Locally owned safari company · Pangani Street, Arusha

Mid-range safari · Joining or private

4 Days Ndutu Calving Season Safari

Two days on the Ndutu plains in calving season, when the herds and the predators are together.

  • 4 days
  • Ndutu · Ngorongoro Crater
  • Park fees included

From$1,700per person, two travelling

Trip overview

Your safari at a glance

  • Length4 days · 3 nights
  • GroupJoining or private
  • StayLodges and tented camps
  • Getting aroundPop-up-roof Land Cruiser
  • Starts and endsArusha → Arusha
  • Best monthsJul – Sep
  1. StartArusha
  2. Ndutu
  3. Ngorongoro Crater
  4. EndArusha

Where you go

Route map

Your route

  1. 1Start Arusha
  2. 2Ndutu
  3. 3Ngorongoro Crater
  4. 4End Arusha

Approximate route between stops.

Itinerary

Day by day

  1. Day1Serengeti Day 1 · Ngorongoro Crater · SerengetiArusha to Southern Serengeti (Ndutu) In the morning pick up from your hotel at Arusha and head towards the Ndutu region. The drive to Ndutu is about 5.5 hours covering a distance of 260…Ang’ata Ndutu Read the full dayShow less

    In the morning pick up from your hotel at Arusha and head towards the Ndutu region. The drive to Ndutu is about 5.5 hours covering a distance of 260 Kms. 2 hours commencing the drive, you will enter the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Ngorongoro) where you will notice the landscape changing from hilly forests to plain and green grasslands. Once you reach Ndutu you will begin a half-day game drive with a convenient stop for your picnic lunch. Sweeping grasslands cover the region which gradually fades into the Serengeti. Ndutu forms a part of the route for the annual migration of more than 2 million wildebeests and thousands of zebra, antelope, and gazelle. During game drives at the right season between December and April, you will be able to see the fertile plains turn into calving grounds and nurseries for the great migration. This season attracts hordes of predators prying on vulnerable young wildebeest. Crested with Ndutu Lake and Lake Masek, these waterholes offer plenty of wildlife game during the dry season. The Ndutu is also the home ground for 6 species of big cats – leopard, lion, cheetah, caracal, serval, and wildcat. The action-packed game drive will end late in the evening by around 5 PM. You will now head towards your choice of accommodation, where a freshly prepared dinner awaits you. Ensure you get some good rest and recharge yourself for another eventful day.

    TonightAng’ata Ndutu
  2. Day2Ndutu Day 2 · Serengeti · NdutuSouthern Serengeti (Ndutu) The excitement for today will be quite high as you make your way into the most celebrated wildlife park in the world – The Serengeti. After finishing…Ang’ata Ndutu Read the full dayShow less

    The excitement for today will be quite high as you make your way into the most celebrated wildlife park in the world – The Serengeti. After finishing up a good breakfast, you will head out towards the Serengeti National Park and travel in the midst of the never-ending plain grasslands. Serengeti means endless plains in the local African language and watching the grassland stretch out as far as the eye can see and eventually merge with the sky at the horizon is an absolutely breathtaking view. With an overall land area of 14,763 sq km, It puts our notion about the distance to shame. The Serengeti also houses the glorious “Big 5” (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, and leopard). Along with the “Big 5”, a very pleasant sighting would be one of Africa’s most beautiful animals – The Impala. The Serengeti ecosystem supports the greatest remaining concentration of plains game in Africa. You must also look out for the Serengeti “Kopjes” which are massive boulders of granite standing in a sea of grass. They provide ample shelter to a large variety of flora and fauna. A picnic lunch will be done during the day-long game drive itself. The eventful day comes to an end with a heavy dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.

    TonightAng’ata Ndutu
  3. Day3Serengeti Day 3 · Ngorongoro Crater · SerengetiSouthern Serengeti (Ndutu) to Ngorongoro area After breakfast, you will have a morning game drive in Serengeti National Park. Later depart for Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a picnic lunch.…Farm of Dream Lodge Read the full dayShow less

    After breakfast, you will have a morning game drive in Serengeti National Park. Later depart for Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a picnic lunch. Ngorongoro Crater is the largest collapsed volcanic crater in the world and has fourteen kilometers of isolated natural beauty. Ngorongoro Crater is surrounded by a ring of extinct volcanoes and the floor, dotted with watering holes, shelters some 30,000 animals. The eventful day comes to an end with a heavy dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.

    TonightFarm of Dream Lodge
  4. Day4Ngorongoro Crater Day 4 · Ngorongoro CraterNgorongoro Crater to Arusha On the last day of your safari, you will have an early start. Finishing up with a quick breakfast you will make an early descent at around 6:30 AM… Read the full dayShow less

    On the last day of your safari, you will have an early start. Finishing up with a quick breakfast you will make an early descent at around 6:30 AM into the crater floor. The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest inactive, intact, and unfilled volcanic caldera. It has a massive floor of about 260 sq km with a depth of over 2000 feet. The 5-hour game drive on the crater floor will show you a lot of animal action. Keeping the camera ready is definitely recommended. The African elephant, buffalo, Black rhino, Hippos, Hyenas, Cheetahs, and Lions are found in plenty. Post the picnic lunch at the beautiful Hippo pool, you will begin a steep ascend to the top exit of the crater. This is the last leg of your safari, with a 4-hour drive left to Arusha. You will be dropped off at your preferred location in Arusha by 6:00 PM in the evening. With an incredible experience and loads of memories to cherish, this is the time you bid goodbye to your team.

Want a different order, an extra night or another lodge? Every day here can change. Ask us to adjust it

Where you sleep

Properties used for this safari

  • Nights 1–2

    Mid-range lodge · Serengeti

    Ang’ata Ndutu

    En-suite rooms · Inside or close to the park · Meals as listed in the itinerary

    2 nights · or similar
    Ask about it
  • Night 3

    Mid-range lodge · Serengeti

    Farm of Dream Lodge

    En-suite rooms · Inside or close to the park · Meals as listed in the itinerary

    1 night · or similar
    Ask about it

Mid-range lodges and tented camps have en-suite rooms and are inside or close to the parks. Names are confirmed in your written itinerary.

What it costs

Safari pricing

Price per person in US dollars by number of people travelling together
Accommodation2 people3–4 people5 people6+ peopleBest valueQuote
Mid-range lodges$1,700$1,600$1,580$1,500Get quote
Luxury lodges$3,500$3,000$2,850$2,700Get quote
  • Per person, sharing. The vehicle and guide cost the same for two or six, so bigger groups pay less each.
  • Children under 15 pay less, and solo travellers pay a supplement. We include both in your quote.
  • Deposit to confirm: 20% for camping safaris, 40% for lodge safaris.

The fine print

What the price covers

Included

  • All Park entrances & taxes
  • All Meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
  • Soft drinks & water (bottled water 3litres or more a day)
  • Transfer to & from the airport
  • Accommodation during safari
  • Transportation in a custom safari 4×4 with a viewing roof and guaranteed window seating
  • Safari vehicles have an inverter for charging batteries, communications radio, electric cooler, and filtered water

Not included

  • Tips for guides, cook
  • International and domestic flights
  • Tanzania Visa fee
  • Balloons In Serengeti ($600 per person )

In pictures

Photo gallery

Good to know

Questions about this safari

Is this safari private?

Check the Group label at the top of the page. Private means the vehicle and guide are only for your group. Shared means up to 6–7 guests in the vehicle.

Can we choose the lodges?

Yes. We suggest lodges for the season and your budget and name them in the written itinerary before you pay a deposit.

Another question?

Our planners in Arusha are happy to help on WhatsApp.

Ask us

Before you go

Clothing

  • Light layers in khaki, green or beige
  • A warm fleece for early drives and the crater rim
  • Long sleeves for the evenings
  • Sun hat

Footwear

  • Comfortable closed shoes
  • Sandals for camp or the lodge

Gear

  • Binoculars, one pair each if you can
  • Camera with a spare battery and memory card
  • Soft bag rather than a hard suitcase
  • Power bank

Health

  • Sunscreen and lip balm
  • Insect repellent
  • Personal medication
  • Hand sanitiser

Guest reviews

Travellers on travelling with Makini

5.0Excellent · 105+ reviews

  • The communication with the company was very good, and we were in good hands from the minute we arrived… we got a lot of value for the money.

    Saudat N. TripAdvisor
  • The communication with Lucas via WhatsApp was always very friendly, direct and immediate… our tour guide Aboh was very familiar with all animals and plants.

    Godfrey M. TripAdvisor
  • Great value local Tanzanian operator that provided an unforgettable safari experience.

    Damas F. TripAdvisor

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