5 Days Ndutu Calving Season Safari
Tarangire National Park • Ndutu Region • Southern Serengeti Ecosystem • Ngorongoro Crater
Starting
$2,500
per Person
- 5 Days | 4 Nights
Overview
Experience one of nature’s most remarkable wildlife events during Tanzania’s famous calving season. Every year, hundreds of thousands of wildebeests migrate to the nutrient-rich plains of Ndutu and Southern Serengeti to give birth to their young. Within a few weeks, thousands of calves are born each day, attracting an abundance of predators and creating some of the most dramatic wildlife encounters in Africa. Combined with the elephant-rich landscapes of Tarangire National Park and the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater, this safari offers an unforgettable opportunity to witness the circle of life unfold across Tanzania’s most iconic wilderness areas.
Day to Day
Itinerary
DAY 1
Arusha – Tarangire National Park
Your safari begins with an early morning departure from Arusha towards Tarangire National Park. Renowned for its ancient baobab trees, sweeping savannahs, and large elephant herds, Tarangire offers a spectacular introduction to Tanzania’s wildlife.
Upon entering the park, you’ll begin a game drive through landscapes dotted with towering baobabs and seasonal wetlands. The Tarangire River attracts a variety of wildlife throughout the year, providing excellent opportunities to spot elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, wildebeests, and predators such as lions and leopards.
After enjoying a picnic lunch in the park, continue your afternoon game drive before departing for the Ngorongoro Highlands where you’ll spend the night preparing for the migration adventure ahead.
Accomodation:
Marera Valley Lodge
DAY 2
Tarangire – Ndutu Conservation Area
After breakfast, depart for the legendary Ndutu region, located within the southern reaches of the Serengeti ecosystem and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The drive takes you through spectacular highland scenery before descending onto the vast plains where the migration gathers during the calving season.
As you enter Ndutu, wildlife sightings become increasingly frequent. Vast herds of wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, and other plains game often stretch across the horizon. During the calving months, newborn wildebeests can be seen taking their first steps while predators remain close by, creating exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities.
Enjoy an afternoon game drive before arriving at camp in time for sunset.
Accomodation:
DAY 3
Full Day Ndutu Calving Safari
Today is dedicated entirely to exploring the wildlife-rich plains of Ndutu. Depart early in the morning to maximize your chances of witnessing predator activity and calving behavior.
During the calving season, thousands of wildebeest calves are born daily across the short-grass plains. This abundance of prey attracts lions, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, and leopards, creating some of the most exciting wildlife interactions in Africa.
Your guide will carefully track wildlife movements throughout the day, taking you to the most productive areas for photography and wildlife observation. A picnic lunch is enjoyed in the wilderness before continuing your exploration into the afternoon.
Accomodation:
DAY 4
Another Full Day in Ndutu
With another full day in the region, you’ll have the flexibility to follow migration movements and explore different sectors of the Ndutu ecosystem. The combination of resident wildlife and seasonal migration herds creates exceptional game-viewing opportunities throughout the area.
Beyond the migration, Ndutu is famous for its resident lion prides, cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, elephants, and abundant birdlife. The open plains provide outstanding visibility, making this one of the finest wildlife photography destinations in East Africa.
As the day draws to a close, return to camp and enjoy your final evening surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness.
Accomodation:
DAY 5
Ndutu – Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha
After an early breakfast, depart Ndutu and travel to the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. Descend approximately 600 meters into this UNESCO World Heritage Site, often referred to as Africa’s Garden of Eden.
Spend the morning exploring the crater floor, where a remarkable concentration of wildlife resides year-round. Search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, hyenas, zebras, wildebeests, and the endangered black rhinoceros while enjoying the stunning scenery of forests, grasslands, and wetlands enclosed within the crater walls.
Following a picnic lunch near the hippo pool, ascend the crater and begin your journey back to Arusha, arriving in the late afternoon.
Accomodation:
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