The Great Migration of Kenya & Tanzania
Destination Covered
Kenya: Nairobi, Maasai Mara
Tanzania: Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti
Trip Insights
The splendours we see on this brilliantly focussed safari–the Maasai Mara, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater–are matchless in their African and planetary magnificence, quintessentially African in their wealth of wildlife and stunning landscapes, planetary because their likes are not to be found elsewhere on Earth.
We start at the peaceful Hemingways Hotel in Nairobi’s leafy suburbs, then follow in the footsteps of Sir Richard Branson at the pioneering Mahali Mzuri, an excellent base from which to explore the river forests and golden grasslands of the Maasai Mara. Then, from the luxuriously calming Four Seasons, we dive into the sea of life that is the Serengeti.
Our last stop before flying back to Nairobi is the Ngorongoro Crater, a 100 square mile crater home to the Big Five and just about every gorgeous African mammal from antelopes to zebras. And while snuggled in the Manor at Ngorongoro, we'll explore Lake Manyara, whose lyrical flight of flamingos you may recall from Out of Africa.
Highlights
- The Serengeti: “The light is dazzling, the air delectable; the magic of the American prairie here blends with the other magic of the animals as they existed before man,” wrote the great British litterateur Cyril Connolly.
- The Maasai Mara, the northern, more exuberantly foliated reaches of the vast Maasai Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, the world’s greatest assemblage of free-roaming animals, a place where, Isak Dinesen wrote, “you felt the night-air soft and deep and pregnant with benediction.”
- Once a towering volcano, a rival of lordly Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater is a natural masterpiece that brings to mind Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World.
- And last and of course, the constant, touchdown to takeoff presence of a Micato Safari Director, backed up by our 24-hour Concierge Service and our in-country and international staff.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival in Nairobi, Kenya
En route to Kenya and its capital city, Nairobi.
Day 2 & 3 - Nairobi and the serene Hemingways Hotel
We arrive in Nairobi and Hemingways, a quietly ravishing haven for lovers of old-style panache mixed with modern amenities and great cuisine, wonderfully set in the lush suburb of Karen.
During our time in Nairobi and environs, we’ll commune with the endangered, but quite friendly Rothschild giraffes at the Giraffe Centre and visit Karen Blixen’s home, now a museum. We’ll lunch at one Nairobi’s cosmopolitan restaurants, and visit Micato-AmericaShare’s Harambee Centre.
Day 4 to 6 - Sir Richard Branson’s Mahali Mzuri in the Maasai Mara
And now we fly to the game lands of the Maasai Mara. The Mara and the Serengeti, magic names synonymous with African safari, are the northern and southern regions of a naturally defined ecosystem more than twice the size of Jamaica. Here in the north, the landscapes are greener than in the south, thanks largely to somewhat more seasonal rain. Wildlife teems and thrives in the Mara, and the Big Five rule their respective roosts with regal aplomb. Our camp is Sir Richard Branson’s Mahali Mzuri, situated on one of the Mara’s major migration routes. The camp’s uniquely designed tents are a marvelous introduction to the modern luxuries and timeless excitements of safari life.
Day 7 & 8 - A lightening of spirit at the storied Four Seasons Serengeti
A short flight takes us south into Tanzania and the Serengeti. We once wrote rather controversially that the Serengeti’s skies make the Big Sky state of Montana’s skies look like Manhattan’s. But immense and extra-Montanan they are. Morning clouds so alive with sunlight that they’re almost too bright to look at directly. Soaring afternoon cumulus that seem to brush up against the stratosphere. And, of course, the animals, who, when we’re up close and personal with them, seem to be from some fabulous new planet. We’ll reside for a couple of nights at the superb Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, high on a bouldery ridge, basking in panoramic views of the prodigious, golden-hued plain...
As Beryl Markham wrote in her marvelous West with the Night, “In the season of drought the Serengeti Plains are as dry and tawny as the coats of the lion that prowl them, and during the rains they provide the benison of soft grass to all the animals in a child’s picture book. They are endless and they are empty, but they are as warm with life as the waters of a tropic sea.”
Day 9 to 11 - Lake Manyara and the epic Ngorongoro Crater
Another flight–with textbook views of the Great Rift (more on that in a moment)–brings us to two more natural marvels. We land near one of them, Lake Manyara, and drive to the tranquil Manor at Ngorongoro, set in a coffee estate on the gentle first slopes of the other marvel, the Ngorongoro Crater. In the afternoon, we can enjoy one of safari’s less-celebrated benefits–untroubled rest–or we can hop on one of the Manor’s accommodating horses, do some mountain biking, or take a dip in its lovely pool, followed by traditional afternoon tea and dinner in its private dining room or expansive wine cellar.
On Day 10, we’ll motor our way upslope to the Crater’s 7,900-foot rim, then down 2,000 feet into the halcyon, 100-square mile caldera, the remnant of a once-glaciated volcanic colossus that a planet-trembling blast decapitated millions of years ago. There are no giraffes among the Crater’s 25,000 or so animals; it’s said they’re too gangly to climb the caldera’s steep walls. But that doesn’t explain the presence of the far less nimble hippos who nonchalantly bubble in its pools. We’ll roam the Crater in the morning and afternoon, with a fine al fresco lunch at midday, then head back to the welcoming Manor.
Now, about Africa’s Great Rift, a 4,000-mile-long, ever-widening slash, a slowly dramatic splitting of two tectonic plates that in 50 million years or so will become an ocean. Its highest volcanoes–Kilimanjaro Mount Kenya, Ngorongoro, and others–will become islands, and its epic Rift Lakes–Tanganyika, Malawi, Victoria, and Turkana and many more–are, like Manyara, the first waters of that ocean. But for many, including Ernest Hemingway, the smaller Lake Manyara is the brightest gem of them all.
We’ll indulge in some relaxed (or active) time in the morning before setting out for the lake, where we’ll delight in its famous tree-climbing lions (who lounge on trees in a number of East African places, but Manyara’s seem to make a more satisfying habit of it). Flamingos in their thousands will be in brilliant pink evidence (we may remember the stunning scene of them wafting into the sky in Out of Africa). And after sundowners, we’ll return to the Manor, rich in marvels seen and experienced.
Day 12 - Return to Nairobi for flights home
We fly back to Nairobi, where we’ll have full-amenity day rooms at the Four Points at the Nairobi Airport or the Norfolk, and after a quiet dinner, our Safari Director and staff will escort us to the airport for our late-evening flights home.
Day 13 - Homeward Bound
Connect with your flights home and sweetly dream, perhaps, about your next Micato safari.
Camps & Lodges
Inclusions
- Luxury accommodations and all meals.
- Highly-credentialed Micato Safari Directors and Driver-Guides throughout your journey.
- 24/7 Concierge Team poised to meet last minute, unexpected, and unusual requests.
- A variety of activities, individualized for you by your Safari Director at every safari location.
- Every last gratuity, even substantial ones to Safari Directors, Driver-Guides, waiters, porters… and everyone else, from beginning to end of your safari.
- Regional wine and beer at mealtimes, vehicles stocked with soft drinks and bottled water.
- Daily valet laundry service. You can pack less and even return home with a bag of clean clothes… now that’s luxury!
- Complimentary in-vehicle Wi-Fi as well as free Wi-Fi wherever else it exists on safari, including camps and lodges.
- All airport transfers, game park, national park, and conservancy fees.
- Extensive safety protocols perfected by 60 years of on-the-ground expertise.
- Sublime safari swag! Bush hats, specially designed Micato Safaris duffels, luggage tags, document wallets, flashlights, and more.
- For every guest on safari, Micato sends and African child to school through our One for One Commitment.
Exclusions
- Luxury accommodations and all meals.
- Highly-credentialed Micato Safari Directors and Driver-Guides throughout your journey.
- 24/7 Concierge Team poised to meet last minute, unexpected, and unusual requests.
- A variety of activities, individualized for you by your Safari Director at every safari location.
- Every last gratuity, even substantial ones to Safari Directors, Driver-Guides, waiters, porters… and everyone else, from beginning to end of your safari.
- Regional wine and beer at mealtimes, vehicles stocked with soft drinks and bottled water.
- Daily valet laundry service. You can pack less and even return home with a bag of clean clothes… now that’s luxury!
- Complimentary in-vehicle Wi-Fi as well as free Wi-Fi wherever else it exists on safari, including camps and lodges.
- All airport transfers, game park, national park, and conservancy fees.
- Extensive safety protocols perfected by 60 years of on-the-ground expertise.
- Sublime safari swag! Bush hats, specially designed Micato Safaris duffels, luggage tags, document wallets, flashlights, and more.
- For every guest on safari, Micato sends and African child to school through our One for One Commitment.
Options & Extensions
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What Our Travellers Say About Their African Safari
"From the moment we landed in Nairobi to our last sunrise game drive in the Maasai Mara, every detail was perfect. Watching the Great Migration in person is something no documentary can ever prepare you for. Absolutely life-changing."
Sarah Mitchell
March 2025, United Kingdom
"We booked the Southern Africa safari package and it exceeded every expectation. South Luangwa's walking safaris were the highlight — our guide's knowledge was extraordinary. If you're considering a safari in Africa, stop thinking and just go."
James & Laura Hoffman
August 2024, United States
"The gorilla trekking in Rwanda followed by the Maasai Mara was the trip of a lifetime. Seamlessly organised, incredible lodges, and wildlife sightings we still can't believe were real. Worth every penny of the African safari package."
Priya Nair
November 2024, India
Frequently Asked Questions About African Safaris
When is the best time of year to go on a safari?
The “best” time depends on your goal. Generally, the Dry Season (June to October) is king for wildlife viewing because animals congregate around waterholes and the thinning bush makes them easier to spot.
The Great Migration: July to October (Masai Mara, Kenya) and December to March (Serengeti calving season).
Best Value: The “Green Season” (November to April) offers lush landscapes and lower rates, though rain is more common.
Is it safe to be that close to wild animals?
Yes, provided you follow the “Vehicle Rules.” Most animals perceive a safari vehicle as one large, non-threatening object. As long as you stay inside, keep your limbs within the vehicle, and keep your voice low, they usually ignore you. Walking safaris are always led by armed, expert rangers who understand animal behavior and wind direction.
What should I pack (and what colors should I wear)
The golden rule is layers and neutrals.
Colors: Wear khaki, beige, or olive. Avoid dark blue and black (they attract Tsetse flies) and bright white (it startles animals).
Essentials: A high-quality pair of 8x magnification binoculars, a wide-brimmed hat, and a sturdy power bank.
Luggage: Many small “bush flights” have strict 15–20 kg (33–44 lbs) limits and require soft-sided duffel bags.
Do I need vaccinations or malaria pills?
Usually, yes. Most safari destinations in East and Southern Africa are in malaria zones, so prophylaxis is highly recommended. You may also need a Yellow Fever certificate depending on which countries you are crossing. Always consult a travel clinic at least 8 weeks before departure.