Migration Safari | Calving Season in the Serengeti | Ndutu Area

Meet and greet upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International airport (JRO) exit point by our team, pick up and transfer to your hotel in Arusha City:55kms/1hour Check in freshen up and spend the rest of the day at your hotel, Overnight stay in Arusha (with dinner & breakfast included) HB

Head out after early breakfast for the transfer to Arusha Airport to catch-up your local flight to the Endless-plain of Serengeti. The word “Serengeti” is derived from the Maasai language, meaning “endless plain.” A welcome table will be set either at the airstrip, or a short distance away, with tea and coffee, cold drinks and snacks, allowing you to refresh while your guide briefs you on the surrounding. After hot/cold drinks and snacks, experience your first taste of the wild and the endless plain of Serengeti. Enjoy a game drive en-route to your lodge. Dinner & Overnight Serengeti (with lunch, dinner & breakfast)

Highlights:
 Meet the Masai people of Tanzania (Optional)
 Visit the Serengeti Museum (Optional)
 Serengeti – host the annual migration of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and numerous other species of animals indigenous to the area.
 Entering the Big cat area of Tanzania
 More than 30 species of large herbivores and nearly 500 species of birds

Relax with a-full day in the endless plain of Serengeti with game drives – unequalled for its beauty and home to the Great Wildebeest Migration. The huge herds of plains game such as wildebeest, zebra and antelope dominate the park while the attendant predators such as lion and cheetah are to be found amongst the many kopjes scattered across the plain. Its landscape varies from open grass plains in the south, savanna with scattered acacia trees in the centre, hilly, wooded grassland in the north, to extensive woodland and black clay plains to the west.

Depending on your preference, there are a couple of options with regards to how your day is structured in the Serengeti. One option could be to start your day with an early Morning Balloon excursion followed with picnic breakfast at the end, second option is to break camp early and head out with a picnic breakfast on a morning game drive, returning to camp in time for lunch. Alternatively, you can eat breakfast in camp and head out with a picnic lunch on an afternoon game drive, returning in the mid-afternoon. In the evening transfer back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay. (with lunch, dinner & breakfast)

Ngorongoro, Serengeti & Maasai Mara Ecosystem (The famous Wildebeest Migration)
Every year, around 1.5 million wildebeest; 350,000 Thomson’s gazelles; 200,000 zebras; and thousands of eland and other ungulates (hoofed animals) participate in ‘the greatest wildlife show on Earth’, The Great Wildebeest Migration throughout the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Famous Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystem, when the grassy plains of the southernmost Serengeti begin to dry and the start of short rain in Mara the ever-moving columns of wildebeest follow an age-old route in search of grazing and water that takes them across to the plains of the Masai Mara reserve in Kenya.

From December to March the Wildebeest migration congregates around Ndutu area (the area is shared in both Ngorongoro – Serengeti), in the far south of the Serengeti. April to May, the Wildebeest migration moves north into the plains of the central Serengeti. Between June and July, the Wildebeest migration splits in two; one group goes West into the Western Corridor before crossing the Grumeti River, the other heads directly to the North of the Serengeti. August to October the herd has reformed, and meanders on the Kenya and Tanzania border, along the banks of the mighty Mara River. Returning south from the beginning of November. Unpredictable Nature the path of the Wildebeest migration is dependent on rain and that is what determines late or early crossing between Serengeti and Masai Mara. however, the dry & crossing seasons may change every year due to global warming. The three groups of migrant grazers take advantage of different heights of grass, which means they stick to their own kind with only a small overlap in their distributions.

It is unclear how the wildebeest know which way to go, but it is generally believed that their journey is dictated primarily by their response to the weather; they follow rains and the growth of new grass. While there is no scientific proof of it, some experts believe that animals react to lightning and thunderstorms in the distance. It has even been suggested that wildebeest can locate rain more than 50km away the endless plains of East Africa bear witness to the great annual migration of over a million wildebeest and zebras as they make their way between Kenya and Tanzania in search of fresh grazing pastures. In the latter case, the herds may split and later re-group.

After an early breakfast, pack your bags and enjoy a morning game drive in the Serengeti before your transfer to the otherside of Ndutu in Ngorongoro conservation area with delicious & packed lunch while taking into the beautiful scenery of Tanzania on your game drive, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, part of the southern Serengeti eco-system. The majority of the wildebeest migration can normally be found on the short-grass plains from December to April. The area is usually heavily populated with elephant, birds and resident game. Check-in at the lodge with an afternoon game drive. Overnight Ngorongoro conservation area (with lunch, dinner & breakfast)

En-route to Ndutu Masai Village Visit: A visit to a Maasai Boma (Masai village tour) is an interesting experience. On arrival at the village, you can expect to be greeted in the traditional manner, excited children and adults welcome you with song and dance, at certain times, and one of the dancers will jump up and down gracefully. The jumps are several feet high and as they jump higher the singers will raise the pitch of their voices. You will be invited to try jumping – (dancing), too. Thereafter receive a warm welcome into the unique oval, dome shaped homesteads (called Manyatta). The homesteads are made of cow dung and clay plastered over stick frames with thatched roofs, it is the job of the Maasai women to build these sturdy dwellings. Get a wonderful opportunity to learn about the history, culture and lifestyle of these Maasai. There is also the opportunity to learn about some of the customary practices, such as fire-making or beadwork, and to speak to the villagers in their homes.

Enjoy a full day game drive in the Ndutu area. Explore the range of different habitats that include swamps, woodland, soda lakes and the world-famous Serengeti/Ngorongoro Conservation area short grass plains. See great herds of wildebeest and zebra. During this period the majority of the wildebeest calve. This is also the time of year with the best predator action! Indeed, a fantastic time to view high concentration of wildlife. Wildebeest calves can run minutes after they are born and within 3 days they are normally strong enough to keep up with the herd. The marshes and lakes support a huge variety of bird life as well as resident lion prides. Cheetahs are abundant in the plains, and the wooded ridges are always productive. Overnight Ndutu-Ngorongoro conservation area (with lunch, dinner & breakfast)

Highlights:
 A natural wonder of the world and is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
 The crater is packed with wildlife, including the big 5.
 Best place to see black rhino in Tanzania as well as prides of lion that include black-mane males.
 Flamingos and a variety of other water birds around the soda lake on the crater floor.

After an early breakfast, pack your bags and depart with your driver to Ngorongoro Crater, an early start to the day is best in order to avoid the later influx of tourists into the Ngorongoro Crater. The park gate opens at 0600 Am, so it is best to be there as close to this time as possible. There are a number of lions which are typically larger in size than an average lion due the large amount of game in the area. The crater floor tends to get very busy, with there often being numerous vehicles at any wildlife sighting.
The Ngorongoro Crater is a large, unbroken, un-flooded caldera, formed when a giant volcano erupted and collapsed some three million years ago. Had it not become a caldera, it is possible that the volcanic mountain would be about the same height as Kilimanjaro. The caldera is 600m deep, 16km across and 265 sq km in area. Enjoy the spectacular scenery and game viewing, in what has been described as the eighth wonder of the world. Many of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhino can be seen grazing on the open grassland of the crater floor, surrounded by some of the 25,000 large animals that occupy the crater, including lion, cheetah, wildebeest, eland, zebra and gazelle. Flamingo, among other bird species, can often be seen feeding at Makat Soda Lake as well. Late-afternoon drive to your lodge in Tarangire national park for your overnight stay. (with lunch, dinner & breakfast)

The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken ancient volcanic caldera in the world. In 1979 this nearly three-million-year-old area was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The former volcano crater is also considered to be “Africa’s Garden of Eden” as it is a haven for thousands of wild games, including lions, elephants, wildebeests, zebras, rhinos, Thomson’s gazelles and buffaloes. The crater is among the 8 Natural Wonders of the World.

After breakfast, pack your bags and depart with your driver Guide and experience your last taste of the wild and beautiful Tarangire National Park on a morning game drive. Tarangire is traversed by the Tarangire River, which never dries up. Being the only source of water during the dry season, it draws hundreds of animals to the park, making for a wildlife and bird viewing spectacular. The landscape is varied, with grassy savannah plains, swamps, hills and spectacular baobabs. Enjoy your day in the park with game viewing In the afternoon transfer to Arusha Airport to catch-up with your schedule flight to the spice Island of Zanzibar OR Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your flight home. (with Breakfast & Lunch)

Highlights:
• Remote and exclusive wilderness area
• Beautiful scenery – large open areas, dotted with hills and marshes
• Tarangire River flows all year, attracting game to its banks
• Incredible baobabs
• Large elephant population with herds of up to 300

Depending on your preference, there are a couple of options with regards to how your day is structured in Tarangire. One option could be to start your day with an early Morning Balloon excursion followed with picnic breakfast at the end, second option is to break camp early and head out with a picnic breakfast on a morning game drive, returning to camp in time for lunch. Alternatively, you can eat breakfast in camp and head out with a picnic lunch. Afternoon transfer by car to Arusha airport accordingly to the flight schedule to Zanzibar at 1645h OR Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your flight home.

END OF YOUR NORTHERN TANZANIA HOLIDAY

Rate Includes:
• Full board (breakfast, lunch & dinner) accommodation while on safari
• Half board accommodation in Arusha
• Arusha -Serengeti flight- One way.
• Return Airport Transfers
• All game drives viewing in a custom built 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser
• All park and entrance fees
• Transportation with 4×4 vehicles with viewing roofs
• Professional English-speaking driver/guide during the safari.
• Bottled water in safari vehicles 

• Ngorongoro Crater car supplement fee
• Current Government taxes and levies
• 24-Hour support during the safari from our office in Tanzania.

Rate Excludes:
• Zanzibar & International flights
• Single rooms supplement
• Serengeti Night game drive (Extra optional)
• Balloon excursion in Serengeti (Extra optional)
• Walking Safari & Sundowner Serengeti (Extra optional)
• Masaai village tour (Extra optional)
• Olduvai Gorge Tour (Extra optional)
• Entry visa to Tanzania
• Travel and health insurance
• Additional nights beyond the standard hotel nights included
• Tips/gratuities to Driver/Guide (approximately $8.00 – US$ 10.00 per person per day)
• Gratuities to your hotel staff and porters
• Meals, drinks and excursions not described in the itinerary
• Any other items of a personal nature, laundry, telephone and postage

*Kindly note*
 The Price is Per Person and in US Dollars ($)
 HB – Dinner & Breakfast, FB – Full Board (All Meals), AI – Al Inclusive (All Meals, Soft Drinks, Tea, Coffee, Selected Local Beers, Wines and Spirits)
 Hotel, lodges and resorts terms and conditions apply