The 5-Day Ndutu Calving Spectacular

Welcome to Tanzania! Upon landing at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), your guide will be waiting to greet you and transfer you to the Arusha Planet. Take the rest of the day to relax, settle in, and soak up the vibrant African atmosphere. Your safari adventure begins first thing tomorrow morning!

After breakfast, your safari adventure truly begins as you journey to the magnificent Tarangire National Park. You'll spend the day on an extensive game drive, stopping for a picnic lunch in the heart of this wild landscape. Tarangire is famously known as the 'Land of Giants,' and you will soon see why. Prepare to be awed by its colossal, ancient baobab trees and the massive elephant herds that roam beneath them. This park is the vital center of an annual migratory cycle, a seasonal magnet for up to 3,000 elephants, 25,000 wildebeest, and 30,000 zebras." Accommodation: Sangaiwe Tented Lodge

After breakfast, your journey to the legendary Serengeti begins. You'll first ascend through the beautiful, high-lying farmlands of Karatu, a lush, rolling landscape that borders the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Leaving the highlands behind, you'll feel the world open up as you descend into the heart of wild Africa—the Serengeti National Park. The name means "endless plains," and you'll immediately see why, as the vast grasslands roll into the distance as far as the eye can see.

You will head toward the central park area, known as Seronera. This is one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, a "big cat capital" famed for its high concentration of predators. It's all fed by the vital Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source that attracts an incredible diversity of wildlife, representing nearly all the Serengeti's species. You'll arrive in time for lunch at your camp before embarking on your first thrilling afternoon game drive across these iconic plains.

Accommodation: Tanzania Bush Camp

Today is dedicated entirely to the thundering herds of the Great Migration. After breakfast, you'll embark on a full-day game drive, heading to the western side of the Serengeti's endless plains. This is where the massive columns of wildebeest and zebra are on the move, creating one of nature's most awe-inspiring spectacles.

You are entering a live-action theatre of survival. This region is where the raw 'balance of nature' is on full display, and the air is electric with anticipation. With such a vast concentration of prey, the predators are here in force. You will be on the lookout for prides of lions, cheetahs on the hunt, and opportunistic hyenas, all taking part in this epic, unfiltered drama. It’s an unparalleled opportunity to witness the circle of life in real-time." Accommodation: Tanzania Bush Camp

You will spend the day searching for the "Big 5"—lion, elephant, buffalo, the critically endangered black rhino, and the elusive leopard. The crater is also home to vast herds of wildebeest, zebra, and a dense population of predators. A highlight will be Lake Magadi, a shallow alkaline lake that shimmers pink with thousands of flamingos and is a favorite spot for hippos.

In the late afternoon, you will ascend the crater rim and begin your transfer back to Arusha for dinner, an overnight stay, or your airport drop-off. (Please note: Accommodation in Arusha can be included upon request at an additional cost.)

Following an early breakfast, your day begins with a truly breathtaking descent of over 600 meters (2,000 feet) to the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater. As you wind down the caldera wall, a lost world unfolds before you—a self-contained "Garden of Eden" teeming with life.

Supported by year-round water and lush grasses, this UNESCO World Heritage Site supports a staggering density of wildlife. You will spend the day on a game drive in search of the "Big 5," including prides of lion, giant tusker elephants, herds of buffalo, and the critically endangered black rhino. The crater's rich predator population also includes hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and the elusive leopard, which requires a trained eye to spot in the trees.

You'll explore this picturesque landscape, home to vast herds of wildebeest, zebra, eland, and pods of hippo. A key feature will be Lake Magadi, the shallow alkaline lake in the crater's corner, often shimmering pink with thousands of flamingos and other water birds.

In the late afternoon, you will ascend the crater rim and make the short, scenic drive to the highlands of Karatu for dinner and your overnight stay.

Accommodation: Marera Valley Lodge

Savor one last breakfast in the African bush, reflecting on the incredible journey. Afterward, you will begin your scenic drive back to the town of Arusha. Your guide will bid you farewell as they drop you off at your hotel or transfer you to the airport, your mind filled with unforgettable memories.