Migration - Calving Season Safari

Trip Introduction

Serengeti.
A name that radiates atmosphere, even before you arrive. And when you do arrive, prepare to have your most wonderful preconceptions shattered, as reality surpasses imagination.

Our Migration Safari at this time of year draws us first to the Ndutu area, wedged between the southern Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area whose names may be more familiar to you.
Although we concentrate on the animal movements as they follow the timeless cycle in search of nourishment, we also find time to see wildlife in a very different setting, the Ngorongoro Crater.
In the hands of our expert driver-guides, you will experience encounters beyond your dreams.

Tour Summary

• 7 Days, 6 Nights

• Day 1 – Arrival Day: Kilimanjaro International Airport – Arusha

• Day 2 – Arusha – Ndutu

• Day 3 – Ndutu

• Day 4 – Ndutu – Central Serengeti

• Day 5 – Central Serengeti

• Day 6 – Central Serengeti – Ngorongoro

• Day 7 – Ngorongoro Crater – Kilimanjaro International Airport

Day 1 – Arrival Day

Welcome to Tanzania

Whatever your arrival time at Kilimanjaro International Airport, your Easy Travel driver-guide will be waiting for you with a warm welcoming smile. Kick back and relax in your comfortable vehicle as he takes you to your hotel in Arusha, Tanzania’s self-styled ‘safari capital.’ On your one-hour journey to the hotel, you will get a brief impression of this large, bustling, commercial city. Depending on your arrival
time, you may have your pre-safari briefing today; if not, it will take place early tomorrow morning.

Accommodation
A compact hotel choice in central Arusha, the Kibo Palace Hotel oozes comfort and draws inspiration from its artistic décor from Tanzania and its captivating natural environment.

Here is the perfect place to relax, either before or after your safari, with comfortable and spacious rooms and suites, a popular bar, and an inviting swimming pool to cool you down after a hot day. Moreover, the excellent Kilimanjaro restaurant offers truly international cuisine, with influences from Tanzania and the wider world – there’s something tasty to please everyone.Best of all, you are assured of a warm, Tanzanian welcome from the Kibo Palace hotel team, dedicated to making your stay here as comfortable as possible.

Meal PlanDinner at your hotel.

Day 2 – Arusha – Ndutu

Tour Briefing

Unless your arrival time yesterday allowed time for your safari briefing, then this will take place after breakfast.
We will provide you with all the essential information, before we set off in our vehicle for our first destination, Ndutu. Our adventure really begins as we introduce ourselves to this region with an afternoon game-drive. In the late afternoon, we take you to your chosen accommodation for our evening meal and our overnight stay.

Journey: Arusha to Ndutu
Our journey today is around 280km, which will take about 5-hour.

Day’s Highlight
Your game drive in Ndutu this afternoon will demonstrate the importance of this area with its nitrogen-rich grasses which are much-loved by the animal population. Resident and migratory wildlife are both to be found here during this season.

Safari (Game Drive) in NdutuNdutu is a real hotspot for wildlife during these rainy months. Wildebeest and their accompanying zebra, often in their tens of thousands, choose Ndutu as part of their Great Migration. It forms an integral part of the annual ritual. And where the herds wander, the predators are never far away, so wildlife viewing here can be dramatic. A fascinating landscape is the setting for our afternoon game drive today. In the distance lie nine dormant volcanoes and one active one. In times gone by, it was the ash that blew in this direction that shaped the soil here. Ndutu itself is located partially in the Serengeti, partially in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. As well as resident populations of lion, cheetah and hyena, there are also lesser-spotted wildlife here, so keep your eyes open for aardvark, porcupine and civet cat.

Accommodation
Nestled in the heart of the Ndutu region, within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Ndutu Nyikani Camp offers an authentic safari experience surrounded by the untamed beauty of Tanzania. The camp’s well-appointed tents blend seamlessly into the natural surroundings, providing a comfortable retreat after a day of wildlife encounters. Spacious and thoughtfully designed, each tent features en-suite facilities and a private veranda, offering breathtaking savannah views. Whether facing the golden hues of sunrise or the warm glow of sunset, the scenery is spectacular.

Meal Plan
Breakfast is provided at Kibo Palace Hotel. Lunch will be a nutritious and balanced meal, also Provided for you to take out on Safari. Your dinner will be a full, cooked meal created by the team at the Ndutu Nyikani Camp.

Day 3 – Ndutu

Day’s Highlight
With a full day to explore this diverse area, your driver-guide will have plenty of opportunity to show you some excellent wildlife and explain the fragile, fascinating eco-system of this region.

Full Day Game Drive in Ndutu
Ndutu can be considered in many respects as a continuation of the endless plains of the southern Serengeti. But as it actually lies in part within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, there is the possibility – ground conditions permitting – to go ‘off-road’ which is permissible here.
A characteristic feature of this area is the collection of small, salty, lakes, whose water allows wildlife to exist here throughout the year. Among the most important of the water courses are Lake Masek, which is comparatively deep and thus remains more or less unchanged throughout the year. Lake Ndutu, nearby, is shallower and varies greatly according to the seasons, fed by a combination of rainfall, springs and rivers. At this time of the year, Ndutu is one of the best places to see migrating herds who seek out the short, nutritious grass and choose this area to give birth. The richness of the vegetation gives them the best chance of survival, but with predators everywhere, survival is by no means guaranteed.

AccommodationWith the sights and sounds still fresh in your consciousness, it’s time to relax, dine and then sleep. With this is mind, and after your busy and exhilarating day of safari in this captivating area, we will return you to your Ndutu accommodation.

Meal Plan
Your breakfast will be served at your Ndutu accommodation. Lunch will also be provided by your accommodation, to be enjoyed while out on safari, and dinner will be a full cooked meal – again, provided by your Ndutu accommodation.

Day 4 – Ndutu - Central Serengeti

Journey: Ndutu to Central Serengeti
After breakfast, and a final morning game-drive in Ndutu, we set off for our next destination, the Central Serengeti, a journey of around 80km with a journey time of 2 hours. On arrival, we take lunch and have our first game-drive in Central Serengeti.

Day’s Highlight
As you drive, the sheer vastness of the Serengeti plains will overwhelm you – as will the seemingly countless herds of wildlife who cross the landscape on their annual trek.

Safari in Central Serengeti
In the afternoon, after our relatively short drive to the central part of Serengeti, where after lunch a game-drive will introduce you to this wildlife ‘hub. The distinctive rocky outcrops, or kopjes, will soon become familiar to you: don’t ignore these as the animals certainly don’t. Big cats occasionally use these as spots for sunbathing or lookout posts. At the end of your game-drive, you will be taken to your chosen accommodation for some well-earned relaxation and your evening meal.

AccommodationSerengeti Tortilis Camp is superbly situated, a wilderness experience like no other. This is what some call ‘glamping,’ with a high degree of comfort in the heart of this famous National Park. The team here is totally dedicated to your enjoyment, providing the warmest of welcomes which might include a bit of singing and dancing: bring your sense of rhythm! You may not be alone here, as the wildlife like to roam freely amongst the tents. But don’t worry, our staff will keep you safe. Enjoy a drink at our outdoor ‘fireplace’ while listening to the calls of the wild.Then, feast yourselves on a truly superb dinner and your driver-guide will discuss the plans for the next day’s itinerary in the Serengeti. Afterwards, review the photos that have captured the day’s highlights, before falling asleep to get ready for another day of adventure.

Meal Plan
Breakfast is served at the Ndutu Nyikani Camp. Lunch will be a nutritious and balanced meal, also provided by the camp for you to take out on safari. Your dinner will be a full, cooked meal created by the team at the Serengeti Tortilis Camp.

Day 5 – Central Serengeti

Day’s Highlight
Today, we set off from our accommodation in Central Serengeti. Wildlife is abundant here: sometimes you may think it has come to find you, rather than the other way around. Today’s highlight is unknown, as the animals don’t publish their schedule (!) We will be mindful of the migratory movements, of course, but this area is where bushland meets grassland, so a favorite spot for big cats looking for prey. Cheetah, leopard and lions are all possibilities today.

Safari in Central Serengeti National Park
Waking up in the Serengeti is something really special. Sights, sounds and smells of Africa are all around us, and ahead is a full day of adventure in the world’s most famous national park. After breakfast, we start today with the morning section of our game drive in Serengeti National Park, marveling at the stunning scenery, ever changing light and always entertaining wildlife, all explained to you by your expert driver-guide.

The Seronera River weaves its way through this area, providing waters for all species of wildlife. You will also see the distinctive rocky outcrops, the famous kopjes which characterize the Serengeti landscape. Lunch will be an unforgettable experience, enjoyed in the middle of the bush.After our lunch, we set off again, searching for wildlife in this awe-inspiring park. Serengeti’s wonders evolve subtly as the day progresses. The myriad animals and birds are the ‘stars of the show’ and Nature’s dramas can unfold at any time. Of course, the animals don’t work to a timetable, so we may find lion or leopard, elephant and zebra, cheetah and antelope at any time on our drives. At the end of the afternoon, we return to the camp for dinner and some much-needed rest.

Accommodation
After your day of thrilling game drives, your driver will return you safely for another relaxing night at your Serengeti accommodation (see above). Drink, relax, dine and sleep, all out in the wilderness of the Serengeti. What could be better?

Meal Plan
Breakfast is enjoyed at the Serengeti Tortilis Camp. Lunch will be a nutritious and balanced meal, also provided by the camp for you to take out on safari. Your dinner will be a delicious meal at the Serengeti Tortilis Camp.
Note: for those who have booked the Balloon Safari for today, you will be picked up from the lodge at 05.00 hours for a 06.00 hours departure. After your 60 – 90-minute aerial adventure, bush breakfast and champagne, your driver will pick you up for your full-day game drive.

Day 6 – Central Serengeti – Ngorongoro

Today our adventure takes us out of the Serengeti National Park and leads us to another of Tanzania’s true wonders, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. With its wildlife-filled crater, Ngorongoro may be difficult to pronounce, but with its wildlife-filled volcanic crater it is easy to admire. Unsurprisingly, this is yet another of our country’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Journey: Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After a morning game drive and lunch, this afternoon we will head south-east towards Ngorongoro, a distance of 145km which will take us around 3 ½ hours.

Day’s Highlight
Today, we will get our first sight of the spectacular, incomparable Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and the heart of the Conservation Area of the same name. But before that, we have another morning game drive in amazing Serengeti, marveling at its animal inhabitants. Another day of adventure, another day to enjoy the wildlife.

Safari in Central Serengeti National Park
After our morning game drive, perhaps trying to find any animal that has – until now – been elusive enough to evade your eagle-eyed driver-guide, we head south-east towards Ngorongoro. If it has not already struck you with its vastness, Serengeti’s ‘endless plains’ will certainly now make a deep impression on you as we take the long, straight road which passes Simba Kopjes (famous from ‘The Lion King’) to reach Naabi Hill Gate, close to the divide between Serengeti and Ngorongoro. Here you can gather information at the gate’s visitor center, clamber up the hill for superb views back over the plains, or look out for a colorful agama lizard among the rocks.

Accommodation
Our Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp is only a 20km drive from the crater itself (around 40 minutes), set beneath an atmospheric acacia ‘umbrella,’ located in dense, sloping woodland and adjacent to a traditional Maasai community. Some will call the set-up here ‘glamping’, and it certainly offers a great level of comfort, considering the wilderness location. The nearby Ol Mote and Makarot mountains give it an added dimension, but it is the warm welcome of the staff which is the highlight for many of the visitors here. You’ll enjoy the team’s singing and dancing, perhaps you will even be tempted to join in. You can relax, have a drink, sit in front of the camp fire, and listen to the sounds of the noisy tree hyrax who live nearby. Then, enjoy dinner – and fall asleep, dreaming of the day’s highlights.

Meal Plan
Breakfast is served at Serengeti Tortilis Camp. Lunch will be a nutritious and balanced meal, also provided by the camp for you to take out on safari. Your dinner will be a full, cooked meal created by the team at the Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp.

Day 7 – Ngorongoro – Kilimanjaro International Airport

Journey: Ngorongoro Crater to Kilimanjaro International Airport
After our morning visit to the incomparable crater – see below – and then lunch, we will have a 5-hour journey, covering the 250km back to Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Day’s Highlight
Like nothing else on Earth, the stunning crater of Ngorongoro is a unique home for many, many species of Tanzania’s wildlife. With some luck, you may even see a black rhino here.

Safari in Ngorongoro Crater
From our accommodation, we set off after breakfast, a 6am departure to reach the rim and then descend into the vast crater itself. At one side there’s the Lerai Forest, classic mountain forest landscape with almost tropical characteristics. This is good elephant country, so keep your eyes peeled. By the side of the nearby swampland is what is sometimes called the ‘elephant graveyard’ as the mighty male tuskers at the end of their lives come to chew on the soft, swampland grasses once their teeth have failed them.The crater has a population of around 120 lions, with well-defined territories; 15,000 wildebeest, 9,000 zebra, 400 hyenas, and around 50 black rhino. Many wildebeest and other herd animals are resident, benefiting from the many sources of year-round waters and are boosted by some migrators in season. Buffalo, Thomson’s gazelle and eland are also present in numbers. Hippos can be found in pools and swampland and highland birdlife is colourful and plentiful around the waters. Flamingos can often be seen in Lake Magadi, which occupies part of the crater floor.

Meal planBreakfast is served at Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp. Lunch will be a nutritious and balanced meal, also provided by the camp for you to take out on safari and enjoyed after your morning game-drive, before we return you to the airport for your flight home. As today is your departure day, please note that dinner tonight is not included in the tour.

Departure InstructionsPlease note that this Wildebeest Migration Calving Season Safari – 7 Days tour ends at Kilimanjaro International Airport at 17.30 hours. Your departure can only take place today if you have pre-booked a domestic flight which leaves from Kilimanjaro International Airport at 19.40 hours or after, or an international flight which leaves at 21.00 hours or after. Otherwise, you will need to book an extra night’s accommodation (not included in the tour price) and take a flight the following day.

Post Tour ExtensionAfter your exhilarating time on safari, you may want to extend your Tanzanian holiday with time on Zanzibar’s wonderful beaches.