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6 Day Tanzania Wildebeest Calving Safari, Ndutu, Serengeti & Ngorongoro

Book the 6 day wildebeest calving safari for February 2027: Ndutu, southern Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Eyasi and Ngorongoro Crater, private 4x4, USD 2,250 per person.

Experience one of Tanzania’s most spectacular wildlife events on this 6 Day private Tanzania calving safari, specially designed around the Great Migration wildebeest calving season in Ndutu and the Southern Serengeti from December to March. Your journey combines the wildlife rich landscapes of Tarangire National Park, the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater, two nights in the heart of the Ndutu calving grounds, and a fascinating cultural experience with the Hadzabe and Datoga communities at Lake Eyasi. Stay close to the migration as thousands of wildebeest gather across the short grass plains, with excellent opportunities to witness newborn calves, large herds, cheetahs, lions, hyenas and other predators drawn to the abundance of young wildlife.

At a glance

Highlights

Day by day itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK), you will be warmly welcomed by the Golden Memories Safaris team and transferred to your hotel in Arusha. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy an optional Arusha city tour, visiting local markets, the Maasai Market or Cultural Heritage Centre before settling into your accommodation. In the evening, relax at your hotel and meet your safari guide, who will brief you about the adventure ahead.

Stay: Kibo Palace Hotel. Meals: Dinner.

Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park & Karatu

After breakfast, your Golden Memories Safaris guide will pick you up at around 8:00 AM and drive to Tarangire National Park, one of northern Tanzania’s most rewarding wildlife destinations. Famous for its enormous elephant herds, ancient baobab trees and wildlife-rich Tarangire River, the park offers excellent opportunities to see elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, impalas, elands, warthogs, lions and numerous bird species. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the park before continuing with an afternoon game drive through the savannah and seasonal wetlands. Later, leave Tarangire and continue toward the Karatu area for dinner and your overnight stay.

Stay: Farm of Dreams lodge. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive to Southern Serengeti

After an early breakfast, depart for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend into the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater for game drive. The crater floor supports an extraordinary concentration of wildlife. Keep watch for lions, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, zebras, wildebeest, flamingos and, with luck, the endangered black rhino. From December to March, the short-grass plains of Ndutu become the heart of the Great Migration calving season. Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest gather here to give birth, creating one of the most dramatic predator-prey spectacles in Africa.

Stay: Ang’ata Migration Camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 4: Full Day Game Drive in Southern Serengeti

Rise early for a full day of wildlife exploration in the Ndutu calving grounds, one of the best places in Tanzania to experience the Great Migration between December and March. The morning game drive takes you across open short-grass plains, seasonal lakes and woodland areas where wildebeest, zebras and gazelles gather in large numbers. This is an exceptional period for wildlife photography and predator sightings. Young wildebeest attract lions, cheetahs, hyenas and other predators, while large herds move across the plains in search of fresh grazing. Enjoy a picnic lunch during the safari before continuing your afternoon game drive and returning to camp around sunset. For an unforgettable perspective, you can also add an optional hot-air balloon safari over Ndutu, available at an additional cost.

Stay: Ang’ata Migration Camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 5: Southern Serengeti to Karatu

After breakfast, enjoy your final morning game drive in the Ndutu and Southern Serengeti region. Continue searching for wildlife around the seasonal lakes, plains and woodland edges, with opportunities to see wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, giraffes and the predators that follow the migration. After lunch, begin the scenic journey toward Karatu, a fertile highland town surrounded by coffee farms and located close to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Arrive at your lodge in the afternoon and enjoy a relaxing evening.

Stay: Farm of Dreams lodge. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 6: Lake Eyasi Cultural Experience & Arusha

After an early breakfast, depart for Lake Eyasi, a beautiful Rift Valley lake and home to the Hadzabe and Datoga communities. Visit the Hadzabe, one of Tanzania’s indigenous hunter-gatherer communities, and learn about their traditional lifestyle, relationship with nature and centuries-old cultural practices. Continue to a Datoga community, renowned for traditional metalworking and blacksmithing. Observe their craftsmanship and learn more about their daily life and cultural traditions. After the cultural experience and lunch, begin your journey back to Arusha, arriving in the late afternoon or evening. Your 6 day Tanzania calving safari concludes in Arusha, with an optional transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport depending on your onward travel arrangements.

Stay: Departure transfer. Meals: Breakfast & Lunch.

What is included

What is not included

Frequently asked questions

How much does the 6 Day Tanzania Wildebeest Calving Safari, Ndutu, Serengeti & Ngorongoro cost?

The 6 Day Tanzania Wildebeest Calving Safari, Ndutu, Serengeti & Ngorongoro starts from USD 2,250 per person. The final price depends on your group size, travel dates and accommodation level, so send an inquiry with your dates for an exact quote.

How long is the 6 Day Tanzania Wildebeest Calving Safari, Ndutu, Serengeti & Ngorongoro and where does it go?

It lasts 6 days and 5 nights and covers Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Ndutu, Southern Serengeti, Lake Eyasi. The day-by-day itinerary on this page lists each stop.

What is included in the 6 Day Tanzania Wildebeest Calving Safari, Ndutu, Serengeti & Ngorongoro?

The price includes all park entry fees, Ndutu permits, and Ngorongoro Crater fee, lake Eyasi cultural conservation and community fees, private 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof and guide, lodge and tented camp accommodation as per itinerary, meals as specified (Full Board on safari) and airport pickup and drop-off in Arusha/JRO. The "What is included" list on this page has everything.

What is not included in the 6 Day Tanzania Wildebeest Calving Safari, Ndutu, Serengeti & Ngorongoro?

Not included: international flights and entry visas, travel and medical insurance, tips and gratuities for safari guides and camp staff, alcoholic beverages and personal expenses, optional activities not listed in the itinerary and optional Ndutu hot air balloon safari. The "What is not included" list on this page has everything.

When is the best time to book the 6 Day Tanzania Wildebeest Calving Safari, Ndutu, Serengeti & Ngorongoro?

Tanzania can be visited all year. The dry months from June to October give the easiest wildlife viewing, the calving season in the southern Serengeti runs from about January to March, and the green season is quieter with good birdlife. Tell us your dates and we will confirm what to expect.

How do I book the 6 Day Tanzania Wildebeest Calving Safari, Ndutu, Serengeti & Ngorongoro?

Press "Book this safari" on this page or send an inquiry with your dates and number of travellers. We confirm availability and the details by email.

Do I need travel insurance for Tanzania?

Yes. Travel insurance is required for travel to Tanzania, and it should cover medical care and evacuation. See our travel insurance guide before you buy a policy.

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