6-Day Safari · 4 comfort levels
From
$2,730
per person
Indicative price per person for 2 adults sharing a private vehicle, at Mid-range level. Your written quote confirms the final price.
The deeper Southern Serengeti experience: three nights in the Ndutu calving grounds, with time to slow down and follow the herds, plus Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater.
There are few wildlife experiences in Africa as moving as the Great Migration during the Ndutu calving season. Every year, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest gather across the short-grass plains of the Southern Serengeti. The landscape becomes a vast nursery, with newborn calves across the plains while lions, cheetahs, hyenas and other predators stay close by.
This is not a safari where you drive through the Serengeti hoping to meet the migration. This itinerary is designed around the migration itself.
You experience Tarangire's elephants and baobabs and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, then spend your time in the Southern Serengeti, slowing down and following the movement of the herds rather than travelling every day.
Best months to travel: Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar
The route stays the same at every level. What changes is where you sleep, how you travel and how much is arranged for you.
From $2,730per person
$455–$555 per day · $2,730–$3,330 for 6 days
A comfortable, well-organised safari with excellent wildlife viewing and good value, without paying for extensive luxury services.
From $4,530per person
$755–$1,200 per day · $4,530–$7,200 for 6 days
Upgraded lodges and premium tented camps with stylish interiors, excellent dining and attentive hospitality, while the safari stays focused on wildlife.
From $7,800per person
$1,300–$2,200 per day · $7,800–$13,200 for 6 days
Exceptional camps and lodges with premium suites, refined cuisine and personal service, chosen for location and exclusivity.
From $13,800per person
$2,300–$5,000 per day · $13,800–$30,000 for 6 days
Created for special celebrations and discerning travellers. Inclusions are tailored to the property and flights you choose, because not every camp offers every service.
These are indicative private-safari planning ranges per person, based on 2 adults sharing one private safari vehicle and a room. They are not confirmed quotations.
Your final cost depends on your travel dates, the number of guests, camp availability, flight fares and the exact services you choose. Ndutu camps can fill early in the calving season, so we confirm your price and accommodation in writing before you pay a deposit.
To request a price for one traveller or a group of three to six, select your group size in the booking box and Ombeni will quote you directly.
Your private vehicle and guide are shared only by your own party, so the more of you there are, the less each person pays.
Day 1
Your Tanzanian adventure begins at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where your Trust Tours & Safaris representative welcomes you and helps with your luggage. You then transfer privately to Arusha, the safari capital of northern Tanzania. The drive is about 50 km and takes around an hour, depending on traffic.
Depending on your arrival time, the rest of the day is yours. Relax, recover from your journey and prepare for the days ahead. Your safari guide will brief you on the route, the wildlife you can expect and what the next day holds.
A warm welcome and a comfortable first evening in Arusha.
Day 2
After an early breakfast, you leave Arusha with your guide and the landscape gradually changes from farmland to open savannah. Tarangire is famous for its spectacular concentration of elephants and enormous ancient baobab trees.
Your safari begins as soon as you enter the park. Your guide searches for wildlife while explaining the behaviour, habitats and ecology of the animals you meet. You may see large elephant families, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, impalas, gazelles, warthogs, hippos, lions, leopards, hyenas and many birds.
You stop at a scenic spot for a picnic lunch before your afternoon game drive. The park itself is part of the experience, with its baobabs, golden grasslands, acacia trees and winding river valleys. In the late afternoon, you leave the park and continue to Karatu.
Elephants, baobabs and Tanzania's hidden wildlife gem.
Day 3
Today is one of the most spectacular days of your safari. After breakfast, you drive into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend into the crater. The descent itself is unforgettable, as the forest gives way to an enormous natural amphitheatre.
Inside the crater, your guide searches for lion, elephant, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, hippo, hyena, gazelle, flamingo, jackal and black rhino. It is a completely different ecosystem from the open plains of the Serengeti.
After lunch, you begin the journey to the Southern Serengeti. As you approach Ndutu, the landscape opens into expansive short-grass plains, and you enter the Great Migration's calving grounds. If conditions allow, your guide begins game viewing on the way to your accommodation.
From the world's most famous crater to the heart of the migration.
Day 4
Today is dedicated almost entirely to the Great Migration and the calving season. You wake before sunrise and head out as the first light reaches the plains. Thousands of wildebeest may be spread across the horizon, with zebras and gazelles moving between the herds.
And then there are the newborns. You may see mothers with very young calves, calves learning to walk and large nursery groups moving across the plains. Where there are thousands of vulnerable young animals, predators are never far away. Your guide will look for lions watching the herds, cheetahs hunting on the open plains, hyenas and jackals.
Wildlife encounters can never be guaranteed, and that is part of what makes a genuine safari so exciting. Rather than rushing from one sighting to another, your private guide can stay with interesting behaviour. After a picnic lunch in the wilderness, you continue exploring as the plains take on the warm golden colours that make Ndutu so photogenic.
The day you've been waiting for.
Day 5
One of the greatest advantages of staying several nights in Ndutu is flexibility. The Great Migration does not follow a timetable. The herds move with the rain, grass and water, so a safari should not be built around visiting one place and leaving straight away.
After breakfast, you head out for another full day of exploring. You may return to an area where something interesting happened yesterday, or your guide may take you to another part of the Southern Serengeti.
This day can be especially rewarding for photographers, because there is time to wait for natural behaviour. You might watch a pride of lions resting near a herd, see a cheetah scan the plains, or simply sit quietly as thousands of wildebeest move across the horizon. There is time for the smaller details too: birds, reptiles, antelope and tracks.
You enjoy another picnic lunch in the wilderness and, if conditions allow, finish with a beautiful late-afternoon game drive.
Follow the herds, not a fixed schedule.
Day 6
After an early or packed breakfast, you head out for a final morning game drive. The early hours can be especially rewarding, because wildlife is often active before the heat of the day.
You then have a choice. Return by safari vehicle for a scenic journey through northern Tanzania, or fly from the Southern Serengeti to Arusha, subject to flight schedules and availability. The flight is especially convenient if you are connecting to an international flight from Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Your Trust Tours & Safaris representative makes sure that your transfers run smoothly, and your safari ends there.
One more morning in the Serengeti, then your way home.
Pick your comfort level, then choose a stay for each part of the route. Your choices go with your booking request. Ombeni confirms availability and your final price, and suggests a similar stay if one is full.
Night 1
City hotel
Central Arusha
A modern hotel in the centre of Arusha, an easy first stop after your flight. Air-conditioned rooms and an outdoor pool make it a comfortable place to rest before your safari briefing.
What you can do here
Riverside country inn
Usa River, between Arusha and Kilimanjaro Airport
A small country inn set in mature tropical gardens on the Usa River, about 35 minutes from Kilimanjaro Airport. Shaded paths lead down to the river, which makes it a quiet place to rest after a long flight.
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Lodge on a coffee estate
Coffee estate about 7 km from Arusha
Thatched cottages in tropical gardens on a coffee estate outside Arusha, each with a fireplace and private veranda, with views of Mount Meru.
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Four-star city hotel
About 2 km from central Arusha
A comfortable hotel close to the centre of Arusha, with a large outdoor pool beside a landscaped garden.
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City hotel in gardens
Near the Clock Tower, central Arusha
A historic hotel in the middle of Arusha, close to the Clock Tower, with a swimming pool surrounded by gardens.
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Large garden hotel
Foot of Mount Meru, Arusha
A large hotel set in about 15 acres of landscaped gardens at the foot of Mount Meru, a comfortable base before or after your safari.
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Garden lodge
Usa River, near Arusha
A peaceful lodge of rooms, suites and a family cottage spread through gardens at Usa River, between Arusha and the airport.
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Quiet country lodge
Near Arusha
A highly rated country lodge near Arusha, with plenty to do for travellers who like to stay active before their safari.
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Airport lodge
Next to Kilimanjaro International Airport
A simple, country-club-style lodge of thatched cottages right by the airport, ideal for a late arrival or an early flight.
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Airport lodge
Near Kilimanjaro International Airport
A newer lodge of cosy bungalows among banana and palm trees, well suited to a short stay around an international flight.
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Elewana lodge on a working coffee estate
Western edge of Arusha
Set among the coffee fields of a large estate on the western edge of Arusha, at the foot of Mount Meru. It is a peaceful first stop after a long flight, with gardens to relax in before your evening safari briefing.
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Boutique lodge on a coffee estate
Burka Coffee Estate, outside Arusha
An intimate lodge of garden cottages on a working coffee estate, with the former farmhouse at its heart. Winding paths link the cottages to the main house, giving it the feel of a private country home.
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Luxury city hotel
Kijenge, Arusha
A large luxury hotel in Arusha, with private balconies, several restaurants and landscaped gardens. It suits travellers who like the facilities of a full-service hotel before heading into the bush.
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Lakeside hotel and spa
Lake Duluti, about 20 km from Arusha
Formerly the Lake Duluti Serena, this hotel stands among coffee plantations on the shore of Lake Duluti, with stone-built cottages grouped around a flowery village square.
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Boutique hotel
Serengeti Road, Arusha
An elegant boutique hotel of 29 rooms and suites, about 2 km from central Arusha, with a garden and an outdoor pool.
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Villas and lodge
Private wildlife estate outside Arusha
A mix of private villas and a small lodge on a private wildlife estate just outside Arusha, a quiet start to your safari.
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Private six-bedroom villa
Golf estate, about 25 minutes from Kilimanjaro Airport
A luxury six-bedroom villa on a championship golf estate. You can book the whole villa or single rooms, which makes it ideal for families and friends.
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Night 2
Garden lodge
Karatu, Ngorongoro Highlands
A relaxed lodge set in about eleven acres of gardens in Karatu, the highland farming town between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater. It suits this route well: you arrive after a day in Tarangire and leave early for the crater the next morning.
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Lodge on a working coffee farm
Karatu, Ngorongoro Highlands
A lodge on a coffee farm in the Karatu highlands, close to the Ngorongoro Crater. The farm also grows vegetables and keeps livestock, which gives the place a warm, rural feel after a day in the park.
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Lodge on the crater rim
Ngorongoro Crater rim
Built into the rim of the crater, with traditional decor and sweeping views over the crater floor. Sleeping on the rim puts you close to the descent road for your morning game drive.
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Large lodge on the crater rim
Eastern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater
A large lodge on the quieter eastern rim of the crater, with its rooms set around a central swimming pool. Your Ngorongoro stay here comes with views over the crater floor.
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Simple lodge near the crater rim
Ngorongoro Crater rim
A simple, good-value lodge in the forest close to the crater rim, with 24 en-suite rooms. It puts you close to the crater for much less than the bigger rim lodges.
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Mid-range tented camp
Ngorongoro Highlands
A mid-range tented camp in the highlands, close to the descent road into the crater, which suits an early start.
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Lodge on a coffee farm
About 20 minutes from Karatu
A lodge on a large coffee farm, about 15 minutes from the Lodoare gate of the conservation area, with a pool and evening campfires.
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Lodge on a working coffee farm
Edge of Karatu town
A lodge on an active coffee farm at the edge of Karatu, with rooms in private cabins, a pool and a spa.
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Mid-range lodge
Karatu
A mid-range lodge of cottages and spacious tents in landscaped gardens, with a pool, a bar and a restaurant.
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Mid-range hilltop lodge
Hilltop near Karatu
A comfortable mid-range lodge on a scenic hilltop near Karatu, with a pool, a lounge and a restaurant.
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Good-value cottage lodge
Eastern edge of Karatu town
Affordable cottage-style rooms at the edge of Karatu, about 30 minutes from both the crater and Lake Manyara.
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Good-value lodge
Karatu
A comfortable and affordable lodge in Karatu, offering a good base for exploring the crater.
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Cottage lodge
Karatu, near the Ngorongoro Crater
A lodge of private cottages at the edge of Karatu, close to the village of Rhotia and about 30 minutes from the Ngorongoro gate. Each cottage has its own veranda, making it a restful stop between Tarangire and the crater.
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Colonial-style manor on a coffee estate
Karatu Highlands
An elegant manor house on a large Arabica coffee estate in the Karatu highlands, just outside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Guests stay in private suites set in cottages around the grounds.
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All-inclusive luxury lodge
Ngorongoro Highlands
An all-inclusive lodge of spacious cottages set in lush gardens, a calm base in the highlands for your crater day.
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Historic working coffee farm
Near Karatu, on the slopes of the Ngorongoro highlands
A working farm with roots going back to 1929, set among gardens and coffee on the forested slopes below the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Guests stay in private cottages, and much of the food comes from the farm.
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Luxury forest lodge
About 15 minutes from Karatu town
A luxury lodge on forested land near Karatu, with secluded cottages that have fireplaces and private decks overlooking the trees.
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Lodge on a working coffee plantation
Karatu
A stylish lodge on a working farm and coffee plantation, with rooms and suites spread through park-like gardens around a large pool.
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Farmhouse-style lodge
Karatu, about 15 minutes from the Lodoare gate
A farmhouse-style lodge of suites on about 40 acres, with views of the Oldeani Mountains and a pool.
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Cottage lodge among coffee plantations
Between Rhotia and Karatu
A lodge of cottages surrounded by coffee plantations and forest, each with a private veranda and a fireplace.
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Colonial-style lodge on a coffee plantation
Karatu highlands
An upper mid-range lodge on a working coffee plantation above Karatu, built in the style of old colonial farms, about 30 minutes from the Lodoare gate.
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Luxury lodge on the crater rim
Ngorongoro Crater rim
A rebuilt lodge on the rim of the crater, reopened in 2023 on the site of one of the first lodges at Ngorongoro.
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Boutique camp of dome tents
Slopes of Olmoti volcano, north of the crater
A small Asilia camp of eight dome-shaped tents, inspired by Maasai homes, on the slopes of Olmoti volcano. Each has a wood-burning stove against the cool highland nights.
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Ultra-luxury lodge on the crater rim
Ngorongoro Crater rim
One of Africa's most celebrated lodges, with opulent suites on the crater rim and breathtaking views over the crater floor. It is closed for a major rebuild and due to reopen in 2027, so we confirm availability for your dates.
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Nights 3, 4 and 5
Mid-range seasonal tented camp
Ndutu, Southern Serengeti ecosystem
A mid-range tented camp on the Ndutu plains, open through the calving season from around December to March. Staying here means you wake up close to the herds, instead of spending the best hours of the morning driving in from the highlands.
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Long-established lodge
Lake Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area
A much-loved lodge of stone-and-thatch cottages overlooking Lake Ndutu, on the edge of the calving plains. Unlike the seasonal camps, it is here all year, with en-suite bathrooms and a private veranda at each cottage.
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Seasonal tented bush camp
Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area
A seasonal mid-range camp that opens for the calving months, with en-suite tents and solar lighting. It is a straightforward bush camp, right where the herds gather.
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Seasonal mobile tented camp
Ndutu, Southern Serengeti ecosystem
A small mobile camp of about ten en-suite safari tents, set up in the south for the migration months and taken down after each season. It keeps the true feel of a bush camp.
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Luxury tented lodge
Lake Masek, Ndutu area
Comfortable tented suites overlooking Lake Masek, close to Lake Ndutu and well placed for the calving grounds. It feels more solid than a mobile camp, which is a real comfort in the wet months.
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Seasonal luxury tented camp
Ndutu, near the Southern Serengeti border
A seasonal luxury camp, open for the migration months from about December to March. It gives you the feeling of a true bush camp, close to the herds, with the comforts of a well-run tented suite.
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Luxury tented lodge
Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area
A lodge of about twenty spacious tents, each raised on a wooden platform under a thatched roof, in the Ndutu area on the migration's path. Unlike the mobile camps, it has a swimming pool and permanent lodge facilities.
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Permanent luxury tented camp
Kopjes of the southern Serengeti
A camp of 12 en-suite tents with raised wooden decks, set among rocky kopjes on the southern plains near the migration route. It is well placed for cheetahs.
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High-end mobile camp by Asilia
Ndutu, from December to March
An intimate camp of nine tents that moves between the far north and Ndutu to follow the herds. Stargazing tents give wide views from your bed, so the plains stay with you through the night.
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Small high-end mobile camp
Ndutu, from December to March
A small mobile camp of just a few canvas tents that moves through the year with the migration, and settles at Ndutu for the calving season.
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High-end mobile tented camp
Moves with the migration
A high-end mobile camp that moves through the year to follow the Great Migration. We confirm its position for your dates, so that it suits your time at Ndutu.
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December to March is the overall Ndutu season, with January and February the prime calving window. Here is what normally happens in each month.
| Month | What to expect |
|---|---|
| December | The migration begins gathering. The herds generally start concentrating in the south as the short rains bring fresh grass. |
| January | Calving begins. More wildebeest arrive and the first births take place. |
| February | Peak calving. Normally the core month, with huge concentrations of wildebeest, newborn calves and strong predator activity. |
| March | Late calving and transition. Newborn and predator sightings can still be excellent, especially early in the month, but the herds may begin moving north and west. |
Ndutu camps can fill early in the calving season, so we recommend confirming as early as you can. To receive an accurate quotation, tell us your travel dates, number of travellers, preferred comfort level, room-sharing arrangements and whether you will arrive at JRO, ARK or an Arusha hotel.
Still have questions? Ask Ombeni directly on WhatsApp.
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Indicative price per person for 2 adults sharing a private vehicle, at Mid-range level. Your written quote confirms the final price.
From
$2,730
per person
