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Calving Season Tour

6 Days Calving Season Safari Tanzania

5 Day Tanzania Safari Itinerary For The Big Five Experience

The 6 Days Calving Season Safari with Gnade Safaris is designed for travelers eager to witness one of nature’s most spectacular events — the wildebeest calving season in the Ndutu plains. Between December and April, over 500,000 wildebeest calves are born across the southern Serengeti ecosystem, drawing predators and wildlife enthusiasts from around the world.
This safari also includes the Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, offering a perfect mix of wildlife diversity, breathtaking landscapes, and authentic African adventure.

🧳 Perfect For

  • Wildlife lovers eager to witness the wildebeest and zebra calving season

  • Photographers seeking rare predator-prey action and baby animal scenes

  • Couples or families wanting a thrilling yet comfortable safari

  • Travelers combining safari with a Zanzibar beach holiday or Kilimanjaro trek

  • Nature enthusiasts looking for an authentic, crowd-free safari experience

📅 When to Go?

The calving season safari is best from December to April, with the peak action in January and February, when thousands of wildebeest and zebras give birth on the lush short-grass plains of Ndutu.

  • December – Early Arrival of the Herds

  • January to March – Peak Calving Season & Predator Activity

  • April – Green Season, Fewer Crowds, Excellent Photography

What Makes This Safari Special

  • Witness the Calving Season – See over 500,000 wildebeest births and incredible predator action

  • Three Iconic Parks – Tarangire, Ndutu (Southern Serengeti), and Ngorongoro Crater

  • Expert Local Guides – Deep wildlife knowledge and professional tracking skills

  • Private 4x4 Vehicles – Pop-up roofs for panoramic views and perfect photography

  • All-Inclusive Comfort – Lodging, meals, park fees, and airport transfers included

  • Emergency Evacuation Coverage – Flying Doctors service for peace of mind

  • Authentic Tanzanian Hospitality – Experience Gnade Safaris’ personalized touch from start to finish

Quick Itinerary Snapshot

  • Day 1: Arrival in Arusha – Relax & Safari Briefing

  • Day 2: Arusha → Tarangire National Park – Elephants, Baobabs & Wildlife

  • Day 3: Tarangire → Ndutu (Southern Serengeti) – Enter the Calving Zone

  • Day 4: Full-Day Game Drive in Ndutu – Witness Births & Predator Hunts

  • Day 5: Ndutu → Ngorongoro Crater – Explore the World’s Largest Caldera

  • Day 6: Departure – Return to Arusha / Optional Zanzibar Extension

Detailed Itinerary

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you’ll be warmly welcomed by your Gnade Safaris representative and transferred to your hotel in Arusha.
Take time to relax and prepare for the adventures ahead. Depending on your arrival time, you may explore Arusha city or simply enjoy your lodge’s scenic views of Mount Meru.

  • Accommodation: Kibo Palace Hotel

  • Meal Plan: Dinner 

Day 1

Arrival in Arusha – Welcome to Tanzania

ACCOMODATIONS

Kibo Palace Hoteli 

Kibo Palace Hotel
Kibo Palace Accommodation

Day 2

Arusha → Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, your guide will brief you on the safari before departing for Tarangire National Park.
Known as the “Home of the Giants,” Tarangire is famous for its vast elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and diverse wildlife. The park’s ecosystem supports buffalo, giraffes, zebras, lions, leopards, and over 400 bird species.

Enjoy a full-day game drive along the Tarangire River — the park’s lifeline — where animals gather to drink and predators lurk nearby.

  • Accommodation: Heart and Soul Lodge

  • Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

ACCOMODATIONS

Heart and Soul Lodge 

Heart and Soul Lodge
Heart and Soul Lodge

Day 3

Tarangire → South Serengeti (Ndutu Region)

Today, your journey takes you to the Ndutu region, located within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and part of the greater Serengeti ecosystem. This area is the epicenter of the wildebeest calving season.

As you drive across the Rift Valley’s scenic plains, you’ll spot Maasai villages and wildlife along the way. Upon arrival, enjoy an afternoon game drive across the Ndutu short-grass plains, where thousands of wildebeest and zebras gather to give birth.

Predators — especially lions and cheetahs — are never far away, taking advantage of this feast of opportunity.

  • Accommodation: Land Of Nature 

  • Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4

Full Day in South Serengeti (Ndutu)

Spend a full day exploring the southern Serengeti plains, where the circle of life unfolds before your eyes. This is the peak of the calving season — with up to 8,000 wildebeest calves born each day between late January and February.

Watch as newborn calves take their first steps and join the herds within minutes of birth. Cheetahs and hyenas prowl nearby, making for unforgettable photographic opportunities.

You’ll traverse different habitats — from acacia woodland to soda lakes — each offering unique wildlife encounters and scenery.

  • Accommodation: Land Of Nature 

  • Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

ACCOMODATIONS

Land Of Nature 

Land-of-Nature-Camp
Land-of-Nature-Serengeti

Day 5

Ndutu → Ngorongoro Crater

After breakfast, set out toward the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site often called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”

Descend 600 meters into the Crater floor for a full-day game drive among an estimated 25,000 animals, including wildebeest, zebras, lions, elephants, hippos, and the rare black rhino. The crater’s enclosed ecosystem makes it one of the most densely populated wildlife areas on Earth.

Enjoy a picnic lunch by the hippo pool before ascending the crater rim in the afternoon.

  • Accommodation: Marera Valley Lodge 

  • Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6

Departure – Farewell Tanzania

After breakfast, drive back to Arusha, where you can relax, enjoy lunch, and shop for souvenirs before your transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
If you wish, extend your safari with a relaxing Zanzibar beach holiday for a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation.

  • Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Book Your 6 Days Calving Season Safari Today

Don’t miss the chance to witness one of the most breathtaking wildlife spectacles on Earth.
Contact Gnade Safaris today to reserve your 6 Days Calving Season Safari Tour — and be part of nature’s greatest story in the Serengeti.

  • Park fees (for non-residents)

  • All activities (unless labeled optional)

  • Professional English-speaking driver/guide

  • 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof

  • All accommodation during the safari

  • Meals as per itinerary

  • Bottled water during game drives

  • All taxes and VAT

  • Round-trip airport transfers

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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