7-Days Ndutu Calving Season Serengeti Migration Tanzania Safari
- Places to visit: Lake Manyara NP, Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti NP
On this 6-day safari, the great migrating herds of wildebeests and zebras are situated at Lake Ndutu which is found in the Ngorongoro conservation area and a part of Serengeti eco-system and our main target is from Dec to April. From January it is the best time to witness the calving as they spread out across the short-grass plains and predators are just around waiting for their opportunities to make a hunt. You will experience both Tarangire, South Serengeti, Ngorongoro crater and Lake Manyara.
On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK) which caters for domestic flights, you will be met by a Williamson Adventures representative who will drive you to your accommodation in Arusha. Your overnight stay will be at Four Points by Sheraton Arusha where the rhythm of nature pounds to the beat of an African drum, and where life is all about a revival of the senses.
Accommodation: Gran Melia Arusha
Experience the essence of Arusha with Gran Meliá. An oasis within Arusha set out on 18 acres of beautiful landscaped coffee and tea plantations. Pure tranquility with spectacular views of Mount Meru. Gran Melia Arusha offers a unique experience combining the most exciting once-in-a-lifetime safari destination with state-of-the-art conference facilities.
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 the 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 bird lovers, keep an eye out 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: Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge
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 from December to April. The area is usually heavily populated with elephants, birds and resident game.
Accommodation: Ndutu Under Canvas
Ndutu’s mobile infrastructure allows the camp to be packed up and moved without leaving anything behind – minimising its impact on the environment. Its solar panels and bucket showers provide further evidence of its commitment to this eco-conscious philosophy. Ndutu has also chosen to forego Wi-Fi and air conditioning to give guests a truly authentic safari experience that fully immerses them in nature.
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 the 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 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.
Accommodation: Melia Serengeti Lodge
Located in North Serengeti close to the river Mara in the Kogatende Area. Situated in the heart of the Migration from June to November with an extraordinary diversity of wildlife. The lodge consists of 20 tents and 4 bungalows with en suite facilities, including family rooms. It is divided into two camps, north and south.
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 at the animals you've only seen in National Geographic: great herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephant and giraffe, and thousands of elands, topi, kongoni, impala and Grant's gazelle.
Accommodation: Melia Serengeti Lodge
An incredible wildlife experience in the heart of one of the most beautiful national parks, Serengeti National Park, in Africa. The Meliá Serengeti Lodge member of Meliá Collection blends into its natural surroundings without relinquishing the services and facilities of a luxury hotel. Through the use of natural materials that develop a patina, dark colours and organic shapes, the resultant building should pay homage to the genius loci.
We’ll depart after breakfast for the 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: Lions Paw
This luxury retreat offers quick access to the wildlife on the Crater floor. Tucked deep inside a magical forest on the misty precipice of an extinct volcano, it is one of the most delightful safari camps you’ll find anywhere and is our top lodging pick on the rim of the Crater.
Lion’s Paw effortlessly offers luxurious comfort, excellent service and elegance—the perfect combination for an African Safari.
After breakfast, we drive to our final destination on this epic safari – Lake Manyara National Park. This, a relatively small but diverse park, 120km west of Arusha, is so named for the shallow Salt Lake that covers some seventy per cent of the surface area, flooding and drying with the seasons and home to thousands of flamingos and in the extraordinary region of 500 other bird species. On our exploration of the park, we will see monkeys, giraffes, zebra, wildebeests, buffalo, elephants, and, with some luck, lions lounging in the trees. The park is known for its diverse landscapes; not only open grassy plains but also primate-filled woodlands and baobab dotted cliffs. After lunch, we head back to Arusha where we will arrive in the late afternoon, our adventure at its inevitable end, with all the sights and sounds of wild East Africa tucked away in our minds for our adventure in life’s journey.
Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
