Solo Participants Love Our Programs: Road Scholar programs are renowned for being inclusive, warm and welcoming for solo participants. We can either match you with a roommate or, on most programs, you can choose to room on your own.

Think Outside the Tour: The educational focus of Road Scholar programs makes us completely different from a commercial travel tour. Road Scholar programs offer educational experiences that answer the what's, the why's and the how-to's.

You Go Where Others Can't: We've been offering educational experiences since 1975 and we've made connections with educators and other local "insiders" all around the world, creating learning opportunities that show you the world in a way that just can't be done on your own or on a "tour."

We've Covered All the Bases: From expert-led lectures and field trips to comfortable lodgings and meals, we handle all the details, including the ones you might not anticipate. We've taken the worry out of the planning, so you can focus on your learning experience.

Peace of Mind Through the Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan: The Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan, which is purchased on behalf of every participant, provides 24-hour emergency assistance in the unlikely case of a medical emergency.

Scholarships for Those in Financial Need: Each year, Road Scholar awards $250,000 in scholarships toward programs in North America for those who do not have the financial means to participate.

Our Donors: Each year, thousands of donors contribute to our Annual Fund, helping to cover the gap between the tuition we charge and the actual cost of our programs.

What they’re known for
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Logistics

Accommodation

,Mt. Meru Hotel: 2 nights  Arusha This attractive, modern hotel sits on 9 acres of landscaped grounds in the town of Arusha. The international airport, located on the outskirts of the city, is approximately 30 miles away.   Tarangire Osupuko Lodge: 2 nights  Tarangire The lodge is located less than 5 miles outside the main gate to Tarangire National Park.   Manyara Wildlife Safari Camp: 1 night  Manyara This attractive African camp is well-situated near the main gate to Manyara National Park. Camp grounds face Lake Manyara and the Rift Valley escarpment.   Semipermanent Tented Camp - Central Serengeti: 2 nights  Serengeti The semipermanent tented camp in the Central Serengeti region is made up of a small number of guest tents, a main dining tent with bar, and an outdoor sitting area for guests to enjoy some evening conversation around the campfire.   Mobile Tented Camp - Southern Serengeti: 2 nights  Serengeti Mobile tented camps provide an authentic safari experience without giving up on comfort. This seasonal tented camp in Southern Serengeti is made up of a small number of guest tents, a main dining tent with bar, and an outdoor sitting area for guests to enjoy some evening conversation around the campfire.   Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge: 1 night  Ngorongoro The lodge is strategically built on the rim of Ngogorongoro's large crater, affording amazing views of the crater floor and its diverse wildlife. Buildings were constructed out of mostly local materials, including stone and wood. Rooms have large windows facing the crater.
Guides
Lucas Mhina Lucas John Mhina was born and raised in Arusha, Tanzania. His parents are from two different tribes in coastal Tanzania and from the Mount Kilimanjaro region. He studied in England at East London University, in Kenya at Nairobi's Strathmore College, and received further training in educational excursion leading and first aid while in South Africa. Lucas has a keen interest in ecology and truly enjoys sharing his vast knowledge of the birds and wildlife of East Africa.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

10 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches and 9 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
roadscholar-3716RJ

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