DestinationsSafari destination · Serengeti National Park
Kogatende Northern Serengeti (Mara River)
Kogatende is where the great migration earns its legend.
- Drive from Arusha
- 12 Hours
- Recommended nights
- 3 nights
- Best months
- Jul, Aug, Sep +1
- Airstrip
- Fly-in possible
About
About Kogatende Northern Serengeti (Mara River).
Kogatende is where the great migration earns its legend. From July through October, more than a million wildebeest mass along the southern banks of the Mara River in the Northern Serengeti, hesitating, surging, pulling back, until some invisible signal sends the first animal plunging down the bank and the river erupts. Crocodiles rise. Dust hangs in columns. And then, as suddenly as it began, it is over, and the herds spread across the golden grass of the Lamai Wedge as if nothing happened at all. If you have ever wondered when to see the Mara River crossings in Tanzania, this is the place and this is the season.
What surprises travelers most is how few of them are here. The Kenyan side of the same river draws hundreds of vehicles to a single crossing point. On the Tanzanian side, the Northern Serengeti around Kogatende remains genuinely remote, a four hour drive beyond Seronera or a short bush flight to the Kogatende airstrip, with a small collection of seasonal camps and permanent lodges scattered along the river. You may watch a crossing with three other vehicles. You may watch one entirely alone.
And the north is more than the river. Between crossings the days fill with enormous resident prides, breeding herds of elephant in the Nyamalumbwa Hills, and kopjes glowing amber at sunset where leopards drape themselves over warm granite. Plan three nights minimum. Crossings do not run on schedule, and patience is the only ticket that guarantees a seat. When it happens, you will understand why people build their entire safari around this single stretch of water.
When to go
Best time to visit Kogatende Northern Serengeti (Mara River).
- January: not a best month
- February: not a best month
- March: not a best month
- April: not a best month
- May: not a best month
- June: not a best month
- July: best
- August: best
- September: best
- October: best
- November: not a best month
- December: not a best month
Kogatende in the far north of the Serengeti is the stage for the Mara River crossings, the most dramatic act of the Great Migration. The prime window is July to October, when the herds gather on the southern bank and surge across the river. August and September usually see the highest frequency of crossings.
Crossings are unpredictable and can happen several times a day or not at all, so we position your camp close to the river and recommend at least three nights to improve your odds. Outside the migration months the north is quiet and green, with resident plains game, strong resident predators and very few vehicles.
Gallery
A closer look.
On the map
Kogatende Northern Serengeti (Mara River) and its neighbours.
1.600° S, 34.880° E
Government fees
Fees at Kogatende Northern Serengeti (Mara River).
Pass-through to the Tanzanian government, paid directly to the authority on top of accommodation. We always itemise every line on our quotes. TDL applies on top at 1% of net room rate.
| Fee | Amount | Peak | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Concession Fee | $59.00 | $70.80 | Per person / night |
| Adult Entry Fee | $70.80 | $82.60 | Per person / day |
| Child Concession Fee | $11.80 | No peak rate | Per person / night |
| Child Entry Fee | $23.60 | No peak rate | Per person / day |
| TDL (Tanzania Development Levy) | 1% of room | No peak rate | Per room / night |
| Vehicle Fee | $16.16 | No peak rate | Per vehicle / day (24-hour permit) |
Getting there
Drive times to other destinations.
Approximate dry-season drive times in a private 4×4. Legs marked as productive game viewing are themselves part of the safari experience. Long legs that need an overnight midway, or transfers we always fly, are flagged in the note column.
| Destination | Drive time | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lamai Northern Serengeti | 1 hr 30 min | Game-viewing drive |
| Seronera Central Serengeti | 5 hrs | Game-viewing drive |
| Ndutu Plains | 7 hr 30 min | Game-viewing drive |
| Grumeti Western Serengeti | 7 hr 30 min | Two-day drive (overnight in Seronera) or fly |
| Ngorongoro Crater | 8 hr 30 min | Game-viewing drive |
| Karatu | 9 hrs | Game-viewing drive |
| Lake Manyara National Park | 10 hr 30 min | Two-day drive (overnight in Seronera) or fly |
| Tarangire National Park | 11 hrs | Game-viewing drive |
| Arusha City | 12 hrs | Transit drive |
Where to stay
Lodges and camps here.
Properties we work with directly. Each links to a dedicated lodge page with rooms, amenities, and best months.
Heritage Mara Migration Camp
A seasonal mobile camp in the Kogatende area of the northern Serengeti, open mid June to the end of October to follow the river crossings of the Great Migration.
- Migration Safari
- Photography
- Adventure
Malaika Mara River Luxury Camp
Twenty eight tents on the Woga Seven plain, open for the Mara River crossings from June through October.
- Migration Crossings
- Photography
- Couples
Malaika Mara River Migration Camp
The northern half of Malaika's migration circuit, sixteen tents near the Kogatende crossings from June through October.
- Migration Crossings
- Photography
- Mid Range
Mara Mara Tented Lodge by TWC
Premium tented camp thirty minutes from the Mara River crossings, open from June through December for the migration window.
- Migration
- Photography
- Small Groups
Mara River Camp by Karibu Camps
Tented camp ten minutes from the Mara River crossings, built for the migration's most dramatic act.
- Migration
- Photography
- Family
Mara River Post
Sixteen tents on a hill inside a bend of the Mara, in the quiet western end of the crossing country.
- Migration River Crossings
- Quiet Camps
- River Views
Nimali Mara
Glass fronted tented suites on a rocky kopje in northern Serengeti, ten minutes from the Mara River crossings.
- Honeymoon
- Migration
- Photography
Olakira Migration Camp North
A mobile camp near the Mara River from June to October, with mesh enclosed tents for sleeping under the stars, forty five minutes from Kogatende.
- Great Migration
- River Crossings
- Photography
Ole Serai Luxury Camp, Kogatende
A small tented camp two and a half kilometres from the Mara River, in the part of the northern Serengeti the herds cross.
- Great Migration
- Photography
- Couples
Sayari Camp
Fifteen tented suites on the grass above the Mara River, fifteen minutes from Kogatende, with the crossings close by from July to October.
- Great Migration
- River Crossings
- Honeymoon
Serengeti Migration Camp by Elewana
Twenty elevated tents built into a rocky outcrop above the Grumeti River, each one raised on its own platform over the valley.
- Migration
- Photography
- Walking Safari
Simbavati Mara
A luxurious ridge top camp in the northern Serengeti, minutes from the Mara River crossings.
- Migration
- River Crossings
- Wildlife Photography
Songa
Ten tented rooms on a Kogatende hillside, minutes from the Mara River crossing points, pitched for the season and struck in October.
- Great Migration
- Photography
- Returning Safari Guests
What to do here
Experiences in Kogatende Northern Serengeti (Mara River).
The journeys we plan around this destination. Each one covers the best months, what it costs, and how to build it into a trip.
Great Migration
The Mara and Grumeti river crossings of the northern and western Serengeti, planned around where the herds actually are.
Explore : Great MigrationBig Five Safari
Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and black rhino across Ngorongoro, the Serengeti and Tarangire, with honest odds for each.
Explore : Big Five SafariLuxury Honeymoon
A private-vehicle safari on the northern circuit followed by a quiet stretch of Zanzibar coast, paced for two.
Explore : Luxury HoneymoonPhotography Safari
A safari built around light and position: private vehicles, unhurried time, and seasons chosen for the pictures you want.
Explore : Photography Safari
Common questions
Questions, answered.
When are the Mara River crossings at Kogatende?
The crossings run mainly from July to October, with August and September typically the most active. They are never on a fixed schedule and depend on the rains, so we match your dates to the corridor and position your camp close to the river.
How much are park fees in the northern Serengeti?
Adult entry is currently 70.80 US dollars per person per day, rising to 82.60 in the peak season, plus a 17.70 US dollars per vehicle per day fee, before VAT. Children pay less. The full breakdown is in the fees table above and itemised on your quote.
How many nights should I stay near the Mara River?
At least three nights. Crossings are unpredictable and can happen multiple times in a day or not at all, so more time near the river significantly improves your chances of witnessing one.
What is the difference between Kogatende and Lamai?
Both sit in the far north around the Mara River. Kogatende lies mainly on the southern side near the airstrip and the busiest crossing points; the Lamai wedge sits north of the river toward the Kenyan border and is often a little quieter. We place you based on your dates and the camps available.
Is the northern Serengeti worth visiting outside crossing season?
Yes. Outside July to October the north is green, quiet and holds strong resident game and predators with very few vehicles, though you should not expect river crossings in those months.
Make it part of your trip
Plan a safari that includes Kogatende Northern Serengeti (Mara River).
Tell us how long you have and what you most want to see. We'll build a custom itinerary around Kogatende Northern Serengeti (Mara River) with transparent pricing throughout.
Build & price your trip