6 DAYS SERENGETI WILDEBEEST CALVING SEASON
6-days-Serengeti-wildebeest-calving-season-February Near the Mara River, this circuit comprises a larger number of animals including pride of lions and other cats such as leopards and Cheetah. Also, the outcrops rock (KOPJES) serves as breeding grounds for the cats. Also Klipspringers resident on these outcrops rock, without ignoring the tiny but cute oribi antelopes which are common in the area.
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you clear the immigration and customs procedures before you are met by a Hallmark Travel Planners representative who will transfer you to your hotel in Arusha. Overnight – Mount Meru Hotel.
Day 2: Drive Arusha to Lake Manyara
Breakfast at your hotel. At 0800 hours, pick up from and drive on tarmac road 130km with lunch box to Lake Manyara National Park (330 sq km or 127 sq mile’s) on the base of the Great Rift Valley. With picnic lunch boxes, enjoy a game drive in the park till sunset.
More than 400 bird species have been recorded on Lake Manyara. A first-time visitor might reasonably expect to observe 100 of these in one day. Highlights include thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large water birds such as pelicans, cormorants and storks. Lake Manyara is home to Lion, Hippo, Elephant, Zebra, Buffalo, Giraffe, Baboon, Blue and Vervet monkey, Warthog and more… This small park contains also five distinct vegetation zones. Thus supporting a large variety of birds and animals. Dinner and overnight at Isoitok Tented Lodge.
Day 3: Drive Lake Manyara to Ndutu
Breakfast at 0600am. Pick up from the camp at 0700am and drive to Ndutu Area for the Great Wildebeest Migration Safari. The wildebeest and zebra are distributed over a wide area moving slowly and grazing. The migration is in the short grass plains of Ndutu.
The heavy rains are approaching from the north and the short grass plains are starting to take strain due to the longtime grazing of these thousands of hundred wildlife. The best place to be based is in Ndutu, Seronera or Kusini. The locations are all within easy reach of the wide-area covered by 2 million wildebeest, zebra and Thompson’s gazelles. The large numbers of wildebeest have foaled. the majority of the wildebeest calve around February. They normally stay in the area till April and then start moving west towards the Western Corridor of the Serengeti National Park. The area is usually heavily populated with elephants, birds and resident games. Dinner and Overnight at Kenzan Ndutu Camp.
Day 4: Safari Activities in Ndutu
Depart very early in the for searching the annual great wildebeest migration whereby wildebeest, zebra and gazelle migrates from Masai Mara and central Serengeti and go back to Ndutu Area of calving. The calving season will last for the next six weeks, with approximately 8,000 young wildebeest born every day in the peak calving period. Witnessing a newly born calf capable of running in a matter of minutes is one of nature’s most incredible events.
Ndutu also supports many species of wildlife including Lion, African Leopard, African Elephant, cheetah, African Buffalo, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, topi, eland, water buck, hyena, baboon, impala, African wild dog and giraffe. The area also boasts about 500 bird species, including ostrich, secretary bird, Kori bastard, crowned crane, marabou stork, martial eagle, lovebirds and many species of vultures. Dinner and Overnight at Kenzan Ndutu Camp.
Day 5: Morning in Ndutu. Afternoon Drive to Ngorongoro
Wake up at 0600 hours for early morning game drives in Ndutu at 0900 hours back to the camp for breakfast. Here in the Ndutu region you can often watch wildebeest and zebras next to lions and other big cats such as leopards and cheetahs. Lake Ndutu is alkaline, like most of the other Rift lakes, however the water is still drinkable and used by a wide array of local wildlife. Wildebeest calves can run minutes after they are born and within 3 days they are normally strong enough to keep up with the herd.
Depart with picnic lunch boxes, heading for Ngorongoro Crater Rim. On the way stop over at the Olduvai Gorge where the English pair, Louis and Mary Leak pioneered excavation work. In the sixties some of the earliest archaeological deposits of human evolution was found and a small museum (visit optional) documents these discoveries.
Continue to Ngorongoro Crater to arrive your lodge before sunset. Dinner and Overnight at Farm of Dreams Lodge.
Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater Tour – Evening departure
Wake up early morning for breakfast then descend into Ngorongoro Crater floor (19.2 km of diameter, 610m deep, 304 sq km) for game drives. All the Big five Rhino Lion, Leopard, Buffalo and Elephant live in this wonderful caldera, and others. Birds includes flamingos on the Soda lake, Geese, Storks, Vultures and more.
This crater is often called ‘Africa’s Eden’, the ‘8th Natural Wonder of the World’. A massive extinct volcano, its towering tree lined walls drop thousands of feet to a “Noah’s Ark” of animals on the verdant floor below. This breathtaking oasis provides a haven for both predator and prey to live among grasslands, water springs and the large soda lake. Large herds of zebra, buffalo, antelope and wildebeest graze nearby while sleeping lions.
In the late afternoon, exit the crater and begin the drive to Kilimanjaro Airport (via Arusha) for your flight home.
INCLUDED:
- Government imposed increase of park fees and/or taxes
- Park fees (for non-residents)
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks (as specified in the day-by-day section)
- All accommodation (unless listed as upgrade)
- Accommodation on the day before the tour departs
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (unless labelled as optional)
- All flights during the tour
- All Taxes/VAT
NOT INCLUDED
- Accommodation on the last day
- International flights (from/to home)
- Tips (tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Some meals (as specified in the day-by-day)
