Calving season safari on Tanzania's Ndutu Plains

Arusha

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Ndutu

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Serengeti National Park

The best place on earth to see the Big Five
The vast, untamed Serengeti might just be the best place on earth to see wildlife...
Ngorongoro Conservation Area

All off Africa in one 'bowl'
The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact – and inactive – caldera in the world...
Kilimanjaro International Airport

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When people ask me about seeing the wildebeest migration, they’re almost always talking about the much-hyped river crossings when the herd stampedes across the Mara River on its way from Tanzania's Serengeti to Kenya’s Masai Mara.

But did you know the river crossings are just one brief moment in the annual cycle of the migration? For most of the year the vast herds are elsewhere in the greater Serengeti ecosystem and, usually, with much fewer tourists chasing them.

Much less marketed but no less spectacular is the calving season. This is the counterpoint to the river crossing season, the period when the herd swells in size – something like 8,000 births per day – and regroups before embarking on the next phase of its momentous journey, never far from the jaws of their ferocious predators.

Seeing a birth during this time is one of the most amazing experiences in my life. You can see a calf getting to its feet for the first time, clambering to its mother, and beginning its journey through life. You can’t help but ask yourself: will this be one of the lucky ones, or just a lion’s next meal?

In my view, calving season around the start of the year is just as epic as the river crossings that occur in high summer. And so I devised this itinerary to give you all the sense of wonder, but without any of the tourist hustle.

Beginning with the lush Ndutu Plains, you’ll experience the wonder of calving season firsthand, witnessing wildebeest and zebra births against the vast open plains—a critical moment in the Great Migration that draws both predator and prey to these rich feeding grounds. Moving northward, you’ll traverse the sweeping plains of the Central Serengeti, where expansive savannahs host elephants, lions, and the occasional stealthy leopard.

Rounding off the trip, you’ll head to the Ngorongoro Crater, a natural amphitheater with some of the highest wildlife densities on the continent. Descending to the crater floor, you’ll spend a day in this unique ecosystem where elephants, buffalo, rhinos, and flamingos thrive.

Key information

Destinations	Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tarangire National Park, Arusha, Karatu
Activity	Safari, Nature & Wildlife
Physical Level	Easy
Season	December - March

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Calving season safari on Tanzania's Ndutu Plains itinerary

Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport

Day 1 in Arusha

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, travel to the outskirts of Arusha, a gateway to Tanzania’s northern safari circuit. Accommodation is typically in a peaceful lodge or country inn, set among lush gardens—a relaxing environment to recover from the journey. The rest of the day is yours to unwind before the real adventure begins.

Migration tracking on the Ndutu Plains

Day 2–3 in Ndutu

Departing Arusha in the morning, travel westward through diverse landscapes, passing Lake Manyara and ascending into the Ngorongoro Highlands before descending onto the vast grasslands of Ndutu. This region, located within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and bordering the Serengeti, is a prime location for witnessing the annual wildebeest calving season between January and March.

Over the next two days, explore the Ndutu Plains on extended game drives, with opportunities to observe wildebeest herds spread across the landscape. This is a critical time for predators, and sightings of lions, cheetahs, and hyenas are common as they take advantage of the abundance of newborn prey. If conditions align, it may be possible to witness a wildebeest birth—an event that takes only minutes but is crucial for the survival of the species. Other wildlife, including zebras, gazelles, and elephants, are also present in the area. Midday breaks typically include a picnic lunch in the bush before continuing explorations in the afternoon.

Into the Serengeti

Day 4–5 in Serengeti National Park

Leaving Ndutu behind, head north into Serengeti National Park, entering at Naabi Hill. The drive itself offers excellent wildlife viewing, with chances to see predators patrolling the plains and scavengers like jackals and vultures following in their wake. Arrive in the central Serengeti by afternoon and settle into a tented camp, which serves as a base for the next two nights.

Spend the following day exploring the Serengeti’s rolling savannahs, known for high concentrations of wildlife. The region is home to resident prides of lions, large herds of elephants and buffalo, and solitary leopards resting in the branches of acacia trees. Cheetahs are often spotted moving swiftly across the open plains, while giraffes and zebras traverse the landscape. For a truly special experience, you can take an early morning hot air balloon safari with an aerial view of the Serengeti at sunrise. Game drives continue throughout the day, with a break for a picnic lunch in a scenic location before returning to camp in the late afternoon.

Explore the Ngorongoro Crater

Day 6–7 in Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Begin the day with a final morning game drive in the Serengeti before travelling southeast toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The route follows the edge of the crater rim before descending into the Karatu region, a fertile highland area where coffee plantations thrive.

The next morning, set off early for a full-day exploration of the Ngorongoro Crater, an ancient volcanic caldera that shelters one of Africa’s most concentrated populations of wildlife. Within its steep walls, the crater floor features open grasslands, acacia forests, and a central soda lake, attracting a variety of species. The area is one of the best places to spot the endangered black rhino, alongside large numbers of lions, hyenas, elephants, and buffalo. Birdlife is also abundant, with flamingos and pelicans found near the water’s edge. After a picnic lunch in the crater, ascend back to the rim in the afternoon and return to Karatu for a final night in the highlands.

Departure from Kilimanjaro

Day 8 in Kilimanjaro International Airport

Depart from Karatu and travel back to Kilimanjaro International Airport, a journey of approximately four to five hours.

How to see it

The wildebeest gather in Ndutu and the Southern Serengeti, where they remain relatively stationary, maximising survival chances for their young. The area’s nutrient-rich grasses provide ideal conditions for both mother and calf. This concentration of wildlife makes game viewing exceptional, with predators taking advantage of the easy prey. Mobile tented camps can follow the herd’s seasonal movements to get you close to the action. Game drives at sunrise and sunset provide the best chances of witnessing births and predator interactions.

Need to know

Calving season runs from December to March, peaking from mid-January to the end of February.

You can reach Ndutu by road from Arusha or Karatu, though flying into Ndutu Airstrip by bush plane gives you more time on safari.

This is a high-season period so camps book up quickly, often six to nine months in advance. Prices during this period are comparable to peak season in July and September.

Things can get busy, and it’s essential you travel with responsible operators and camps with skilled guides who won’t crowd the wildlife. Ask about their approach to responsible safari tourism before booking.

Calving season safari on Tanzania's Ndutu Plains