5 Days Calving Season Migration Safari
Witness nature's most spectacular event on this 5-day private safari to Ndutu in Southern Serengeti, where thousands of wildebeest give birth during the annual calving season (December-March). Experience incredible predator action and vast herds in this unique wildlife spectacle.
This private safari can be customized to midrange, luxury or high-end accommodations according to your preferences, with exclusive vehicle use and personalized attention from your professional guide.
Day 1: Arusha to Serengeti National Park
Your calving season adventure begins with morning pickup from your Arusha town hotel or Arusha Airport (additional charges apply for JRO airport transfers). After a safari briefing, we depart for Serengeti National Park.
The scenic drive takes us through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with possible wildlife sightings en route. Enter Serengeti at Naabi Hill Gate for picnic lunch before afternoon game drives in Central Serengeti. This area is rich with resident wildlife year-round including lions, leopards and cheetahs.
As sunset paints the savannah golden, we head to our selected lodge or camp in Central Serengeti for dinner and overnight, listening to the sounds of the African night.
Day 2: Central Serengeti to Ndutu (Southern Serengeti)
After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive through Serengeti's central plains where predators often hunt at dawn. Your guide will track recent wildlife movements to maximize sightings before we begin our journey south.
We drive toward Ndutu in the Southern Serengeti (approximately 3-4 hours), with game viewing en route. Arrive in time for lunch at your Ndutu accommodation, then head out for afternoon game drives in this calving season hotspot.
Ndutu's short grass plains provide perfect conditions for wildebeest to give birth - over 8,000 calves are born daily at peak season! Witness this incredible phenomenon and the accompanying predator action before returning to your lodge/camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Full Day Ndutu Safari (Optional Balloon Safari)
Today offers two options: Begin with an unforgettable hot air balloon safari over the plains at sunrise (additional $599 per person), followed by champagne breakfast, or depart early for traditional game drives.
Spend the full day exploring Ndutu's dynamic ecosystem. The calving season attracts numerous predators - lions, cheetahs and hyenas patrol the plains seeking vulnerable newborns. You'll witness dramatic hunts, tender moments between mothers and calves, and vast herds stretching to the horizon.
Enjoy picnic lunch in the bush surrounded by wildlife. Continue game viewing until sunset when we return to your Ndutu accommodation, with another chance to relax and recount the day's incredible sightings.
Day 4: Ndutu to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast, we have a final morning game drive in Ndutu to catch more calving action and predator interactions. The short grass plains make for excellent visibility and photography opportunities of this unique seasonal spectacle.
Return to camp for lunch, then begin our afternoon drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (approximately 3 hours). The route offers stunning views and possible wildlife sightings as we ascend the crater highlands.
Arrive at your crater rim lodge in time for sunset views over the caldera. Dinner and overnight at your Ngorongoro accommodation, with cooler temperatures at this elevation providing a comfortable night's rest.
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater Tour - Return to Arusha
Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater at dawn (around 6:30 AM) when wildlife is most active. This UNESCO World Heritage Site hosts about 25,000 large animals in its volcanic caldera, including all the Big Five.
Morning game drives offer excellent chances to see endangered black rhinos, large elephant herds and abundant predators. Enjoy breakfast at the scenic Ngoitokitok picnic site near a hippo pool, surrounded by wildlife.
After lunch, ascend the crater walls and drive back to Arusha (approximately 4 hours), arriving by late afternoon for drop-off at your hotel or airport, concluding your unforgettable calving season safari experience.