9 Days Serengeti Migration Safari During Calving Season

Tour Overview

This 9-day safari is designed to give you a real and deep experience of the great wildebeest migration during calving season. You will explore Serengeti National Park, the Ndutu Area, and the famous Ngorongoro Crater.

From January to March, thousands of wildebeest give birth on the open plains. This attracts predators like lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and leopards. As your trusted tour operator, we carefully plan every day, using experienced guides, good timing, and well-prepared bush experiences to make sure you don’t just see wildlife – but truly feel the safari.

Highlights & Activities

Quick Facts

9 Days | 8 Nights

Destinations

Nearest Airports

Perfect for: First-time safari travelers, photographers, couples, and wildlife enthusiasts who want to experience the Great Migration calving season in comfort Style.

Moments from the Wild

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival – Arusha

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our team will warmly welcome you and transfer you to your hotel in Arusha (about 1 hour drive). As you arrive, you will feel the calm environment after your journey. Around the lodge, you may already see small wildlife like birds and monkeys in the garden.

In the evening, we give you a simple and clear safari briefing. We explain how your guide will track animals, how we plan bush meals, and how we make sure you enjoy every moment safely and comfortably.

Day 2: Arusha – Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast, you will drive about 2.5 to 3 hours to Lake Manyara National Park. As you enter the park, your safari truly begins. You will see elephants moving slowly in the forest, giraffes feeding on acacia trees, and large groups of baboons along the road.

Lake Manyara is famous for flamingos, pelicans, and many bird species. With over 400 birds, your guide will help you spot and understand them. You may also see the famous tree-climbing lions resting on branches.

At midday, we carefully prepare your bush lunch in a safe and beautiful place. We set the table, provide clean food, and give you time to relax while enjoying nature. In the afternoon, you continue with game drives before heading to Karatu.

Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater – Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, you drive about 1.5 hours to the Ngorongoro Crater. As you descend into the crater, you enter a natural wildlife paradise. Here, you can see lions hunting, large herds of buffalo, elephants, zebras, and if lucky, the rare black rhino.

Your guide uses experience and radio communication with other guides to find the best animal sightings. We stop for a bush lunch near the hippo pool, where you can watch hippos resting in the water while you enjoy your meal.

In the afternoon, you drive about 4 to 5 hours to Serengeti. Along the way, wildlife starts to appear—zebras, wildebeest, and giraffes moving across the plains.

Day 4: Central Serengeti – Full Wildlife Experience

Today you explore the heart of Serengeti National Park in the Seronera area. This place is rich in wildlife all year. You will see lions resting under trees, leopards in the branches, cheetahs scanning the plains, and large herds of zebra and wildebeest.

We start early with a bush breakfast. Our team sets everything in a safe area while you enjoy fresh coffee and food in the wild. Your guide then tracks animals using fresh footprints and real-time updates.

At midday, we serve a bush lunch with proper setup and hygiene. In the late afternoon, when animals become active again, you continue with game drives. The day ends with a sundowner, where we prepare drinks in a quiet place so you can enjoy the sunset in peace.

Day 5: Central Serengeti – Ndutu Area

After breakfast, you enjoy a morning game drive before driving about 3 to 4 hours to the Ndutu Area. Along the way, you will see more herds of wildebeest and zebra moving toward the southern plains.

In the afternoon, you arrive in Ndutu, where the migration gathers during calving season. You will see thousands of wildebeest, many with newborn calves. Predators like lions and hyenas are nearby, creating exciting wildlife moments.

You will enjoy an evening game drive followed by a sundowner experience. We carefully choose a quiet and safe location, set up drinks, and give you time to enjoy the sunset in the open plains.

Day 6: Ndutu – Calving Season Experience

This day gives you a deep experience of the migration. After an early start, we prepare a bush breakfast in the wild. As you eat, you may see wildebeest moving around you or hear lions in the distance.

During the day, you will see newborn calves taking their first steps, mothers protecting them, and predators like cheetahs and hyenas trying to hunt. This is one of the most emotional and exciting wildlife experiences.

We provide a bush lunch in a safe place, making sure everything is clean and comfortable. In the afternoon, you continue exploring different habitats like open plains and woodland. The day ends with a peaceful sundowner.

Day 7: Ndutu – More Wildlife Action

Today, we continue exploring Ndutu to give you more chances to see predator action and migration movement. Your guide adjusts the route based on where animals are most active.

You may see lions hunting, cheetahs chasing prey, or hyenas gathering around. Large herds of wildebeest and zebras fill the plains.

We again deliver a bush breakfast and bush lunch, carefully prepared and well organized. In the evening, you enjoy another game drive and a sundowner in a different scenic location.

Day 8: Ndutu – Arusha

After breakfast, you enjoy a final morning game drive in Ndutu. You may see last moments of wildlife like giraffes, elephants, or predators.

Then you begin your journey back to Arusha (about 6 to 7 hours). We plan the drive with comfortable stops so you feel relaxed. Along the way, you can enjoy the beautiful landscapes.

Day 9: Departure

Today you have time to relax before your flight. Later, we transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport.

We make sure everything is well planned so you arrive on time and in comfort, finishing your safari with great memories.

Tour price includes

Tour price excludes

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Mount Meru Hotel

Mount Meru Hotel is a 5-star luxury hotel located in Arusha, Tanzania, at the foothills of Mount Meru. It is one of the most famous hotels in Arusha and a major conference destination in East Africa, offering 178 well-designed rooms surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens and peaceful natural scenery.

The hotel is about 45 minutes from Kilimanjaro International Airport and is in a prime location for travelers heading to Tanzania’s top safari destinations, including Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and Arusha National Park. It offers stunning views of Mount Meru and the nearby golf course, making it a relaxing and scenic place to stay.

Mount Meru Hotel provides a variety of accommodation options, including standard rooms, executive rooms, junior suites, executive suites, family rooms, and a presidential suite. All rooms are fully equipped with modern comforts such as Wi-Fi, air conditioning, minibars, private bathrooms, and room service.

The hotel also features several restaurants and bars serving both local Tanzanian dishes and international cuisine. You can enjoy facilities such as a large swimming pool, spa, gym, conference halls, golf access, and beautiful gardens, making it ideal for both business and leisure travelers.

Kitela Lodge

Kitela Lodge is a luxury safari lodge located in the Ngorongoro Highlands near Karatu, Tanzania. It is set on a beautiful hillside overlooking a green valley, coffee plantations, and a small waterfall, offering a peaceful and scenic escape in the heart of nature.

The lodge has 20 colonial-style chalet rooms surrounded by gardens and a working farm. Each room is designed in a modern African style, combining comfort and elegance while keeping a warm and natural atmosphere. Rooms include private terraces or balconies with views of the gardens or coffee estate.

Kitela Lodge offers full-board accommodation and is open all year. It is family-friendly and eco-conscious, making it a great stop for travelers visiting the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with Lolduare Gate being the closest entry point.

You can enjoy a swimming pool, spa treatments, and relaxing massages after safari activities. The lodge also offers farm walks, coffee plantation tours, cultural visits to nearby communities, and sundowner experiences with scenic views.

The main building includes a restaurant and lounge with fresh farm-to-table meals, making Kitela Lodge a perfect blend of relaxation, luxury, and authentic Tanzanian highland experience.

Enkirari Wilderness Camp

Enkirari Wilderness Camp is a luxury safari camp located in the Central Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. It offers an authentic wilderness experience in the heart of one of Africa’s most famous wildlife areas, with open plains stretching endlessly around the camp.

The camp has 19 spacious safari tents, each designed to give guests comfort while staying close to nature. Every tent includes en-suite bathrooms with flushing toilets, comfortable beds, quality linens, and a private veranda overlooking the Serengeti savannah.

Enkirari Wilderness Camp is open all year and is ideal for viewing wildlife such as lions, elephants, giraffes, and large herds of antelope. Its central location makes it easy to access different parts of the Serengeti for game drives and wildlife exploration.

The camp offers full-board accommodation, warm Tanzanian hospitality, expert safari guides, and a strong focus on sustainable tourism. It is a perfect blend of comfort, adventure, and true African wilderness experience.

Masek Tented Lodge

Masek Tented Lodge is a luxury safari camp located in the Ndutu area of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, between the Serengeti plains and the Ngorongoro Highlands in Tanzania. It is set on the shores of Lake Masek, a scenic spot where wildlife such as elephants, zebras, and wildebeest often come to drink.

The lodge offers spacious safari tents built on raised wooden decks, designed for comfort while keeping guests close to nature. Each tent features en-suite bathrooms, hot showers, comfortable beds, and a private terrace overlooking the lake and surrounding wilderness. Some tents also include outdoor showers for a unique safari experience under the stars.

Masek Tented Lodge is eco-friendly, using solar power and rainwater collection while maintaining high comfort and service standards. It is especially popular during the Great Wildebeest Migration from December to April.

Guests can enjoy game drives, hot air balloon safaris, sundowners, bush dining, and campfire evenings. It offers a perfect blend of luxury, nature, and wildlife adventure.