7-Day Ndutu Calving & Predator Safari
Six Nights on the Southern Serengeti Plains, Calving Season
Overview
Between late December and March roughly half a million wildebeest calves are born on the short-grass plains around Lake Ndutu, at the southern edge of the Serengeti. It is the one time of year the herds stand still, dropping their young within a few short weeks, and it draws the densest gathering of predators anywhere in Africa — lion, cheetah and spotted hyena working the edges of the herds in plain view. This trip puts you on those plains for three full days, camped where the action is, then finishes on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater. Internal flights, park and conservation fees, every game drive and every meal are arranged end to end, with a qualified guide on your vehicle throughout.
The calving is a short window, so timing matters. February is the peak, with the greatest concentration of newborns and the most predator activity; December, January and March still deliver strong plains game as the herds gather and then begin to drift. We stay in a seasonal camp that moves with the herds rather than a fixed lodge far from the action, which is what keeps the drives short and the sightings close. If you have less time, there is a five-day version that keeps the Ndutu plains and trims the Ngorongoro leg — ask and we will price it against this itinerary. Three pricing tiers run from a well-run seasonal camp to an exclusive-use, private-guide version, so the trip fits the budget you set rather than the other way around.
Who It's For
Built for photographers who want predators on open ground with clean light, couples and families who would rather see the plains at their fullest than chase a river crossing, and repeat safari travellers who already know the dry season and want the other half of the migration story.
Package Highlights
Three Days at Ndutu
Camped on the calving plains for the heart of the trip, not passing through
Predators in the Open
Lion, cheetah and hyena working the herds on short grass in full view
Camp That Follows the Herds
A seasonal camp set where the calving is, so drives stay short
Ngorongoro Crater Floor
A full day in the crater to close the trip — black rhino, lion and flamingo
All Meals & Drives Included
Every meal in camp and every game drive on the itinerary
All Park Fees Settled
Serengeti and Ngorongoro park and conservation fees already in the price
Day-by-Day Itinerary
You land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, are met and transferred to a lodge on the edge of Arusha to rest after the flight. Your guide runs through the days ahead over dinner, and there is time to settle before the short flight out to the plains in the morning.
🏨 Accommodation: Arusha garden lodge
🍽️ Meals: Dinner
Your Route
Tap a marker to see each stop on your journey.
Featured Lodges & Accommodation
Ndutu Seasonal Calving Camp
📍 Short-grass plains near Lake Ndutu, southern Serengeti, Tanzania
A seasonal tented camp that moves with the calving herds, set up on the short-grass plains for the December-to-March window. Proper en-suite tents, hot bucket showers, a mess tent and camp fire under the stars — simple, comfortable and, above all, right where the animals are, so your drives start the moment you leave your tent.
From $450 per person per night
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
📍 Ngorongoro Crater rim, Tanzania
A stone-and-timber lodge built low along the crater rim, its rooms and dining room angled to look straight down into the caldera. Log fires take the chill off the highland evenings, and the short drive to the descent road means you are on the crater floor early, ahead of the day.
From $390 per person per night
Pricing & Options
All prices per person sharing. Customize any tier to your preferences.
Mid-Range
(~$575/night)
A seasonal Ndutu camp and the Ngorongoro Serena, a light-aircraft flight out to the plains, all game drives, all meals and all park fees
Get QuoteLuxury
(~$983/night)
A premium Ndutu tented camp and a luxury crater-rim lodge, private transfers, premium beverages and a balloon flight over the plains included
Get QuoteExclusive
(~$1,483/night)
Top tents and suites, a private vehicle and guide throughout, exclusive-use flexibility and all-inclusive beverages across the trip
Get QuoteWhat's Included & Excluded
✓ Included
- ✓ Six nights' accommodation — one night Arusha, three at Ndutu, two on the Ngorongoro crater rim (chosen tier)
- ✓ All meals as shown — breakfast, lunch and dinner from Day 2 to Day 7
- ✓ Every game drive on the itinerary in an open 4x4 with a qualified guide
- ✓ Light-aircraft flight from Arusha to the Ndutu plains
- ✓ All Serengeti and Ngorongoro park, crater and conservation fees
- ✓ Olduvai Gorge visit and the Ngorongoro Crater descent
- ✓ Airport meet-and-greet and all listed road transfers
- ✓ Sundowner drinks on game drives and bottled water throughout
- ✓ 24/7 on-trip support from Beyond Africa Safaris
✗ Excluded
- ✗ International flights into and out of Kilimanjaro
- ✗ Tanzanian visa fees
- ✗ Travel and medical insurance (mandatory)
- ✗ Hot-air balloon flights (offered as a transparent upgrade, included on the Luxury tier)
- ✗ Premium imported champagne, cellar wines and spirits on lower tiers
- ✗ Gratuities for guides and camp staff (guidelines provided)
- ✗ Personal expenses, curios and optional community visits
- ✗ Zanzibar or other beach extensions (gladly arranged on request)
Photo Gallery
Best Time to Travel
This trip is built for the calving window. December through March is when the wildebeest gather on the southern plains around Ndutu and drop their young, with February the peak for both newborns and predators. From April to November the herds move north toward the central and northern Serengeti, so for those months our Great Migration Masai Mara & Serengeti circuit is the stronger choice.
Why Choose This Package
The Calving, Not the Crossing
Most migration trips chase the July-to-October river crossings. This one is built for the other half of the story — the births on the southern plains and the predators that come for them.
Camped Where It Happens
A seasonal camp on the calving plains, not a fixed lodge an hour away, so your drives are short and you are among the herds from first light.
Honest, Tiered Pricing
A clear mid-range price with the exact cost of the luxury and exclusive-use upgrades shown up front — no gated 'enquire for price'.
Crafted, Not Booked
Park fees, the internal flight, the crater descent and every drive arranged end to end, with a qualified guide on your vehicle throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Experience the 7-Day Ndutu Calving & Predator Safari?
From $3,450 per person | 7 Days / 6 Nights
⚡ Limited availability for peak season 2026 — book early to secure your dates
