Wildebeest Migration (Calving Season) And Cultural Safari

Welcome to Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met by our representative who offers you a warm welcome sign. Enjoy the transfer to The African Tulip Hotel in Arusha, a boutique hotel. Its elegant rooms overlooking the gardens have en-suite bathrooms. While relaxing at the pool or sipping a drink at the bar, begin acclimatizing to the pace of life in Tanzania. At 1400 meters above sea level, Arusha’s mild temperatures provide a serene setting no matter what time you arrive. This day also offers the opportunity to anticipate the safari while surrounded by the tropical charm of the hotel.

Accommodation: The African Tulip Hotel
Meal plan: Bed and Breakfast

After the first meal of the day at The African Tulip Hotel, start a 2.5-hour drive to Tarangire National Park. A true haven of baobabs and elephants, this 2850 square kilometer park holds game drives and herds of giraffes, zebras, and even lions. Elephants can be spotted along the Tarangire River, as well as green swamps home to over 550 bird species, like lovebirds. From Dec – May, fewer visitors ensure a secluded feel. Enjoy lunches accompanied by elite guidance as you view the savannah. At Maramboi Tented Lodge, fresh dinners offered to you under the stars while staying in en-suite tents and verandas overlooking the plains.

Accommodation: Maramboi Tented Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After enjoying breakfast at Maramboi, the next stop is an over one-hour drive to Lake Manyara National Park, covering a 330-square-kilometer area of land. On the half-day game drive, many forests and the lake filled with flamingos and over 400 species of birds are explored. You will spot zebras and hippos and even the elusive tree-climbing lions amidst the buffalo and baboons. The picnic lunch is hosted with stunning views of the lake. After this, the next drive is 2 hours to reach Lake Eyasi, a soda lake home to tribal communities. The eye-catching Lake Eyasi Tented Lodge is first responsible for checking you into their premises, which have the warmest tents overlooking the lake and are also outfitted with en-suite facilities. The dinner on this night is a mix of Tanzanian and international food, which helps prepare everyone for the culture shock that is next on the itinerary.

Accommodation: Lake Eyasi Tented Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Join the Hadzabe Bushmen on their daily hunt after breakfast; learn their nomadic ways and tracking skills. Attend the Datoga tribe's blacksmithing and traditional dance show before departing for Ndutu at 11 a.m., making a three to four-hour drive. Enjoy an afternoon game drive that highlights calving season (January-March), which will feature skittish young wildebeest and zebra calves bewildered by lion and cheetah. Lake Masek Tented Lodge provides en-suite tents with a view of Lake Masek. Dinner is grilled while being serenaded by the wildlife of the Serengeti.

Accommodation: Lake Masek Tented Lodge Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Dig into breakfast served at the lodge’s dining room, then proceed to Ndutu's plains for a full-day game drive, where from December to March, 500,000 wildebeest calves are born. Witness the herds grazing while lions and hyenas hunt, brought to the action by the guided drive. The grasses teeming with nutrients fuel the migration cycle. A serene pause is taken while having a picnic lunch under an acacia tree. Keep exploring and spotting more gazelles and birds such as Kori bustards. Return to the lodge for a candlelit dinner of fresh dishes while the serene hum from the plains fills the air.

Accommodation: Lake Masek Tented Lodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, an additional full-day game drive in Ndutu pursues the calving herds, shifting with the rain patterns. Witness wildebeest and zebras with infants, stalked by cheetahs or lions alongside resident elands and jackals. Volcanic plains enhanced grazing, which your guide would explain. Picnic lunch at Ndutu Lake, where flamingos make a tranquil scenic addition. Afternoon drives capture shifting light and leopards hiding in Kopjes. Return to Lake Masek Tented Lodge for dinner served under the stars, reminiscing on the day’s drama.

Accommodation: Lake Masek tented lodge

Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Depart after breakfast at Lake Masek with a picnic lunch and a one-hour drive to the crater Ngorongoro, a caldera encompassing 260 square kilometers with around 25000 animals. A full-day game drive observes lions, rhinos, and elephants in the grasslands by forests. Flamingos and Hippo pools dominantly add to the beauty. The guide shares the volcanic history of the crater. Serene picnic site at Ngoitikotk Spring. Ascend to Ngorongoro Farm House Lodge, a coffee-farm retreat with cozy rooms and hill views. Dinner employs local farm produce, rounding off an eventful day.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Farm House Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Following breakfast at Farm House Lodge, you have the option of taking a guided Arusha town tour or a guided shopping expedition. Enjoy the local cafes or shop for state-approved Maasai crafts. Please note, your guide will ensure you arrive on time for your international flight, which will transport you 45 minutes outside Arusha. Your journey begins with thoughts of tribal dances and majestic herd animals framed with Tanzania's wild beauty and Kilimanjaro’s peak on clear days.

Accommodation: None (departure day)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch