
7 Days The Great Wildebeest Migration Calving Safari
A 7-day wildebeest calving safari through Tarangire, Ndutu, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro
Overview
7-day wildebeest calving safari
Timed for the calving season between December and April, our 7-day wildebeest calving safari stays close to the herds on the Ndutu plains.
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 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 adrenaline-packed kills.
Travel logistics
Start / Finish
Start
- Arusha
- JROKilimanjaro International Airport
Finish
- Arusha
- JROKilimanjaro International Airport
Highlights
What Makes This Safari Special
Witness the Great Migration herds
Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater
Flamingo-lined soda lakes
Game drives with a professional guide
Explore Tarangire National Park
Explore Ndutu Area
Day by Day
7-day wildebeest calving safari itinerary
A staff member of Gosheni Safaris will pick you up from the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). From here, you will be driven to a hotel in Arusha and brief you on your upcoming safari. Enjoy a restful night before beginning your adventure tomorrow!
Arusha, also known as “A” Town by the locals, is situated at the foot of Mount Meru, Africa's 5th highest mountain. The altitude gives the city a pleasant climate and lush green environment. Arusha is not a particularly attractive city in itself and is regarded by many visitors as little more than a necessary stopover before their safari starts in earnest. However, the natural charm of the Tanzanians and the buzz of a fast-growing city mean that Arusha has plenty to offer for those who are prepared to see beyond their air-conditioned safari trucks and satellite-TV equipped hotel rooms.
After breakfast, we'll drive to Tarangire National Park. We'll have some game viewing in the park to maximize your chances of more wildlife viewing. Before sunset, we’ll drive to a small town of Karatu for dinner and overnight.
Tarangire is the sixth largest national park in Tanzania after Ruaha, Serengeti, Mikumi, Katavi and Mkomazi. Activities will include a wildlife game drive where you can see pythons climb trees, as well as lions and leopards among others. For the bird lovers, keep an eye for the screeching flocks of colorful yellow-collared lovebirds, and the somewhat drabber rufous-tailed weaver and ashy starling. These are all endemic to Me dry savannah of north-central Tanzania.
After breakfast, we will set off for Ndutu area situated in the Ngorongoro conservation area, which is part of the southern Serengeti ecosystem.
Lake Ndutu like most other rift lakes is alkaline, however, the water is still drinkable and consumed by a wide array of local wildlife The majority of the wildebeest migration can normally be found on the short-grass plains tram December to April. The area is usually heavily populated with elephant, birds and resident game.
You will enjoy a game drive after breakfast 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 majority of the wildebeest calves. Later continue with game viewing while heading to Serengeti Central for dinner and overnight.
The sea of grass provides little cover and the young make an 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.
Enjoy a full day of game drive in the park.
The Serengeti is Tanzania's oldest and most popular National Park. A UNESCO world heritage site and recently proclaimed 7th wonder of the world, Serengeti is famed for its annual migration where some six million hooves pound the open plains. Serengeti offers an exotic game-viewing experience in the whole of Africa giving you an up-close look of the animals you've only seen in National Geographic: great herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephant and giraffe, and thousands of eland, topi, kongoni, impala and Grant's gazelle.
We’ll depart after breakfast for Ngorongoro Crater viewing. By sunset we go straight to your accommodation.
Ngorongoro is an extensive highland area along the eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley, with the world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater as its focal point. It is not a national park in the strict sense of the word but was rather established to conserve wildlife and other natural resources. It exists to safeguard the interests of indigenous people as well as promote tourism.
We’ll leave after breakfast and go straight to Lake Manyara National Park. Later in the afternoon, we'll drive back to Arusha.
Lake Manyara National Park, whose lake Ernest Hemingway claimed was 'the loveliest I had seen in Africa'. The park offers a compact game-viewing circuit and is one of the most diverse reserves in the country. The lake itself covers two-thirds of the park and the Great Rift Valley provides a stunning backdrop. Over 400 species of birds can be found in the Manyara, including thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large water birds such as pelicans, cormorants, and storks.
Gallery
Photographs
Where You Stay
Handpicked
Retreats
Every lodge and camp is chosen for its location, character and comfort, so the place you rest is as memorable as the adventure itself.
What's Included
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included
- Park fees
- Conservation Fees
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation as stated in the itinerary
- All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- All Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
Not Included
- International flights (from/to home)
- Tips (tipping guideline US$20.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Services not mentioned in the program
- Travel insurance and medical repatriation
- Items of a personal nature
Questions
Frequently Asked
The price covers park fees; conservation Fees; all activities (unless labeled as optional); all accommodation as stated in the itinerary; all transportation (unless labeled as optional). Budget separately for international flights (from/to home); tips (tipping guideline US$20.00 pp per day); personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.). Your personalized quote confirms the full breakdown line by line.
The prime months for this itinerary are January, February and March. That said, Tanzania rewards visitors in every season. Tell us your travel dates and we'll advise exactly what to expect.
This is a private, tailor-made safari for your own party of 2 to 12 guests. You won't be grouped with strangers. The itinerary, vehicle and guide are yours alone.
You'll stay at Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi, The Castle at Ngorongoro, Enkutoto Migration Camp, Enkirari Wilderness Camp and Karatu Acacia Farm Lodge, as laid out in the day-by-day itinerary. If availability requires it, we substitute properties of a similar or better standard and always confirm before you travel.
Send an inquiry through the form on this page and our safari experts will come back with a personalized quote within 24 hours, free and with no obligation. Once the plan feels right, we lock in your dates and lodges.
Absolutely. Treat the 7-day program as a starting point. We can adjust the pace, upgrade or change lodges, add days, or combine it with other destinations. Tell us what your ideal trip looks like and we'll shape it around you.
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