7 days · Tanzania · Luxury safari
Luxury Calving Season Safari
Be there when the Great Migration is born. Between December and March, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest calves arrive on the short-grass plains of Ndutu and the southern Serengeti, and the predators are never far behind. This luxury journey pairs the calving grounds with Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater, staying in some of Tanzania’s finest lodges and camps.
Enquire about this safariDuration
7 days / 6 nights
Route
Tarangire · Serengeti · Ndutu · Ngorongoro
Best time
December – March
Ideal for
Luxury · Photographers
Where the migration is born
Each year the rains draw the great herds south to the nutrient-rich volcanic grasslands around Ndutu, on the border of the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Here, in a few short weeks, the wildebeest give birth, often several thousand calves a day at the peak. It is one of the most intense wildlife spectacles in Africa: lion, cheetah and hyena follow the herds closely, and the plains are full of life and drama. This itinerary gives you two full days in the calving area, a night in the central Serengeti for its resident big cats, and finishes with a dawn descent into the Ngorongoro Crater. Accommodation is in hand-picked luxury lodges and tented camps with exceptional food and service.
Itinerary
Day by day
A sample route. Your planner will adjust camps and order to match the herds' position in your travel month.
Day 1 · Arrive in Arusha
Met at Kilimanjaro International Airport and taken to a luxury garden lodge to rest after your flight.
Day 2 · Tarangire
A full day among Tarangire’s elephants and giant baobabs, then on to the Ngorongoro highlands for the night.
Day 3 · Into the Serengeti
Cross the crater highlands and descend onto the endless plains, game viewing all the way to the central Serengeti.
Days 4–5 · The Ndutu calving grounds
Two full days following the herds, the newborn calves and the predators that shadow them, with picnic lunches in the field.
Day 6 · Ngorongoro Crater rim
A morning drive in Ndutu, then up to the crater rim for sunset views across the caldera.
Day 7 · Crater safari & departure
Descend into the crater at dawn for the Big Five, then return to Arusha for your onward flight.
Included
— Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
— Professional English-speaking guide
— All park and conservation fees
— Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
— Bottled water on game drives
— Airport transfers
— 24/7 support from our Arusha team
Not included
— International flights and visas
— Travel insurance (required)
— Optional balloon safari
— Tips for guides and camp staff
— Premium drinks and personal items
Join us for the calving season
The calving season is short and the best camps fill early. Tell us your dates and we’ll time your safari to the herds.
Enquire now