8 Day Calving Season Safari: Serengeti and Ndutu
Ndutu in the southern Serengeti for the calving season, then the central Serengeti and the crater.
Go beyond the expected.
Eight days with two nights at Ndutu in the southern Serengeti, where the wildebeest gather to calve between roughly December and March, followed by two nights in the central Serengeti and a day in the Ngorongoro Crater.
- Two nights at Ndutu in the southern Serengeti
- Wildebeest calving (Dec–Mar)
- Two nights in the central Serengeti
- Ngorongoro Crater
What's included
Included
- Airport transfers
- Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle with driver-guide
- Accommodation and meals as specified
- Park and reserve entrance fees for the activities listed
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic beverages
Confirm current park fees, permit availability, accommodation and pricing before booking, since these can change with season and demand. Access to remote areas should be confirmed before travel.
Day by day
Day 1 Arrival in Arusha
Arusha
Airport transfer to a mid-range lodge in Arusha.
Day 2 Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park
A game drive in Tarangire, then a lodge in the Karatu district.
Day 3 Ndutu, southern Serengeti
Ndutu and Serengeti National Park
Drive to Ndutu for game drives in the southern Serengeti.
Day 4 Ndutu game drives
Ndutu and Serengeti National Park
A full day of game drives around Ndutu, watching the migration.
Day 5 To the central Serengeti
Central Serengeti
Drive to the central Serengeti with game drives on the way.
Day 6 Central Serengeti game drives
Central Serengeti
A full day of game drives in the central Serengeti.
Day 7 Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater
Descend into the crater for a game drive, then to a lodge outside the crater rim.
Day 8 Departure
Arusha and Kilimanjaro Airport
Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight.
Travel Guide
Knowledge connected to this page
Read planning and destination stories connected to this Offmap entity.
East Africa Adventure Planning a Safari
Masai Mara Hot Air Balloon Safari: What to Expect
The flight, the breakfast and what to ask before you book.
Tanzania Birding Planning a Safari
Tanzania Safari Itinerary: 5, 7, 10 and 14 Day Routes
Four sample routes, day by day, and how to adapt them.
Tanzania Getting Around Planning a Safari
Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar Itinerary: 7, 10 and 14 Days
Day by day outlines for 7, 10 and 14 days.
Tanzania Adventure Planning a Safari
Serengeti Hot Air Balloon Safari: Dawn Flight and Breakfast
A dawn flight over the plains, then a breakfast in the bush.
East Africa Gorilla Trekking Multi-Country Safaris
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda Gorilla Safari: Routes and Planning
Plains, craters and gorillas across three countries.
Tanzania Planning a Safari When to Visit
Best Time to Visit Tanzania: Month by Month for Safari and Zanzibar
Dry season, calving season, rains and Zanzibar weather.
Ready to plan this Safari?
Start with the places and experiences that matter to you. We will shape the Safari around them.
Plan This Safari →Need to know?
Questions about 8 Day Calving Season Safari: Serengeti and Ndutu
Can I combine a Tanzania safari with Zanzibar?
Yes, this is one of the most popular East African combinations; a Serengeti or Ngorongoro safari followed by several days on Zanzibar’s beaches, connected by a short flight.
Do I need a visa to visit Tanzania?
Most nationalities need a visa for Tanzania, commonly available as an e-visa applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so confirm current guidance for your passport ahead of your safari.
How many national parks does Tanzania have?
Tanzania protects its landscapes across more than twenty national parks, alongside conservation areas and game reserves that together cover roughly a third of the country’s total area; one of the highest proportions of protected land of any country in the world.
Is climbing Kilimanjaro part of a normal safari?
Kilimanjaro is usually planned as its own multi-day trek (typically 6–9 days depending on route) either before or after a separate safari itinerary, rather than combined into the same days, since it requires its own acclimatisation schedule.
Is Tanzania or Kenya better for a first safari?
Both offer excellent safaris across largely the same ecosystem, and the choice often comes down to which side of the Serengeti-Mara border better fits your dates and interests: we’re happy to talk through the trade-offs for your specific safari.
What is the best time to visit the Serengeti?
The Serengeti has strong wildlife viewing year-round, but timing depends on what you want to see: the calving season is roughly January–March in the southern plains, and the dramatic river crossings typically happen around June–September in the north as the migration moves toward Kenya.