Dates

12th February - 22nd February 2025

Overview & Photographic Opportunity

This safari is purely based on the Great Wildebeest Migration calving and gives the guests a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness and photograph this amazing natural spectacle. 

Guests will have to plan their international flights from their home country to Kilimanjaro International Airport (Arusha). They should plan to be in Arusha for the first night of our lodgings. 

The safari will begin in Arusha (12th February 2025), where upon arrival, the guests will spend 1 night at the Gran Melia Hotel. The following day (13th February 2025), they will be transferred to Ndutu Area (Southern Serengeti/Ngorongoro Conservation Area) with a packed lunch enroute where for the next five days, (13th-17th February 2025), we will have exceptional opportunities and interactions to photograph the great herds of wildebeest, where in the fertile soils of the Southern Serengeti  the females drop some 400,000 calves, the same way they have been doing for thousands of years. The 5 days will be spent entirely in the South (Ndutu Area) in a Luxury Tented Camp and will be dedicated to The Wildebeest Calving.

After spending 5 days in Ndutu, we will extend the stay for a further 2 nights (18th-19th February 2025) in Central Serengeti (Seronera Area), where the Big Cat sightings are exceptional throughout the year. Central Serengeti has some of the highest densities/concentrations of Big Cats in Africa. Apart from the numerous lion prides hanging around the picturesque and breathtaking Kopjes', there is also bountiful numbers of plains game, elephants, giraffes and of course the rare smaller cats (servals, caracals and African wild cats).

Over the course of the safari, guests will also encounter the famous big cats of the Serengeti that include lions, cheetahs and the elusive leopards. Big cat activity during this period is at an all time high. The big cats take advantage of the newborn baby wildebeest as they are extremely vulnerable during the first few hours after birth. Cats are extremely active and vigilant during this period and pounce on any opportunity to grab an easy meal.

After spending 7 nights in the Serengeti Eco-system, our final destination will be the World famous Ngorongoro Crater (20th-21st February 2025). The Ngorongoro Crater and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are without a doubt some of the most beautiful parts of Tanzania, steeped in history and teeming with wildlife. This protected area is located in the Great Rift Valley and also known as the eighth wonder of the world. The Crater actually is a gigantic fracture of the earth's crust. The magnificent landscape consists of volcanoes, mountains, plains, lakes, forests and archaeological sites. Deep within its immense walls is a breath-taking blue-green landscape dotted with plains, lakes and forests; an eerie, otherworldly “land that time forgot” thick with massive bull elephants, rhinos, wildebeests and the highest concentration of lions in Africa. 

Photographic opportunities during this particular period are excellent and with the help of Aatish or Aashit Patel, they will help better understand your camera equipment and assist you in attaining better quality wildlife photographs.

Guides

Aatish & Aashit will be your personal guides and photographic instructors throughout the entire duration of your safari. They will share their extensive knowledge of the wildlife, flora and fauna not only of the surrounding ares, but also the different parks and reserves of Kenya. To get the perfect photograph it is important to be able to study the animal and understand it's overall behaviour, so as to perfectly position the vehicle and most importantly not to harass the animal or destroy the environment in any way possible. Over the years, having spent numerous hours closely interacting with the wildlife, they will assure you the perfect position to guarantee you that picture perfect shot.

All guides are fully qualified and have met the requirements for their professional safari certificates, ensuring excellent standards in guiding. They have a vast knowledge in a variety of fields, which include, ornithology, botany, geography, entomology and of course a extensive knowledge of the different animals encountered whilst on safari.

Camps, Hotels and Lodges

Guests will have to plan their international flights to and from their home country to Kilimanjaro International Airport (Arusha). They should plan to be in Arusha for the first night of our lodgings. 

While in Arusha, guests will spend the night at The Gran Melia Hotel. Nestled at the foot of the wooded slopes of Mount Meru, this unique hotel in Arusha Tanzania stands amid 18 acres of beautiful landscaped coffee and tea plantations. Pure tranquility with spectacular views of Mount Meru. Gran Meliá Arusha offers a unique experience combining the most exciting once-in-a-lifetime safari destination with state-of-the-art conference facilities.. The hotel is located 60 kilometres from Kilimanjaro International Airport.

While on safari, the guests will spend their entire time at a luxurious Tented Camps. From December until March, a small shady forest east of the Ndutu area in the south is home. A small stream in front of camp frames the vista of iconic grasslands, dotted with hundreds of thousands wildebeest as they graze on the luscious green grass. In February, the plains throng with even more animals as wildebeest mothers give birth simultaneously, and hundreds of tiny wildebeest skitter and slide around the grasslands. Officially in the NCA (Ngorongoro Conservation Area), game drives cover both the NCA itself and the southern Serengeti, allowing for frequent sightings of big cats, elephant, buffalo and the more elusive African wild dog.

The tents offer a modern take on the vintage charm of East Africa. Each has a king-sized bed (twin beds are available) complete with rich linens, an under-cover veranda with comfortable chaise lounge,and en-suite bathroom and dressing area with hot-water safari bucket showers and flushing toilets.

The mess and dining tents echo the style and ambience of the rooms, with panoramic views of the sprawling Serengeti plains. Spend the afternoon relaxing in an armchair in the mess area or get comfortable under the shade of the surrounding trees and simply watch the game pass by. When darkness falls, dinner is served either under canvas or beneath a glittering canopy of stars in a small clearing close by, accompanied by the night sounds of the bush.

In the Ngorongoro, the Lodge is set on the stunning rim of the ancient Ngorongoro Crater providing a gateway to unforgettable adventures and excursions. Enjoy a wide range of activities, from game drives on the Crater floor to guided nature walks, bush dining experiences, visits to Maasai villages and cattle markets, and much, much more.  

Vehicles

All vehicles used while on safari are entirely safari modified land rovers/land cruiser 4x4s that are custom built to deal with the harshest of terrains and also to ensure your comfort and safety. They are capable of carrying up to a maximum of 5-7 PAX, but we recommend only 3-4 PAX per vehicle to ensure the utmost satisfaction, easy wildlife observation and photography. All vehicles are also fully equipped with roof hatches to improve all round game viewing and offer you a 360-degree panoramic view of your surroundings.

Guests/Participants

This safari will be for a minimum of 4 guests and a maximum of 8 guests. Each vehicle will comprise of 4 guests ensuring them maximum space for all their photographic gear and equipment and maximum comfort while on game drives.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

Additional cost for a single supplement will be TBA Per Person Per Night