8-Day Ndutu Migration

Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha National Park.

You will be picked up from the airport by a Gifted Adventure representative and transported to your accommodation in Arusha where you will overnight, relax, and prepare in anticipation of the adventures to come. Arusha Planet Lodge is an oasis of calm and aesthetic pleasure.

Main Destination: Arusha
Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 2: Tarangire National Park

In the morning you will be collected from your lodgings in Arusha and drive to Tarangire National Park on a good tarmac road across gently rolling Masai plains with scattered acacia trees. As we zip along, we pass many Masai in their colorful dress walking on the roadside, riding bicycles, herding cattle, and driving donkey carts. Tarangire National Park, well known for its large elephant herds, is also host to a multitude of other creatures. From the open roof of our state-of-the-art safari jeep, we experience the seasonal swamps, savanna, and life-giving Tarangire River, while we try to encounter a multitude of creatures from zebra to wildebeest, buffalo, elephant, and giraffe, to name but a few. We may glimpse lions stalking prey or leopards watching, relaxing in the trees above. After our extensive game drive, we depart to drive to one of our carefully selected mid-range partner lodges for dinner and overnight.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 3: Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, you will continue towards the fertile highlands where wheat and corn are grown by the Iraqw people. Along the way, we’ll pass through the mist-shrouded rainforests of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where you might be lucky enough to see baboons or even leopards and elephants in the dense undergrowth. Passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will be able to see the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater before traveling onwards to the Serengeti National Park, which you will reach by midday. The Serengeti National Park is the largest in Tanzania with diverse landscapes and habitats, such as grassy plains, swamps, lakes, savannah, and mountains. After an extensive game drive, you will drive to your accommodation where you will enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 4: Serengeti National Park to Ndutu (south Serengeti) for Calving

After breakfast, we will head to the Lake Ndutu region. Situated in the Ngorongoro conservation area, this is a sublime landscape of the southern Serengeti eco-system. The drive takes approximately 3 hrs.
Lake Ndutu is alkaline like most of the other Rift Valley Lakes and is a viable source of water, frequented by a wide array of the myriad wildlife here inhabiting.
We arrive in time for a delectable luncheon at the lodge or tented camp, and, with appetites satisfied, we undertake our afternoon game drive in the Ndutu region. The majority of the wildebeest migration can normally be found on the short-grass plains from December to April. The area is usually heavily populated with elephants, giraffes, over four hundred species of birds, and a plethora of other resident games.
After an unforgettable day, we head for our accommodation to dine and unwind by a fire on the plain under the star bright endless African night sky.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drink

Day 5: Ndutu Region

After our hearty breakfast, we head out to enjoy a full-day game drive in the Ndutu region. We will explore the range of different habitats found here that including swamps, woodland, soda lakes, and the world-famous Serengeti short grass plains. We will see herds of wildebeest and zebra.
During a short time frame around February, normally lasting for about 3 weeks, the majority of the wildebeest calves, drop over half a million young in this awesome act of synchronized birthing. The grass provides little cover and the young are easy pickings for a variety of predators, with cheetah being particularly active, alongside lion, hyena, and leopard. Wildebeest calves can run minutes after they are born and within 3 days they are normally strong enough to keep up with the herd.
With our day of adventure drawing to a close, as the shadows of the African night begin to descend, we head back to our accommodation for dinner and overnight.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 6: Ndutu to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After an early breakfast, we head out for another game drive upon the Ndutu Area before embarking on our journey to the Ngorongoro Highlands. The animals roam freely through the unfenced reserves, offering us an uninterrupted game viewing experience.
Arriving at the edge of the crater we have our first glimpse of what awaits us the following day – glistening streams, open grassland, and a myriad amount of animals.

We spend the evening and night at one of our carefully selected mid-range partner lodges for dinner and overnight stay.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater

Early risers are rewarded with breath-taking views of the rising sun over the crater’s edge and, after a hearty breakfast, we rumble down the adventurous track into the crater. This UNESCO world heritage site, one of the seven wonders of Africa, formed about three million years ago, is 610 m deep and covers roughly 260 square kilometers. Due to its dense animal population of approximately 25,000 ungulates, the crater offers the best game viewing of all the parks in Tanzania. In a matter of minutes, we will be able to see wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, elephant, and some of the more than 500 bird species that live here. With a little bit of luck, we may catch a glimpse of the endangered black rhino through the grass. After an extensive game drive and a picnic lunch, we leave the crater in the afternoon to travel back to Karatu, again staying at one of our, hand-picked quality, mid-range partner lodges.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 8: Lake Manyara to Arusha

After breakfast, you will drive to our final destination on this epic safari – Lake Manyara National Park. This, a relatively small but diverse park, situated 120km west of Arusha, is so named for the shallow salt lake that covers some seventy percent of the surface area, flooding and drying with the seasons and home to thousands of flamingos and in the extraordinary region of 500 other bird species. On our exploration of the park, we will see monkeys, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, buffalo, elephants, and, with some luck, lions lounging in the trees. The park is known for its diverse landscapes; not only open grassy plains but also primate-filled woodlands and baobab-dotted cliffs. After lunch, we head back to Arusha where we will arrive in the late afternoon. Our adventure is at its inevitable end, with all the sites and sounds of wild East Africa tucked away in our minds, adding to your adventure in the journey of life.

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 9: Northern Serengeti

We have a full day for game viewing around this area. The Northern Serengeti remains an unexplored wilderness packed with stunning landscapes and a large number of wildlife. The most captivating highlight of this area is undoubtedly the massive herds of migratory wildebeest and zebra during the dry season. However, the North Serengeti also supports abundant resident wildlife including lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes, crocodiles, and the rare oribi antelope. The best vantage points and worthwhile areas are chosen to give you the best possible chance to observe animals and capture the perfect photo. With fluctuations in rainfall, the animal yearly timetable circle can change resulting in the animals migrating during different times and routes. Your guide will know where and when to find the animals and will make sure that you can see the animals from the best spot in the national park. 

 Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 10: Northern Serengeti – Arusha

After breakfast enjoys the morning game drive then depart to the Kogatende airstrip in time for Regional Air to Arusha. Arrive in freshen up at the accommodation (Day room) and enjoy your lunch in time for lunch and get ready to be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your international flight back to your home country, and this day is the day which ends our safari services. 

 Meals: Breakfast & Lunch.