Comfortable 4-Day Mara River Fly-In Safari - All inclusive

Crossings in the northern Serengeti happen roughly from July to October, so your dates matter a lot on a trip this short. The herds move with the rain and the grazing, and nobody can promise a crossing on a particular day. There are no fixed departures listed, so tell our Arusha team your travel dates and we'll advise on timing.

Days two and three are spent on the banks of the Mara, waiting while wildebeest and zebras gather and build up to cross past the crocodiles in the shallows. Your guide positions the vehicle for the best angles. In the quiet hours you track the lion prides, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas that follow the herds, or look at other crossing points along the river.

All three nights are at Savannah Mara River Camp, a seasonal camp near the Mara River in the northern Serengeti. Staying put means no packing up between nights and short drives to the crossing points. You finish each day back in camp, and the last morning starts with breakfast there before the drive to the airstrip.

The standard plan has you fly from Arusha Airport to Kogatende airstrip in the northern Serengeti, crossing the Great Rift Valley on the way. On day four you take a slow game drive back to Kogatende and fly to Kilimanjaro, Arusha or Zanzibar. Tell us your onward plans and we'll arrange the right return flight.

Yes, it's built with photographers in mind. Your guide stays with you from the airstrip to the final day and positions the vehicle for clean, unobstructed angles on crossings and predators. The third day is kept loose so you can refine your shots, revisit crossing points or concentrate on portraits of lions, leopards and hyenas.

Yes. Because the return flight can go to Kilimanjaro, Arusha or Zanzibar, it works well as a short add-on to a longer Tanzania itinerary or a beach stay. Our Arusha team can link it with a northern circuit safari, a Kilimanjaro climb or time on Zanzibar and sort out the connections.

Yes. Your guide and vehicle stay with you for the whole trip, and our Arusha team can run it privately for your own group, add extra nights at the river, or adjust it around your flights. Let us know who's travelling and your dates when you enquire, and we'll come back with a plan and a quote.

Light aircraft to bush airstrips have strict luggage limits, so pack in a soft duffel bag rather than a hard suitcase. Our team will confirm the current allowance for your flight when you book. If you're bringing long lenses or a heavy camera bag, tell us in advance so we can plan around it.

The Comfortable 4-Day Mara River Fly-In Safari - All inclusive is 4 days and 3 nights. The day-by-day itinerary on this page shows where you go and stay each day.

This trip visits Northern Serengeti.

It is rated moderate: a reasonable level of general fitness is enough.

It runs for groups of 2 to 8 travellers.

Prices start from USD 3,250 per person. The final price depends on your travel dates and group size.

Included: Full board accommodation at handpicked lodges and camps, All game drives in 4x4 safari vehicles with pop-up roofs, Professional English-speaking safari guide, Park entry fees for all national parks and conservation areas, Bottled water during game drives, All transfers and transportation and Emergency medical evacuation insurance.

Not included: International flights, Visa fees, Travel insurance (recommended), Alcoholic beverages, Tips and gratuities for guide and lodge staff, Personal items and souvenirs, Optional activities not mentioned in itinerary and Additional meals and drinks outside of full board.