On this 6-day Ndutu wildebeest calving season safari, the great migrating herds of wildebeests and zebras are situated at Lake Ndutu which is found in the Ngorongoro conservation area and a part of the Serengeti eco-system and our main target is from Dec to April. From January it is the best time to witness the calving as they spread out across the short-grass plains and predators are just around waiting for their opportunities to make a hunt. You will experience both Tarangire, South Serengeti, Ngorongoro crater, and Lake Manyara
Detailed safari itinerary for the 6 day Ndutu wildebeest calving season
Day 1. Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport & Transfer to Arusha.
Tourists will be picked up from the airport by our safari representative and conveyed to your accommodation in Arusha where you will overnight, relax, and prepare in anticipation of the adventures to come as you wait for the famous Ndutu wildebeest calving season safari to start. Overnight at Arusha Planet Lodge / Pazuri Inn
Day 2. Transfer from Arusha to Tarangire National Park
In the morning Tourists will be picked up from your accommodation in Arusha by our personal safari guide. We set out for Tarangire National Park on a good tarmac road across gently rolling Masai plains with scattered acacia trees to start our thrilling Ndutu wildebeest calving season. As we zip along we pass many Masai in their colorful dress walking on the roadside, riding bicycles, herding cattle, and driving donkey carts.
Tarangire National Park, well known for its large elephant herds, is also host to many other creatures.
From the open roof of our state-of-the-art safari jeep, we experience the seasonal swamps, savanna, and life-giving Tarangire River, endeavoring to encounter a multitude of creatures, from zebra to wildebeest, buffalo, elephant, and giraffe, to name a few.
It is possible we will glimpse lions stalking prey or leopards watching, relaxing in the trees above. After our extensive game drive experiencing the varied sights and sounds of the wilderness, we drive to your accommodation for dinner overnight. Overnight at Tarangire Simba tented camp
Day 3. Transfer to Explore South Serengeti – Ndutu wildebeest calving season
After breakfast, we will head to the Lake Ndutu region, situated in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a sublime landscape of the southern Serengeti ecosystem. The drive takes approximately 3 hrs, taking us across the beautiful landscape of The Rift Valley Lake Ndutu, alkaline like most of the other Rift Valley is frequently inhabited by a wide array of wildlife.
With appetites sated, undertake our game drive in the Ndutu region. The majority of the wildebeest migration can normally be found on the short-grass plains from December to April.
After the late afternoon game drive, you will drive to your accommodation for dinner and overnight at Ndutu Serengeti Heritage Camp
Day 4. Living Among predators in South Serengeti – Ndutu wildebeest calving season
After our hearty breakfast, we head out to enjoy a full-day game drive in the Ndutu region. We endeavor to explore the range of different habitats found here that include swamps, woodland, soda lakes, and the world-famous Serengeti short grass plains.
We will see the awesome sight of the great thronging herds of wildebeest and zebra. During a short time, the frame around January, normally lasting for about 3 weeks, the majority of the wildebeest calves, dropping in the region of half a million young in this awesome act of synchronized birthing.
The sea of grass provides little cover and the young Wildebeest calves can run minutes after they are born and within 3 days they are normally strong enough to keep up with the herd. As our full day of adventure upon the ‘Endless Plain,’ we depart to our accommodation for dinner and overnight at Ndutu Serengeti Heritage Camp
Day 5. En route game viewing Ndutu & Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater Rim
After breakfast, you will drive from Southern Serengeti ( Ndutu area) heading to the Northern Ngorongoro conservation area until we check in and descend down to the Ngorongoro Crater rim as we continue to experience the famous Ndutu wildebeest calving season.
When you first see Ngorongoro Crater, it looks like a forgotten world. Concealed by the steep volcanic walls is a pristine wilderness including sweeping savannah, pockets of acacia woodland, and glistening lakes and swamps.
The Crater was created when a large volcano exploded and collapsed in on itself two to three million years ago. The drive into the Crater is an adventure in itself and when you reach the Crater floor, you quickly find yourself amongst large numbers of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, and more than 500 bird species.
The Crater provides you with the best chance of seeing the endangered black rhino, which can sometimes be spotted in the open grasslands.
After a full afternoon inside the Crater, you will head to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay in Karatu. Overnight at Eileen’s Tree Inn
Day 6. Half Day game viewing Lake Manyara National Park – Transfer to the airport.
with an early breakfast, we drive to our final destination on this epic Ndutu wildebeest calving season safari – Lake Manyara National Park.
This, a relatively small but diverse park, 120km west of Arusha, is so named for the shallow Salt Lake that covers some seventy percent of the surface area, flooding and drying with the seasons and home to thousands of flamingos and in the extraordinary region of 500 other bird species.
On our exploration of the park, we will see monkeys, giraffes, zebra, wildebeests, buffalo, elephants, and, with some luck, lions lounging in the trees. The park is known for its diverse landscapes; not only open grassy plains but also primate-filled woodlands and baobab-dotted cliffs.
After lunch, we head back to Arusha or transfer directly to Kilimanjaro international airport for your late departure back home as we have reached the inevitable end of Ndutu wildebeest calving season safari, with all the sights and sounds of wild East Africa tucked away in our mind for our adventure in life’s journey.
