ABOUT 8-Day Southern Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Safari - Tanzania safari
This 8-day wildlife immersion is sufficient to witness the great wildebeest calving migration safari. This tour has been designed specifically to focus on following the migration trail during the calving season from December to May. The areas to be covered are the Ndutu area as well as the southern and central areas of Serengeti National Park where the majority of the wildebeest are usually found. A visit to the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater is also part of this safari.
- Duration: 8 Days
- Route: Serengeti
- Starts at: USD 2970
Highlights for 8-Day Southern Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Safari - Tanzania safari
Day 1: Arusha
Day 2: Tarangire National Park
Day 3: Lake Manyara National Park
Day 4: Serengeti South - Ndutu Area
Day 5: Ndutu Area Game Drive
Day 6: Central Serengeti National Park
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater
Day 8: Arusha - Departure
Day 1: Arusha
>> You will be picked up by our Meru Slopes Tours and Safaris staff from Kilimanjaro International Airport. They will answer all your queries regarding your upcoming safari and provide you with a short briefing. Afterward, you will be taken to your accommodation at Planet Lodge Arusha.
- Time: 8-10 hours
- Meals: All meals included Drinks not included
Day 2: Tarangire National Park
>> After breakfast at your hotel, we will pick you up and proceed to Tarangire National Park. One of the largest national parks in Tanzania, located in the Manyara region, this place is characterized by large herds of elephants, tree-climbing lions, and fascinating baobab trees. The trees are also called the "tree of life" for the almost mythical powers that some cultures attach to them. This park is especially well known for the Tarangire River which flows all year round and is the only source of water for wild animals during dry seasons.
- Time: 8-10 hours
- Meals: All meals included All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 3: Lake Manyara National Park
>> After breakfast, we will drive to Lake Manyara National Park with the scenic lake that made Ernest Hemingway exclaim: "the loveliest I had seen in Africa". This park offers a compact game-viewing circuit and is one of the most diverse reserves in the country. Lake Manyara covers two-thirds of the park, and at the backdrop, is the wall of the Great Rift Valley.
Over 400 species of birds can be found in Manyara including thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large waterbirds such as pelicans, cormorants, and storks.
- Time: 8-10 hours
- Meals: All meals included All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 4: Serengeti South - Ndutu Area
>> After breakfast, we will set off for the Ndutu area situated in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area which is part of the Southern Serengeti eco-system. Lake Ndutu, like most other rift lakes, is alkaline. The water is still drinkable and consumed by a wide array of local wildlife.
We will spend the afternoon with a game drive in the Ndutu area. 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 elephants, birds, and resident game.
- Time: 8-10 hours
- Meals: All meals included All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 5: Ndutu Area Game Drive
>> After breakfast, you will enjoy a full-day game drive in the Ndutu area exploring a great range of various habitats such as swamps, woodland, soda lakes, and the world-famous Serengeti short grass plains. You will witness herds of wildebeest and zebra, especially during a short time frame from around February and lasting for about 3 weeks when the majority of the wildebeest calve.
The sea of grass provides little cover and the young make easy prey for a variety of predators. Wildebeest calves can run minutes after they were born and within 3 days, they are normally strong enough to keep up with the herd.
In the afternoon, we will set off for Serengeti National Park.
- Time: 8-10 hours
- Meals: All meals included All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 6: Central Serengeti National Park
>> After breakfast, we will proceed for a full day of game drives in the wilderness tracking the great migration trails. Our experienced driver and tour guide will provide you with interesting facts about this highly-renowned event which made Tanzania the top safari destination in Africa.
Serengeti, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to around 200,000 zebras and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelles who join the wildebeests’ trek for fresh grazing. Listen to the exotic sounds of over 6 million hooves pounding the open plains of Serengeti - just like how you imagined African wildlife to be.
- Time: 8-10 hours
- Meals: All meals included All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater
>> We will have an early breakfast and then drive to the famous Ngorongoro Conservation Area. From here, we will descend 600 meters into the crater to view an array of wildlife.
With its year-round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro National Park supports a vast variety of animals, which include herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants, among others.
What makes this attraction especially famous is the dense population of predators such as lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and the ever-elusive leopards (which require a trained eye to spot). We will also visit Lake Magadi, a large but shallow alkaline lake in the southwest corner and one of the main features of the crater. A large number of flamingos, hippos, and other waterbirds can usually be seen in this lake. After extensive game drives in the Crater you will start drive back to Arusha.
- Time: 8-10 hours
- Meals: All meals included All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 8: Arusha - Departure
>> After breakfast, we will drive to Mto wa Mbu for a morning cultural tour and a walking safari. We will have a sumptuous, local lunch as we take in the stunning views around us. An optional mountain biking activity can be arranged at an additional cost.
In the afternoon, we will head back to Arusha or to the airport for your flight back home.
- Time: 8-10 hours
- Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
- Accommodation:No accommodation (End of tour)
Inclusions
- Park fees (For non-residents)
- All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Exclusions
- International flights (From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees