Calving Season

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport, you will be met by your professional safari guide. After a warm welcome and briefing about your safari adventure, you will drive directly to Lake Manyara National Park, a compact gem established in 1960. This park stretches between the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley and the alkaline Lake Manyara, known for its scenic beauty and remarkable biodiversity. The park is a bird lover’s paradise with over 400 recorded species including pink-hued flamingos, pelicans, spoonbills, and crowned eagles. You may also spot tree-climbing lions lounging on acacia branches, herds of elephants moving gracefully through the groundwater forest, and troops of baboons near the lake shores. You will enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park around 13:00 while immersed in nature. In the late afternoon, you will exit the park and head to Karatu, arriving at Marera View Lodge. Nestled in the green hills, Marera View offers panoramic views of the valley and farmlands below. You’ll enjoy a hearty dinner and spend the night in spacious rooms equipped with fireplaces, ensuite bathrooms, and private balconies.

After breakfast, depart for a full-day game drive in Tarangire National Park, which was established in 1970 and covers approximately 2,850 square kilometers. The park is famed for its iconic baobab trees, expansive grasslands, and its large population of elephants—especially during the dry season. During the calving season, the park is teeming with life, as herbivores such as zebras, giraffes, impalas, and wildebeests give birth and predators like lions and leopards lie in wait. The Tarangire River acts as the park’s lifeline, drawing animals year-round. Birdlife is abundant, with species like the yellow-collared lovebird, African hawk-eagle, and the striking lilac-breasted roller easily spotted. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic spot around 13:00. As the sun begins to dip, return to Marera View Lodge for dinner and your second overnight stay.

Following an early breakfast, you will depart for Serengeti National Park, driving through the picturesque Ngorongoro Highlands. Serengeti, a UNESCO World Heritage Site established in 1951, covers over 14,750 square kilometers and is one of the most iconic wildlife destinations on Earth. As you journey into the central region—known as Seronera—you will begin to see vast savannahs dotted with rocky outcrops called kopjes. This region offers year-round wildlife viewing due to its permanent water sources. Wildlife includes large prides of lions, cheetahs, elephants, hippos, and a variety of antelope species. The central Serengeti is also home to a high density of bird species including the kori bustard, secretary bird, and the colorful Fischer’s lovebird. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a shaded spot along the way before continuing your exploration of the Seronera area. Arrive at your accommodation, either Serenity Lodge, Yellow Babet Lodge, or Punda Maria Camp, in the evening. These lodges offer a blend of rustic elegance and comfort with ensuite bathrooms, solar-powered lighting, and cozy lounges where you can enjoy drinks before dinner.

After an early breakfast, you’ll set out for a full day game drive in Serengeti National Park. The morning hours provide the best chance to witness predators on the move before the heat of the day sets in. During the calving season, over 500,000 wildebeest calves are born between January and March, attracting predators like lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and jackals in intense survival dramas. You’ll explore various habitats from open plains to woodlands and river valleys. Around 13:00, enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the scenic rest areas, then continue your adventure across the plains, possibly witnessing a leopard draped on a tree branch or elephants crossing your path. Return to Serenity Lodge, Yellow Babet Lodge, or Punda Maria Camp for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, head south toward the Ndutu Plains located in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area bordering Serengeti. This region is part of the southern short-grass plains and is the epicenter of the wildebeest calving season. Here, in the open landscapes dotted with acacia trees, you’ll witness thousands of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles giving birth. With the abundance of prey, predators like cheetahs, lions, and hyenas are never far away. Birdlife is equally abundant, including raptors such as tawny eagles and vultures circling above the plains. Enjoy picnic lunches at designated sites around 13:00 on both days. In the evenings, you’ll return to Tanzania Bush Camp, a semi-permanent mobile camp that moves with the migration. The camp offers comfortable canvas tents with ensuite bathrooms, solar lighting, and a mess tent where freshly prepared meals are served under the stars. Relax by the campfire and share stories with fellow travelers before retiring for the night.

On this day, depart early with breakfast boxes and drive toward Ngorongoro Crater, descending into one of the world’s most breathtaking natural wonders. Formed over two million years ago, the crater is the largest intact caldera on Earth and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The crater floor covers about 260 square kilometers and is home to around 25,000 large animals. This includes the rare black rhino, massive bull elephants, lions, buffalo, zebras, and flamingos on Lake Magadi. The varied habitats—swamps, forest, open plains, and lakes—support this incredible diversity of life. Around 13:00, you’ll enjoy a picnic lunch near the hippo pool, often surrounded by resting wildlife. After ascending the crater rim in the afternoon, drive to Martina Retreat for dinner and overnight. Located on the outskirts of Karatu, this boutique lodge offers quiet garden views, warm hospitality, comfortable beds, and ensuite bathrooms.

Depending on your flight schedule, you will enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the lodge or take an early transfer back to Arusha. If time allows, you may stop for souvenir shopping or a brief town tour before being dropped off at either Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward journey. Your unforgettable calving season safari concludes here, leaving you with memories of dramatic wildlife encounters, golden savannahs, and Africa’s unmatched natural beauty.

OPTIONAL BALLON SAFARI