7 DAYS GREAT WILDEBEEST MIGRATION

Overview

This tour takes you to calving season down South around the Ndutu area, where an estimated 500,000 young wildebeests are born.  Of course, the masses of young wildebeests are meals is waiting for predators, with plenty of hunts and kills happening as the concentrated herds attract a good number of lions, cheetahs, and hyenas.  It is a great time for photography, with elephants, giraffes, and buffalos being pretty easy to spot amongst many flat-topped acacia trees and across sweeping grasslands. Parks to be visited are Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti.

The Southern Serengeti and Ndutu areas in Tanzania are the best locations for the months of January, February, and March to witness thousands of wildebeest spread across the plains grazing on the rich short grass plains. Predator action is at its peak with great sightings of cheetah, lion, hyena, and leopard and a very good chance to see adrenalin packed kills.

Place to visit: Tarangire, Ndutu Area, Ngorongoro, Serengeti Central, Lake Manyara

A representative of Ruwa Adventure will pick you up from the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). From here, you will be driven to a hotel in Arusha and brief you on your upcoming safari then enjoy a restful night before beginning your adventure tomorrow!

Arusha, also known as “A” Town by the locals, is situated at the foot of Mount Meru, Africa’s 5th highest mountain. The altitude gives the city a pleasant climate and lush green environment. Arusha is not a particularly attractive city in itself and is regarded by many visitors as little more than a necessary stopover before their safari starts in earnest. However, the natural charm of the Tanzanians and the buzz of a fast-growing city mean that Arusha has plenty to offer for those who are prepared to see beyond their air-conditioned safari trucks and satellite-TV-equipped hotel rooms.

Meals: BB

Accommodation: Planet lodge

After breakfast, we’ll drive to Tarangire National Park, with packed lunch. We’ll have some game viewing in the park to maximize your chances of more wildlife viewing. Before sunset, we’ll drive to a hotel in the small town of Mto Wa Mbu for dinner and overnight.

Tarangire is the sixth largest national park in Tanzania after Ruaha, Serengeti, Mikumi, Katavi, and Mkomazi. Activities will include a wildlife game drive where you can see pythons climb trees, as well as lions and leopards among others. For the bird lovers, keep an eye for the screeching flocks of colorful Yellow-collared lovebirds, and the somewhat drabber Rufous-tailed weaver and ashy starling. These are all endemic to the dry savannah of north-central Tanzania.

Meals: FB

Accommodation: Burudika Manyara lodge

After breakfast, we will set off for the Ndutu area situated in the Ngorongoro conservation area, which is part of the southern Serengeti ecosystem.

Lake Ndutu like most other rift lakes is alkaline, however, the water is still drinkable and consumed by a wide array of local wildlife The majority of the wildebeest migration can normally be found on the short-grass plains tram December to April. The area is usually heavily populated with elephants, birds, and resident games.

Meals: FB

Accommodation: Kenzan Ndutu luxury camp

You will enjoy a game drive after breakfast in the Ndutu area exploring a great range of various habitats such as swamps, woodland, soda lakes, and the world-famous Serengeti short grass plains. You will witness herds of wildebeest and zebras, especially during a short time frame from around February and lasting for about 3 weeks where the majority of the wildebeest calves. Later continue with game viewing while heading to Serengeti Central for dinner and overnight.

The sea of grass provides little cover and the young make easy prey for a variety of predators. Wildebeest calves can run minutes after they were born and within 3 days, they are normally strong enough to keep up with the herd.

Meals: FB

Accommodation: Kenzan luxury camp

Enjoy a full day of game drive in the park.

The Serengeti is Tanzania’s oldest and most popular National Park. A UNESCO world heritage site and recently proclaimed 7th wonder of the world, Serengeti is famed for its annual migration where some six million hooves pound the open plains. Serengeti offers an exotic game-viewing experience in the whole of Africa giving you an up-close look at the animals you’ve only seen in National Geographic: great herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephant, and giraffe, and thousands of elands, topi, kongoni, impala and Grant’s gazelle.

Meals: FB

Accommodation: Kenzan luxury camp

We’ll depart after breakfast for descent Ngorongoro Crater for game viewing. By late afternoon will drive to your accommodation.

Ngorongoro is an extensive highland area along the eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley, with the world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater as its focal point. It is not a national park in the strict sense of the word but was rather established to conserve wildlife and other natural resources. It exists to safeguard the interests of indigenous people as well as promote tourism.

Meals: FB

Accommodation: Eileen hotel

We’ll leave after breakfast and go straight to Lake Manyara National Park. Later in the afternoon, we’ll drive back to Arusha.

Lake Manyara National Park, whose lake Ernest Hemingway claimed was ‘the loveliest I had seen in Africa’. The Park offers a compact game-viewing circuit and is one of the most diverse reserves in the country. The lake itself covers two-thirds of the park and the Great Rift Valley provides a stunning backdrop. Over 400 species of birds can be found in the Manyara, including thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large water birds such as pelicans, cormorants, and storks.

Accommodation:  No Accommodation

INCLUSIONS

• Park fees
• Conservation Fees
• All activities (unless labeled as optional)
• All accommodation as stated in the itinerary
• A professional driver/guide
• All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
• Roundtrip airport transfer
• All Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
• Drinking water on all days
• Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees

EXCLUSIONS

• International flights (from/to home)
• Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
• Tips
• Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
• Services not mentioned in the program
• Travel insurance and medical repatriation
• Items of a personal nature