6-Day Calving Season Safari

Day by day

The plan for all 6 days, as the operator who would run it wrote it. Your own version can be adjusted — this is a private trip, so the route, the pace and the lodges are yours to change.

1. 1

   Day 1
   Arrival in Arusha

   

   Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will be warmly welcomed by your safari representative and transferred to your hotel in Arusha. Depending on your arrival time, you can spend the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying the peaceful surroundings of the town.

   Arusha is the gateway to Tanzania's famous northern safari circuit and the perfect starting point for your wildlife adventure. Your safari guide will brief you about the upcoming journey, giving you an opportunity to prepare for the exciting days ahead.

   Overnight: Arusha (Hotel accommodation).

2. 2

   Day 2
   Arusha → Makuyuni Wildlife Park → Mto wa Mbu Village

   

   After breakfast, depart Arusha and drive towards Makuyuni Wildlife Park for an exciting wildlife experience. Enjoy the opportunity to encounter some of Tanzania's wildlife in a beautiful natural setting before continuing your journey towards Mto wa Mbu.

   Upon arrival in Mto wa Mbu, enjoy a cultural experience exploring this vibrant village, known for its rich cultural diversity, traditional farming activities, local markets and beautiful landscapes. Depending on your interests, activities may include a guided village walk, a visit to local farms, traditional food experiences and interactions with local communities.

   Later in the afternoon, continue to Karatu, a charming highland town surrounded by lush coffee plantations and rolling green hills. Arrive at your lodge, where you can relax and enjoy dinner.

   Overnight: Acacia Farm Lodge, Karatu.

3. 3

   Day 3
   Karatu → Ngorongoro Crater → Ndutu

   

   After an early breakfast, depart for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend into the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater for a memorable game drive.

   Often described as the Garden of Eden, the crater is home to an extraordinary concentration of wildlife, including elephants, lions, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests and, with some luck, the endangered black rhino. Enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the designated sites while taking in the breathtaking scenery.

   In the afternoon, ascend from the crater and continue towards the Ndutu region, located within the southern Serengeti ecosystem. As you approach Ndutu, the landscape opens into vast plains that become particularly important during the annual wildebeest calving season.

   Arrive at your camp in the evening, settle in and enjoy dinner under the African wilderness atmosphere.

   Overnight: Tanzania Bush Camp, Ndutu.

4. 4

   Day 4
   Full-Day Game Drive in Ndutu → Calving Season Experience

   

   Today is dedicated to exploring the spectacular Ndutu region, one of the most important wildlife destinations during the Great Wildebeest Migration.

   After breakfast, head out for a full-day game drive across the vast grasslands of Ndutu. During the calving season, thousands of wildebeest gather in the southern Serengeti plains, where many give birth to their young within a relatively short period.

   This incredible natural event attracts numerous predators, making Ndutu an excellent destination for witnessing dramatic wildlife interactions. Keep your eyes open for lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas and jackals as they move across the plains in search of opportunities.

   Enjoy a picnic lunch in the wilderness before continuing your afternoon game drive. Your experienced safari guide will help you locate wildlife and explain the fascinating behaviour of the animals during this remarkable season.

   Return to camp in the late afternoon for dinner and relaxation.

   Overnight: Tanzania Bush Camp, Ndutu.

5. 5

   Day 5
   Full-Day Exploration of Ndutu – Following the Great Migration

   

   Wake up to another exciting day in the Ndutu wilderness. After breakfast, set out for another full-day game drive, exploring different areas of the Ndutu plains and surrounding woodlands.

   The calving season offers extraordinary opportunities to observe newborn wildebeest taking their first steps, mothers protecting their young and large herds spread across the open grasslands. It is also an excellent time for photography, as the young animals and predator activity create unforgettable wildlife moments.

   Depending on wildlife movements, your guide will explore areas around Lake Ndutu, Lake Masek and the surrounding plains in search of the migration herds and resident wildlife.

   Enjoy a picnic lunch during the game drive before continuing your exploration into the afternoon.

   As the day comes to an end, return to your camp for dinner and your final evening in the heart of the African wilderness.

   Overnight: Tanzania Bush Camp, Ndutu.

6. 6

   Day 6
   Ndutu – Arusha

   

   After breakfast, bid farewell to the beautiful Ndutu wilderness and begin your journey back to Arusha.

   Enjoy the changing scenery along the way as you travel through the remarkable landscapes of northern Tanzania. Depending on road conditions and your departure arrangements, you may enjoy a few wildlife sightings along the route.

   Arrive in Arusha in the afternoon, where you will be dropped off at your hotel or transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight.

   Your unforgettable six-day Tanzanian safari, filled with wildlife encounters, cultural experiences and the remarkable spectacle of the Great Wildebeest Calving Season, comes to an end.