What You Need to Know: The 7-day luxury river-crossing safari costs from US$7,160 per person for two travelers (US$6,685 each for four). It runs from July to October in 2027 and 2028, when the herds are in the northern Serengeti; crossings are busiest in August and September. The price includes airport transfers, a night in Arusha, five safari nights at luxury lodges and camps, three of them near the Mara River, all park fees, the crater service fee, the scheduled flight from Kogatende to Arusha and a private Land Cruiser with your own Mweka-trained driver-guide. Crossings are never guaranteed, so the trip gives you three nights at the river.
Who Is the Luxury River-Crossing Safari For?
It is for travelers who want to see the wildebeest cross the Mara River and want to do it in comfort. The northern Serengeti is a long day's drive from Arusha, so the trip drives in, through the crater and the central Serengeti, and flies out: you see the whole length of the park on the way north and save a day on the road at the end. Three nights at the river matter because crossings can't be predicted; the herds may gather on the bank for hours and turn back, or cross several times in one morning.
| This safari suits you if… | Consider another trip if… |
|---|---|
| The river crossings are what you want most | You have only four days: our 4-day river-crossing fly-in, flying both ways |
| You are traveling between July and October | You are traveling from January to March: the 6-day luxury Ndutu calving safari |
| You'd like the crater and the central Serengeti on the way | You'd like Tarangire and two Serengeti nights too: the 10-day private luxury safari, July-to-October version |
When Are the Mara River Crossings in 2027 and 2028?
In most years the herds reach the northern Serengeti in July and cross the Mara River until October. The exact timing follows the rain, so no one can give fixed dates; we check reports from guides and camps in the north before you travel:
| Month | What to expect at the Mara River |
|---|---|
| July | The herds arrive in the north; the first crossings, and quieter camps than in August |
| August | Usually the busiest crossings, and the busiest month at the camps |
| September | Crossings continue, often in both directions |
| October | Fewer, scattered crossings as the herds start to move south |
More on the herds' year is in the Great Migration by month.
7-Day Luxury River-Crossing Safari Itinerary, Day by Day
You drive north through the crater and the central Serengeti, then fly back from the northern Serengeti. Day by day:
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Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro, a night in Arusha
Airport pickup and the drive of about an hour to your Arusha hotel to rest.
Stay: Arusha Coffee Lodge by Elewana, Gran Meliá Arusha or Four Points by Sheraton, or similar.
Airport pickupArushaDinner, depending on your arrival -
Day 2: Lake Manyara, then up to Karatu
A game drive at Lake Manyara, from the groundwater forest to the lake shore, then up to Karatu in the Ngorongoro highlands.
Stay: Gibbs' Farm, Acacia Farm Lodge or Escarpment Ngorongoro, or similar.
Forest and lakeLake Manyara, KaratuBreakfast, lunch box, dinner -
Day 3: The Ngorongoro Crater, then into the Serengeti
An early descent to the crater floor for lions, buffaloes, zebras and the chance of a black rhino, then across the highlands to the central Serengeti for the night.
Stay: Four Seasons Serengeti, Serengeti Serena Lodge or Nyota Luxury Tented Camp, or similar.
Crater game driveNgorongoro, SerengetiBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 4: North through the Serengeti to the Mara River
A full day of game viewing as you drive north through the Lobo area and the hills to the northern Serengeti, with lunch on the way, arriving at your camp near the Mara River in the late afternoon.
Stay: Malaika Mara River Luxury Camp, Serengeti Ark Safari Lodge, Mara Mara Tented Lodge or River Camp, or similar, three nights.
Northern SerengetiKogatende areaBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 5: A day at the Mara River
Your guide watches where the herds are gathering on the riverbank and positions you at a good distance, then you wait. A crossing can take minutes or hours to start, so we take a picnic and stay with the herds. Crocodiles and hippos wait in the river, and lions and leopards hunt in the area.
River crossingsMara RiverBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 6: A second day at the river
Another full day with the herds, following the guides' reports to the crossing points that are active, and time in the quieter areas of the north between crossings.
River crossingsMara RiverBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 7: Fly from Kogatende to Arusha
A last morning drive if your flight allows, then the scheduled light-aircraft flight from Kogatende airstrip to Arusha, where we meet you and take you to Kilimanjaro International Airport or your hotel. We can also arrange a flight to Zanzibar instead.
FlightKogatende, ArushaBreakfast
Where You Stay on the Luxury River-Crossing Safari
The camps near the Mara River are the heart of the trip. Night by night, always "or similar":
| Night | Area | Luxury lodges (or similar) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arusha | Arusha Coffee Lodge by Elewana, Gran Meliá Arusha, Four Points by Sheraton |
| 2 | Karatu | Gibbs' Farm, Acacia Farm Lodge, Escarpment Ngorongoro |
| 3 | Central Serengeti | Four Seasons Serengeti, Serengeti Serena Lodge, Nyota Luxury Tented Camp |
| 4–6 | Northern Serengeti, near the Mara River | Malaika Mara River Luxury Camp, Serengeti Ark Safari Lodge, Mara Mara Tented Lodge, River Camp |
The northern camps fill many months ahead for August and September, so they are the first lodges we confirm when you book.
How Much Does the Luxury River-Crossing Safari Cost?
From US$7,160 per person for two travelers, including the flight from Kogatende to Arusha. The price per person falls as more travelers share the vehicle:
| Travelers | Luxury, per person | Same route at mid-range |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | US$9,630 | US$5,775 |
| 2 | US$7,160 | US$4,390 |
| 3 | US$6,570 | US$3,940 |
| 4 | US$6,685 | US$3,915 |
| 5 | US$6,425 | US$3,740 |
| 6 | US$6,525 | US$3,755 |
Park fees on the 7-Day Luxury River-Crossing Safari
Included in the price; the 2026 rates for reference:
| Fee | 2026 rate (incl. VAT) |
|---|---|
| Lake Manyara National Park | About US$59 per person per 24 hours |
| Ngorongoro Conservation Area (also charged when you drive through) | US$70.80 per person per 24 hours |
| Serengeti National Park | US$82.60 per person per 24 hours |
| Concession fee (nights inside the parks and on the crater rim) | Per person per night, by season |
| Ngorongoro crater service fee | US$295 per vehicle per descent |
What the 7-Day Luxury River-Crossing Safari Includes
Included every time you book this safari:
- Airport pickup and drop-off at Kilimanjaro International Airport
- A night at a luxury hotel in Arusha and five safari nights at luxury lodges and camps, three near the Mara River
- The scheduled flight from Kogatende to Arusha
- Meals on safari as listed in the itinerary
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof, charging points and a fridge, and your own Mweka-trained driver-guide
- All park, conservation and concession fees, and the Ngorongoro crater service fee
- Drinking water in the vehicle
Not included in the 7-Day Luxury River-Crossing Safari price
Budget separately for:
- International flights and visas (US$100 for US citizens)
- Tanzania's mandatory inbound travel insurance, US$44 per adult from October 1, 2026 (we can help you buy it)
- Travel insurance, including medical evacuation
- Tips for your guide and lodge staff
- Drinks, except where a lodge includes them, and personal items
- Excess luggage on the flight
- Optional activities, such as a sunrise balloon flight over the Serengeti (US$490 per person)
What Should You Know About the Flight from Kogatende?
The flight back is a scheduled light-aircraft service with Auric Air or Coastal Aviation. Light aircraft have strict luggage limits, usually about 15 to 20 kg per person in a soft bag; your quotation gives the exact allowance for your airline. Leave anything you don't need on safari with us in Arusha.
How to Book the Luxury River-Crossing Safari
Send your preferred month, the number of travelers and any camps you have in mind through the form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or by email to jaynevytours@gmail.com; for August and September, book as early as you can. We reply with a written quotation that names every lodge for your dates. A 30% deposit confirms the safari and the balance is paid on arrival, by Pesapal (card or mobile money) or bank transfer in US dollars; cancellations follow our booking terms.
Common Questions About the Luxury River-Crossing Safari
Short answers to the questions our guests ask us most often:
When is the best time to see the Mara River crossings?
From July to October, with the busiest crossings in most years in August and September. Timing follows the rain, so no one can give exact dates.
Is a river crossing guaranteed?
No. The herds can wait on the bank for hours and turn back. Three nights near the river give you a good chance, and your guide follows reports from other guides each day.
How much is a 7-day luxury Mara River safari?
From US$7,160 per person for two travelers and US$6,685 each for four, including the flight from Kogatende to Arusha, park fees and luxury lodges with meals.
Is the Mara River in Tanzania or Kenya?
Both. It flows from Kenya's Maasai Mara into Tanzania's northern Serengeti, and crossings happen on both sides; this safari stays on the Tanzanian side, around Kogatende.
Can we fly to Zanzibar after the safari?
Yes. Instead of the flight to Arusha, we can book a flight from the Serengeti to Zanzibar and add a luxury beach hotel.
Should You Book the 7-Day Luxury River-Crossing Safari?
Book it if the river crossings are the reason for your trip and you are traveling between July and October: three nights at a luxury camp near the Mara River, the crater on the way and a flight home instead of a long drive, from US$7,160 per person.
Traveling from January to March instead? The 6-day luxury calving safari follows the herds on the southern plains. See all our luxury Tanzania safaris.