What You Need to Know: The 7-day Mara River crossing safari costs from US$4,470 per person for two travelers at mid-range camps (US$3,400 budget, US$7,535 luxury). It runs from July to October in 2027 and 2028, with the busiest crossings in most years in August and September. The price includes pickup in Arusha, six nights at lodges and camps with meals (three near the Mara River), all park fees and a private Land Cruiser with your own guide. Crossings are never guaranteed, which is why the trip gives you two full days at the river.
Who Should Book the 7-Day Mara River Crossing Safari?
Book it if seeing the herds cross the Mara River is the reason for your trip and you would rather spend the budget on time in the north than on flights. Driving both ways is the most affordable way to reach Kogatende, and the long drives pass through the central Serengeti, which is full of resident wildlife all year. The trade-off is two long days in the vehicle, and no Ngorongoro Crater.
| This safari suits you if… | Consider another trip if… |
|---|---|
| The river crossings are your priority | You'd rather fly than drive: the 4-day river crossing fly-in safari |
| You prefer to spend on time, not flights | You'd like luxury camps and a flight home: the 7-day luxury river-crossing safari |
| You don't need the crater on this trip | You want the crater and the crossings: the 9-day Tanzania safari, July-to-October version |
When Do the Herds Cross the Mara River?
In most years the herds arrive in the northern Serengeti in July and cross the river back and forth until October, following the rain and the grass. No one can promise a date, but this is the usual pattern:
| Month | At the Mara River |
|---|---|
| July | The first herds arrive; early crossings and quieter camps |
| August | Usually the most crossings, and the busiest month in the north |
| September | Crossings continue, often in both directions |
| October | Fewer, scattered crossings as the herds turn south |
We follow reports from guides and camps in the north before and during your trip. See the Great Migration by month for the whole year.
7-Day Mara River Crossing Safari Itinerary
A day in Tarangire, then north through the Serengeti to the river and back. Day by day:
-
Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire
Pickup from your Arusha hotel in the morning and a full afternoon in Tarangire, the park of elephants, baobabs and the Tarangire River, with a night at a tented camp in or beside the park.
ElephantsTarangireLunch box, dinner -
Day 2: Into the central Serengeti
Over the Ngorongoro highlands, past the crater rim and down onto the plains, entering the Serengeti at Naabi Hill and game-driving to your camp in the Seronera area.
Big catsCentral SerengetiBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 3: North through Lobo to the Mara River
A long day of game viewing as you drive north through the Lobo hills, where the landscape changes to rolling grassland and kopjes, arriving near the Mara River in the late afternoon.
Northern SerengetiKogatende areaBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 4: A full day at the Mara River
Your guide watches where the herds are gathering and positions you at a respectful distance on the bank. Crossings can take hours to start, so you take a picnic and wait with the herds; crocodiles and hippos wait too.
River crossingsMara RiverBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 5: A second day with the herds
Another full day at the crossing points that are active, guided by reports from other guides, and quieter drives in the north between crossings, where lions and cheetahs follow the herds.
River crossingsMara RiverBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 6: Back to the central Serengeti
A slower drive south with game viewing along the way, back to the Seronera area for the night.
Game driveCentral SerengetiBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 7: Serengeti to Arusha
A last early drive in the central Serengeti, then the long drive back over the highlands to Arusha, arriving in the evening. If you'd rather fly, we can quote a flight from Seronera to Arusha or Zanzibar.
DriveSerengeti, ArushaBreakfast, lunch
Where You Stay on the Mara River Crossing Safari
Northern camps are mostly tented and set up for the crossing season. At each level, "or similar":
| Nights | Area | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tarangire | Sangaiwe Tented Camp | Ang'ata Tarangire Kuro, Burunge Tented Lodge, Tarangire Katikati Camp | Elephant Springs by Karibu Camps, Maramboi Tented Lodge |
| 2 and 6 | Central Serengeti | Maboresho Tented Camp | Ang'ata Serengeti, Mawe Tented Camp, Serengeti Tortilis Camp | Serengeti Serena Lodge, Nyota Luxury Tented Camp |
| 3–5 | Northern Serengeti, near the Mara River | Serengeti Classic View Kogatende | GNU Migration Camp, Nyikani Migration Camp, Olmorijo Camp | Malaika Mara River Luxury Camp, Mara Mara Tented Lodge |
For August and September, the northern camps are the first thing we confirm, often six months or more ahead.
How Much Does the 7-Day Mara River Crossing Safari Cost?
From US$4,470 per person for two travelers at mid-range camps; the more travelers share the vehicle, the lower the price each:
| Travelers | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US$4,725 | US$5,830 | US$10,085 |
| 2 | US$3,400 | US$4,470 | US$7,535 |
| 3 | US$2,995 | US$3,995 | US$7,035 |
| 4 | US$2,955 | US$4,025 | US$7,090 |
| 5 | US$2,800 | US$3,830 | US$6,880 |
| 6 | US$2,805 | US$3,880 | US$6,940 |
Park fees on the 7-Day Mara River Crossing Safari
Included in the price; the Ngorongoro Conservation Area fee applies because the road to the Serengeti crosses it:
| Fee | 2026 rate (incl. VAT) |
|---|---|
| Tarangire National Park | About US$59 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 Conservation Area (also charged when you drive through) | US$70.80 per person per 24 hours |
What the 7-Day Mara River Crossing Safari Includes
The price covers:
- Pickup from your Arusha hotel on day 1 and drop-off in Arusha on day 7
- Six nights at lodges and tented camps at your chosen level, three near the Mara River
- All meals on safari, as listed in the itinerary
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, a window seat for every guest (at most 6), charging points and a fridge for drinks, with your own driver-guide
- All park, conservation and concession fees
- AMREF Flying Doctors evacuation cover
- Drinking water in the vehicle
Not included in the 7-Day Mara River Crossing Safari price
Not included:
- 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
- Nights in Arusha before and after, and airport transfers (we can add them)
- A flight back from the Serengeti instead of the drive, if you choose it
Your Guide at the Mara River
Your driver-guide graduated from the College of African Wildlife Management at Mweka and has at least five years of safari guiding; guides speak English, and we can arrange French, Spanish, German or Chinese-speaking guides. At the river, good guides keep their distance from the crossing points so the herds aren't pushed back; yours will explain the park rules and why patience pays.
How to Book the 7-Day Mara River Crossing Safari
Tell us your preferred month between July and October and the number of travelers through the form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or by email to jaynevytours@gmail.com; for August, book early. Our team sends a written quotation with each night's lodge named. Pay a 30% deposit to confirm, by Pesapal or a US-dollar bank transfer, and the rest when you arrive; our booking terms cover cancellations.
Common Questions About the 7-Day Mara River Crossing Safari
Short answers to the questions our guests ask us most often:
Is a Mara River crossing guaranteed?
No. The herds can gather on the bank for hours and turn back. Two full days near the river give you a good chance.
How much is a 7-day Mara River safari by road?
From US$4,470 per person for two travelers at mid-range camps, US$3,400 at budget level and US$7,535 at luxury level.
How long is the drive to the northern Serengeti?
From the central Serengeti to the Kogatende area is most of a day with game viewing on the way; from Arusha it takes two days.
Which month is best for river crossings?
August and September usually see the most crossings; July is quieter and October more scattered.
Can we see the crossings from Kenya instead?
Yes, the Mara River also flows through Kenya's Maasai Mara. Our Tanzania vs Kenya safari guide compares the two sides.
Should You Book the 7-Day Mara River Crossing Safari?
Book it if you are traveling between July and October and want the most time at the Mara River for your budget: three nights in the north at mid-range camps, from US$4,470 per person. If you'd rather fly or stay in luxury, compare the 4-day fly-in and the luxury river-crossing safari, or see all our Tanzania safaris.