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Group safari 6-Day Calving Season Safari, 14–19 Dec 2026 6 seats left Join
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5-Day Ndutu Calving Season Safari

5-Day Ndutu Calving Season Safari

5 Days / 4 Nights Moderate

Quick Facts

Duration5 days / 4 nights
DifficultyModerate
Group size2–12 guests
DestinationsSerengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater

Tour Overview

Every year, from about December to March, the wildebeest herds spread over the short-grass plains around Ndutu and give birth. Zebra join them, and lions, cheetahs, hyenas and jackals follow. It is the most concentrated wildlife viewing in the south of the Serengeti.

This is a short safari built around that one thing. You stay at the same camp for four nights, so after the first day you stop travelling and start watching. Your guide learns where the herds are moving, goes back to what was active yesterday and plans each morning around it. On the last day you drive up to Ngorongoro Crater for one game drive before returning to Arusha.

The cost is a long first day on the road, which we cover below. In return, you get four full days in the best place for the season.

Highlights

No daily moves
Your bags stay in the tent. The mornings are for the plains, not for packing.
Your guide learns the herds
By day two, he knows where the cats hunted, where the calves are, and which plains are busiest.
Rest in the heat
The midday break at camp is easy because camp is close to the action.
A crater finish
One game drive in Ngorongoro Crater on the way back, with a picnic lunch.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Your 5-day journey through Tanzania, crafted for unforgettable moments at every stop.

Day 1

Arusha to Ndutu

Lunch · Dinner to be comfirmed
Arusha → Ndutu area (about 7 to 8 hours by road) We collect you from your hotel or the airport early, drive through the Ngorongoro highlands and cross the conservation area to the southern plains. It is a long day on the road, with a picnic lunch and stops for photos and animals on the way. Once you reach Ndutu you go to your camp, and if there is light left, you head out for a short evening drive. Good to know If you would rather skip the drive, we can fly you from Arusha to the Ndutu airstrip. It costs more and saves most of the day. Ask us for a quote.
Day 2

Full Day at Ndutu

Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner Migration Camp, Ndutu
Ndutu area Your first full day on the calving plains. We leave at first light, when the cats are still hunting and the herds are on the move. Your guide looks for newborn calves, mothers and the predators watching them. You have breakfast in the bush or at camp, rest at midday and go out again in the afternoon.
Day 3

Full Day at Ndutu

Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner Migration Camp, Ndutu
By now your guide knows the area and the herds, so today is about patience. We go back to the places that were busy yesterday, sit with a good scene instead of rushing to the next one, and use the hours of best light. A picnic lunch lets you stay out all day if the action is good.
Day 4

Full Day at Ndutu

Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner Migration Camp, Ndutu
Your last full day on the plains. Go for whatever you want more of: a cheetah, a kill, a long watch at a birthing herd, or the lakes and acacia woodland around Ndutu, which have different birds and animals from the open plains. We keep the evening quiet, because tomorrow starts early.
Day 5

Ngorongoro Crater and Return to Arusha

Breakfast · Lunch N/A
Ndutu → Ngorongoro Crater → Arusha (about 4 hours from the crater) We leave Ndutu early, drive up to the Ngorongoro highlands and go down into the crater. The floor is a huge bowl of grassland, lake and swamp, with lions, hippos, zebra, hyenas and sometimes black rhino, all in a small area. You have a game drive and a picnic lunch, then drive up the crater road and on to Arusha, where we drop you at your hotel or the airport in the evening. Good to know The crater has entry and exit times, so we start early. Book your onward flight for the evening or the next day.

What's Included

  • Private 4x4 with pop-up roof and a professional driver-guide
  • Four nights at Migration Camp, Ndutu
  • All park and conservation area fees
  • Pick-up and drop-off in Arusha
  • Drinking water in the vehicle

What's Not Included

  • International flights and visa fees
  • Travel insurance, including medical evacuation (required)
  • Hotel in Arusha before or after the safari
  • Alcoholic drinks and personal extras
  • Tips for guides and staff

Destinations on This Tour

Serengeti National Park Ngorongoro Crater

Frequently Asked Questions

Will we see a birth?
Many guests do, but we cannot promise it. Births happen across the plains at all hours, and some days are quiet. Four days in the right weeks give you a very good chance, and you will see thousands of calves either way.
Is five days enough?
For calving season, yes. The first and last days are mostly travel, and you have three full days on the plains. If you want to see more of Tanzania, ask about our longer calving safaris.
Can we start with a flight?
Yes. We can fly you from Arusha to the Ndutu airstrip, which saves most of the first day on the road. We quote it as an option.
Is it good for children?
It works for ages 6 and up. The long drives on days 1 and 5 are the hard part. Staying in one camp helps a lot, because there is no daily packing.

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