6-Day Calving Season Safari
Quick Facts
| Duration | 6 days / 5 nights |
|---|---|
| Price from | $2,890 per person |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Group size | 2–24 guests |
| Destinations | Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park |
Tour Overview
Between January and March, the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and Ndutu witness one of nature's most breathtaking events — the annual wildebeest calving season. Over 8,000 calves are born every single day at the peak, drawing the full cast of Serengeti predators to the feast. This is not just a wildlife safari. It is an immersion in the raw, unfiltered cycle of life.
This six-day circuit is crafted to place you at the heart of the action. You begin with Tarangire's legendary elephant herds, then push south into Ndutu — the epicentre of the calving spectacle — before ascending the Ngorongoro Crater rim for a dawn descent into Africa's most concentrated wildlife arena. Morning after morning, your expert guide reads the landscape to position you exactly where the drama is unfolding.
Accommodation ranges from comfortable tented camps to crater-rim lodges, all full-board, so the only thing on your agenda is watching the story unfold.
Highlights
Witness thousands of wildebeest calves in their first hours of life
Track the full predator cast — lions, cheetah, leopard, hyena, wild dog
Tarangire's ancient baobabs and resident elephant herds
Ndutu — the calving season's ground zero, rarely visited outside the season
Full-day crater floor drive in the Ngorongoro — Africa's Big Five arena
Private 4×4 vehicle with an expert, English-speaking naturalist guide
Small group size for an intimate, unrushed experience
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Your 6-day journey through Tanzania, crafted for unforgettable moments at every stop.
Day 1
Arrival in Arusha
Arrival in Arusha
Welcome to Tanzania. Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), your Explore Jambo Maasai representative will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Arusha. Check in, freshen up, and enjoy a welcome dinner as your guide walks you through the days ahead. Arusha sits at the foot of Mount Meru and serves as the gateway to Tanzania's northern safari circuit — a fitting start to the adventure.
Day 2
Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Arusha to Tarangire National Park
After breakfast at your hotel, your guide collects you and you set off towards Tarangire — a park celebrated for the largest elephant population in East Africa. Enter through the main gate and begin an afternoon game drive winding through the ancient baobab forests along the Tarangire River. Elephants congregate here in extraordinary numbers during the dry season, but even now the concentration is remarkable. Watch for tree-climbing lions, large packs of mongoose, and hundreds of bird species. Arrive at camp before sunset, settle in, and let the sounds of the bush lull you to sleep.
Day 3
Karatu to Ngorongoro Crater
Karatu to Ngorongoro Crater
Depart Tarangire and drive through the lush highlands of Karatu — Tanzania's "Garden Town" — before entering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The road climbs through montane forest before breaking open onto the crater rim, where sweeping views of the caldera unfold below you. Continue down through the highlands, past Maasai bomas and open savanna, descending towards the short-grass plains of Ndutu on the southern Serengeti boundary. Arrive at the lodge in time for an orientation game drive and your first glimpse of the gathering herds.
Day 4
Full Game Drive in Ndutu Area
Full Game Drive in Ndutu Area
This is the centrepiece of the safari — a full day on the short-grass plains of Ndutu where the wildebeest calving spectacle reaches its peak between January and March. Over 8,000 calves are born every day at the height of the season, drawing the full cast of Serengeti predators to the feast. Lions work the edges of calving clusters, cheetah sprint through the open grass, and spotted hyena are everywhere. Your guide will read the landscape and animal behaviour to keep you in the heart of the action all day. An optional picnic lunch on the plains means you never have to leave the drama.
Day 5
Ndutu to Central Serengeti National Park
Ndutu to Central Serengeti National Park
A morning game drive in Ndutu before heading north into the Central Serengeti — the vast open plains around Seronera that form the park's wildlife-rich heartland. The Seronera Valley is home to one of Africa's highest densities of leopard, and lion prides are a constant presence along the river courses. Arrive at your tented camp in time for sunset over the endless Serengeti horizon, with another full evening and morning of game viewing ahead.
Day 6
Serengeti to Arusha
Serengeti to Arusha
Rise early for a final dawn game drive on the Serengeti plains before departing for Arusha. The long drive back takes you through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with its dramatic highland landscapes. Arriving in Arusha in the late afternoon, your driver will transfer you to your hotel or directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward journey. Six unforgettable days in some of Africa's greatest wilderness — and memories that will last a lifetime.
What's Included
- Professional Safari guide
- Accommodation in Arusha before Safari
- All nights’ accommodation during safari
- Private transportation in a 4 x 4 Toyota Land cruiser with pop up roofs
- Park Entry Fees, VAT inclusive
- Unlimited (pure) drinking water during safari
- Unlimited mileage during game drives
- Some soft drinks in the safari vehicle
- Airport Transfers
What's Not Included
- International & domestic airfare & flights
- All items of a personal nature
- Gratuities for safari guide and camp staff
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees
Destinations on This Tour
You Might Also Like
Serengeti National Park
Tanzania Honeymoon Safari Tour
A Tanzania honeymoon safari brings together romance, wildlife, and comfort in a way that feels both exciting and personal. It gives couples time to explore beautiful places, enjoy special moments, and begin married life with unforgettable memories.
From
$0
pp
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro Marangu Route — The Coca-Cola Climb
Hut Accommodation. Not a Compromise — A Strategy. The Marangu Route is the only Kilimanjaro route with fixed dormitory-style huts at every camp. Sleeping in a solid structure rather than a tent means warmer nights, better rest, and a more comfortable recovery between trekking days — all of which contribute to acclimatisation and summit success.
From
$2,200
pp
5-Day Tanzania Safari by Road | Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
This itinerary is one of Tanzania's best-value safari experiences. It is ideal for first-time visitors, couples, families, solo travelers, and anyone looking to experience the Big Five and the breathtaking landscapes of Tanzania in a private, comfortable safari
From
$2,150
pp
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route Trek
Summit Africa's highest peak via the scenic Lemosho Route — 8 days through five climate zones with expert mountain guides.
From
$2,850
pp