The Great Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Safari
The Great Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Safari
Tour SummaryThe Great Migration in Its Entirety When planning your safari to Tanzania, witnessing the Great Wildebeest Migration in the Serengeti is often at the top of the list. But how can you be sure you'll catch it? The short answer is—you can't. Nature follows its own schedule, and while we understand the migration patterns well, exact timings can vary from year to year due to rainfall and climate changes. Still, we’ve outlined the general timeline below to guide your trip planning. Every year, over 2 million animals—including wildebeest, zebra, Thomson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, and eland—embark on a dramatic, circular journey across the Serengeti in Tanzania and into Kenya’s Masai Mara. This is the largest terrestrial animal migration in the world and one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on the planet.
Availability
Whole Year
Price
$2,270/Person
Duration
5 Days
Tour Highlights
5 Days Wildebeest Migration Calving Safari
Location: Ndutu Region, Southern Serengeti
Season: Late January – March
Witness one of nature’s most dramatic spectacles — the annual wildebeest calving season. Every year, nearly 500,000 calves are born in a short window between January and March on the nutrient-rich plains of Ndutu in Southern Serengeti. This safari offers an unforgettable chance to observe predator-prey interactions, massive herds of wildlife, and incredible birdlife during a once-a-year phenomenon.
Tour Overview
Departure & Return Location:
Kilimanjaro International Airport (Google Map)
Departure Time:
Please arrive at least 3 hours before your flight time for airport drop-off.
Price Includes
- All park and conservation fees
- Government VAT
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Experienced professional guide
- Accommodation (as listed)
- Full board meals (FB) and packed lunches
- Bottled drinking water during safari
- Crater entry fees (Ngorongoro)
- Transit and concession fees
Price Excludes
- International flights
- Laundry services
- Personal expenses
- Room service charges
- Tips & gratuities (optional)
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you’ll be warmly welcomed by your Safari Shield Adventures guide. You’ll transfer to Arusha town, about 1 hour away, for check-in and relaxation.
Overnight: Kibo Palace Hotel – Bed & Breakfast (BB)
Day 2: Arusha to Ndutu Area (Southern Serengeti)
After breakfast, drive approximately 5 hours to the Ndutu plains, located in the southern Serengeti ecosystem. Travel through scenic farmland, Karatu town, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, stopping at Loduare Gate for registration.
Lake Ndutu is an alkaline lake but still provides vital water for wildlife. From December to April, the area becomes home to thousands of migrating wildebeests, elephants, birds, and other plains game.
Dinner & Overnight: Katikati Tented Lodge – Full Board (FB)
Day 3: Full Day Game Drive in Ndutu
Spend the day exploring Ndutu during the calving season, when predators are highly active, and prey is abundant. Watch as thousands of newborn calves take their first steps, with lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and jackals nearby. The region is also a birding paradise, hosting over 400 species.
Dinner & Overnight: Katikati Tented Lodge – Full Board (FB)
Day 4: Half-Day in Ndutu & Transfer to Karatu
Enjoy a half-day morning game drive in Ndutu, covering marshes, acacia woodlands, soda lakes, and the iconic Serengeti short-grass plains. After a picnic lunch, drive to Karatu for a restful evening.
Dinner & Overnight: Marera Valley Lodge – Full Board (FB)
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater Tour – Return to Arusha / Airport Drop-Off
After an early breakfast, depart at 6:30 AM for the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the world’s largest intact volcanic calderas. Descend to the crater floor for a game drive where you may see all of the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo), as well as hippos, zebras, wildebeests, flamingos, and more.
Enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor before heading back to Arusha or directly to Kilimanjaro Airport for your evening departure.
Gallery
Phone: +255 762 026 599
