Wildebeest Calving Season in Tanzania Safari, January to March
Nature’s Greatest Birth Season
A true miracle of nature can be experienced from January to March every year when many of the savanna’s most beautiful creatures give birth to the next generation. This life-affirming adventure takes you to the Serengeti, Lake Manyara, and the Ngorongoro Crater where you can see the circle of life in all its splendor.
This safari is all about experiencing the wildebeest calving season when the massive herds of wildebeest arrive at the southernmost point of their migration in January and March. It is breathtaking to see the herds on the vast open plains of the southern Serengeti and Ndutu plains, as over 8 000 calves are born daily. The Calving Season Safari offers travel in custom 4×4 safari vehicles with open tops for optimal game viewing. This is a small group seat-in-vehicle safari with a maximum of 6 travelers per vehicle, all with window seats. The 8-day adventure includes not only thrilling wildlife experiences but also encompasses meals, accommodation, and park entry fees.
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Exploring Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro
To make it even better, the safari adventure extends beyond witnessing the wildebeest calving season and migration. It also includes visits to Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area & Crater. At Lake Manyara you will enjoy sightings of hundreds of birds and various monkeys. The journey continues to the world heritage of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and The Ngorongoro Crater, a volcanic caldera with large concentrations of animals and wildlife, where you will be fed with exceptional game viewing opportunities. This part fulfills your safari experience of Tanzania’s diverse landscapes
We recommend that you book the incredible Balloon safari with this trip. Please also check out our other safari options, like the popular Big Five Safari in Tanzania and our Classic Tanzania and Kenya combo safari.
Best Time to Go
Nov–May: Calving season in the south, lush landscapes & predators
Jun–Oct: Peak migration viewing, including Mara River crossings
Popular Attractions
Weather
Nov–May: 25–35 °C, hot with showers | Jun–Oct: 20–30 °C, dry & sunny
Highlights
Witness the majestic Great Migration across the Serengeti
Observe a miracle of life – the wildebeest calving season
Dramatic wildlife encounters with predators hunting in the wild
Enjoy comfortable accommodations in the wilderness
Explore unique ecosystems and wildlife at Lake Manyara
Visit the Ngorongoro Crater and its plethora of African wildlife
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“We had the most amazing time travelling through Tanzania with WAT through Lake Manyara NP, Serengeti NP and Ngorongoro Crater. WAT did an amazing job of organizing the trip that it all went smoothly from one destination to the next. We were happy to be with Jackson as our guide. He is very knowledgeable about the animals and Tanzania in general. Everything turned out exceptionally well, particularly the thousands of wildebeest calving in Ndutu is unforgettable. We hope to return next year for another adventure with WAT”
– Thomas, Tourradar
Travel Plan
Day-to-Day Program – 8 Days
Day 1
Arrival in Moshi
Arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport, Tanzania. After clearing customs, look for your driver. They will be waiting for you, holding a sign with your name. Your driver will transport you to Moshi.
🍽 Meals: None
🏨 Accommodation: Springlands Hotel or Similar
Day 2
Lake Manyara National Park
Drive to Lake Manyara National Park in the morning. Set against the steep escarpment of the Rift Valley, you’ll find Lake Manyara National Park with its evergreen groundwater forest and various ecosystems, including acacia woodland, grassy plains, a swampy fan delta, and – of course – the expansive lake. This diversity attracts a wide variety of mammal, bird, and wildlife species. The park offers excellent game viewing with buffalo, impala, giraffe, bushbuck, waterbuck, hippos, and many elephants roaming near the lake. You can also be on the lookout for blue monkeys, velvet monkeys, and the very active olive baboon.
🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Highview Hotel or Similar
Day 3
Journey to the Serengeti
Head out after breakfast for the drive to Serengeti National Park. The word “Serengeti” is derived from the Maasai language, meaning “endless plain.” En route to the Serengeti, you can visit a Maasai Village, a perfect place to explore the Maasai culture and even participate in some tribal activities. Why not choose to visit Olduvai Gorge, known as the Cradle of Humanity; the Museum is a testament to the long journey that humanity has made from its humble roots in East Africa to its current state as the dominant species on earth.
🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Ikoma Wild Camp or Serengeti Wild/Wildebeest Camp or Similar
Day 4
Full Day in the Serengeti
Relax for a full day in the Serengeti, unequaled for its beauty and home to the Great Wildebeest Migration. The huge herds of plains game, such as wildebeest, zebra, and antelope, dominate the park, while the attendant predators, such as lion and cheetah, are to be found amongst the many kopjes scattered across the plain. Its landscape varies from open grass plains in the south, savanna with scattered acacia trees in the center, hilly, wooded grassland in the north, to extensive woodland and black clay plains to the west.
🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Ikoma Wild Camp or Serengeti Wild/Wildebeest Camp or Similar
Day 5
Transfer to Ngorongoro
Enjoy a morning game drive in the Serengeti before your transfer to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, part of the southern Serengeti ecosystem. Most wildebeest migration can normally be found on the short-grass plains from December to April. The area is usually heavily populated with elephants, birds, and resident game. Check-in at the lodge with an afternoon game drive.
🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Ngorongoro Wild Camp or Similar
Day 6
Explore the Ndutu Area
Enjoy a full-day game drive in the Ndutu area. Explore the range of different habitats that include swamps, woodland, soda lakes, and the world-famous Serengeti short grass plains. See great herds of wildebeest and zebra roam. This time of year allows you to witness calves running minutes after birth. This is also the time of year with the best predator action! The marshes and lakes support various bird life and the resident lion prides. Cheetahs are abundant in the plains, and the wooded ridges are always worth a look.
🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Ngorongoro Wild Camp or Similar
Day 7
Ngorongoro Crater Exploration
This morning, you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for game driving and exploration. The crater is 600m deep, 16km across, and 265 sq km in area. Enjoy the spectacular scenery and game viewing in what has been described as the world’s eighth wonder. Many of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhinos can be seen grazing on the open grassland of the crater floor, surrounded by some of the 20,000 large animals that occupy the crater, including lion, cheetah, eland, zebra, and gazelle. Flamingos, among other bird species, can often be seen feeding at Makat Soda Lake. Afternoon drive to Moshi.
🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Springlands Hotel or Similar
Day 8
Departure from Kilimanjaro
Enjoy a morning at leisure before your transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight home. If your flight departs during the evening, why not check out our “Add on” day trip activities – speak to us to arrange this.
🍽 Meals: Breakfast
🏨 Accommodation: None (end of safari)
Why Pick This Travel Plan?
Extra special because of the wildebeest calving season in the Serengeti is between January and March, making it a fleeting moment. We have planned the travel plan so that you get to see the calving in the Serengeti and in the Ngorongoro Conservation area
The accommodation and wild camps are comfortable and well located for you to experience the savanna and wildlife
Our safari guides are educated in conservation, and they know the ins and outs of the park. This will enrich your safari experience
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A Spectacular Display of Nature’s Cycle
During the wildebeest calving season, thousands of wildebeest give birth to their young in a short period, a truly remarkable and unforgettable experience to witness. The newborn calves are often up and walking within minutes of birth and will soon run alongside their mothers in search of food. The calving season in the Serengeti is also a time when predators such as lions, cheetahs, and hyenas are on the prowl for vulnerable prey. This makes for an exciting and sometimes dramatic wildlife viewing experience as predators chase after wildebeest in search of a meal. The wildebeest calving coincides with the start of the rainy season, which means that there is plenty of food and water available for the wildebeest. The abundance of resources attracts other wildlife to the area, such as zebras and gazelles, making excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. You get to experience a larger cycle of life in the Serengeti, which includes the annual migration of the wildebeest and other grazers across the plains. This cycle of birth, life, and death is a fundamental part of the ecosystem and a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
A Journey Through Diverse Landscapes and Wildlife
You also get to visit the Lake Manyara National Park, which is known for its stunning scenery, combining forest, savannah, and glistening lake. Visitors can also see the dramatic Great Rift Valley escarpment that runs through the park. Ngorongoro Crater is a massive caldera (collapsed volcano) that is over 2,000 feet deep and spans 100 square miles. The views from the rim are breathtaking, and visitors can enjoy panoramic vistas of the crater and surrounding landscapes. The crater is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including elephants, lions, hyenas, wildebeest, zebras, hippos, and more. The crater is also home to many rare and endangered species, such as the black rhino.
Included in the Price
- Full board (breakfast, lunch & dinner) accommodation while on safari
- Bed and breakfast accommodation in Moshi
- Bush lunch in the Serengeti
- Transfers to and from the airport
- All game drives viewing in a custom built 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser
- All park and entrance fees
- Transportation with 4×4 vehicles with viewing roofs
- A professional English-speaking driver/guide during the safari
- Bottled water in the safari vehicles
- Ngorongoro Crater car supplement fee
- Current Government taxes and levies
- 24-Hour support during the safari from our office in Moshi
- Travel Guarantee with the Swedish Kammarkollegiet »
Price Does Not Cover *
- Domestic or International flights
- Balloon excursion in Tanzania
- Entry visa to Tanzania
- Travel and health insurance
- Meals, drinks, and excursions not described in the itinerary
- Any other items of a personal nature, laundry, telephone, and postage
- Masaai village tour & Olduvai Gorge tour
- Gratuities to your guide, hotel staff, and porters – Find guidelines in our Help Center »
* Rest assured, we’re here to assist with anything not covered in the price. Your convenience is our priority.
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Accommodation
See all accommodation and upgrades available.
Springlands Hotel
Highview Hotel
Ikoma Wild Camp
Serengeti Wild/Wildebeest Camp
Ngorongoro Wild Camp
Accommodation Upgrades
Please note that accommodation upgrades are exclusively available with our PRIVATE options.
Should you choose the group adventure, the standard – yet comfortable – accommodation will be provided.
Chanya Lodge
Endoro Lodge
Gran Melia Hotel, Arusha
Highview Coffee Lodge
Ole Serai Luxury Camp, Moru Kopjes
Tarangire Kuro Treetop Lodge
Serengeti Safari Lodge
Kenzan Tented Luxury Camp
Tarangire Simba Lodge
Hhando Coffee Lodge
Winter Tented Lodge
Add-ons
Discover Africa with Our Exhilarating Activities. Pick and choose from our handpicked collection of activities and day trips to enrich your African travel plan with that special touch.
Ngorongoro Wild Camp
Ngorongoro Wild Camp, situated south of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, offers 20 luxury tents and 6 cottages near Karatu Town.
The camp features ample amenities including a dining area, bar, internet access, sundowner cocktails, private bush meals, a fireplace, Maasai barbecue, and a multi-cuisine restaurant for an unforgettable wilderness experience.
Upgrade to Ngorongoro Safari Lodge or Endoro Lodge or Ngorongoro Serena Lodge or Ngorongoro O’ldeani Mountain Lodge.
Tarangire Simba Lodge
Near Tarangire National Park’s Sangaiwe Gate, this lodge offers 24 spacious canvas tents with private verandas, en-suite bathrooms, and outdoor showers, overlooking Lake Burunge.
Enjoy wildlife like lions, zebras, giraffes, and elephants right from your room or the viewing platform. The eco-friendly lodge runs on solar power and collaborates with local rangers to protect the area’s wildlife.
Hhando Coffee Lodge
This property is situated on 15 acres of coffee farm in the volcanic highlands of Tanzania, and borders the Ngorongoro Crater conservation area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It offers 10 beautifully crafted cottages and 3 spacious family bungalows, each featuring a cozy fireplace, a bedroom, bathroom, and a private verandah.
Enjoy fresh forest air and stunning views over the farmland, visit the coffee farm, and experience the wild beauty of the landscape right from your room.
Winter Tented Lodge
Located at Mbuyu wa Mjerumani on the slopes of Mount Mbesi kopje, this is the perfect gateway to Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park. It features 10 permanent tents, including 2 family rooms, each built on a raised steel deck with en-suite bathrooms and private terraces offering views of Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley.
Named in honor of the first bishop of the Mbulu Diocese, Winters Lodge is a sister property to Hhando Coffee Lodge in Karatu, both owned by the Catholic Diocese of Mbulu.
Tarangire Kuro Treetop Lodge
Luxury tents perched along the Baobab tree line, each tent designed with luxury beddings, an en-suite bathroom with an indoor and outdoor shower, and a private veranda with the perfect vantage point.
Strategically located on a towering Kopje hill, this lodge offers a breathtaking view of the Tarangire River and the path to the Silale swamp in the west, famous for attracting diverse wildlife all year round, thanks to its perennial water sources.
Ole Serai Luxury Camp, Moru Kopjes
Ideally located in the Central Seronera region of Serengeti National Park, near Moru Kopjes and Lake Magadi, this luxury camp is surrounded by hills and close to the Mbalageti/Seronera River and its diverse array of wildlife and a nearby hippo pool.
It features 20 well-appointed luxury tents, all en-suite with modern amenities, providing guests with panoramic views of nature and wildlife from the comfort of their beds or verandas.
Highview Coffee Lodge
This 8 cottage lodge comes with beautiful views over local hills and farmland, and is a gateway to Tanzania’s Northern circuit and local cultures, including Mbulu, Iraqw, Bushmen and Maasai tribes.
The lodge features 12 rooms, a pool, internet, a lounge with a bar and a fireplace, local and continental dinig, gardens, spa services and a gift shop.
Gran Melia Hotel, Arusha
This magnificent hotel Is located between the majestic Serengeti and Kilimanjaro National Parks, unveiling the natural beauty of Tanzania’s wilderness.
Enjoy an oasis of five-star luxury and comfort with unbeatable facilities, exclusive suites, international cuisine, spa, an infinity pool and a gym – it’s the ideal retreat for an exciting safari adventure or a luxurious business meeting.
Endoro Lodge
Luxury accommodations with elegant chalet-themed rooms with fireplaces and immersion tubs, a swimming pool, a well-stocked bar and conference facilites with a P.A system for over 40 people.
Welcome to privacy, tranquility and elegance.
Chanya Lodge
Chanya Lodge is located at the foothills of the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, just outside Moshi in Tanzania. A convenient drive from the airport, it’s perfect for trekkers, tourists, families, and business visitors.
The residence offers 32 en-suite rooms, a large pool, a diverse cuisine restaurant, and beautiful grassy gardens.
Serengeti Wild/Wildebeest Camp
The Serengeti Wild Camp features 20 spacious, self-contained tents, offers a close-to-nature experience including hearing distant elephant trumpeting at night.
Nearby, the Serengeti Wildebeest Camps - an extra area with 10 similar tents, providing comfortable wildlife encounters in the heart of Serengeti National Park.
Both camps offer modern amenities like internet, bars, a multi-cuisine restaurant and special dining experiences, including bush meals.
Upgrade to Serengeti Safari Lodge or Ole Serai Luxury Camp, Moru Kopjes.
Serengeti Safari Lodge
Located in the Seronera Tana Spring Area of Serengeti National Park, Serengeti Safari Lodge offers 15 luxury self-contained tents with private facilites.
Enjoy a luxurious experience with amenities as a swimming pool, spa services, a restaurant with local and continental dishes, a bar with a fireplace, internet access and a gift shop.
Upgrade to Ole Serai Luxury Camp, Moru Kopjes.
Ikoma Wild Camp
This camp Is situated in the middle of Serengeti Ecosystem, between Grumeti and the Ikorongo Game reserve, and features a blend of 10 huts/Boma and 15 spacious, well-furnished tents with ensuite bathrooms.
Along with stunning views, the camp offers modern amenities like internet access, bar activities, sundowner cocktails, bush meals at private sites and the multi-cuisine restaurant provides a memorable dining experience alongside the impressive wildlife.
Upgrade to Serengeti Safari Lodge or Ole Serai Luxury Camp.
Highview Hotel
The hotel offers dining in its restaurant or in the serene garden, with a mix of local and international dishes served à la carte or buffet style. Packed lunches are available for day trips. In the lounge, relax with a drink, enjoy board games, internet access, or cultural shows. The gardens provide shaded seating and house an organic vegetable and fruit garden.
Guests can enjoy hiking around Moshi, with a mini-supermarket just 3 km away.
Upgrade to Highview Coffee Lodge or Endoro Lodge or Tarangire Kuro Treetop Lodge.
Springlands Hotel
Springlands Hotel in Moshi, 29 km from Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO), offers accommodation with amenities like an outdoor pool, complimentary parking, a bar, 24-hour reception, and free WiFi. Continental or à la carte breakfast is served at the hotel.
Rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a seating area, satellite TV, a kitchenette, dining area, and private bathroom with all essentials, including a kettle. Enjoy a hiking around Moshi, with a mini-supermarket just 3 km away.
Upgrade to Chanya Lodge or Gran Melia Hotel.
Kenzan Tented Luxury Camp
Located in Seronera, central Serengeti, this camp provides a peaceful stay in a wildlife-rich area. With essential amenities as luggage storage,and dining services including bush meals and a breakfast buffet. Activities as safaris and balloon rides can be provided.
Rooms feature comforts such as free Wi-Fi, safari showers, and mosquito nets, catering to both luxury and convenience.
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