Our seven-day Wildebeest Migration Calving Season safari combines visits to the Ndutu region of the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Tarangire National Park. Witness the birth of up to 8000 calves a day during this magical time for the Wildebeest Migration. The perfect safari itinerary for a visit over months of December to March. Life begins for a huge number of animals in the Ndutu region of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. In the space of a few short weeks, the calving season sees half a million young wildebeest brought into the world. This is due to the rainy season combining with the fertile volcanic soil of the region to create a lush carpet of short grass rich in essential vitamins. It is here that the vast herd begins to take shape, and it is here that the predators begin their yearlong assault upon the herd. With so many young and weak calves stumbling around, it becomes easy for the lions, leopards, and cheetahs to pick off a tasty morsel.
Detailed Itinerary Daily Information
As you walk out of Kilimanjaro International Airport, our personal African Bushwalker Tour specialist driver-guide greets you with a big smile: 'Karibu Tanzania - welcome to East Africa!' The guide will take you to the hotel, where you can relax and take in the African atmosphere. The rest of the day is ours to acclimate to our new time zone.
Accommodation At: Tulia Boutique Hotel or similar
Meal Plan and Drinks: meals and drinks own guest account
Wake up to a lovely breakfast and we will begin the day with a welcome briefing by our trip experience leader and this day is set aside as a flexible break from our jetlag. We will visit Safe Water Ceramics of East Africa, where a worker at the facility will teach our group about this organization's efforts to increase access to clean water for the people of Africa. After learning many Tanzanians didn’t have access to clean water in 2005, an American woman and volunteer pottery instructor co-founded the organization, which now produces affordable ceramic water filters which provide five years of clean water for each family. We will get a hands-on demonstration led by a worker at the organization of how the handmade filters work, as well as a tour of the award-winning facility. We will also have the option to purchase a filter (or several as a group) to provide to locals in need later in our adventure.
After Lunch, we will visit the Albino Peacemaker Center, a local organization that helps albino people living in the area. Here, we will learn about albinism in Tanzania and the continued persecution of those with the condition. This is an appropriate backdrop for our conversation, as the center is a beacon of hope for this targeted population. They rely on the organization for many things from counselling services to career opportunities and even sunblock. The peacemaker center also works closely with government officials to affect social change and combat negative and false connotations associated with albinism.
Excursion & Visits: Visit Safe Water Ceramics, Conversation about the persecution of Tanzanians with albinism
Accommodation At: Tulia Boutique Hotel or similar
Meal Plan and Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are provided (drinks own guest account)
After a hearty breakfast, we depart Arusha after our pre-safari briefing and head to the underrated gem that is Tarangire National Park which is known for its ancient baobabs and huge elephant herds, Tarangire is a quieter alternative to the busier parks and ideal for unhurried game viewing. Enjoy a delightful picnic lunch in the shade before continuing our journey towards Ngorongoro. From here, the road begins to ascend, and the elevation changes as we climb the steep walls of the Great Rift Valley before arriving in Karatu. This bustling town lies in the shadow of the Ngorongoro Crater and is surrounded by beautiful, lush farmlands.
Excursion & Visits: Morning and afternoon game drives
Accommodation At: Farm of Dreams Lodge or similar
Meal Plan and Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner provided (drinks own guest account)
After a delicious breakfast, the destination for today is the Ndutu region via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where we will notice the landscape changing from hilly forests to plain and green grasslands as you drive further. Once we reach Ndutu we will begin our day game drive with a convenient stop for our picnic lunch. Sweeping grasslands of the Ndutu cover the region which gradually fade into the Serengeti National Park. Ndutu forms a part of the route for the annual migration of more than 2 million wildebeests and thousands of zebra, antelope and gazelle. During game drives at the right season between December and April, we will be able to see the fertile plains turn into calving grounds and nursery for the great migration. The calving season attracts hordes of predators preying on vulnerable young wildebeest. Crested with Ndutu lake and Lake Masek, these waterholes offer plenty of wildlife game during the dry season. The Ndutu is also the home ground for 6 species of big cats – leopard, lion, cheetah, caracal, serval and wildcat. The action-packed game drive will end late in the evening by around 5PM. We will now head towards your choice of accommodation, where a freshly prepared dinner awaits us. Ensure we get some good rest and recharge ourselves for another eventful day.
Excursion & Visits: Morning and afternoon game drives and game viewing
Accommodation At: Serengeti Heritage Camp or similar
Meal Plan and Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner provided (drinks own guest account)
We will be up before dawn so that we can enjoy a sunrise game drive across the region. See the sunset fire to the savannah as carnivores such as cheetahs and lions in action while it is still cool enough for them to hunt. After our sunrise game drive, we will return to our lodge for breakfast before taking a picnic lunch and heading to explore more of Ndutu. We will enjoy a day-long game drive through the region, taking in the shores of both Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek as well as the surrounding land where tens of thousands of young wildebeest take their first steps. After our day-long exploration of Ndutu, we will overnight in the region once again.
Excursion & Visits: Morning and afternoon game drives and game viewing
Accommodation At: Serengeti Heritage Camp or similar
Meal Plan and Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner provided (drinks own guest account)
After delicious breakfast, we depart for Ngorongoro Crater, considered by some to be the Eighth Wonder of the World. When we get our first glimpse of this vast, verdant caldera from the panoramic viewpoint, we will soon understand why it has earned such a lofty reputation. Home to over 120 species of mammal including the fabled Big Five, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the most sought-after safari destinations in the world. It's a particularly right place to see the endangered black rhinoceros enjoying a single meal out on the grass plains, as well as a place to see large numbers of hippopotamus enjoying the cool water. From the comfort of our open-top vehicle, we will be able to observe and photograph some of Africa's most recognizable faces. The crater is home to a large number of predators, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, jackals, and hyenas, as well as a large population of wildebeest, zebras, antelope, cape buffalo, and more. It is truly one of Africa's premier safari destinations.
Excursion & Visits: Morning and afternoon game drives and game viewing
Accommodation At: Farm of Dreams Lodge or similar
Meal Plan and Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner provided (drinks own guest account)
After a good night’s sleep, we will awake to a vibrant, morning breakfast with a freshly brewed pot of hot coffee and enjoy your last game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, a large alkaline lake, which attracts a variety of birdlife all year round, including greater and lesser pink flamingo between November and April, as well as pelican, stork and heron. Hippo, lion, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, and wildebeest can be seen on the grassy plains and among the acacia woodlands.
After game drive and game viewing, our sightseeing ends with the unique opportunity to visit Mto Wa Mbu Cultural Tourism Enterprises. We will tour 1 and a half hours and learned about their rice production, banana groves (so many types of bananas!), and homemade banana beer (interesting, potentially could grow on you). Watched local wood carvers carve intricate ebony art (and bought some things for our kids), wandered through the vegetable market and butcher area where locals get their daily meals. Saw the school and places of worship (Muslims, Christians, and non-believers all interacting and living in community. The world needs more of that) and we visit gift shops for souvenir and then we depart to the airport for your departure flight. The driver will ensure that you stop at key points of interest along the way including the local vegetable markets and photography then a road transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onwards travel arrangements.
Meal Plan and Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch provided (dinner and drinks own guest account)
Trip Information
In a Nutshell
– A true African experience (wild and free)
– All detailed inclusive Itinerary with cultural experience, adventure and wildlife.
Know Before You Go – Although most of the planning and preparation is taken care of for you, there are still a few things you should know and some details you should take care of to ensure your comfort, safety and peace of mind. Please review the following information before your departure to ensure that any surprises along the way will only be pleasant ones.
Trip Preparation – A little pre-planning can make your trip go a lot smoother. Several weeks before your trip, make a list of what you will need to take with you. Make sure your personal documents (passports, visas, driver’s license) are in order. Make sure also that you have enough prescription medications to last through the trip and carry them with you in case your luggage is delayed. Bring a change of clothes in your carry-on bag in the event that your luggage is delayed or lost. Lost luggage is common. We strongly urge you to consider carry-ons instead of checked bags when possible, and when checking a bag is necessary, choose a bag colour and identification that stands out. We suggest that you make photocopies of passports, visas, personal ID and any other important travel documents and pack them separately from the originals. You may also make a digital copy of your passport to keep a clear picture with the important details in your cell phone or digital camera photos. If you lose the originals while traveling, you’ll have copies for easier reporting and replacement. Pack a list of medications including dosage and generic names. You may consider bringing a small supply of over the counter medications for headaches and/or anti-diarrhoea pills (especially when traveling outside of the USA and Western Europe). We recommend that you pack a portable alarm clock. Due to security reasons, many museums have restrictions on the size of bags that can be taken inside and backpacks, carry-on bags or large purses may not be permitted. It is recommended to bring a small shoulder bag or purse to use in these situations instead. Avoid placing valuables such as cameras in your checked luggage. Airplane pressure can cause similar pressure in your body, most notably in ears, as well as liquid tubes and bottles. Your physician can suggest medication for decongestion. We suggest that you place liquid containers into Ziploc bags to catch any leaks.
Trip Rating & Style – Easy and Moderate and cater to adventure enthusiasts seeking authentic experiences.
Countries visited –Tanzania.
Highlights – Arusha | Tarangire National Park | Lake Manyara National Park | Serengeti National Park | Ngorongoro Crater
Activities – Animal Tracking | Cultural Mozaic Experience | Scenic Drive | Game drive
Transportations – transport for most of this safari you will travel in 4×4 jeeps/safari vehicles – see your tour itinerary for details. These may be open-roofed or enclosed. You must not leave the vehicle or lean out through windows without express permission from the guide.
Accommodation Considerations – while we make every effort to stick to the accommodations listed, please note that they serve as guidelines, and adjustments may occur. We recommend obtaining the latest version of the itinerary at least one week before departure to stay informed of any changes.
Tour leaders – a fully qualified driver/guide will run the tour and do both the driving and guiding. The guides have a wealth of knowledge about the places you will be visiting and travelling past, and many travellers note them as one of the highlights of their tour.
Group Size – small groups of not more than 6 travellers per safari vehicle, guaranteed with an African Bushwalker Tours Team Leader escorting the group for the entire trip
Travelling Responsibility – remember you are more than a tourist in this place. You are part of the team of global citizens, embracing diversity and committed to lifelong learning. Stay open to opportunities, contribute where you can, and connect with the many people you meet along the road.
Plan Ahead – now your chance to book any optional activities, chat with the reservation team and get planning
Life on Land – contribute to any initiative that aims to halt biodiversity loss and promote the sustainable use of ecosystems
Experience – we have more than 23 years’ experience touring throughout East and Southern Africa. As such, our itineraries and routes have been perfected over many years ensuring that your tour will run smoothly. We visit the highlights of East and Southern Africa but ensure that you do not follow the well-trodden tourist track. All of us at African Bushwalker Tours have extensive travel experience in Africa, and throughout the world. Being adventure travellers ourselves, we know how to plan trips that give you a broad experience of the countries that you will visit.
Credit Card Payments:
– Credit card payments will attract a 3.5% handling fee of the value of the transaction.
– It is therefore advised that payments for your trip are done via Bank transfer through Paynow.co.zw
Based in Africa – probably the most important part of an African Bushwalker Tours is that we are an African company with offices in Tanzania and Zimbabwe. We live in Africa; we travel in Africa and it is our passion for this amazing continent that makes African Bushwalker your best travel option.
Age Policy – on all small group scheduled tours, we accept children 12-17 with accompanying adult and tailor-made tours, we accept children 5 – 17 with accompanying adult. We have no upper age limit. Clients older than 65 years of age at the time of travel require a medical certificate stating the client is fit and healthy to join an adventure travel group tour. We have many clients over 65 years of age, who are perfectly capable of enjoying every aspect of an African Bushwalker tour.
Drugs & Alcohol – please be aware that drugs such as marijuana and cocaine are illegal in most countries in Africa and they could enforce severe punishment for being caught in possession. NEVER carry illegal drugs on your person or on the vehicle during this tour as you would not only jeopardise your own freedom but also the well-being of the entire group if you are caught in possession. If you are caught in possession of illegal drugs on this tour you will be asked to leave the tour immediately and no refund will be given. Any such inconsideration can lead to the tour being cancelled and innocent people arrested. We will not hesitate to remove someone if we have to. Aggressive or abusive drunk behaviour will not be tolerated during this tour and if anyone is constantly abusing alcohol and causing trouble we will not hesitate to remove them from the tour and no refund will be given.
Travel Insurance – it is compulsory that every person who travels with African Bushwalker Tours obtain travel insurance for the complete duration of the tour. Proof of travel insurance must be shown before joining a tour.
Visas and Passports – please ensure you have 6 blank pages in your passport in order to accommodate all the visas and stamps, and ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your tour end date.
Do I need malaria tablets? Yes, the trip passes through malaria areas and prophylactics are recommended.
What do I need to bring? – comfortable clothes for warm days and cool evenings, walking shoes, headtorch, a raincoat, hat and sunglasses, swimsuit, first aid kit, yellow fever vaccination certificate, a small pair of binoculars also comes in very handy and most importantly – a sense of adventure, It is recommended to bring mosquito spray with high mint!
About Drones– Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or “drone” technology has quickly become affordable and is increasingly popular with recreational users. While some countries have clear, established drone laws, others do not, or existing regulations are undergoing review and change. Travelers who wish to bring a drone on their trip are responsible to research and abide by the laws and regulations of the countries they are visiting, as well as to check with their airline(s) regarding their rules for transporting drones. Please note that tours are unable to extend the length of scheduled visits and stops to accommodate use of drones.
Suggested Tipping
Gratuities – Tipping is always a matter of personal discretion. For your convenience, please refer to the summary below as a guideline for recommended gratuity amounts. Gratuities may be paid in local currency or US dollar equivalent where accepted. On some itineraries, you may encounter multiple drivers and local guides throughout. We recommend keeping small bills on hand for tipping.
Please be aware that many locals consider tipping to be a customary part of their compensation, and some may approach you for additional “compensation.” There is no need to feel intimidated by these requests, nor should you feel pressured to tip beyond the suggested amounts. If you become uncomfortable by any behaviour you encounter, please advise your tour manager, or contact our office (numbers are provided in your documents).
Tour Manager/Driver: US $5 per person per day
Note: Tips for hotel porters, wait staff, and for activities on your own, gratuities are appreciated and expected for good service in restaurants and other places that cater to tourists, as well as on safaris. Hotels and restaurants that are frequented mostly by tourists will often add a gratuity to your bill and additional tipping is at your discretion.
BOOKING – To make your booking, please make sure you have the correct names, nationalities and date of birth of all travelers – as per their passport. African Bushwalker Tours will hold an option of 14 days from the time African Bushwalker Tours have confirmed a tour, before the cancellation rules apply. If our service or a tour is booked less than 14 days prior to the service is rendered or the tour commences, cancellation rules will apply immediately. If you need longer time, please let us know. If a tour or hotel is fully booked African Bushwalker Tours will try to offer you an alternative property of a similar standard and location.
PRICES – All prices are based on costs at the time of publication. African Bushwalker Tours reserves the right to change the prices, in reasonable circumstances, at any time before a booking is made. African Bushwalker Tours will confirm price changes, if any, together with our confirmation of your booking.
For trips in Namibia & South Africa rates given in a currency other than respectively NAD (Namibian Dollar) and ZAR (South African Rand) are subject to change in case of substantial variation of the exchange rate. For trips in Kenya & Tanzania rates given in a currency other than in USD (American Dollars) are subject to change in case of substantial variation of the exchange rate.
PAYMENTS – 30% of the total booking value within 14 days of African Bushwalker Tour’s confirmation of the booking. The remaining 70% no later than 45 days from the trip starting date.
CANCELLATION – If the customer cancels a tour up to 61 days prior to departure the deposit will be lost. If cancellation is made within 60-31 days prior to departure, a penalty fee of 65% of the total price of the tour will be levied. For any cancellation made within 30-16 days before departure, a penalty fee of 85% will apply. In the case of cancellations made less than 16 days before the start of the tour we are unable to offer any reimbursement. No refunds will be given by African Bushwalker Tours for no-shows.
The payment of bank fees for bank transfers are the responsibility of the customer and are strictly non-refundable.
The trip may be cancelled with no penalty charge should war, a life-threatening epidemic, or any other natural catastrophe or similar event occur within 14 days prior to departure. This will however be on the condition that your government advises against travelling to the specific area, and that the situation in question has arisen after the booking of the tour was made.
Cancellations must be made in writing and delivered either by hand, post, fax or electronic mail.
In the case of death or serious illness, of the person for whose benefit the tour has been arranged, no cancellation fee will be charged if African Bushwalker Tours is presented with an officially-approved death/sickness certificate.
What’s Included
- Airport transfers (Roundtrip) For Arrival and Departure
- Private vehicle 4×4 Safari Landcruiser transport with professional Safari Guide
- Accommodation in Semi-Luxury Lodge & Tented Camp
- All meals according to the itinerary
- Mineral water provided in the Safari Vehicle
- All activities mentioned in the itinerary
- All park entry fees and Concession Fees
- First Aid Kit Box and Flying Doctors Air Ambulance Rescue (AMREF)
- Drinking water during safari drives (Guest will receive a reusable steel water bottle (supporting “TOSCO” – Tourism supporting Conservation)
What’s Excluded
- Gratuities, Baggage Handling
- Personal, Medical and Travel Insurance
- All International Flights tickets and applicable airport fees and taxes
- Meals and beverages not explicitly listed as included
- Visa fees if applicable to Tanzania
- Extra Entrance fees to tourist attractions, activities or attractions not mentioned in itinerary
- Extra optional activities while in the game reserves
- All costs of a personal nature: Telephone calls, bar bills, drinks, room service, laundry, refreshments, snacks, curios, gifts, etc. unless otherwise stated as included in the daily itinerary