4-Day Calving Season Safari
Two full days where the calving is actually happening.
Tarangire → South Serengeti → Ngorongoro Crater
$1,800 per person
Each year, the Great Migration gathers on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti to give birth. This itinerary is built around that window, with two full days in the calving grounds rather than a brief stop on a wider northern-circuit safari. Tarangire opens the journey, Ngorongoro Crater closes it, and the days in between belong to the migration.
Outside this window, the migration has moved on and a different itinerary makes more sense.
Ask Nickson About This Safari
Your itinerary
Day 1 — Tarangire National Park
Elephants, baobabs and the Tarangire River. Your safari begins in Tarangire, where elephant herds move through open woodland beneath the park's distinctive baobabs. The Tarangire River draws wildlife into the surrounding basin, giving you a strong first game drive before continuing towards Karatu in the afternoon.
Stay: Marera Valley Lodge
Look out for: Elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions.
Day 2 — South Serengeti
Into the calving grounds. Leave Karatu early and travel into the short-grass plains where the migration gathers to give birth. Newborn calves can be seen among vast wildebeest and zebra herds, while lions, cheetahs and other predators take advantage of the concentration of prey. You spend the day in the migration area before settling into camp close to the plains.
Stay: Untamed Serengeti Migration Camp
Look out for: Wildebeest, zebra, lion, cheetah, hyena.
Day 3 — Full Day in South Serengeti
A full day with nowhere else to be. There is no park to rush towards today. The day is reserved for the calving grounds, giving your guide the freedom to follow the herds, wait at promising sightings and spend time where the wildlife activity is strongest. Later in the afternoon, you leave the plains and climb towards Ngorongoro.
Stay: Embalakai Camps Ngorongoro
Look out for: Wildebeest, lion, cheetah, hyena, jackal.
Day 4 — Ngorongoro Crater
One last game drive before Arusha. Descend early into Ngorongoro Crater for a final morning of wildlife viewing. The crater is home to black rhino, lion, elephant, buffalo and large numbers of other animals within a remarkably compact landscape. After the game drive, climb back out of the crater and return to Arusha.
Ends: Arusha
Look out for: Black rhino, lion, elephant, buffalo, flamingo.
Is this safari for you?
This trip suits travellers who want to spend serious time watching wildlife rather than collecting as many parks as possible. It is particularly well suited to photographers and wildlife enthusiasts who are happy to wait when a scene is developing.
It also means early starts, long periods in the vehicle, dust and days organised around wildlife rather than lodge time. If you want a slower holiday built around pools, long lunches and plenty of downtime, this is probably not the right four-day safari.
What's included
Private vehicle and guide throughout the safari, all game drives in the itinerary, park and conservation fees, three nights' accommodation, full-board meals during the safari, road transfers including return to Arusha, bottled water during game drives and emergency evacuation cover.
Not included
International flights, Tanzania visa fees, travel insurance, gratuities for guides and camp staff, and alcoholic beverages.