Slow down: it’s wildebeest calving safari season! Marvel at the wildebeest calving season in the endless expanses of southern Serengeti, stand awe-struck at the sight of immense flocks of pelicans and flamingos at Lake Manyara and get inspired by the amazing conservation and sustainability projects that Chem Chem has undertaken to make our planet a better place for the wildlife, the people, and the land. Changes in pace and landscape throughout this itinerary ensure that it offers relaxation and stimulation in equal measure – the perfect safari experience.

Planning the best wildebeest calving safari requires making the arrangements in advance so you can be at the right location, at the right time for this amazing phenomenon. The appropriate months for Serengeti’s calving season are January, February, and March – is it during this time frame between the short rains of December and before the long rains of April where enough food (green pastures) and plenty of water is available for the new calves to be born and grow. If you have specific dates in mind, particularly for February when the calving season is in full swing, then we highly recommend to start booking a year in advance so we can ensure you have the availability for the dates you request. If you are not specific about dates within the January to March calving period, then we advise to start booking at least six to eight months ahead – the sooner the better for February! Since the calving season usually peaks during the month of February, it is natural for most travelers to be in the Serengeti during that prime time for wildlife viewing, therefore most intimate mobile camps that follow the migration get sold out quickly. To get a sense of our amazing tailor-made African safari experiences from all over Tanzania, please watch our short video.

The best camps for the calving season lie in the Ndutu area, south of the Serengeti. The majority of the properties in this region are semi-permanent intimate tented camps set up each year strategically in the path of the migration, allowing you to leave the camp in the early morning ready for thrilling game drives returning whenever you are satisfied with your daily exploration in the vast green rolling plains of the Southern Serengeti. All eco-friendly safari camps that we book for our guests are spacious walk-in tented suites with large comfortable beds with verandahs and en-suite private bathrooms (hot water showers and flush eco-toilets). By staying in a mobile camp in the Ndutu, you will have a front-row seat to the wildebeest calving season and potentially witness the birthing right from the doorstep of your camp! We recommend you spend at least four nights in this region so that you can maximize your wildlife viewing!

While this is one of the best itineraries for anyone planning to catch a glimpse of the birthing season in Southern Serengeti and Tarangire over the months of December to March, for those with a little more time, we can customize and extend our Wildebeest Migration Calving Season safari to combine visits to the Ndutu region of the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with sometime in the Central Serengeti and your choice of either Tarangire National Park or Lake Manyara National Park.