Tanzania Migration Photo Expedition

Download Trip Details

On this Tanzania photo safari, your Expedition Leader is a wildlife photography pro who will help you capture iconic images of the Migration and African wildlife. With just four travelers per safari vehicle, everyone gets a "window" seat and extra room for camera gear. Photo safari guests get to carry up to 60 pounds on our chartered flights—a much higher limit than most companies allow.

Day 1: Arusha, Tanzania
Arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport and transfer to our lodge in the rolling foothills of Mount Meru. Photograph flowers in the beautifully landscaped gardens that offer a relaxing respite after our long travels or relax by the pool or on your private veranda. This evening, gather for a welcome dinner and orientation from our Expedition Leader, who offers a preview of the incredible photography opportunities ahead.

Day 2: Arusha National Park
Cradled between Mount Meru’s towering volcanic cone and Kilimanjaro’s iconic peak, Arusha National Park unveils a diverse landscape brimming with photo opportunities. A rich tapestry of habitats shelter an array of wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebra, various antelope species and the photogenic Colobus monkeys. More than 400 bird species nest in amid the park’s wetlands, forests and savannas. We spend the entire day here with ample opportunities to capture classic landscapes and wildlife shots from unique vantage points.

Days 3-6: Southern Serengeti—Nat Hab's Migration Camp
Flying on to the northern Serengeti, we reach Nat Hab’s private Migration Camp, our base for a four-day immersion in Africa's Great Migration. In accord with the herds’ seasonal movements, we locate our mobile camp in the southern Serengeti from Decvember through March. This deluxe tented outpost rests within one of the main movement corridors for more than 2 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle that make this annual trek, plus an accompanying cast of predators. Each year, the herds follow an ancient circuit covering 1,800 miles from Kenya’s Maasai Mara to the southern Serengeti and back again. On daily game drives, witness this remarkable spectacle as the enormous herds traverse the savanna while big cats and hyenas steal behind, following them in 4x4 vehicles with pop-top roofs that offer superb photography access. We also view the spectacle from the air on a hot air balloon safari with a champagne breakfast upon landing. With cameras at the ready, we may behold stunning scenes of predator-prey interaction such as a lion takes down a sick animal or a cheetah snatches an infant. The spectacle can be grim, but it is a wonder to behold.

The days of heavy canvas hunting camps set for the likes of Roosevelt and Hemingway were nearly over until photo safaris gained popularity in the 1970s, and our secluded camp, with its walk-in canvas tents and crackling campfire, is redolent with that vintage atmosphere. Yet despite our remote location, we enjoy impressive luxuries, including candlelight dinners served on white linen under a canopy of stars.

Day 7-9: East-Central Serengeti—Nat Hab’s Serengeti East Camp
Early this morning, depart for Arusha's domestic airport and our flight to Serengeti National Park. This legendary savanna derives its name from a Maasai word meaning “endless plains,” and the vista of golden grasslands stretching to the horizon under a blue bowl of sky provides an iconic image of East Africa. Meeting our safari vehicles and drivers, we set out on our first wildlife drive. Everyone has a window seat and plenty of room for camera gear to take full advantage of photo opportunities. Our destination is our exclusive bush camp in a remote sector of the Serengeti.

Surrounded by open range and kopjes—large granite outcrops that dot the plains— our own private camp offers fabulous wildlife photography in diverse habitats, with top subjects being the abundant feline predators that live and hunt in this area. It also provides exceptional seclusion away from crowds. From canvas tents shaded by giant acacia trees, survey 360-degree views of wildlife traversing the savanna, with more thrilling encounters in store on game drives.

Day 10: Arusha / Depart
On the last morning of our photo safari, we make our way to Seronera Airport for our flight to Arusha, arriving at Ngare Sero Lodge at the base of Mount Meru, where a farewell lunch is served on arrival. Day rooms await in this peaceful setting, offering a chance to relax and refresh before your transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for international departures this evening.

Physical Rating: Easy to Moderate

Interested in extending your trip? Link it up with another adventure!