The Best Calving Season Safari

The Great Wildebeest Calving Migration Safari has been designed specifically to focus on following the Great Serengeti Wildebeest migration during calving from December to April. The areas to be covered are the Lake Ndutu area, as well as the Southern and Central areas of Serengeti National Park where the majority of the wildebeest are usually found. A visit to the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater is part of this safari as well. The Southern Serengeti and Ndutu areas in Tanzania are the best locations for the months of January, February, and March to witness thousands of wildebeest spread across the plains grazing on the rich short grass plains. Predator action is at its peak with great sightings of cheetah, lion, hyena, and leopard and a very good chance to see adrenalin-packed kills.

Day 1 Airport pick up - Drop off at Gold Crest Hotel

You will be picked up from Kilimanjaro International Airport. Our staff will answer all your queries regarding your upcoming safari and provide you with a short briefing as well. Afterward, you will be taken to your accommodation at Gold Crest Hotel.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Gold Crest Hotel.

Day 2 Tarangire National Park

After your breakfast at the Gold Crest Hotel, we will pick you up and proceed to Tarangire National Park. One of the largest national parks in Tanzania located in the Manyara region, this place is characterized by the large herds of elephants, tree-climbing lions, and the fascinating baobab trees also called the Tree of Life for its almost mythical powers that some cultures attach to it. This park is especially known for the Tarangire River which flows all year round and is the only source of water for wild animals during dry seasons.

Meals: B,L,D

Accommodation: Lake Burunge Tented Lodge.

Day 3 Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast, we will drive to Lake Manyara National Park, a scenic lake that made Ernest Hemingway exclaim "the loveliest I had seen in Africa". This offers a compact-game viewing circuit and is one of the most diverse reserves in the country. Lake Manyara covers two-thirds of the park and at the backdrop is the wall of the Great Rift Valley. Over 400 species of birds can be found in Manyara including thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large waterbirds such as pelicans, cormorants, and storks.

Meals: B,L,D

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Coffe Lodge.

Day 4 Serengeti National Park (Ndutu Area)

After breakfast, we will set off for the Ndutu area situated in the Ngorongoro conservation area, which is part of the southern Serengeti ecosystem. Lake Ndutu like most other rift lakes is alkaline however the water is still drinkable and consumed by a wide array of local wildlife. We will spend the afternoon with a game drive in the Ndutu area. The majority of the wildebeest migration can normally be found on the short-grass plains from December to April. The area is usually heavily populated with elephants, birds, and resident game.

Meals: B,L,D

Accommodation: Lake Masek Tented Camp

Day 5 Serengeti National Park (Ndutu Area) - Serengeti National Park (Seronera)

After breakfast, you will enjoy a full-day game drive in the Ndutu area exploring a great range of various habitats such as swamps, woodland, soda lakes, and the world-famous Serengeti short grass plains. You will witness herds of wildebeest and zebras, especially during a short time frame from around February and lasting for about 3 weeks where the majority of the wildebeest calve. The sea of grass provides little cover and the young make easy prey for a variety of predators. Wildebeest calves can run minutes after they were born and within 3 days, they are normally strong enough to keep up with the herd. In the afternoon, we will set off for Serengeti National Park.

Meals: B,L,D

Accommodation: Embalakai Authentic Camp.

Day 6 Serengeti National Park (Seronera)

After breakfast, we will proceed for a full day of game drives in the wilderness tracking the Great Migration trails. Our experienced driver tour guide will provide you with interesting facts about this highly renowned event, which made Tanzania the top safari destination in Africa. Serengeti, a UNESCO world heritage site is home to around 200,000 zebras, and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle joining the wildebeest’s trek for fresh grazing. Listen to the exotic sounds of over 6 million hooves pounding the open plains of Serengeti just like how you imagined African wildlife to be.

Meals: B,L,D

Accommodation: Embalakai Authentic Camp.

HOT AIR BALLOON PER PERSON COST $546 (prices are separate from the total price above)

Day 7 Ngorongoro Crater

We will have an early breakfast and afterward drive to the famous Ngorongoro Conservation area. From here, we will descend down to 600 meters into the crater to view an array of wildlife. With its year-round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro National Park supports a vast variety of animals, which include herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants among others. What makes this attraction especially famous is the dense population of predators such as lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and the ever-elusive leopard, which requires a trained eye to be spotted. We will also visit Lake Magadi, a large but shallow alkaline lake in the southwest corner and one of the main features of the crater. A large number of flamingos, hippos, and other water birds can usually be seen in this lake.

Meals: B,L,D

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Farm House Lodge.

Day 8 Mto Wa Mbu – Arusha

After breakfast, we will drive mto Wa Mbu for a morning cultural tour and walking safari. We will have a sumptuous local lunch as we take in the stunning views hovering over us. An optional mountain biking activity can be arranged at an added cost.

In the afternoon, we will head back to Arusha or to the airport for your flight back home.

Meals: B,L

Accommodation: End of tour (no accommodation)