December to April · 6 days, 2 nights at Ndutu
CALVING SEASON
Witness the Great Migration calving season in the southern Serengeti and the Ndutu area: thousands of newborn wildebeest on the short-grass plains, and the most intense predator action of the year.
- December to April only
- 2 nights at Ndutu
- Signature bush lodge
Private 4x4 Fleet
Guaranteed Window Seat
Local Expert Guides
Direct Operator Pricing
A season, not a route
THE FOUR MONTHS
Between December and April the herds are not crossing rivers, they are giving birth, and they do it on open short-grass plains around Ndutu where there is nowhere for anything to hide. The calves arrive in a few concentrated weeks, and every predator within range knows it.
Outside those months this is the wrong itinerary to book, and we will tell you so. Pick a different package or different dates and we will re-cost it.
- Two full days on Ndutu's soda lakes, marshes and short-grass plains
- Thousands of newborn wildebeest, and the predators that follow them
- The Ngorongoro crater floor on the way back out
- Runs December to April, when the calving actually happens
THE ITINERARY,
Every park, every drive, every lodge and exactly which meals are covered.
Price from
On request
per person, private group
6 Days
On safari
5 Nights
Accommodation
4 Parks
Visited
Private
Vehicle and guide
YOUR ROUTE
START
Arusha
DAY 2
Tarangire
DAYS 3–4
Ndutu
DAY 5
Ngorongoro
DAY 6
Lake Manyara
END
Arusha
DAY
1
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha
Pickup by a KissRock Adventures representative and transfer to Arusha Planet Lodge.
STAY
Classic Comfort
MEALS
At own expense
- Night at Arusha Planet Lodge
DAY
2
Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Drive across the Maasai plains into Tarangire National Park to view wildlife around the Tarangire River.
PARK
Tarangire National Park
DRIVE
Across the Maasai plains
STAY
Classic Comfort
MEALS
All meals, drinks not included
- Night at Eileen's Tree Inn
DAYS
3–4
Days 3 and 4: South Serengeti, the Ndutu region
Two full days exploring Ndutu’s soda lakes, marshes and short-grass plains, where thousands of wildebeest give birth.
PARK
South Serengeti, Ndutu
DRIVE
Two full days in the region
STAY
Signature Bush Lodge
MEALS
All meals, drinks not included
- Night at Ndutu Heritage Camp
DAY
5
Day 5: Ndutu to Ngorongoro Crater
An en-route game drive across the plains to the Ngorongoro Crater for a rich wildlife experience on the crater floor.
PARK
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
DRIVE
Game drive en route
STAY
Classic Comfort
MEALS
All meals, drinks not included
- Night at Eileen's Tree Inn
DAY
6
Day 6: Lake Manyara National Park to Arusha
A final game drive in Lake Manyara National Park before an evening departure to Arusha or the airport.
PARK
Lake Manyara National Park
DRIVE
Evening departure
MEALS
Breakfast and lunch, drinks not included
Where you sleep
- Night 1Arusha Planet LodgeClassic Comfort
- Nights 2 and 5Eileen's Tree InnClassic Comfort
- Nights 3–4Ndutu Heritage CampSignature Bush Lodge
These are the properties this price is built on. Want a different tier? We quote it against the same route so you can see what the upgrade actually costs.
WHAT'S IN,
What's included
What's not included
The vehicle matters
FOUR WHEELS,
You will spend six to eight hours a day in this vehicle. It is not a detail.
Pop-Up Roof Land Cruisers
Custom Toyota Land Cruisers with full pop-up roofs, so everyone can stand and shoot at once.
Charging & Cold Storage
Inverter charging at every seat and a cold fridge, because dust and heat are relentless.
Binoculars In Every Vehicle
Quality binoculars as standard, plus a reference library to identify what you just saw.
HF Radio Between Guides
When one driver finds a leopard, the rest of the fleet knows within a minute.
WHEN IS THE
Every month works for something. The question is which month works for what you came to see.
Calving season on the Ndutu plains, with heavy predator action.
Calving season on the Ndutu plains, with heavy predator action.
The tail of calving season before the long rains arrive.
Green, quiet and much cheaper. Some tracks get difficult.
Green, quiet and much cheaper. Some tracks get difficult.
Dry season begins. Animals start concentrating around water.
Classic dry season. The herds are crossing the Mara.
Classic dry season. The herds are crossing the Mara.
Dry, short grass, and the easiest sightings of the year.
The last reliable dry month before the short rains.
Short rains pull the herds south. Quieter parks, lower rates.
Short rains continue, with green light and fewer vehicles.
The herds move on their own schedule. We update this as our guides report in.
Choosing between them
SIX ITINERARIES,
They cover much the same ground. What really changes is how many nights you get out on the plains.
3 days3-Day Big Five ExpressOn requestView 
4 days4-Day Northern Circuit ExplorerOn requestView 
5 days5-Day Classic Wildlife & SerengetiOn requestView 
6 days6-Day Serengeti Big Cat & CraterOn requestView 
6 days6-Day Great Migration Calving SeasonOn requestYou are here
7 days7-Day Ultimate Serengeti ImmersionOn requestView SAFARI FAQ
Is this a private safari?
Yes. The vehicle, the guide and the itinerary are yours. Nobody is added to your Land Cruiser to fill it, which is why every seat is a window seat and why we can change the plan on the morning if your guide hears something worth driving to.
Can you change the itinerary?
It is a starting point, not a fixed departure. Add a night, drop a park, start from Kilimanjaro instead of Arusha, or run it after a climb. Tell us what you want different and we re-cost it.
What are the lodges actually like?
Every property on this itinerary is named below, day by day, with the tier it sits in. We would rather you looked them up now than found out on arrival. If you want a different tier we quote it against the same route so you can see what the upgrade really costs.
How much should we tip?
Around $15 per person per day for the crew is the guideline we give, and we talk it through at your briefing rather than leaving you to guess on the last morning. It is not included in the price.
Can we add Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar?
Most of our guests do. The usual shape is mountain first, safari second, beach last. We arrange the transfers and the internal flight to Zanzibar as one booking so there is no gap for anything to go wrong.
Calving Season
TELL US WHEN.
Send your dates, your group size and the lodge tier you want. A guide replies with a costed itinerary inside 24 hours.