Migration Safari – Drive or Fly to the National Park?
Planning your Migration Safari
You’ve decided to go on a migration safari but should you drive or fly to your accommodation within the park? We are often asked whether driving or flying is the best option to get to the National Park? The answer to your transport questions (Drive or Fly?) is variable depending on a few factors.
Your Migration Safari Priorities
When planning your safari you will need to decide on your main interest to determine priorities such as how long you will stay in the park itself and to determine your budget. These criteria affect your choice of accommodation, and the means of transport to get there. Other factors that affect your decision whether to drive or fly to your accommodation to see the great migration include the number of guests travelling on safari and the places you would like to visit before, after or in conjunction with your safari.
Migration Safaris – Distances
The Serengeti National Park alone is a vast area of 14, 750 sq km (5,700 sq Miles) – roughly the size of Connecticut State in the USA or Northern Ireland (14,148 sq km/5463 sq mi).
The Greater Eco-system is an even larger unfenced area which includes the Masai Mara and surrounding Ngorongoro Conservation Area as well as Maswa, Grumeti & Ikorongo Game Reserves and Loliondo Game Controlled Area. At 30,000 sq km (12,000 sq Miles) it’s almost the same size as Belgium (30,528 sq km)
Seronera in the Central Serengeti is 320km west of Arusha and will take at least 6 hours of straight driving. Flight time from Arusha – Seronera is approximately 1 hour (direct with no stops en route). Time and distance are significant factors in the decision whether to drive or fly for your migration safari.
Driving to the Migration
Driving to your migration safari will take longer than you think! The condition of the road varies but in general you will be travelling on a rough and bumpy gravel road where 100km can take 3 hours. Also bear in mind that you will be spending a lot of time in the vehicle whilst on game drives. It is highly likely that you will need to stay overnight en route to the park to break the journey or visit an attraction along the way.
Travelling by road is a good idea if
- You have a lot of time for your safari (Minimum 4 nights inside the park)
- You like to see the country-side & interact with locals when stopping for toilet, food, fuel and a leg stretch.
- You are a small group or medium group: 4- 6 people travel in one safari vehicle.
This makes the road alternative slightly cheaper when split by many so good for those on a budget. - You are afraid of travelling in a light aircraft.
- You will have the same driver-guide from town to the National Park and for all your game drives.
- You are visiting the southern or central sections of the park.
Flying to the Migration
Flying to your migration safari is in a light aircraft and gives you an aerial view of the country. The flight is an experience in itself and flight duration is seldom more than 2 hours (flight duration varies depending on stops en route) so a quicker more comfortable option than driving into the National Park. When flying in, you will use resident camp guides and vehicle who are familiar with the local area on game package.
Flying is a good option if
- You have limited time, with only a couple of nights on safari.
- You enjoy comfort.
- Your primary interest is wildlife rather than sightseeing.
- You are a small group of 1 – 3 people OR a large group of 12 or more.
- You don’t like backtracking – driving in and out is usually on the same road.
- You are heading to the northern Serengeti – Kogatende and Mara River and hoping for a river crossing.
Combination – Drive and Fly to the Migration
This option combines driving in and flying out or vice versa. Great Migration Camps recommends ending with a scenic flight rather than a bumpy drive out.
Drive-Fly combo is best for
- Those with sufficient time – 2 days to drive in and at least 3 or more days on safari.
- Those who would like to combine a destination en route to the park – options include Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Natron(& Ol Doinyo Lengai)
- Northern Serengeti Safaris – the northern sector is far away! A minimum of one night required to drive in – although we suggest two to enjoy the journey.
- Combines sight-seeing with quality time on safari.
- Those wanting to enjoy an adventure on the route into the National Park, but who like having the security and confidence of a departure flight to town to connect with an international departure flight.
At Great Migration Camps mobile we love all the options for different reasons. The choice whether to drive or fly to your migration safari is really about your time, your group size, your budget and your safari/wildlife preferences. As in life there are pros and cons to all three options.
Calving Season 2019
Calving Season is in full swing, and the wildebeest seem to be hanging around the southern plains whilst the little ones get stronger for the long journey northwards as the migration cycle starts again.
GMC mobile has Limited availability March 2019. Book now to confirm your seat for calving season and the great migration wildlife show. 2019 Calving Season inclusive packages below. Enquiries: info@greatmigrationcamps.com
Crossing Season 2019
Crossing season is filling up fast. One of the most dramatic seasons in the year long migratory cycle. The Wildebeest make their way northwards to cross the Mara River in Tanzania and Kenya. This can be a waiting game that tests the patience of many a nature-lover. GMC recommends booking as many days as you have available to give yourself the best chance of seeing a river crossing.
How to book
PLEASE enquire early to avoid disappointment particularly during peak periods as other services can also be busy. We can assist with pre or post safari tours and accommodation in town as well as flights or transport in and out of the National Park. We recommend 5- 10 days for your migration safari.
- Calving season (Feb- March) -Ndutu area
- Rutting season (June) – Grumeti area
- Crossing season (July– Oct) – Kogatende/Mara River area
Email your inquiry to info@greatmigrationcamps.com
Kindly provide your name, country, number of people travelling and preferred dates and duration.
Children of all ages are welcome.
