14 Days Family Safari
Arusha Arusha NP Tarangire Lake Manyara Serengeti Ngorongoro Zanzibar
From, per person$7,580
Tanzania safari
14-Day Ndutu Calving Safari & Zanzibar Beach
Overview
Every year, for a few short months, the wildebeest herds settle on the southern grass plains and give birth. The Ndutu area, on the border between the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, sits right in the middle of it. This trip is built around that event, with three full nights at a luxury tented camp near Ndutu so you are not racing to see it in a single afternoon.
The pace is deliberately slow. You start with two nights near Arusha to recover from the flight, then spend two nights on the Ngorongoro Crater rim, three at Ndutu and two in the central Serengeti. Fewer hotel changes mean more time in the vehicle with your guide and less time packing.
From the Serengeti you fly straight to Zanzibar for four nights at an all-inclusive resort on the east coast. Tanzania Tourism Safaris handles the flight, park fees, transfers and meals, and the itinerary works best between December and March, when the herds are usually on the southern plains.
Tour highlights
- Three nights near Ndutu during the calving season
- Off-road game driving allowed in the Ndutu area
- Two nights on the Ngorongoro Crater rim
- Unhurried pace with two- and three-night stays
- Direct flight from the Serengeti to Zanzibar
- Four all-inclusive nights on the east coast
Day by day
-
Day 1 Landing in Tanzania Stay Luxury hotel in ArushaMeals Dinner
A driver waits for you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and takes you to your hotel in Arusha, roughly 48 km and about 40 minutes away. Some rooms look out toward Mount Meru, and the hotel has a spa and restaurant on site. Your safari manager stops by for a short briefing on the trip ahead. After that, the evening is yours to unpack, rest and adjust to the time difference.
-
Day 2 A Rest Day Before the Safari Stay Luxury hotel in ArushaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The second night in Arusha is there so the long flight does not eat into your game viewing. Sleep in, book a treatment at the spa, or sit by the pool with the mountain in view. If you would like to get out, ask us about adding a coffee farm tour or a short cultural visit nearby. Get an early night: tomorrow your guide picks you up after breakfast.
-
Day 3 Up into the Ngorongoro Highlands Stay Luxury lodge on the Ngorongoro Crater rimMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Meet your driver-guide and head west for about two hours toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The road climbs out of the Rift Valley into green, forested highlands where the air turns noticeably cooler. Check in at a lodge on the crater rim, where the restaurant and many rooms look straight down into the caldera. Spend the afternoon taking in the view, which changes color as the sun drops.
-
Day 4 Exploring the Crater Highlands Stay Luxury lodge on the Ngorongoro Crater rimMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spend today with your guide in the highlands around the crater, a landscape of steep-sided craters, rocky peaks and dense montane forest that few visitors take time to explore. Elephants and buffalo move through the trees, and if you are very lucky you may spot a leopard. The cooler air makes for comfortable walking at viewpoints. Return to the same lodge for a second night on the rim.
-
Day 5 Down to the Ndutu Plains Stay Luxury tented camp in the Ndutu areaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Leave the highlands and descend west onto the short-grass plains around Ndutu, which lie between the southern Serengeti and the northwest corner of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Between December and April these mineral-rich grasses draw the migrating herds. Game drive on the way to a luxury tented camp near the Ndutu lakes and settle in for the first of three nights in the middle of the action.
-
Day 6 Calving Day on the Short Grass Stay Luxury tented camp in the Ndutu areaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Set out early to find the herds. In the calving season, wildebeest give birth on the open plains, and the calves are on their feet within minutes. Lions, cheetahs and hyenas follow closely, so this is one of the best times of year to watch predators hunt. Off-road driving is permitted in the Ndutu area, which lets your guide position the vehicle well while staying a respectful distance away.
-
Day 7 A Day for the Cats of Ndutu Stay Luxury tented camp in the Ndutu areaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ndutu is home all year to six species of cat: lion, leopard, cheetah, serval, caracal and the African wildcat. Use your third day here to look for the smaller and shyer ones, with stops at the lakes and the woodland edges where they often hunt. Between cats, watch for giraffes, elephants, warthogs and the hyenas that patrol the herds. Take a picnic lunch to stay out as long as you like.
-
Day 8 North to the Central Serengeti Stay Luxury tented camp in the central SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Pack up and drive north into Serengeti National Park, a trip of about 53 km that turns into a game drive as soon as you leave camp. The landscape opens into the endless plains the park is named for, dotted with granite kopjes. Check in to a tented camp in the central Serengeti, then head out on an afternoon game drive. Look for cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, hippos and ostriches.
-
Day 9 Kopjes, Rivers and Resident Wildlife Stay Luxury tented camp in the central SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The central Serengeti has resident wildlife all year, so you get a different kind of day from the herds at Ndutu. Your guide will check the rocky kopjes where lions rest, the river crossings where hippos crowd together and the woodland where leopards spend the day in the trees. Keep an eye out for rarer sightings too, such as aardvark or pangolin, which are seldom seen but do live here.
-
Day 10 Bush Airstrip to the Indian Ocean Stay All-inclusive luxury beach resort on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Say goodbye to your guide at a Serengeti airstrip and board a midday flight of about an hour to Zanzibar. There is no long drive back to Arusha, so you swap the plains for the coast in an afternoon. A guide meets you at the airport and takes you to your resort on the east coast. Your all-inclusive plan starts on arrival, so the first swim can come before dinner.
-
Day 11 Sand, Sea and Nothing on the Schedule Stay All-inclusive luxury beach resort on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After nine days of early starts, give yourself a full day of rest. The east coast has long white beaches and warm water, and the resort covers your meals and drinks. Swim, read in the shade, or walk along the shore when the tide is low and the sand flats stretch far out. This is a good afternoon to plan which outings, if any, you want to fit into the next two days.
-
Day 12 Spice Farm or Island Boat Trip Stay All-inclusive luxury beach resort on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
If you want a change of scene, today suits an outing. A spice plantation visit introduces the cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and pepper that earned Zanzibar its place on the old trade routes. Alternatively, take a boat to one of the small islands offshore to swim and explore. Both trips last half a day, so you are back at the resort for a lazy afternoon. Ask us to book whichever appeals.
-
Day 13 Snorkeling, Diving or a Final Lazy Day Stay All-inclusive luxury beach resort on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The waters around Zanzibar are clear and full of reef fish, so snorkeling and scuba diving are both popular choices for a last full day. Certified divers can arrange dives with a local center, and snorkelers can join a morning boat trip. If you would rather stay put, the pool and the beach are right there. Enjoy a final dinner by the ocean before your last night on the island.
-
Day 14 Homeward from Zanzibar Meals Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast and one more swim. Check-out is just before noon, but the resort will keep your luggage so you can use the pool and beach until your transfer. When it is time, our driver collects you from reception and takes you to Zanzibar International Airport for your international flight. Our team is on call around the clock if anything changes on the day.
Prices by season
Per person in US dollars. The price depends on when you travel and how many travelers share the trip.
| Season | 1 traveler | 2 travelers | 4 travelers | 6 travelers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low season 1 Mar – 31 May | $9,173 | $6,796 | $6,240 | $5,675 |
| High season 1 Nov – 20 Dec and 6 Jan – 29 Feb | $10,193 | $7,195 | $6,565 | $5,971 |
| Peak season Now 1 Jun – 31 Oct and 21 Dec – 5 Jan | $11,992 | $7,995 | $7,295 | $6,535 |
Tour price includes
- Domestic flight from the Serengeti to Zanzibar
- Luxury hotels, lodges and tented camps throughout
- All-inclusive meal plan at the Zanzibar beach resort
- Breakfast daily, with lunches and dinners as listed
- Local alcoholic and soft drinks with the listed meals
- Park fees and government taxes
- Game drives in a private 4×4 safari vehicle
- English-speaking resident guide
- Airport meet-and-greet and private transfers
Tour price excludes
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees
- Souvenirs and other personal spending
Questions about this safari
When should I travel to see the calving?
The herds usually graze the southern plains around Ndutu from about December to March, and most calves are born within a few weeks, often in February. Rains decide the exact timing each year, so book for January to March if the births are your priority. Outside that window this trip still works, but the herds may be elsewhere.
Does the trip include a game drive on the Ngorongoro Crater floor?
The two nights on the rim are planned around the crater highlands, not a descent to the caldera floor. If you would like a crater floor game drive on day 4, tell us when you book. We will confirm any extra crater fees and adjust the day so you do not miss anything.
Why fly from the Serengeti instead of driving back to Arusha?
Driving back would take most of a day. Flying from a Serengeti airstrip puts you on Zanzibar in about an hour, so you gain an afternoon on the beach and avoid a long road trip at the end of the safari. The flight is included in the price.
Before you go
Where you will go
Parks on this safari
You might also like
Related safaris
14-Day Photographic Safari
Arusha Tarangire Ngorongoro Central Serengeti Northern Serengeti Arusha
From, per person$9,326
14 Days Honeymoon Safari
Arusha Arusha NP Tarangire Lake Manyara Serengeti Ngorongoro Zanzibar
From, per person$7,995
15-Day Four-Park Safari & Zanzibar
Arusha Tarangire Lake Manyara Ngorongoro Central Serengeti Northern or Southern Serengeti Zanzibar
From, per person$6,051
