5 days Great Wildebeest Migration -Calving Season
Introduction
This 5 Day Calving Season Great wildebeest Migration Safari package has been designed specifically to focus on increasing your chance to see the great Serengeti Wildebeest Migration in Ndutu Area(calving Season). We have designed the itinerary to include both the Ndutu Area where the majority of the wildebeest migration can normally be found from January to March. This itinerary has been designed that you Drive in / Drive back to Arusha town.
Calving usually takes place between January – February to March of each year. In January the herds begin making their way to the south of the Serengeti after the rains start falling. The question of how the herds know when it is raining or not is something many people have questioned and the answer is that we actually do not know! Many people say that they can smell the rain, others believe they can sense when the pressure in the air changes. The only thing we know for sure is that where it rains, the herds follow. Within a two to three-week time period, over half a million wildebeest are born with as many as 8 000 wildebeest being born on the same day!
DAY 0: Arrival – Arusha
Calving season migration safari
Upon arrival at Arusha/Kilimanjaro airport, your Tanzania Lights on Africa Safaris guide will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in Arusha or Moshi Tanzania. Settle into your accommodation, relax and get used to the African atmosphere. Ready to start your 5 Days Great Tanzania Serengeti Migration safari (Ndutu Culving Season) the next day.
Arusha is a city in northern Tanzania and the capital of the Arusha Region, with a population of 416,442 plus 323,198 in the surrounding Arusha District Located below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, Arusha has a temperate climate. The city is close to the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Arusha National Park on Mount Meru.
DAY 1: ARUSHA TO NGORONGORO NATIONAL PARK (NDUTU AREA)
Calving season migration safari
The first day of your safari will begin early in the morning with a pick up from your hotel at Arusha. Once everyone is aboard, you will head towards Ngorongoro National Park (Ndutu Area).
The destination for today is the Ndutu region which is a 4-5hr drive from your accommodation in Arusha.
After about an hour commencing the drive, you will enter the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) where you will notice the landscape changing from hilly forests to plain and green grasslands as you drive further.
Once you reach Ndutu you will begin your day game drive with a convenient stop for your picnic lunch. Sweeping grasslands of the Ndutu cover the region which gradually fades into the Serengeti. Ndutu forms a part of the route for the annual migration of more than 2 million wildebeests and thousands of zebra, antelope and gazelle. During game drives at the right season between December and April, you will be able to see the fertile plains turn into calving grounds and nursery for the great migration.
The calving season attracts hordes of predators prying on vulnerable young wildebeest. Crested with Ndutu Lake and Lake Masek, these waterholes offer plenty of wildlife game during the dry season.
The Ndutu is also the home ground for 6 species of big cats – leopard, lion, cheetah, caracal, serval and wildcat. The action-packed game drive will end late in the evening by around 5PM. You will now head towards your choice of accommodation, where a freshly prepared dinner awaits you. Ensure you get some good rest and recharge yourself for another eventful day. Overnight at the Tented Camp at Ndutu.
Accommodation: Heritage Ndutu Tented Camp: https://heritagecampsandlodges.com/heritage-ndutu-camp/
DAY 2: FULL DAY GAME VIEW IN NDUTU
Calving season wildebeest migration safari
Stunned by the previous days spotting of the migration, today you get another chance to view the beautiful wildlife spectacle. The Ndutu region is a part of the glorious Serengeti National Park as well as the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA).
Heading out for a full day game drive after breakfast, today you will be following the migration depending on its location in either NCA or Serengeti. During game drives at the right season between January to March, you will be able to see the fertile plains turn into calving grounds and nursery for the great migration.
This season attracts hordes of predators prying on vulnerable young wildebeest. Watching the circle of life take it’s course will be an unforgettable experience etched for life.
The action-packed game drive will end late in the evening by around 5PM. You will now head towards your choice of accommodation, where a freshly prepared dinner awaits you. Ensure you get some good rest and recharge yourself for another eventful day. Tented Camp at Ndutu.
Accommodation: https://heritagecampsandlodges.com/heritage-ndutu-camp/
DAY 3: NDUTU TO SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
wildebeest Calving season migration safari
The excitement for today will be quite high as you make your way into the most celebrated wildlife park in the world – The Serengeti. After finishing up a good breakfast, you will head out towards the Serengeti National Park and travel in the midst of the never-ending plain grasslands.
Serengeti means endless plains in the local African language and watching the grassland stretch out as far as the eye can see and eventually merging with the sky at the horizon is an absolutely breathtaking view.
With an overall land area of 14,763 Sq Kms, It puts our notion about distance to shame. The Serengeti also houses the glorious “Big 5” (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard). Along with the “Big 5”, a very pleasant sighting would be one of Africa’s most beautiful animal – The Impala.
The Serengeti ecosystem supports the greatest remaining concentration of plains game in Africa. You must also look out for the Serengeti “Kopjes” which are massive boulders of granite standing in a sea of grass. They provide ample shelter to a large variety of flora and fauna.
A picnic lunch will be done during the day long game drive itself. The eventful day comes to an end with a heavy dinner and a good night at /Tented Camp/Lodge at Central Serengeti
Optional Serengeti Balloon Excursion
Those with advance reservations will have the opportunity to balloon across the plains during one of your mornings in the Serengeti. A pre-dawn wake-up call leaves you time to drive to the balloon launch site in order to catch the most dramatic light. Then take to the skies just as the sun rises. Glide over the plains and acacia treetops, taking in spectacular views of the Seronera River Valley and the surrounding plains. After your descent, enjoy a magnificent champagne breakfast right in the midst of the Serengeti wilderness.
Accommodation: Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp: https://heritagecampsandlodges.com/serengeti-luxury-tented-camp-central-serengeti/
DAY 4: SERENGETI TO NGORONGORO
Calving season migration safari tour
In the morning, at 7am, you will head out for a short game drive in the Serengeti after a good breakfast. After completing a half day game drive along with a picnic lunch, we will branch out and head towards the Ngorongoro
The 75km drive to Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge will take about 2.5 hrs, with mild game action to see on the way. The crater is one of Africa’s impressive geological attraction and supreme mecca of wilderness.
The day comes to an end with a heavy dinner and a good rest in your choice of accommodation. Get a good rest and refuel yourself, for the following day you will descend into the massive crater. Overnight at Tented Camp/Lodge at Ngorongoro.
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge: https://rhino.co.tz/
DAY 5: NGONGORO CRATER TO ARUSHA
Calving season migration safari package
On this day of your safari, you will have an early start. Finishing up with a quick breakfast you will make an early descend at around 6:30am into the crater floor.
The Ngorongoro crater is the world’s largest inactive, intact and unfilled volcanic caldera. It has a massive floor of about 260 sq kms with a depth of over 2000 feet. The 5 hour game drive in the crater floor, will show you a lot of animal action. Keeping the camera ready is definitely recommended.
The African elephant, buffalo, Black rhino, Hippos, Hyenas, Cheetahs and Lions are found in plenty. Post the picnic lunch at the beautiful Hippo pool, you will begin a steep ascend to the top exit of the crater.
This is the last leg of your safari, with a 4hr drive left to Arusha. You will be dropped off to your preferred location at Arusha by 6PM in the evening. With an incredible experience and loads of memories to cherish, this is the time you bid goodbye to your team.
Package Includes
- All park entrance fees
- Transport on 4WD vehicle with the pop-up roof, which enable you to spot wildlife easier
- Accommodation based on three meals a day
- Crater fees
- Airport Transfers
-1Night accommodation on arrival at Mvuli hotel/Similar based on Bed and Breakfast - Mineral water 1.5lt per person per day
- Salary for the Professional English Drive Guide
- Activities as per itinerary above.
The Package does not include
- International airfare & internal flights
- All items of a personal nature
- Gratuities for safari guide and camp staff
- Airport departure tax
- Travel insurance
- Visa and Passport fees
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and beverages in lodges
PRICE: Per person sharing
No. of Pax | Lodge/Tented Camp |
1 Person | US$ 3,189 |
2 People | US$ 2,340 |
3 People | US$ 2,078 |
4 People | US$ 1,960 |
5 People | US$ 1,890 |
6 People | US$ 1,840 |
SRS = Single room supplement $ 320
All of our itineraries are custom-made which means that they are tailor-made for your own specific group, taking into account your interests, your budget and so on…Contact us for any changes for this Itinerary.