This calving season photo safari takes you to the short-grass plains of Ndutu, where thousands of wildebeest calves are born each year and predators are never far away.
This calving season photo safari runs from January to March in northern Tanzania. During these months the migration herds gather on the Ndutu plains in the southern Serengeti ecosystem, and huge numbers of wildebeest calves are born within a few weeks.
For photographers, this is one of the most exciting times of year. Newborn calves, curious young zebras and very active lions, cheetahs and hyenas give you action and emotion in the same frame.
Why choose this calving season photo safari?
The short green grass at Ndutu makes for clean backgrounds and clear views. Three nights in the area give you time to find a birth, follow a hunt or wait for cheetahs to climb a termite mound.
- Ndutu plains: newborn calves, herds and dramatic summer storms.
- Predators: lions, cheetahs, hyenas and jackals following the herds.
- Ngorongoro Crater: a full day on the crater floor with lions, rhinos and flamingos.
- Central Serengeti: rocky kopjes, leopards in sausage trees and big skies.
The route
You start in Arusha and visit Tarangire for elephants and baobabs. Then you descend into Ngorongoro Crater before heading to Ndutu for three nights. The last two nights are in the central Serengeti, before a short flight back to Arusha.
Shooting in the green season
Storm clouds build in the afternoon, which gives dramatic light. Bring a rain cover for your camera and a lens cloth. Mornings are usually clear and calm, perfect for backlit calves in the grass.
Best time for a calving season photo safari
Calving usually peaks from late January to February, but the herds are on the southern plains from about December to March. Rain decides where the herds graze, so your guide will follow the latest reports. Our Serengeti migration guide explains the yearly cycle.
Prefer a shorter trip? See our 4 day Serengeti wildebeest migration safari or the 8 day Northern Tanzania migration safari. Pack with our Tanzania safari packing checklist, and see the Tanzania National Parks website for park information.
How much does the calving season photo safari cost?
Price on request. The cost depends on your travel dates, group size, the season and the lodges you choose, so we prepare every quote personally rather than showing one fixed price.
WhatsApp us on +254 706 223888, email [email protected] or send the enquiry form on this page, and we will share a detailed quote for your dates.
Highlights
- Wildebeest calving on the Ndutu plains
- Lions, cheetahs and hyenas following the herds
- Full day on the Ngorongoro Crater floor
- Elephants and baobabs in Tarangire
- Kopjes and leopards in the central Serengeti
