Essential Calving Season Safari – 8 Days / 7 Nights
Safari at a Glance
This 8-day Tanzania safari offers a well-balanced blend of wildlife, landscapes, and adventure across the northern circuit. Begin in Arusha for a relaxed start and safari briefing before heading to the Ndutu region, where the calving season brings thousands of wildebeests and predators to the plains. Continue to Central Serengeti for full-day game drives and sightings of big cats amid the park’s endless savannahs. Explore the Ngorongoro Crater, home to the Big Five and remarkable scenery, then end your journey in Tarangire National Park, known for its massive elephant herds and iconic baobab trees, before returning to Kilimanjaro International Airport for departure.
Focus: Great Migration (Calving Season), Predator Action, Scenic Landscapes
Best Time: Late January – Early March
Start/End: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
The Route, Day by Day
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
Meet & greet at JRO by your safari guide
Private transfer to Arusha for overnight stay
Briefing about the upcoming safari
Overnight: Arusha
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Arusha – Ndutu / Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCAA)
Drive to the Southern Serengeti (Ndutu region), via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Afternoon game drive en route to your camp
Prime time for calving season: vast herds, predator activity
Overnight: Ndutu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Full-Day Migration Tracking in Ndutu Region
Early morning and afternoon game drives
Explore plains filled with wildebeest and newborn calves
High chance of witnessing predator-prey interactions
Overnight: Ndutu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Ndutu – Central Serengeti (Seronera)
Game drive en route to Central Serengeti
Witness changing landscapes and spot resident wildlife
Central Serengeti offers year-round game and iconic scenery
Afternoon game drive in Seronera Valley (big cats, river crossings, kopjes)
Overnight: Central Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Full-Day Safari in Central Serengeti
Full day to explore the rich wildlife of the central Serengeti
Optional picnic lunch or return to lodge for mid-day break
Excellent for leopard sightings and lion prides
Overnight: Central Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater Tour
Early breakfast and drive to Ngorongoro Crater
Descend into the world’s largest unbroken caldera for game drive
High chance to see rhinos, lions, elephants, hippos
Enjoy a picnic lunch by the hippo pool
Evening at a lodge on the crater rim or nearby
Overnight: Ngorongoro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Ngorongoro – Tarangire National Park
Morning drive to Tarangire National Park
Known for giant baobabs and large herds of elephants
Afternoon game drive along the Tarangire River
Overnight: Mto wa mbu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Tarangire – Drop Off at JRO
Leisurely morning drive or optional short game drive
Drive back to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for departure
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (depending on flight schedule)
Book This Safari
INCLUDES
- 2 bottles of mineral water per client per day while on safari
- Transport in a 4×4 Land cruiser in Tanzania with roof hatch for game viewing
- Government taxes
- Accommodation in above are midrange lodges/Tented Camp in standard rooms on full board
- Game drives
- Picnic lunches
- Services of professional driver-guide while on Safari
- Park entrance fees to the park for clients
- Entrance fees to the park for Car and driver
EXCLUDES
- Domestic and International departure taxes
- Entry Visa to Tanzania
- Personal insurance cover
- Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks except mineral water while on safari
- Gratuities, tips, cigarettes, laundry
- Any item of personal nature
- Any other item NOT mentioned above
- Any deviation from above itinerary