8-Day Calving Season Safari

Overview

1. Day 1 Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport Stay Planet Lodge – ArushaMeals Dinner

   Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), our warm and professional team will be there to greet you. You’ll be transferred to your lodge in Arusha, where you can relax after your journey. Later, you’ll meet your safari guide for a personalized briefing over dinner. This is where your adventure with Tanzania Tourism Safaris begins.

2. Day 2 Arusha – Tarangire National Park Stay Lake Burunge Tented CampMeals Breakfast | Packed Lunch | Dinner

   After breakfast, depart with picnic lunches for Tarangire National Park, an underrated gem known for its ancient baobab trees and vast elephant herds. During the dry season, the Tarangire River becomes a magnet for wildlife, offering exceptional game viewing. Enjoy a full-day game drive before heading to your scenic tented camp overlooking Lake Burunge.

3. Day 3 Tarangire – Lake Manyara National Park Stay Bougainvillea Safari Lodge – KaratuMeals Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

   Today’s journey leads to Lake Manyara National Park, a compact yet diverse ecosystem nestled below the Great Rift Valley wall. Navigate through dense groundwater forest, home to troops of baboons, and out onto the floodplains where flamingos and hippos gather. After a scenic game drive, ascend the escarpment to the town of Karatu, where your lodge awaits.

4. Day 4 Karatu – Olduvai Gorge – Ndutu Game Reserve Stay Tanzania Bush Camps – NdutuMeals Breakfast | Packed Lunch | Dinner

   After breakfast, drive into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a special stop at Olduvai Gorge, the famed archaeological site often referred to as the Cradle of Mankind. Continue on to Ndutu, located between the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, which hosts the wildebeest calving season from January to March. The landscape is alive with life as thousands of newborn calves take their first steps in the wild.

5. Day 5 Ndutu Game Drives Stay Tanzania Bush Camps – NdutuMeals Breakfast | Packed Lunch | Dinner

   Spend the day exploring the plains of Ndutu during one of nature’s most dramatic events—the mass birth of wildebeest calves. With approximately 8,000 calves born daily, predator-prey interactions are at their peak. Watch lions, cheetahs, and hyenas follow the herds while the vast landscape pulses with movement and survival. Return to camp for a hearty dinner under the stars.

6. Day 6 Ndutu – Serengeti National Park (Central Serengeti) Stay Sound of Silence Camp – Central SerengetiMeals Breakfast | Packed Lunch | Dinner

   Today, continue north into the heart of the Serengeti. The park’s reputation as one of the greatest wildlife habitats on earth is well-earned. Golden-maned lions prowl the plains, leopards rest in acacia trees along the Seronera River, and cheetahs patrol the open savannah. Enjoy thrilling game drives en route to your stylish and tranquil camp in the central Serengeti.

7. Day 7 Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater – Karatu Stay Bougainvillea Safari Lodge – KaratuMeals Breakfast | Packed Lunch | Dinner

   After breakfast, exit the Serengeti and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a truly immersive game viewing experience. This intact volcanic caldera is home to around 25,000 large animals including endangered black rhinos, lions, buffalo, and massive tusked elephants. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor before ascending the rim and continuing to your lodge in Karatu.

8. Day 8 Karatu – Arusha – Departure Meals Breakfast | Lunch (Packed)

   After breakfast, begin your return journey to Arusha. Depending on your onward travel plans, we will transfer you either to Arusha Airport for a flight to Zanzibar or to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your international departure.