Overview
This itinerary is timed around one of the most concentrated wildlife photography events in Africa: calving season on the Ndutu plains, when up to 8,000 wildebeest calves can be born in a single day, drawing in predators in numbers that rival anything else on the migration's annual route.
Photography-focused game drives prioritize positioning over covering distance, since the action here happens in a relatively contained area rather than requiring long transfers between sightings. Guides are experienced specifically with Ndutu's seasonal patterns and know where predator activity tends to concentrate as calving intensifies.
Like every itinerary we run, the route, pace and accommodation level can be adjusted to fit your dates and photography priorities.
See our Ndutu calving season guide, or contact us to book around this year's calving timing.
Day 4, 6
Day 3
Day 2
| Accommodation | Confirmed together with you — see the Rates tab for general comfort levels we work with. |
|---|---|
| Meals | Full board on safari days; meals as specified for any city/beach nights, per your final itinerary. |
Day by Day (6 days)
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where we will be waiting to meet you once you have cleared customs and transfer to your accommodation, where you will enjoy a wonderful dinner and a superb night’s rest and relaxation. This is your chance to really soak up the atmosphere and recharge the batteries for what lies ahead on you Ndutu Migration Safari.
Dinner & overnight at Ngarasero Mountain Lodge OR Similar
After breakfast at the lodge, you will meet your guide for a short briefing then drive south of Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park. You have the option to visit the culturally-diverse village of Mto wa Mbu set on the banks of the river of the same name, for a first-hand look at tribal life in the African bush.
We then check into Lake Manyara National Park where a picnic lunch is served at the Msasa picnic site, offering a fabulous view of the lake. This is followed by afternoon wildlife viewing in the park, with its diverse flora and fauna, including some 350 bird species.
The park also provides sanctuary to a variety of animals like the gazelle, impala, buffalo, wildebeest, hyena, baboon, giraffe, hippo, and the famous tree-climbing lions. Late afternoon we head off to the Ngorongoro highlands.
Dinner & overnight at Kitela Lodge OR Similar
After an early breakfast, we take our picnic lunch aboard the vehicles and descend into the crater to explore this distinctive eco-system. Enjoy abundant wildlife viewing set against the impressive backdrop of the Ngorongoro Crater, the heart of this conservation area. These drives provide one of the best opportunities in Africa to view black rhino, which tends to spend their time on the crater floor.
After a breakfast, visit the Olduvai Gorge en route to the Southern plain of Serengeti and Ndutu Forest. Olduvai is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world. Known as the cradle of mankind, the gorge stretches for nearly 50 km from Ndutu to the Olbalbal depressions. The Leakey’s are the Archaeologists responsible for most of the excavations and discoveries at Olduvai Gorge. They unearthed about 60 different hominid remains dating back from 2 million years ago to 17,000 years ago. The remains of about 7,000 extinct animal species have also been unearthed and molds of some of these artifacts can be seen in the small on-site museum.
After breakfast, we leave the lodge for the Central Serengeti with wildlife viewing en-route. Spend two days exploring the vast Serengeti and its endless plains. The drive through the central Serengeti in the golden light of dawn looking for special wildlife interactions where, you will explore different areas of the central Serengeti.
Areas that will be visited are the Retima Hippo pool, Masai and Sametu Kopjes and plains as well as Moru and Simba Kopjes. The Seronera River valley is home to a great diversity of wildlife due to its unique ecological niches as a transition zone where two distinctly different habitats, the plain and the woodlands merge and various species of wildlife from both habitats can coexist.
Dinner & overnight at Kubu Kubu Luxury Tented LodgeOr Similar
Early breakfast at the camp and then leave the camp for Seronera Airstrip with wildlife viewing en route. Bush flight from Seronera to Arusha. You will stop at cultural heritage for lunch and optional shopping, and then drive to the Ngarasero Mountain Lodge for use of a day room and an early dinner before driving to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight home.
Rates Per Person
See "Accommodation & Meals" on the Overview tab for the general comfort levels available — send us your dates and group size for an exact quote.
Next: Inclusions →Inclusions
Included
- Private vehicle with your own driver-guide
- Park entry and conservation fees
- Accommodation as specified in your itinerary
- Meals as specified per day (full board on safari days)
- Airport pickup and drop-off
Excluded
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Getting There
Tour Start & End
This trip starts in Serengeti National Park and ends in Lake Manyara National Park.
Airport Information
Kilimanjaro International Airport and Mwanza Airport are the most common arrival points, depending on your route.
Transfer Information
Airport pickup and all transfers between destinations are included and arranged by our team.
Accommodation Before/After
Need a night in Mwanza or Arusha before or after this trip? We can arrange that on request.