7 Days Wildebeest Migration Calving Safari
Destination
Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti & Tarangire National Park
Activities
Game Drive, Walking Safaris, Bird-watching, Night Game Drives, Balloon Safaris, Canoeing, Maasai Cultural Experiences
Price From $3,050 Pp
What you could see on this Tour…
Lion, Buffalo, Rhino, Cheetah, Elephant, Leopard, Zebra, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Crocodile, Hippopotamus, Hyrax, Warthog, Grants Gazelle, Impala, Waterbuck, Grant’s gazelle, impala, kongoni, topi, eland.
Overview
The Great Wildebeest Calving Migration Safari is specifically crafted to follow the iconic Serengeti Wildebeest migration during their calving season, which occurs from December to April. This journey focuses on key regions such as the Lake Ndutu area, along with the Southern and Central parts of Serengeti National Park, where large herds of wildebeest are typically concentrated. Additionally, this safari includes a visit to the renowned Ngorongoro Crater.
The Southern Serengeti and Ndutu areas in Tanzania provide the perfect setting during January, February, and March to observe thousands of wildebeest grazing on nutrient-rich short grass plains. These months are also a prime time for predator activity, offering thrilling opportunities to witness cheetahs, lions, hyenas, and leopards in action, with a high likelihood of experiencing dramatic predator-prey encounters.
Day 1: Arrival Day – Kilimanjaro Airport – Arusha
A staff member of Gosheni Safaris will pick you up from the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). From here, you will be driven to a hotel in Arusha and brief you on your upcoming safari. Enjoy a restful night before beginning your adventure tomorrow!
Arusha, also known as “A” Town by the locals, is situated at the foot of Mount Meru, Africa’s 5th highest mountain. The altitude gives the city a pleasant climate and lush green environment. Arusha is not a particularly attractive city in itself and is regarded by many visitors as little more than a necessary stopover before their safari starts in earnest. However, the natural charm of the Tanzanians and the buzz of a fast-growing city mean that Arusha has plenty to offer for those who are prepared to see beyond their air-conditioned safari trucks and satellite-TV equipped hotel rooms.
Accommodation: Four Points by Sheraton Hotel
Meal plan: Bed & Breakfast
Day 2: Arusha – Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, we’ll drive to Tarangire National Park. We’ll have some game viewing in the park to maximize your chances of more wildlife viewing. Before sunset, we’ll drive to a small town of Karatu for dinner and overnight.
Tarangire is the sixth largest national park in Tanzania after Ruaha, Serengeti, Mikumi, Katavi and Mkomazi. Activities will include a wildlife game drive where you can see pythons climb trees, as well as lions and leopards among others. For the bird lovers, keep an eye for the screeching flocks of colorful yellow-collared lovebirds, and the somewhat drabber rufous-tailed weaver and ashy starling. These are all endemic to Me dry savannah of north-central Tanzania.
Accommodation: The Castle Ngorongoro
Meal plan: All-inclusive meals (B, L & D) + drinks
Day 3: Tarangire to Ndutu Area
After breakfast, we will set off for Ndutu area situated in the Ngorongoro conservation area, which is part of the southern Serengeti ecosystem.
Lake Ndutu like most other rift lakes is alkaline, however, the water is still drinkable and consumed by a wide array of local wildlife The majority of the wildebeest migration can normally be found on the short-grass plains tram December to April. The area is usually heavily populated with elephant, birds and resident game.
Accommodation: Acacia Migration Camp
Meal plan: All-inclusive meals (B, L & D) + drinks
Day 4: Ndutu – Serengeti Central
You will enjoy a game drive after breakfast in the Ndutu area exploring a great range of various habitats such as swamps, woodland, soda lakes and the world famous Serengeti short grass plains. You will witness herds of wildebeest and zebras especially during a short time-frame from around February and lasting for about 3 weeks where majority of the wildebeest calves. Later continue with game viewing while heading to Serengeti Central for dinner and overnight.
The sea of grass provides little cover and the young make an easy prey for a variety of predators. Wildebeest calves can run minutes after they were born and within 3 days, they are normally strong enough to keep up with the herd.
Accomodation: Acacia Central Camp
Meal plan: B,L & D
Day 5: Serengeti National Park (Central)
Enjoy a full day of game drive in the park.
The Serengeti is Tanzania’s oldest and most popular National Park. A UNESCO world heritage site and recently proclaimed 7th wonder of the world, Serengeti is famed for its annual migration where some six million hooves pound the open plains. Serengeti offers an exotic game-viewing experience in the whole of Africa giving you an up-close look of the animals you’ve only seen in National Geographic: great herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephant and giraffe, and thousands of eland, topi, kongoni, impala and Grant’s gazelle.
Accommodation: Acacia Central Camp
Meal plan: All-inclusive meals (B, L & D) + drinks
Day 6: Serengeti – Ngorongoro
We’ll depart after breakfast for Ngorongoro Crater viewing. By sunset we go straight to your accommodation.
Ngorongoro is an extensive highland area along the eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley, with the world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater as its focal point. It is not a national park in the strict sense of the word but was rather established to conserve wildlife and other natural resources. It exists to safeguard the interests of indigenous people as well as promote tourism.
Accommodation: Karatu Acacia Farm Lodge
Meal plan: All-inclusive meals (B, L & D) + drinks
Day 6: Serengeti to Norongoro Crater
Today you will depart early after your delicious breakfast to Ngorongoro crater with a game drive en-route. The Ngorongoro Crater is a breathtakingly beautiful setting and the best place in East Africa to see the Big Five. It is one of the most beautiful natural wildlife safari sites in the world and an exceptional place to interact with people from the Maasai tribe.On reaching the crater’s edge, the 20 km diameter caldera opens up before you in all its stunning glory and you will descend into the crater on an adventurous trail. This World Heritage Site is seasonally home to over 25,000 animals in including a wide range of birds’ species, hyenas and the endangered black rhino. Hot Lunch will be served at a picnic spot at the hippo pool and after that you will continue to explore the crater.
After exploration you will ascend the crater and drive straight to your accommodation in Karatu for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Kitela Lodge
Meal plan: All-inclusive meals (B, L & D) + drinks
Day 7: Lake Manyara to Arusha
We’ll leave after breakfast and go straight to Lake Manyara National Park. Later in the afternoon, we’ll drive back to Arusha.
Lake Manyara National Park, whose lake Ernest Hemingway claimed was ‘the loveliest I had seen in Africa’. The park offers a compact game-viewing circuit and is one of the most diverse reserves in the country. The lake itself covers two-thirds of the park and the Great Rift Valley provides a stunning backdrop. Over 400 species of birds can be found in the Manyara, including thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large water birds such as pelicans, cormorants, and storks.
Meal plan: Breakfast & Lunch
INCLUSIONS
Activities/services included in the cost:
- Park fees
- Conservation Fees
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation as stated in the itinerary
- All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- All Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
EXCLUSIONS
Activities/services
- International flights (from/to home)
- Tips (tipping guideline US$20.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Services not mentioned in the program
- Travel insurance and medical repatriation
- Items of a personal nature
Passenger Information
- Passengers should bring only duffle bags safaris{not suitcases}
- All the passengers must have Identification Card/Passport with them for internal flights.
- Baggage on domestic flights is strictly limited to 15kgs per person (including hand luggage). Any excess baggage will be charged by the airline at check-in.
- Passengers arriving to Tanzania may be asked to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate
- Tourist Visa will be obtained at the entry points, but it is advisable to double check before travelling to Tanzania.
