8 Days Great Wildebeest Calving Migration Safari | Serengeti, Tarangire & Ngorongoro Crater
This 8-day Great Wildebeest Migration & Calving Safari is designed for those craving a wildebeest Migration thrilling experience and the Wildebeest Calving which takes place in the Serengeti, especially during the Calving season between December and April. This Great Wildebeest Migration Safari will take you to areas of Lake Ndutu region and the Central areas of Serengeti National Park where the majority of the wildebeest drama usually takes place.
During this Great Wildebeest Migration and Calving safari, you will see herbivores such as gazelles, zebras, and wildebeests and predators such as lions, leopards, and hyenas, which hunt in groups. As a bonus, you’ll get to visit actual Maasai villages and immerse yourself in their culture.
During this safari, you will ride in a Safari vehicle through various regions of the Serengeti. One of the highlights of this 8-day safari will be the Crocodile Infested Mara River crossing, where wildebeests bravely cross the river while dodging crocodiles. A game drive to the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater is part of this safari as well. This 8-day safari package allows travelers to witness mammal grazers giving birth to young ones.
Overnight, you’ll find comfort in the Safari lodges or Safari-tented Camps, where you can eat delicious meals while listening to the harmonies of nature’s singing. The Serengeti wildebeest migration and calving safari, which lasts eight days, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Safari Highlights
Duration: 8 days (7 nights)
Number of People: Tailored
Starts/Ends: Arusha
Availability: All year round
Places to Visit: Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater
Tour Overview for the 8 Days Great Wildebeest Migration & Calving Safari.
- Day 01: Arrival in Arusha and transfer to Tarangire National Park
- Day 02: Tarangire National Park
- Day 03: Lake Manyara National Park
- Day 04: Serengeti National Park (Ndutu Area)
- Day 05: Serengeti National Park (Ndutu – Seronera)
- Day 06: Serengeti national Park (Seronera)
- Day 07: Ngorongoro Crater
- Day 08: Mto Wa Mbu – Arusha
Detailed day-by-day itinerary for 8 Days Great Wildebeest Calving Migration Safari | Serengeti, Tarangire & Ngorongoro Crater
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha.
Upon your arrival, you will be picked up from Kilimanjaro International Airport on Arusha. Your professional guide will answer all your queries regarding your upcoming Great Migration safari and provide you with a short briefing as well. Afterward, you will be taken to your accommodation in Arusha for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Transfer to Tarangire National Park.
Following an early morning breakfast at your accommodation, you leave Arusha for Tarangire National Park. This park covering approximately 2600 square kilometers is spectacular in the dry season when many of the migratory wildlife species come back to the permanent waters of the Tarangire River. Huge herds of wildebeest, zebras, elephants, eland, and oryx gather to stay in Tarangire until the onset of the rains when they migrate again to good grazing areas. Expect to encounter large herds of elephants while here that are accustomed to vehicles. You will enjoy your picnic lunch in the park and later have an evening game drive before heading to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Lake Manyara National Park.
Following an early morning breakfast, you will depart for Lake Manyara National Park. Lake Manyara provides a perfect introduction to Tanzania’s birdlife. More than 400 species have been recorded, and even a first-time visitor to Africa might reasonably expect to observe 100 of these in one day. Inland of the floodplain, a narrow belt of acacia woodland is the favored haunt of Manyara’s legendary tree-climbing lions and impressively tusked elephants.
Overnight will be at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge, a towering terracotta escarpment with panoramic views over the glittering alkaline waters of Lake Manyara.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Serengeti National Park (Ndutu Area)
After breakfast in Lake Manyara, you will set off for the 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.
We will spend the afternoon with a game drive in the Ndutu area. 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 games. You will have dinner at your accommodation and an overnight stay.
Day 5: Serengeti National Park (Ndutu Region to Central Serengeti Seronera)
Following an early morning breakfast, you will enjoy a full-day game drive 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 calve.
While here, you will enjoy wildlife sightings with the African big 5. 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. Later in the afternoon, you will enjoy your trip to Central Serengeti in Seronera Region
Day 6: Serengeti National Park (Seronera)
After breakfast at your accommodation, you will proceed to the Central part of Serengeti. This park is well-known for its healthy stock of resident wildlife, particularly the “big five”, named for the five most prized trophies taken by hunters: Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffaloes, and Rhinos. You will enjoy wildlife sightings on your game drives in this wildlife-rich area before heading back for dinner and an overnight stay at your already booked accommodation.
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater.
The other top destination in this 8 day Great migration and calving safari is the Ngorongoro crater. You start with an early morning game drive inside the Ngorongoro Crater.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is an extensive highland area along the eastern arm of the Rift Valley, with the world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater as its focal point. Ngorongoro was established to conserve wildlife and other natural resources. It also safeguards the interests of indigenous people and promotes tourism. While here, you will enjoy wildlife sightings with all the big games available.
Day 8: Transfer to Mto wa Mbu for a Culturl visit and continue to Arusha
After breakfast, we will drive Mto Wa Mbu for a morning cultural tour and a walking safari. We will have a sumptuous local lunch as we take in the stunning views hovering over us. An optional mountain biking activity can be arranged at an added cost if interested.
In the late afternoon, you will head back to Arusha or to the airport for your flight back home.
End of the 8 Days Great Wildebeest Calving Migration Safari | Serengeti, Tarangire & Ngorongoro Crater
