Overview
​
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 their adrenaline-packed kills.
Itinerary
​
​
Day 1
-
Arrival & Airport pick-up
​
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. Afterwards, you will be taken to your accommodation in Arusha.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation Type: Depending on your budget.
​
​
Day 2
-
Tarangire National Park
​
After your breakfast at the Kibo Palace 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, it 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 the only source of water for wild animals during dry seasons.
​
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation Type: Depending on your budget.
​
​
Day 3
-
Full day at Lake Manyara National Park
​
After breakfast, we will drive to Lake Manyara National Park, a scenic lake that Ernest Hemingway stated was "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 and include thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large waterbirds such as pelicans, cormorants, and storks.
​
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation Type: Depending on your budget.
​
​
Day 4
-
Full day in the Serengeti
​
After breakfast, we will set off for the Ndutu area situated in the Ngorongoro conservation area, which is part of the southern Serengeti eco-system. 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: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation Type: Depending on your budget.
​
​
Day 5
​
-
Full day in the Serengeti
​
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 calves 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: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation Type: Depending on your budget.
​
​
Day 6
​
-
Full day in the Serengeti
​
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 makes Tanzania one of the top safari destinations 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.
​
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation Type: Depending on your budget.
​
Option: Hot Air Balloon - $546 per person (price are separate from the total price above)
​
​
Day 7
-
Serengeti - Ngorongoro Crater
​
We will have an early breakfast and then drive to the famous Ngorongoro Conservation area. From here, we will descend 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: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation Type: Depending on your budget.
​
​
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 the airport for your flight back home.
​
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
​
​
INCLUSIONS
- Park fees
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation as stated in the itinerary
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Round-trip airport transfer
- All Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinking water on all days
- Camping Equipment
​
EXCLUSIONS
- International flights (from/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (tipping guideline US$20.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Alcoholic drinks
- Services not mentioned in the program
- Travel insurance and medical repatriation
- Items of a personal nature
​
​
Please contact us to develop detailed pricing for your bespoke itinerary. Once your itinerary options are priced locally we can offer you the best value for each element and this will assist you to decide on your final itinerary. We are able to offer the most competitive and transparent pricing in this way.
All quotes and communications are without any obligations.
​
For guidance only, example cost for this experience is US$4,310 per person for two clients on a luxury tour, and US$3,265 per person for two clients on a premium tour