9 Day the Great Migration Calvin Season Safaris
Duration
9 Days
Country
Tanzania
Service Level
Migration
Price
From US PP
About this tour
There is something truly remarkable about the mass Great Migration Calvin Season Safaris of wildebeest between late January and early March. Within a matter of weeks, most female wildebeest drop their calves in a synchronized birthing that sees the Serengeti’s southern plains filled with over 400 000 young.
Estimates are that 8 000 wildebeest are born a day – that is 300 every hour! While lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena and wild dog certainly eat their fill of these gangly baby gnus, the synchronized calving is an effective survival mechanism for the species: there is simply too much food for the predators to consume.
The wildebeest congregate in the Southern Serengeti Plains– the Ndutu Area and the northern area of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). They are attracted by the abundant fresh grass on the fertile plains and the calcium in the soil, which is essential for growth and is transferred to the calves through the mother’s milk. Between late January and mid-March, over 80% of fertile female wildebeest drop their calves within a few weeks of one another.
Over 400000 tiny wildebeest dot the plains and the predators swoop in to feast on the easy prey. Wildebeest still occupy the southern area of Serengeti National Park, but are preparing to move north as the plains dry out.
Highlights
Arrival & Departure
Price
From US Per Person Sharing
Destinations
Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater
Price includes
- All accommodation according to the itinerary
- Overnight accommodation according to the itinerary
- Guaranteed window seat in safari vehicles/Jeep driven by experienced driver guides
- Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Professional, English-speaking guide
- All park entrance fees
- All government taxes
- All sightseeing and game viewing
Price excludes
- Domestic and International Flights
- Tanzania Visa Entry Fees
- Tips and Gratuities for the driver guide and cook
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, laundry, beverages, alcoholic and soft drinks
Trip gallery
Day by day itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Kilimanjaro International Airport – Arusha
Upon exiting the airport, a Africa Joy Tours representative will be holding a poster with your name who will transfer you to Arusha (45 minutes) for the Serenity retreat of Killi Villa Retreat set on a picturesque coffee plantation; this charming lodge has beautiful views of Mount Meru and is the ideal place to acclimatize to Africa.
After settling into your cottage, take a stroll through the plantations, visit the markets of nearby Arusha, or simply relax in the poolside gardens with a chilled drink. On cool winter evenings, get cosy next to a fireplace and sip one of the best coffees you will ever taste.
Activities
Accommodation
Accommodation Gallery
Day 2: Tarangire National Park – Elephants and Baobab Trees on Your First Game Drives
Enjoy a delicious Picnic Lunches near the stretch of Tarangire River. More game drive until end of the day you drive to Sanctuary Swala Camp for dinner and overnight.
Activities
Game Drive
Accommodation
Accommodation Gallery
Day 3: Bush Walk – Exploring the Tanzanian Woodland – Night Game drives – Sundowner + Cocktails.
With a new African morning, there’s calmness to the Tarangire panorama. It seems serene and soft, a little haze rising through the 300-year old trees. But head out at this hour, and it’s eventful in the bush. Antelopes don’t graze. They stop and listen, fearful of a predatory approach. Elephants bash into trees and hundreds of giraffe feed silently. Morning is the premier time of day for a game drive, a time when big cats are on the move, and big mammals are feeding with abandon. The grass moves, and camouflage is betrayed.
Keep watching and it’s another minute before the next rustle. But now the sighting is unmistakable. Just ten meters away there’s a cheetah concealing itself amongst the green. Perhaps the impala get scared, and you don’t see more than this. But on some mornings, you watch a whole stalking and hunting scene play out Sanctuary Swala Camp for dinner and overnight.
Activities
Game Drive
Accommodation
Accommodation Gallery
Day 4: Lake Manyara National Park – Game drive – Sundowner.
Enjoy your picnic lunches under the Acacia trees. This habitat is favored by the park’s famous tree-climbing lions, leopards and giraffes and can claim the greatest elephant concentration in East Africa. Algae thrive in the high saline content of the lake. Huge and colorful flocks of birds gather in the water to feed, including many different varieties of birds that coexist together. In fact, well over 300 different species of birds have been recorded here, continue with afternoon game drive and later drive to the Lush retreat of Lions Paw Camp Ngorongoro for cocktails drinks dinner and overnight.
Keep watching and it’s another minute before the next rustle. But now the sighting is unmistakable. Just ten meters away there’s a cheetah concealing itself amongst the green. Perhaps the impala get scared, and you don’t see more than this. But on some mornings, you watch a whole stalking and hunting scene play out Sanctuary Swala Camp for dinner and overnight.
Activities
Game Drive
Accommodation
Accommodation Gallery
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater Africa’s “Garden of Eden – Bush Dinner + Cocktail
It is one of the few places where the rare black rhino can be observed in their natural setting. As very few animals migrate in and out of the crater with its 2000 ft. high walls, you can expect to see lions, elephants, zebras, Hippos, flamingos, jackals, rhinos, antelopes, many birds and other species. With a bit of luck the ‘Big Five’ can be spotted during one game drive only. Drive back to Lions Paw Camp Ngorongoro for dinner and overnight.
Enjoy your picnic lunches under the Acacia trees. This habitat is favored by the park’s famous tree-climbing lions, leopards and giraffes and can claim the greatest elephant concentration in East Africa. Algae thrive in the high saline content of the lake. Huge and colorful flocks of birds gather in the water to feed, including many different varieties of birds that coexist together. In fact, well over 300 different species of birds have been recorded here, continue with afternoon game drive and later drive to the Lush retreat of Lions Paw Camp Ngorongoro for cocktails drinks dinner and overnight.
Keep watching and it’s another minute before the next rustle. But now the sighting is unmistakable. Just ten meters away there’s a cheetah concealing itself amongst the green. Perhaps the impala get scared, and you don’t see more than this. But on some mornings, you watch a whole stalking and hunting scene play out Sanctuary Swala Camp for dinner and overnight.
Activities
Game Drive
Accommodation
Accommodation Gallery
Day 6: Olduvai George – Masai Village Cultural – Eastern Serengeti Taasa Private Reserve.
Proceed to Serengeti National Park – with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. We head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti’s species. Dinner and overnight at Taasa Lodge-Suite Chalet.
Activities
Game Drive
Accommodation
Accommodation Gallery
Day 7: Taasa Private Reserve Bush Guided Walk – Sundowner + Cocktails + Night Game drives.
Load into our open-sided Toyota Land Cruiser with warm blankets and head out in the dark of night under starlit skies. The experience of a game drive at night is very different from one during the day and you may see striped hyena on the prowl or lions on hunt. Your Maasai guide will be in his tracker’s chair mounted on the vehicle front with his floodlight sweeping for reflective eyes of predators. One never knows what will be lurking in the dark, but it is guaranteed to be electrifying and totally unlike your daytime game drives. Taasa Lodge-Suite Chalet
Activities
Game Drive
Accommodation
Accommodation Gallery
Day 8: Taasa Private Reserve – Sunrise Game drives – Cultural experience at Campfire + Bush Dinner.
Thousands of zebra and wildebeest cross the Mara River during the annual migration between Tanzania and Kenya. The annual migration sees over a million wild animals move from one country. You’ll feel right at home between game drives in one of our luxurious and spacious en-suite tents. Expertly appointed, each one seamlessly blends modern comforts with uniquely African accents.
Enjoy stunning views of the Lobo Valley from the serenity of your private verandah or curl up with a good book in your own cozy sitting area, beautifully furnished with a large sectional couch and desk. A raised sleeping area features either a king or twin sized beds. En-suite bathrooms are complete with a stone shower, double vanity, and hair dryer, along with sumptuous robes and towels – a touch of indulgence in the bush. Taasa Lodge-Suite Chalet.
Activities
Game Drive
Accommodation
Accommodation Gallery
Day 9: Eastern Serengeti Private Concession – Fly to Arusha – Kilimanjaro Airport – Departure.
Early start today for an early morning game drive to see also nocturnal predators returning from hunting and animals waking up in early morning light or breakfast at the lodge, and morning go on your final game drive in Big & Small Marsh Plains. Keep your eyes open for any elusive wildlife that you may not have seen, transfer to Lobo Airstrip in time for Check in (Luggage free weight each person is 33 LBS & 11 LBS on Hand bag), and Schedule flight to Arusha Airport. REGIONAL AIR flights depart Lobo Airstrip at 09: 30 AM and arrive at Arusha Airport at 12: 15 PM.
On your arrival at Arusha Airport you will be Meet with our driver and drive the short distance for a fare well deserved Lunch at BUTTER & SCOTCH SABLE SQUIRE. Here you will have a variety of English – African taste meals with soft drinks & juices. After lunch we transfer back you to Kilimanjaro International Airport in time for check in for departure flight.
Activities
Accommodation
Accommodation Gallery
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