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A 9-day safari that allows you to explore the northern Tanzania during the calving season, when the southern Serengeti and Ndutu plains host vast herds of wildebeest. January through March is marked by the birth of hundreds of thousands of calves, attracting predators such as lions, cheetahs, and hyenas, in remarkable numbers. The tour begins in Arusha, followed by two nights in Tarangire, where elephants dominate the landscape.
From there, you continue to Ngorongoro, pausing at Mto wa Mbu for a village walk before descending into the crater – UNESCO World Heritage Site – the next day. The final three nights are spent in Ndutu and the southern Serengeti, timed for calving season, before returning to Arusha for your departure.
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During the safari you will have a private 4 x 4 safari Land Cruiser driven by a professional and well experienced local English speaking safari driver guide who will take you and show you all the animals that you have ever dreamed of the small & the big. Your jeep will have a photographic roof thatch to assure good pictures from any angle. Accommodation will be standard mid-range lodges & tented camps.
Northern Tanzania
Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Highlands, Mto wa Mbu, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park
Yearly around
After you have arrived at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be greeted by one of our safari representatives and assisted through customs and luggage collection. From here, it is a short drive to Arusha and onward to Kibo Palace Hotel. The hotel offers modern rooms, a swimming pool, and a central location that makes it a convenient base before the safari.
Depending on arrival time, there is an option to take a short stroll into town to visit the Maasai market, where stalls display beadwork, carvings, and textiles. Later in the day, the safari manager will meet with you for a full briefing on your safari. The rest of the day is free for rest and recovery after what’s probably been a long flight.
Meals Plan: Bed and Breakfast
Breakfast at Kibo Palace Hotel sets the day in motion before driving west to Tarangire, often referred to as the land of giants for its large elephant herds and iconic baobabs. Entering the park, the game drive continues toward Chem Chem Lodge, where lunch is served.
The lodge sits in a private concession between Tarangire and Lake Manyara, offering spacious suites with private decks and views across the wilderness. Its understated luxury focuses on privacy, attentive service, and strong ties to conservation. After a short rest, head out again for an afternoon game drive, returning in the evening for dinner and overnight. Tarangire Simba Lodge is available as an alternative.
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Diner
The morning begins with an option for a packed bush breakfast for an early departure, allowing more time in the park when wildlife is most active. Alternatively, return to the lodge for a late morning brunch after the first game drive. Tarangire is shaped by its river, which acts as the lifeline of the ecosystem and draws animals during the dry season. The park is famous for elephants but also supports large numbers of buffalo, wildebeest, zebras, and predators, with lions often seen resting near waterholes.
The landscape combines open grassland, swamps, and scattered baobabs, making it distinct from other parks on the circuit. Birdlife is equally rich, with over 500 species recorded. After a full day in the park, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Diner
Breakfast is followed by a drive toward the Ngorongoro highlands. On the way, you stop at Mto wa Mbu, a village known for its cultural diversity where more than 100 ethnic groups live side by side. A guided walk takes you through banana plantations, rice fields, and bustling markets. You gain a glimpse into daily life, from traditional food preparation to small artisan workshops. A freshly prepared local lunch is served before continuing to NCA.
Tonight’s stay is at The Manor at Ngorongoro, a colonial-style property set within a coffee estate. The spacious cottages feature fireplaces and private verandas, while the lodge grounds provide sweeping views of the surrounding hills. Tloma Mountain Lodge could be an alternative.
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Diner
An early start is recommended to catch wildlife at its most active inside the Ngorongoro Crater, sometimes called Africa’s Garden of Eden. Before descending, stop at the crater rim viewpoint for wide panoramas and photographs of the caldera’s floor. The crater itself drops 600 meters and hosts around 25,000 large animals in its 260 square kilometers.
The Big Five are all present, including the endangered black rhino, alongside wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, hippos, and abundant birdlife around Lake Magadi. The enclosed nature of the crater makes game viewing less demanding, offering one of the highest wildlife densities in East Africa. After several hours exploring, you return to the lodge for lunch. The afternoon is free for rest, with dinner served later in evening.
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Diner
Breakfast at the lodge is followed by a scenic drive in a 4×4 toward the southern Serengeti, with packed lunch included. Reaching Ndutu in time for a sit-down lunch at the camp is rarely practical, so carrying a packed lunch allows the day to be spent game viewing en route rather than rushing to check in.
The road to the Serengeti offers encounters with giraffes, antelopes, elephants, and predators that roam the plains, setting the stage for what this region is known for. Nyikani Migration Camp is seasonal camp, positioned to follow the herds, with comfortable canvas tents, en suite facilities, and a relaxed bush atmosphere. Dinner is served at camp to round out the day.
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Diner
The main focus in these two days is exploring the Serengeti during the calving season, when the southern plains near Ndutu host thousands of wildebeest giving birth. This spectacle attracts predators, making game drives here especially rewarding. Optional activities can be arranged, including a hot air balloon safari that must be booked well in advance, al fresco meals, early morning drives to catch wildlife at their most active, and sundowners when the weather allows.
The Serengeti, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famed for its sweeping grasslands, iconic wildlife, and the annual migration of nearly two million wildebeest and zebras. Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, elephants, giraffes, and abundant birdlife are some of the highlights. Meals and overnights are at Nyikani Migration Camp Ndutu, with Lake Ndutu Tented Lodge available as an alternative.
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Diner
An early breakfast is followed by departure from the Serengeti, beginning a road trip back to Arusha with game viewing along the way. A stop at Olduvai Gorge provides insight into one of the most significant paleoanthropological sites in the world, where early human fossils and stone tools have been discovered.
Continuing through the highlands, you arrive at Mto wa Mbu for lunch, a more comfortable and relaxed option than carrying packed boxes for such a long drive. The afternoon drive takes you onward to Arusha, arriving in time to freshen up before the transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your evening flight. This marks the end of your safari.
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
End of Tour
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