5 Days Ndutu Migration, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Safari

Your safari begins early, with a 6:30 AM pick-up from your hotel in Arusha or Moshi. The drive to Ndutu takes about 5–6 hours, covering a distance of 260 km. After approximately 3.5 hours, you will enter the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where the landscape transitions from hilly forests to plains and grasslands. Upon arrival in Ndutu, you will enjoy a half-day game drive with a stop for a picnic lunch. The vast grasslands here are part of the migration route for over two million wildebeests and thousands of zebras, antelopes, and gazelles. From December to April, you’ll witness the great migration, and between mid-January and February, calving season draws predators to the area. The region’s lakes, Ndutu and Masek, provide water year-round, attracting diverse wildlife. Keep an eye out for the six big cat species: leopard, lion, cheetah, caracal, serval, and wildcat. After an exciting day of wildlife viewing, you’ll head to your accommodation for a freshly prepared dinner and a well-earned rest

Today, you have more opportunities to explore Ndutu. You can choose between two options:
– 1. Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and depart around 8:00 AM for a full-day game drive, returning in the evening.
– 2. Begin with an early morning game drive at 6:20 AM, return to your lodge for a late breakfast and relaxation, followed by an afternoon game drive at 3:00 PM. Either way, the day promises more fantastic wildlife experiences.

After breakfast, you will have a final morning game drive in Ndutu before heading to the worldrenowned Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti, which means “endless plains” in the local language, is home to Africa’s “Big 5” – elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, and leopard. In addition, you may encounter impalas and other wildlife. The park is famous for its vast ecosystem, which supports one of the largest concentrations of plains game in Africa. During the day-long game drive, you’ll have a picnic lunch. By the evening, you’ll arrive at your accommodation in the Serengeti for dinner and rest.

After an early breakfast, you’ll have a morning game drive in the Serengeti before departing for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Depending on your choice of accommodation, you will either stay inside the conservation area or in Karatu. Optional activities include a Maasai village tour or a hike along the Ngorongoro crater rim (extra costs apply).

On the final day of your safari, you will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest inactive volcanic caldera. The crater has a massive floor covering 260 sq. km, with a depth of over 600 meters. This area is teeming with wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, black rhinos, hippos, hyenas, cheetahs, and lions. After a 5-hour game drive and a picnic lunch near the hippo pool, you’ll begin the ascent from the crater floor. By late afternoon, you will return to Arusha, where your safari adventure concludes.