5-Day Wildebeest Migration Calving in Ndutu

Upon arrival at either Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK), our representative will be on hand to welcome you and transfer you to your accommodation in Arusha. You’ll spend the night at the Gran Melia, a stunning property nestled at the base of Mount Meru in the heart of Arusha city.

• Accommodation: Forest Hill Lodge

• Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast

After breakfast, we depart for the southern part of the Serengeti National Park, commonly known as the Ndutu area.

The Ndutu region lies within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and forms part of the wider southern Serengeti ecosystem. It is characterized by open short-grass plains and is especially important during the Great Migration calving season.

Lake Ndutu is an alkaline lake, typical of the Rift Valley lakes, yet its water is still drinkable and attracts a wide variety of wildlife. From December to April, the area is usually filled with large herds of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles, along with elephants, abundant birdlife, and resident game.

This unique region sits at the meeting point between the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti National Park, creating one of the richest wildlife corridors in Africa. After lunch and an extensive game drive, we proceed to your camp for dinner and an overnight stay.

You will spend two nights in Ndutu at Intimate Camp Zebra.

Travel Time: Approx. 4–6 hours (including game drive)

Main Destination: Ndutu area (Southern Serengeti ecosystem)

Accommodation: Intimate Camp Zebra

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Early in the morning after breakfast, we continue with a game drive through the southern part of the Serengeti National Park before heading towards Ngorongoro Crater.

When you first see the crater, it feels like a hidden world. Enclosed by steep volcanic walls, it contains a beautiful mix of open savannah, acacia woodlands, lakes, and swamps. The crater was formed about two to three million years ago when a massive volcano collapsed in on itself.

Today, it is one of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife areas, known for its high concentration of large mammals. It is also one of the best places to see the endangered black rhino, which can sometimes be spotted on the open grasslands.

After a packed lunch and an extensive game drive inside the crater, we ascend and drive to Karatu for dinner and an overnight stay at Eileen’s Trees Inn, a comfortable mid-range lodge located about 1–2 hours from the crater.

Travel Time: Approx. 5–7 hours (game drive + transfer to Karatu)

Main Destination: Ngorongoro Crater

Accommodation: Eileen’s Trees Inn

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After an early breakfast, we depart for Tarangire National Park.

The park is named after the Tarangire River, which flows through it and serves as the main water source for wildlife during the dry season. Often called the “river of warthogs,” it attracts large numbers of animals, especially in the dry months.

The landscape is a mix of dense vegetation, including elephant grass, acacia woodlands, and lush groundwater forests. Tarangire is especially famous for its large elephant herds, often seen gathering along the river. You may also encounter giraffes, bushbucks, and hartebeests, with predators such as lions and leopards following closely.

The park also hosts an exceptional variety of birdlife, with more breeding species recorded here than in almost any other place on earth.

After lunch and an extensive game drive, we begin our drive back to Arusha.

Travel Time: Approx. 2–3 hours (Tarangire → Arusha)

Main Destination: Tarangire National Park

Accommodation: No accommodation (End of safari)

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch