Duration

8 days / 7 nights

Main destinations

Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Ndutu and Serengeti

Safari highlights

Wildebeest calving, big cats, elephants, photography and the Great Migration

Accommodation

Comfortable lodges and tented camps, with options for budget, mid-range or luxury travel

Accommodation: Arusha hotel or lodge

On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will meet your safari driver-guide and transfer to your hotel in Arusha. After a long flight, you can relax, enjoy the hotel facilities and prepare for the safari.

If you arrive early, you may have time to explore Arusha town or enjoy the views of Mount Meru, depending on your arrival time.

In the evening, your guide will explain the safari programme, answer your questions and check that you have everything needed for the journey. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in the Tarangire or Karatu area

After breakfast, leave Arusha and drive to Tarangire National Park for your first full day of wildlife viewing. The park is famous for its large elephant herds, ancient baobab trees and beautiful savannah landscapes.

During the game drive, look out for elephants feeding near the trees, giraffes moving through the bush, zebras, wildebeest, impalas, warthogs and buffaloes. Lions may also be seen resting in the shade or searching for prey. Bird lovers can enjoy a variety of colourful species around the woodlands and river areas.

You will stop at a suitable picnic site for lunch before continuing the afternoon game drive. Your guide will help you look for animals and explain their behaviour, feeding habits and role in the ecosystem.

In the late afternoon, leave the park and drive to your lodge or tented camp for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp near Karatu or Ngorongoro

After an early breakfast, travel towards the https://www.ngorongorocrater.org/ and descend into the famous Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive.

The crater floor has open grassland, woodland, wetlands and water sources that support a wide range of wildlife. During the day, you may see lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos and different species of antelope. The crater is also one of the best places in Tanzania to look for the endangered black rhinoceros, although sightings are not guaranteed.

Your guide will choose the best routes according to wildlife movements and conditions. Enjoy a picnic lunch at an authorised site before continuing your exploration.

In the afternoon, ascend the crater walls and drive towards the Ndutu area. As you approach the southern plains, the landscape gradually opens up, and you may begin seeing larger groups of wildebeest and zebras if the migration is in the area.

Dinner and overnight stay at a camp or lodge around Ndutu.

Accommodation: Ndutu tented camp or lodge

Today is dedicated to exploring the Ndutu plains, one of the most important areas for the Great Wildebeest Migration during the calving season.

Leave camp early with your packed breakfast or enjoy breakfast before departure, depending on your camp arrangements. The morning hours are often productive for wildlife viewing, particularly when predators are active.

Search the open plains for large herds of wildebeest and zebras grazing together. During the calving season, you may find newborn wildebeest staying close to their mothers, learning to stand, walking across the grass or feeding beside the herd.

Your guide will also look for lions, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and jackals. Predators often follow the migration because the abundance of young animals provides feeding opportunities. If the conditions are right, you may witness a hunting attempt or other natural behaviour from a respectful distance.

Return to camp for lunch and a short rest, then head out again for an afternoon game drive. Depending on recent rainfall and wildlife movements, your guide may explore the short-grass plains, woodland areas and surroundings of Lake Ndutu.

Return to camp in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Ndutu tented camp or lodge

Spend another full day in Ndutu, giving you more time to explore different parts of the calving grounds without rushing between destinations.

After breakfast, set off with your guide to locate the migration herds. The exact route will depend on where the animals were seen the previous day and whether fresh rain has changed the condition of the plains.

This day is especially rewarding for wildlife photographers. You can look for wildebeest calves among the herds, zebras grazing nearby, cheetahs scanning the grassland and lions resting near areas used by the migrating animals. If you are lucky, you may see a cheetah stalking prey or a lion pride approaching a herd.

The wide-open scenery also offers opportunities to photograph animals against green grass, distant hills and changing skies. Your guide will help position the vehicle for suitable viewing and photography while respecting wildlife and park regulations.

Enjoy a picnic lunch in the field before continuing the afternoon game drive. There is no need to hurry back if interesting wildlife activity is taking place and conditions allow you to remain.

Return to camp for dinner, share the day’s sightings and prepare for another early start.

Accommodation: Central Serengeti lodge or tented camp

After breakfast, depart Ndutu and travel towards the central Serengeti, enjoying game viewing along the way where permitted. This journey allows you to experience a different part of the Serengeti ecosystem and its changing landscapes.

The central Serengeti, particularly the Seronera area, is known for its resident wildlife and network of rivers and rocky outcrops called kopjes. These habitats provide shelter for lions and other predators, while the surrounding plains support zebras, gazelles, wildebeest and other grazing animals.

Stop for a picnic lunch during the journey, then continue with an afternoon game drive. Your guide will search around productive wildlife areas for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes and predators. Leopards are sometimes seen resting in trees or moving along riverbanks, although finding one can require patience.

Arrive at your accommodation later in the day, enjoy dinner and spend the night in the Serengeti.

Accommodation: Central Serengeti lodge or tented camp

Wake up early for a morning game drive in the central Serengeti. The cooler hours can be a good time to find predators before they settle down to rest.

Explore the Seronera plains and nearby river valleys, where wildlife is present throughout the year. Look for lions around kopjes, elephants moving between feeding areas, giraffes browsing on acacia trees and large groups of antelope grazing on the plains.

Return to camp for breakfast or brunch, depending on your schedule. The middle of the day is a good opportunity to relax, enjoy the surroundings and prepare your camera equipment for the afternoon.

Later, head out for another game drive. Your guide will select the route according to current sightings, with the aim of finding animals you may not have seen earlier in the trip. You can also enjoy birdwatching and photograph the changing light across the Serengeti landscape.

Return to camp for your final evening in the bush. Enjoy dinner and take time to reflect on your safari experience.

Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch, depending on departure arrangements

Enjoy breakfast at camp before your final morning game drive, time permitting. This is your last chance to spot wildlife in the Serengeti and take photographs of the beautiful landscape.

After the game drive, begin the journey back towards Arusha, with stops for lunch and scenic views along the way. Your arrival time will depend on road conditions, wildlife stops and the location of your accommodation.

If you have an international flight on the same day, allow enough time for the transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport. For travellers with an early or midday flight, an internal flight from the Serengeti may be a better option and should be arranged in advance.

Your 8-day Ndutu Calving Safari ends with wonderful memories of Tanzania’s wildlife, the Great Migration and the open plains of the Serengeti ecosystem.

Budget safari

Public campsites or simple safari lodges, with practical facilities, shared dining arrangements where applicable and a focus on spending more time in the parks.

Comfortable tented camps or lodges with private bathrooms, proper beds, hot showers where available and meals included. This is a good balance of comfort and wildlife viewing.

Luxury safari

Premium lodges or seasonal mobile camps offering spacious tents, attentive service, quality dining and an excellent base for exploring Ndutu during calving season.