The 5 days Serengeti Calving Season Safari is designed around one of the most remarkable periods of the Great Migration. During the calving season, vast herds of wildebeest gather across the southern Serengeti and Ndutu area, where thousands of calves are born. The abundance of young animals also attracts predators such as lions, cheetahs and hyenas, creating excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography. This safari combines the Serengeti’s calving grounds with the Ngorongoro Crater, offering a compact but rewarding Tanzania wildlife experience.
Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Your safari begins in Arusha after breakfast. Meet your safari guide and depart for Tarangire National Park. The drive takes you through the beautiful landscapes of northern Tanzania before arriving at the park. Tarangire is famous for its large elephant populations, impressive baobab trees and diverse wildlife. Enjoy an afternoon game drive searching for elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, impalas and other wildlife. The park’s seasonal rivers and wetlands attract animals, particularly during the dry months, while its woodland and grassland habitats support a wide variety of bird species. After the game drive, continue to your accommodation for dinner and relaxation.
Day 2: Tarangire to Southern Serengeti / Ndutu Area
After breakfast, depart Tarangire and drive towards the Southern Serengeti and Ndutu area, the heart of the calving season. As you approach the Serengeti ecosystem, the landscape gradually changes into vast open plains. Depending on the time of year and location of the migration herds, you may begin seeing wildebeest and zebras along the route.
The Ndutu region is particularly important during the calving season because large numbers of wildebeest gather here to give birth. Enjoy a game drive as you enter the migration area, keeping an eye out for both the grazing herds and the predators that follow them. Arrive at your accommodation in the evening.
Day 3: Full-Day Serengeti Calving Season Safari
Today is the main highlight of your safari. After an early breakfast, set out for a full-day game drive across the southern Serengeti and Ndutu plains. During the calving season, thousands of wildebeest calves can be born across the migration area over a relatively short period. The abundance of young animals creates a unique wildlife spectacle and attracts numerous predators. Keep watch for lions, cheetahs, hyenas and other predators moving through the herds. You may also encounter leopards, jackals and a wide variety of resident wildlife. The exact location of the migration changes with rainfall, grazing conditions and other environmental factors, so your guide will adjust the day’s route according to current wildlife movements. Enjoy a picnic lunch during the game drive before continuing your exploration of the plains. Return to your accommodation in the evening.
Day 4: Ndutu to Ngorongoro Crater
Enjoy an early morning game drive in the Ndutu area, taking advantage of the cooler hours when predators and other wildlife are often active. Continue searching for wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, lions, cheetahs, hyenas and other animals before leaving the migration area. After the game drive, proceed towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
The journey provides opportunities to appreciate the changing landscapes of northern Tanzania, from the open Serengeti plains to the highlands surrounding the Ngorongoro Crater. Arrive at your accommodation near Ngorongoro and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure.
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha
Wake up early and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a morning game drive. The crater is one of Tanzania’s most spectacular wildlife destinations. Its enclosed ecosystem supports a high concentration of wildlife throughout the year. During the game drive, look out for lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, hyenas and gazelles. With luck, you may also encounter the endangered black rhino. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the crater before beginning the ascent.
After leaving Ngorongoro, continue towards Arusha, arriving later in the afternoon. Your 5-day Serengeti Calving Season Safari ends with your drop-off in Arusha or at Kilimanjaro International Airport, depending on your onward travel arrangements.
End of service.
What are the inclusions in this safari Quote? and below they are;
Park entrance fees
English speaking driver field guide
Ngorongoro crater conservation fees
Ngorongoro crater excursion
4X4 safari built landcruiser for game viewing
Emergence help from office 247 hour
All Meals at lodges
Airport transfers and drop offs
All accommodations in the program
What are the exclusions in the quote? below they are
International flights
Visa
Insurance
Alcohol and anything of personal nature
Important information;
Park rule and guidelines.
Never feed animals. Wild animals should never be fed. Feeding animals can alter their natural behavior and may create dangerous interactions between wildlife and people.
Keep a respect distance.
do not pressure your guide to approach wildlife too closely. Animals should always have sufficient room to move freely , particularly mothers with young calves and predator around kills
Keep noise to minimum.
Loud voices, music and unnecessary noise can disturb wildlife and reduce the quality of sightings for other visitors
Do not litter.
Nothing should be left behind in the national park or conservation area.All rubbish should remain in the safari vehicle until it can be disposed of apropriately.
Stay on permitted roads and tracks.
Off-road driving i restricted and should never be undertaken unless specifically permitted by the relevant authority.
Do not disturb a hunt.
The calving season provides opportunities to witness predators-prey interactions. These are natural events and should be observed without interference. your driver guide should position the vehicle responsible without blocking animals, separating mother from calves or disruption predators
Photography.
Wildlife photography is encouraged bit guests should respect animas and other safari vehicles. When visiting communities, always ask permission before photographing people.Photography restricions may apply in particular locations
Dorones
Visitors should not assume that drones can be flown inside protected area. special permission maybe required and guests should check regulations before travelling.
Options experiences; Hot air balloon safari
serengeti Hot air balloon safari. A hot air balloon safari can be added to the itinerary where operationally available. the experience normally begins before sunrise and provides a completely different perspective of the serengeti landscape. During the calving season, flying over the plains can be particularly memorable when large wildlife concentrations are present abd Balloon safari have limited capacity, advance booking is strongly recommended
What to park for calving season safari?
January through march can bring green landscape and occasional rain, so guests should pack for sunshine and changing weather conditions and below items are recommended.
Lightweight neutral coloured safari clothing
Long trouser
Light shirts and t-shirts
Warm fleece.jacket for early mornings
Light weight waterproof jacket
Comfortable closed walking shoes
Sunhat
Sunglass
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Binocular
Camera and additional batteries
powerbank
Personal medication
Small day pack
Why spend three Nights in Ndutu?
On of the most important features of this itinerary is the amount of time dedicated to the Ndutu and sourthern serengeti ecosystem. the Migration cannot be scheduled like a conventional attraction. rainfalls determines grass growth and the wildebeest move in response to available grazing and water. spending three nights in the area gives your guide greater flexibility to search different sections of th plains and respond to the latest information about herd movements and gives you time to explore at your pace without being rushed.
Which level of accommodation can stay in around Ngorongoro.
for the finals night, accommodations can be selected either on neat the rim of the crater or in nearby highland. crater ri properties generally command higher rates but can provide spectacular view and easier access of early crater descent. Propertie farther from the rim can provide excellent comfort at a low cost and work well for travellers seeking mid range upper mid range safari and the lodge selection is usually based on clients desired budget.
