8-Day Safari: Ndutu Calving Season & Serengeti Adventure (January to March)
Lodge accommodation
$3700* per person
*(price based on group of 4)
Experience the breathtaking calving season in the Serengeti, where countless wildebeest bring new life into the wild, creating a stunning spectacle of nature’s resilience and beauty!
Experience the magic of Tanzania’s Great Migration during the calving season on this unforgettable 8-day safari, where the Serengeti’s Ndutu Region takes center stage. From January to March, the Ndutu plains come alive as thousands of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle give birth, turning the landscape into a nursery for newborns. Witness touching moments as the young take their first steps, while predators like lions, cheetahs, and hyenas lurk nearby, creating a thrilling drama of survival.
Your journey begins in Tarangire National Park, where massive elephant herds roam beneath ancient baobab trees. Continue to the Ngorongoro Crater, a natural wonder teeming with wildlife and offering spectacular views. Then, venture into the Serengeti’s Ndutu Region, where the calving season unfolds in front of your eyes, providing an unmatched spectacle of life, death, and nature’s cycle.
Your safari culminates at Lake Manyara National Park where you may spot flamingos and other water birds, a large baboon population, and hippos against a backdrop of stunning scenery.
This 8-day safari offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the miracle of new life in the wild, along with breathtaking landscapes and intimate wildlife encounters. Ideal for nature enthusiasts, photographers, and adventurers alike!
Accommodations
On this safari we only offer lodge accommodation as some areas in Serengeti that you will be visiting do not have camping facilities. Please click here for examples of the different lodges we use. All meals will be provided by the lodge.
If you wish to upgrade to superior or luxury accommodations, please contact us to inquire about the additional cost.
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arusha – Tarangire National Park
After an early breakfast at your hotel, your safari guide will pick you up and your adventure kicks off! Prepare for a 3-hour drive through the local villages, giving you a glimpse of Tanzanian daily life. You’ll spot Maasai folk in their vibrant traditional attire, herding their cattle as you drive through. Your destination is Tarangire National Park, arriving around noon.
Tarangire is a haven of beauty and wildlife! Imagine vast grasslands dotted with colossal baobab trees and termite hills. This park is like no other, boasting loads of animals per square kilometer. Tarangire is a hotspot for big cats, as well as wildebeest, zebra, giraffe and buffalo, to name just a few. You’ll also catch sight of one of Africa’s biggest elephant herds and with a little luck, you may spot the rare Oryx, Elk, and Greater Kudu!
Day 2 : Tarangire National Park – Karatu
On your second day in Tarangire National Park, the adventure intensifies as you dive deeper into its wild heart. Picture herds of majestic elephants, larger here than anywhere in Tanzania, weaving between ancient baobabs. Watch in awe as predators like lions and leopards stalk the lush riverbanks, while giraffes tower above the plains. The sight of zebras, wildebeest, and gazelles dashing across the savannah will leave you breathless. As you track wildlife near Tarangire River, famous for its vibrant ecosystem, every moment is a thrill, every corner promises untamed beauty. It’s raw, wild Africa at its finest!
Day 3 : Karatu – Ngorongoro Crater – Ndutu (Southeast Serengeti)
After an early breakfast, you’ll embark on an unforgettable half-day game drive in the famous Ngorongoro Crater, one of the most unique wildlife destinations in the world, often referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” As you descend into the crater, the vast grasslands unfold. Explore the floor of the caldera, encountering large herds of buffalo, zebra, elephants, rhinos, and the occasional lion and cheetah. The crater floor is a photographer’s paradise, with lakes, swamps, and open savannahs framed by the towering crater walls.
After a picnic lunch inside the crater, you will slowly make your way out of the crater and start the drive towards the Ndutu region in the southeastern part of the Serengeti. Arrive in Ndutu by sunset, just in time to witness the golden hues of the savannah.
Check-in at your lodge in Ndutu and enjoy a peaceful night under the stars.
Day 4 : Ndutu (Southeast Serengeti)
Start your day with a game drive to witness one of nature’s greatest spectacles—the Great Migration. This time of year, the Ndutu plains are filled with wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles, and the calving season offers the unique opportunity to see thousands of newborns.
Experience the raw power of nature in Ndutu during the Great Migration’s calving season, where over 500,000 wildebeest and zebra give birth on the vast plains. Witness the heart-pounding drama as newborns take their first steps amidst prowling predators like lions, cheetahs, and hyenas. With every game drive, you’ll be surrounded by the sights and sounds of this epic spectacle, from the thunder of hooves to the sharp call of hunting lions. The sheer intensity of life and death in Ndutu during this time will leave you breathless, a safari adventure unlike any other.
Day 5 : Ndutu – Central Serengeti
After breakfast, enjoy another game drive through Ndutu, soaking in more of the migration action. The large predator presence in Ndutu during the calving season makes for exciting wildlife encounters.
After lunch, set off for the Seronera region of central Serengeti. The Seronera River Valley is known for its year-round game viewing, and during your afternoon game drive, you may see resident species like leopards, lions, and giraffes as they navigate the savannah.
In the evening, you’ll arrive at your lodge located in the heart of Serengeti, where you’ll rest after an eventful day. Experience Serengeti’s golden sunset as it casts a magical glow over the land, creating picture-perfect moments.
Day 6: Central Serengeti
Spend the entire day exploring the Seronera region. Known for its rich biodiversity, the central Serengeti offers sightings of the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino—as well as cheetahs, hyenas, and many other species. The mix of river valleys, open plains, and kopjes (rocky outcrops) make this area perfect for spotting wildlife. Serengeti is a vast wilderness where the raw beauty of nature unfolds before your eyes. Its endless plains are home to an astonishing variety of wildlife, from prowling lions and elusive leopards to towering giraffes and graceful gazelles. Experience the thrill of tracking cheetahs as they race across the savannah or watching elephants move majestically through the landscape.
At the end of the day, return to your lodge for dinner and some relaxation under the starry Serengeti skies.
Day 7 : Serengeti – Mto Wa Mbu
This morning, go on your final game drive in Serengeti, continuing to marvel at the abundant wildlife and dramatic landscapes.
In the early afternoon, you’ll begin your journey out of Serengeti, driving through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area towards Mto Wa Mbu, a vibrant town near Lake Manyara. Along the way, you may spot Maasai herders and local wildlife as you descend from the highlands.
You’ll arrive in Mto Wa Mbu in the late afternoon/early evening.
Day 8 : Mto Wa Mbu – Lake Manyara National Park – Arusha or Moshi
Your day begins with a half-day game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, a diverse habitat known for its tree-climbing lions, flamingos, and large troops of baboons. The park offers beautiful views of the Rift Valley escarpment and the alkaline lake, which attracts thousands of birds.
After your game drive, enjoy lunch within the park before driving back to Arusha or Moshi, arriving in the late afternoon to early evening.
Included in package
- Pick-up at Kilimanjaro or Arusha Airport the day before your safari and transfer to the hotel of your choice in Arusha
- Pick-up at your hotel on Day 1
- Drop-off at the hotel of your choice in Moshi or Arusha on Day 8
- All national park fees
- Services of your professional English-speaking safari guide
- All meals (excluding breakfast on Day 1 and dinner on Day 8)
- Bottled water while on safari
- 7 nights mid-range lodge accommodation while on safari
- Transportation in a 4X4 Land Cruiser with open-top roof for panoramic viewing while on safari
- 18% VAT
Not included in package
- Flight tickets
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Alcohol, juices & soft drinks
- Tips / gratuities for you safari guide
- Any activity not mentioned on the itinerary