Baby Wildebeest Safari

After breakfast, depart for Tarangire National Park. During January–March the Tarangire ecosystem pulses with life as thousands of animals arrive from surrounding areas. Enormous elephant breeding herds gather along the river, and lion and leopard sightings are superb. Full afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at Tarangire River Camp.

A full day exploring Tarangire’s diverse habitats. The Silale Swamp in the south of the park is a spectacular wildlife gathering point, with hundreds of buffalo and elephant. The ancient baobab trees provide dramatic backdrops for photography. Watch for leopards in the riverine forest and cheetah on the open plains. All meals and overnight at Tarangire River Camp.

After a morning game drive in Tarangire, drive to the Ngorongoro Crater area through the colourful market town of Mto wa Mbu. Optional stop at Lake Manyara viewpoint. Continue up the forested escarpment to the Ngorongoro Crater rim for dinner and overnight with views over the caldera at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge.

Early descent into the Ngorongoro Crater for a morning game drive. After lunch on the crater floor, depart for the Southern Serengeti — specifically the Ndutu area, which is the calving ground of the wildebeest. Between January and March over 400,000 wildebeest calves are born in three weeks. The newborns can walk within minutes of birth and must immediately outrun the lions, hyenas and cheetahs drawn from across the Serengeti. Dinner and overnight at Ndutu Safari Lodge.

A full day in the Ndutu ecosystem during the height of calving season. The landscape is filled with thousands of newborn wildebeest calves. Cheetah mothers hunt in the open to feed their own cubs, and enormous lion prides gorge on the abundance. Spotted hyenas follow the herds in clan groups. This is arguably the most emotionally powerful wildlife experience in Africa. All meals and overnight at Ndutu camp.

Morning game drive in the Ndutu area then depart for Lake Eyasi. This remote soda lake is home to the Hadzabe — one of the last true hunter-gatherer peoples on Earth. Visit a Hadzabe community and join the men on a morning hunt using traditional bows and arrows. Learn how they read animal tracks, set snares and gather wild honey and berries. Dinner and overnight at Lake Eyasi Camp.

After breakfast at Lake Eyasi, drive back to Arusha through the scenic Ngorongoro Highlands. Drop off at Kilimanjaro International Airport or your Arusha hotel. Ask about extending your trip with a Zanzibar beach holiday.