6-Day Tanzania Safari: Four Parks
Arusha Tarangire Serengeti Ngorongoro Lake Manyara Arusha
From, per person$1,578
Tanzania safari
6-Day Fly-In Wildebeest Calving Safari
Overview
Early in the year, the Serengeti’s wildebeest settle on the short-grass plains of the far south, around Ndutu, to give birth. The births are usually concentrated in January and February, when many thousands of calves arrive over a few weeks, and the predators know it. Lions, cheetahs and hyenas stay close to the herds, so there is rarely a dull hour on the plains.
Flights do the hard work on this private safari. You land at Kilimanjaro, connect to a light aircraft bound for the Seronera airstrip and begin with two nights in a luxury tented camp in the central Serengeti. A second short flight brings you south for three nights in a seasonal camp in the Ndutu area, which lies inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area on the edge of the Serengeti. On the last day you fly out to Arusha or Zanzibar.
Tanzania Tourism Safaris offers this trip for travelers who want the most time possible with the calving herds and the least time on the road. Game drives are in open-sided 4×4 vehicles with local guides, and local drinks are included.
Tour highlights
- Three nights in the Ndutu calving area
- Calving peak, usually January and February
- Two nights in the central Serengeti first
- Short flights in place of long road transfers
- Predators shadowing the herds on open plains
- Fly out to Arusha or Zanzibar
Day by day
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Day 1 Land at Kilimanjaro, Fly On to Seronera Stay Luxury tented camp in the central SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, connect to a light-aircraft flight of about 50 minutes to the Seronera airstrip in the central Serengeti. Your guide meets you on the airstrip, and the first short game drive happens on the way to camp. Settle onto your private terrace with a cold drink and listen to the plains as evening falls. If your international flight lands late in the day, ask us about a night in Arusha before flying on.
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Day 2 Big Cats Along the Seronera River Stay Luxury tented camp in the central SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spend a full day exploring the central Serengeti with your guide. The Seronera River and its tributaries keep water and shade in the area year round, which draws lions, leopards and cheetahs as well as hippos, giraffes, buffalo and many birds. Go out early with a picnic for a long drive, or come back to camp at midday to rest between morning and afternoon outings. This is a good warm-up for the calving plains.
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Day 3 Short Flight South to the Ndutu Plains Stay Seasonal luxury tented camp in the Ndutu areaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A flight of about 30 minutes takes you to an airstrip in the southern Serengeti, followed by a short drive to the Ndutu area. Here the open grassland of the Serengeti meets the woodland around Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek, inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. In calving season the plains can be dark with wildebeest and zebra. Spend the afternoon on your first drive among the herds before checking in to your camp for three nights.
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Day 4 Calving Plains From Dawn to Dusk Stay Seasonal luxury tented camp in the Ndutu areaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Head out early, when the herds are on the move and predators are still active. A newborn wildebeest can stand within minutes of birth and keep pace with its mother not long after, and watching that first wobbly attempt is the moment many visitors come for. Your guide will also watch for lions, cheetahs and hyenas working the edges of the herd. Take a picnic lunch so you can stay out where the action is.
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Day 5 Lakes, Woodland and a Last Full Day Stay Seasonal luxury tented camp in the Ndutu areaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Use your final full day to see a different side of Ndutu. The acacia woodland around the lakes shelters giraffes and other resident wildlife, the lake shores attract water birds, and the herds may have shifted overnight to new grazing nearby. Your guide will balance time with the calving herds against these quieter corners. Return to camp for dinner and a last night under a sky that is very dark and full of stars.
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Day 6 Ndutu Airstrip to Arusha or Zanzibar Meals Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, your guide drives you to the Ndutu airstrip for a flight of about 40 minutes to Arusha, or a flight to Zanzibar if you are heading for the coast. From Arusha you can connect to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your journey home. Let us know your onward plans when you book, so the final flight and any transfers can be timed to fit.
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 | $10,132 | $6,840 | $6,284 | $6,070 |
| High season 1 Nov – 20 Dec and 6 Jan – 29 Feb | $10,665 | $7,200 | $6,615 | $6,390 |
| Peak season Now 1 Jun – 31 Oct and 21 Dec – 5 Jan | $11,850 | $7,999 | $7,349 | $7,099 |
Tour price includes
- Airport meet and greet with private transfers
- Domestic flights into, within and out of the safari area
- Game drives in open-sided 4×4 vehicles
- English-speaking local guides
- Luxury accommodation for 5 nights as described
- Breakfast daily, plus lunches and dinners as listed for each day
- Local alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
- National park and conservation area fees and taxes
- All activities in the itinerary
- Departs with a minimum of two travelers
Tour price excludes
- International flights
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Souvenirs and other personal spending
Questions about this safari
When should I travel to see the calving?
The births are usually concentrated in January and February, and the herds tend to stay on the southern plains from about December to March. The exact timing depends on the rains each year. Outside that window the Ndutu area is much quieter, so we would reshape the route toward wherever the migration is likely to be.
Is the Ngorongoro Crater part of this trip?
No. Ndutu lies within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, but the crater itself is not on this route, which keeps all your time on the plains. If you would like a day on the crater floor as well, ask us about adding it by road at the end of your stay.
How does this differ from your 8-Day Calving Season Safari?
The eight-day safari travels by road and adds Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater, with two nights at Ndutu. This trip is shorter, flies between luxury camps and gives you three nights at Ndutu, so more of your time is spent with the calving herds.
Before you go
Where you will go
Parks on this safari
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