Our most complete calving-season journey: eight unhurried days that give the great birthing season the time it deserves. After Tarangire’s elephants and a full Big Five day in the Ngorongoro Crater, we settle into Ndutu for three full days — exploring both the southern Serengeti plains and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area woodlands in depth — before two days among the resident big cats of the Central Serengeti. Extra nights mean flexibility: we follow the herds wherever they move, linger at sightings as long as you wish, and still leave afternoons to simply rest at camp.
- Highlights
What makes this journey unforgettable
- Three full days on the Ndutu calving grounds — the deepest immersion we offer
- Full-day Big Five game drive on the Ngorongoro Crater floor
- Tarangire's elephant herds and ancient baobabs
- Both sides of Ndutu: Serengeti short-grass plains and NCA woodlands
- in the Seronera Valley, the Serengeti's big-cat heartland
- Slow-travel pacing with restful middays at camp
- Day-by-Day Itinerary
Your journey, day by day
- Day 1
Arusha in Arrival
Welcome to Tanzania — met at Kilimanjaro International and transferred to your lodge in Arusha’s leafy coffee country. Evening briefing with your guide over dinner, covering the herds’ current position and the week’s sightings forecast.
- Meals: Dinner
Click to see the lodge description and photos in Amani Safari Lodge.
- Day 2
Tarangire National Park
A full day among Tarangire’s giant baobabs and elephant herds, following the river as it concentrates game through the dry season. Picnic lunch in the bush, golden-hour drive, then up to your Karatu highlands lodge for dinner.
- Meals: All meals
Click to see the lodge description and photos in Ngorongoro Farm House..
- Day 3
Drive to Ngorongoro Crater
After an early breakfast, set off before sunrise for a pre-dawn descent into the Ngorongoro Crater. As the morning mist lifts from the crater floor, begin your game drive in search of some of Tanzania’s most remarkable wildlife.
The early hours are especially rewarding, with chances to spot black rhino and white rhino moving through the morning mist, lions resting or beginning their morning hunt, and large herds of wildebeest and zebra spread across the open plains. Around Lake Magadi, look for flamingos gathering along the shallow waters, adding colour to the beautiful crater landscape.
Around midday, stop for a picnic lunch beside the hippo pool, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the crater. After lunch, continue your game drive before ascending the crater walls and driving onward to Ndutu, in the southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro ecosystem.
Arrive at your camp in the afternoon, settle in, and enjoy a relaxed evening in preparation for the next day’s exploration of the Ndutu plains.
- Meals: All meals
Click to see the lodge description and photos in Ndutu Safari Lodge or similar.
- Day 4
Ndutu — Ngorongoro Side (Woodlands)
Today, explore the Ngorongoro Conservation Area side of Ndutu, a beautiful area of open plains, woodland, and seasonal lakes. This part of Ndutu offers a more intimate safari experience, with off-road game viewing permitted in designated areas.
Set out with your private guide and take your time following the wildlife. During the calving season, the area can be especially rewarding for watching cheetah mothers with their young as they begin learning how to hunt. You may also encounter hyena clans around their dens, while lions often rest and hunt among the fever trees and woodlands surrounding Lakes Ndutu and Masek.
There is no need to rush from one sighting to the next. Your guide can spend time with interesting wildlife encounters, allowing you to observe natural behaviour and enjoy the quiet beauty of the area.
Return to camp later in the day for a relaxed afternoon, with time to enjoy the surroundings and reflect on a day spent close to the wild.
- Meals: All meals
Click to see the lodge description and photos in Ndutu Safari Lodge or similar.
- Day 5
Ndutu – Ngorongoro Full Day Safaris
Start early with a game drive across the Ndutu plains, following the wildebeest herds during the calving season. This is a special time to watch newborn calves take their first steps and learn how they are able to stand and run within minutes of being born — an important survival skill in the wild.
The early morning is also one of the best times to look for predators. Keep your eyes open for cheetahs, leopards, and lions moving through the plains as they search for opportunities around the herds.
After the morning drive, stop for breakfast before continuing your wildlife exploration. Around midday, return to the lodge for lunch and some time to relax. Later, head out again for an afternoon game drive, continuing until sunset.
Return to the lodge for dinner and a peaceful evening after an exciting day in Ndutu.
- Meals: All meals
Click to see the lodge description and photos in Ndutu Safari Lodge or similar.
- Day 6
Ndutu — Serengeti Side (South Plains)
Today, you continue exploring the Ndutu area as you gradually move toward the Serengeti side of the plains. After an early breakfast, set out on a sunrise game drive with a packed lunch, giving you more time to enjoy the wildlife while the morning is still cool and quiet.
The drive takes you across the open short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti, where hundreds of thousands of wildebeest gather during the migration season. Keep an eye out for zebra, gazelles, lions, cheetahs, and other predators that follow the herds.
With the wide plains, morning light, and wildlife all around you, this is a wonderful day to experience the migration at its most natural and dramatic.
- Meals: All meals
Click to see the lodge description and photos in Africa Safari Serengeti Kusini.
- Day 7
Central Serengeti
Continue your game drive north into the heart of the Serengeti, heading towards the beautiful Seronera Valley. This area is known for its rich wildlife and year-round game viewing, with open plains, rocky kopjes, and winding riverine forests.
Arrive at camp in time for lunch, followed by a relaxed afternoon. Later, head out for a golden-hour game drive when the light is soft and the wildlife becomes more active. Keep your eyes open for leopards resting in the trees, while lion prides are often seen around the kopjes and open plains.
- Meals: All meals
Click to see the lodge description and photos in Kubukubu tented lodge.
- Day 8
Departure from Serengeti
Enjoy a final sunrise game drive in the Serengeti, with one last chance to see wildlife around the kopjes and open plains before your safari comes to an end.
By Flight:
After breakfast, take a bush flight from the Serengeti to Arusha. On arrival, enjoy a day room and lunch before your evening transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home. You can also continue to Zanzibar for a relaxing beach stay.
By Road:
For those who prefer to travel by road, enjoy a scenic drive from the Serengeti to Arusha. Your driver will drop you at Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport, depending on your onward travel plans.
Your safari ends with a smooth transfer, leaving you free to continue your journey or fly home.
- Meals: All meals
Click to see the Day lodge room description and photos in Summit Hotel.
- What's Included
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area fees, crater descent fee and three full days of Ndutu calving-plains access on both sides
- Full-day packed breakfast and picnic lunch on every calving-grounds day
- Off-road game-driving permits on the NCA side of Ndutu where the concession allows
- All park, conservation area and concession entry fees for the parks visited
- All government taxes, levies and VAT
- Private 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof, window seat guaranteed for every guest
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide with a minimum of eight years in the field
- Airport meet-and-greet, transfers and complimentary pre-trip briefing
- Accommodation as listed, on the comfort tier you select
- All meals as shown in the day-by-day itinerary, including packed bush breakfasts and picnic lunches on full game-drive days
- Unlimited drinking water, soft drinks and snacks in the vehicle
- Airport meet-and-greet, all ground transfers and a pre-departure planning call
- What's Excluded
- Bush flight from the Central Serengeti back to Arusha on departure day (290USD)
- Hot-air balloon safari (from $550 per person — bookable in advance through us)
- Extra nights at Ndutu or in the Central Serengeti (quotable on request)
- International flights, airport departure taxes and visa fees
- Comprehensive travel and medical insurance (mandatory on all our journeys)
- Items of a personal nature and any pre/post-tour accommodation
- Laundry, telephone, Wi-Fi surcharges and other personal expenses
- Tips for your guide recomended 20/40$ Per day, camp and lodge staff (5/10$)
- Optional extras such as hot-air ballooning, spa treatments, walking safaris and private bush dinners
- Anything not expressly listed under what's included
- Tour Price
Pricing — Mid-Range
1 Oct – 31 Dec 2026 • 20 Dec – 4 Jan 2028