7 days · Tanzania · Photographic safari
Calving Season Photography Safari
Every year between late January and March the migration herds settle on the short-grass plains around Ndutu to give birth. For a photographer it is the most intense stretch of the safari calendar: newborn calves finding their feet, vast herds under storm skies and predators working the edges. We base you in the middle of it with an off-road vehicle and a guide who knows the plains.
Enquire about this safariDuration
7 days / 6 nights
Route
Arusha · Ndutu · Southern Serengeti · Ngorongoro
Best time
Late January to March
Ideal for
Photographers of every level
Life and drama on the short grass
Around half a million wildebeest calves are born within a few weeks on the southern plains, and the predators know it. Lion prides, cheetah, hyena and jackal stay close to the herds, which makes this one of the best times of year to photograph hunting behaviour. The Ndutu Conservation Area allows off-road driving, so your guide can follow a cheetah at a respectful distance and position the vehicle with the light behind you rather than staying on the track. Between sightings the woodland around Lakes Ndutu and Masek holds leopard, giraffe and plenty of birds, and the green-season storms bring dramatic skies and soft, even light. You travel in a vehicle with no more than three guests, so everyone has a window and a roof hatch.
Itinerary
Day by day
A sample route. The herds move with the rain, so your guide adjusts each day to where the action is.
Day 1 · Arrive in Arusha
Met at Kilimanjaro International Airport and taken to a garden lodge outside Arusha. Over dinner your guide talks through your gear and the images you hope to make.
Day 2 · Fly to Ndutu
A light-aircraft flight to the Ndutu airstrip, with your first afternoon game drive on the plains on the way to camp.
Days 3–5 · The calving plains
Three full days with the herds. Early starts for predators in the soft morning light, a midday break to rest and back up your cards, then out again for the warm evening light and sunset over the plains.
Day 6 · Ngorongoro Crater
Drive up to the crater highlands and down to the floor for lion, buffalo, hippo and the chance of black rhino against the caldera walls. Overnight on the rim.
Day 7 · Departure
A relaxed drive back to Arusha for lunch and your onward flight.
Extend your journey
Add a few days in the central Serengeti for leopards and lions on the kopjes, or rest and edit on Zanzibar.
Included
— Private photographic vehicle, maximum three guests
— A window and roof hatch for every guest
— Bean bags, camera mounts and in-vehicle charging
— Professional guide experienced with photographers
— Flexible early-start and late-return game drives
— All park and conservation fees
— Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
— Light-aircraft flight from Arusha to Ndutu
— Airport transfers and 24/7 support
Not included
— International flights and visas
— Travel insurance (required)
— Camera equipment and lens hire
— Optional balloon safari
— Tips for guides and camp staff
— Premium drinks and personal items
Join us for calving season
Tell us what you shoot with, what you most want to photograph and when you can travel. We will match you with the right guide, season and camps.
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