4 Days Ndutu Migration Safari to Tarangire, Ndutu and Ngorongoro Crater
This 4 Days Ndutu Migration Safari to Tarangire, Ndutu and Ngorongoro Crater covers 1 night near Tarangire National Park, 1 night in the Ndutu area, and 1 night in the Ngorongoro Highlands, with an additional 1 night stay in Arusha City before the safari begins. The safari starts with airport pick-up from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK) and ends with airport drop-off after the tour. Accompanied by our professional, certified, experienced and passionate safari guides from Macpace Tours and Safaris, this journey offers a beautiful Tanzania migration safari experience and memories that will last a lifetime.
Starting from Arusha City or Moshi Town, this safari is a great choice for travelers who want to experience Tarangire wildlife, the Ndutu Migration area, and the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater in a short but rewarding itinerary. It is simple, well planned, and gives you a chance to enjoy elephants, baobab trees, big cats, wildebeest herds, open plains, highlands, and one of Tanzania’s most famous wildlife areas.
Your safari journey begins with your arrival in Arusha. You will spend the first night in Arusha City before going into the parks. This night gives you time to rest after your flight, prepare your safari luggage, meet your safari guide, and get ready for the next day’s adventure.
On the first day of Safari, your guide will pick you up after breakfast and drive to Tarangire National Park. This beautiful park is known for large elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, open savannah, river valleys, and the Tarangire River, which attracts many animals during the dry season.
During your game drive in Tarangire National Park, you may see elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, impalas, warthogs, ostriches, baboons, and many bird species. If lucky, you may also see leopards or cheetahs in some areas of the park.
On the second day of Safari, your journey continues from Tarangire towards the Ndutu area, located between the southern Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The drive takes you through beautiful northern Tanzania landscapes, local villages, highlands, and open plains before reaching one of the most exciting wildlife areas during the migration season.
Ndutu is especially famous during the calving season, when large herds of wildebeest and zebras gather on the short grass plains. This season usually attracts many predators such as lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and jackals, creating powerful wildlife moments and excellent photography opportunities.
On the third day of Safari, you will continue exploring the Ndutu area with game drives across the open plains, woodland areas, and seasonal lakes. Your guide will follow the best wildlife locations depending on animal movement, weather, and the migration pattern of the day.
During your Ndutu game drive, you may see wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, elephants, giraffes, jackals, and many bird species. Later in the day, you will drive towards the Ngorongoro Highlands for dinner and overnight stay.
On the fourth day of Safari, you will descend into the famous Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day game drive. The crater is one of the best wildlife areas in Tanzania because many animals live inside the crater throughout the year.
During the game drive, you may see lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, hyenas, gazelles, and if lucky, the rare black rhino. The crater also has beautiful scenery, including open grassland, forest, swamp areas, and a lake, making it one of the most special places on this safari.
After the Ngorongoro Crater game drive, you will begin your journey back to Arusha. Depending on your travel plan, you can be dropped at your hotel, Arusha Airport, or Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Throughout this safari, you will travel in a comfortable 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof. This gives you a clear view for wildlife watching, photography, and enjoying the beautiful landscapes of northern Tanzania.
This 4 Days Ndutu Migration Safari to Tarangire, Ndutu and Ngorongoro Crater is perfect for first-time visitors, couples, families, solo travelers, photographers, and wildlife lovers who want to experience Tanzania’s migration season in a short itinerary. It combines Tarangire elephants, Ndutu wildebeest migration, big cats, highlands, and the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater in one well-planned Tanzania safari.
4 Days Ndutu Migration Safari at a Glance
- Safari Name: 4 Days Ndutu Migration Safari to Tarangire, Ndutu and Ngorongoro Crater
- Starting Point: Arusha City or Moshi Town
- Airport Arrival: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK)
- Ending Point: Arusha, Moshi, JRO Airport, or Arusha Airport
- Accommodation Before Safari: Optional overnight stay in Arusha or Moshi
- Night 1: Lodge / Tented Camp near Tarangire National Park or similar accommodation
- Night 2: Lodge / Tented Camp in Ndutu area or similar accommodation
- Night 3: Lodge / Tented Camp in Ngorongoro Highlands or similar accommodation
- Main Attractions: Tarangire National Park, Ndutu Migration Area, Ngorongoro Crater
- Wildlife: Wildebeest, zebras, lions, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, hyenas, gazelles, rhinos if lucky, and more
- Best For: Migration lovers, photographers, first-time visitors, couples, families, wildlife lovers, and short Tanzania safari holidays
Important Travel Information
| Location | Distance & Travel Time |
|---|---|
| Arusha to Tarangire National Park | Approximately 120 km | About 2 to 3 hours drive |
| Moshi to Tarangire National Park | Approximately 200 km | About 4 to 5 hours drive |
| Tarangire to Ndutu Area | Approximately 250 km | About 5 to 6 hours drive including scenic stops and park procedures |
| Ndutu to Ngorongoro Highlands | Approximately 90 km | About 2 to 3 hours drive depending on wildlife viewing and road conditions |
| Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha | Approximately 190 km | About 4 to 5 hours drive |
| Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha | Approximately 50 km | About 1 hour drive |
| Arusha Airport to Arusha City | Approximately 8 km | About 15 minutes drive |
Places You Will Visit on This 4 Days Ndutu Migration Safari
Arusha City – Gateway to Northern Tanzania Safari
Arusha City is the main starting point for many northern Tanzania safaris. The city is located near Mount Meru and gives easy access to Tarangire, Ndutu, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and other famous safari destinations.
Most travelers spend a night in Arusha before the safari starts. This makes the journey easier and gives you time to relax, prepare, and meet your safari team before the adventure begins.
Tarangire National Park – Elephants, Baobab Trees and Wild Savannah
Tarangire National Park is one of the best places in Tanzania to see large elephant herds. The park is also famous for ancient baobab trees, open landscapes, river valleys, and peaceful wildlife viewing.
During your game drive, you may see elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, impalas, warthogs, ostriches, baboons, and many different birds. The Tarangire River is an important water source and attracts many animals during the dry season.
Tarangire gives this safari a strong wildlife beginning with beautiful savannah views, elephant families, baobab trees, and a relaxed African safari feeling.
Ndutu Area – Southern Serengeti Migration Plains
The Ndutu area is located between the southern Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It is one of the best places to experience the Great Wildebeest Migration during the calving season, especially when large herds gather on the short grass plains.
During the migration season, Ndutu is known for wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, elephants, giraffes, and many bird species. The open plains and seasonal lakes create excellent conditions for wildlife viewing and photography.
Ndutu is especially rewarding for travelers who want to see big cats and migration action in a more focused safari route.
Ngorongoro Highlands – Scenic Overnight Before the Crater
The Ngorongoro Highlands are known for cool weather, green hills, farms, forests, Maasai villages, and beautiful views. Spending a night here gives you a good position for an early descent into Ngorongoro Crater the next morning.
Ngorongoro Crater – Tanzania’s Natural Wildlife Wonder
Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most famous wildlife destinations in Tanzania. It was formed millions of years ago after a large volcano collapsed, creating a huge natural caldera filled with animals.
The crater floor has grassland, forest, swamp, lake areas, and open plains. This makes it home to many animals throughout the year, including lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, hyenas, gazelles, and the rare black rhino.
Because many animals live inside the crater, Ngorongoro gives visitors one of the best chances to see a lot of wildlife in a short time.
Why Choose This 4 Days Ndutu Migration Safari?
- Experience Tarangire National Park, Ndutu area, and Ngorongoro Crater in one trip.
- Great choice for travelers interested in the Ndutu Migration season.
- See elephants and baobab trees in Tarangire National Park.
- Explore the southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro short grass plains.
- Good chance to see wildebeest herds, zebras, lions, cheetahs, and hyenas.
- Enjoy a game drive inside the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater.
- Professional English-speaking safari guide.
- Comfortable 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof.
- Airport pick-up and drop-off available from JRO or Arusha Airport.
- Suitable for couples, families, solo travelers, wildlife lovers, and photographers.
Best Time for This 4 Days Ndutu Migration Safari
This 4 Days Ndutu Migration Safari to Tarangire, Ndutu and Ngorongoro Crater is especially recommended during the Ndutu migration season, usually from December to March. This is the period when large herds of wildebeest and zebras gather around the southern Serengeti and Ndutu plains.
The calving season usually happens between January and March, making it a special time for wildlife viewing. During this period, predators such as lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and jackals are often active around the herds, creating exciting safari moments and excellent photography opportunities.
TRIP OVERVIEW
In this 4 days migration safari, you will visit the 3 best and most popular safari parks in Tanzania, covering Tarangire (1 night), Ndutu (1 night) and Ngorongoro crater (1 night). This safari starts and ends in the vibrant city of Arusha, with an added one-night stay before the safari begins, allowing you to acclimatize and prepare for your upcoming adventure. The trip is guided by the expert safari guides from Macpace Tours and Safaris, who have extensive experience in the region and a passion for providing exceptional wildlife encounters. Their deep knowledge of the local ecosystems, along with their commitment to delivering a seamless, personalized experience, ensures this will be a safari like no other – a true journey of a lifetime!
This 4 days Ndutu Migration, specifically the calving season in the Ndutu region takes place every year from the last two weeks of December to March only. The abundance of newborn calves attracts predators like lions, cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas, creating thrilling wildlife encounters.
Short Itinerary
- Day 1 -Arusha to Tarangire. Game drives at Tarangire
- Day 2 - Transfer to Ndutu, Ngorongoro. Afternoon game drives in Ndutu
- Day 3 - Morning game drives in Ndutu and transfer to Ngorongoro/Karatu
- Day 4 - Ngorongoro Crater Tour (5 hours) and transfer to Arusha
Ensuite Accommodation Packages
Below are packages with a few popular ensuite options for your private tour, starting on Nov 13, 2023, in a group of two adults. Ensuite hotels are tented camps/lodges that can be inside/around national parks. You will have a private room with attached bathroom. Meals are provided by hotels.
Option E1 : $1,338 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
- Day 1 : Stay at Omega View Hotel, Karatu
- Day 2 : Stay at Africa Safari South Serengeti - Comfort, Ndutu
- Day 4 : Stay at Omega View Hotel, Karatu
Option E2 : $1,645 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
- Day 1 : Stay at Sangaiwe Tented Lodge, Tarangire (Outside the Park)
- Day 2 : Stay at Canopy Migration Camp Ndutu, Ndutu
- Day 4 : Stay at Rhino Lodge, Ngorongoro, Ngorongoro
Option E3 : $1,981 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
- Day 1 : Stay at Tarangire Tortilis Camp, Tarangire (Within the Park)
- Day 2 : Stay at Nyikani Migration Camp, Ndutu, Ndutu
- Day 4 : Stay at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, Ngorongoro, Ngorongoro
Option E4 : $2,491 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
- Day 1 : Stay at Topguide Bush Camp Lolkisale, Tarangire (Within the Park)
- Day 2 : Stay at Lake Ndutu Luxury Tented Lodge, Ndutu
- Day 4 : Stay at Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp, Ngorongoro, Ngorongoro
Option E5 : $3,296 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
- Day 1 : Stay at Lemala Mpingo Ridge, Tarangire (Within the Park)
- Day 2 : Stay at Lemala Ndutu, Ndutu
- Day 4 : Stay at Melia Ngorongoro Lodge, Ngorongoro - Premier Room with Forest Views, Ngorongoro
Option E6 : $5,275 per adult for safari with Land Cruiser
- Day 1 : Stay at Sanctuary Swala Camp, Tarangire (Within the Park)
- Day 2 : Stay at Olakira Migration Camp, Ndutu, Ndutu
- Day 4 : Stay at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Ngorongoro - Suite, Ngorongoro
Detailed 4-Day Tanzania Safari Itinerary
Day
0
Arrival in Arusha – Airport Pickup & Hotel Stay
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK), our safari representative will meet and welcome you to Tanzania. After a short introduction, you will be transferred to your hotel in Arusha for relaxation and overnight stay before your safari begins.
This arrival day gives you time to rest after your flight, prepare your safari luggage, and get ready for the adventure ahead. Depending on your arrival time, you may also meet your safari guide for a short briefing about your 4-day Tanzania safari itinerary.
You will spend the night at your selected hotel in Arusha, ready to start your safari journey the following morning.
Day
1
Arusha to Tarangire
Pick up at 7:30 AM from your hotel in Arusha and depart for Tarangire National Park with a picnic lunch for a full day game drive. Tanzania’s third largest National park is known for its majestic baobab trees that dot the landscape, dwarfing the animals that feed beneath them. The Tarangire River is the centerpiece of this park which is famous for some of the largest herds of elephants in Africa. Here you may see lion, leopard, cheetah, lesser kudu, buffalo, Oryx, eland, giraffe and zebra. Post the game drive, you will head back to your camp/lodge where a delicious dinner awaits you.
Day
2
Transfer to Ndutu
We start around 7:00 AM and head towards the Ndutu region. The drive to Ndutu is about 4 hours from Tarangire or about 2.5 hours from Karatu. Once you reach Ndutu you will begin game drives with a convenient stop for your picnic lunch. Sweeping grasslands cover the region which gradually fade into the Serengeti. Ndutu forms a part of the route for the annual migration of more than 2 million wildebeests and thousands of zebra, antelope and gazelle through the Serengeti eco system. During game drives between December and April, you will be able to see the great migration in this region. Between Mid Jan and Feb, calving happens here and it attracts hordes of predators prying on vulnerable young wildebeest. Crested with Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek, these waterholes offer plenty of wildlife game during the dry season. The Ndutu is also the home ground for 6 species of big cats – leopard, lion, cheetah, caracal, serval and wildcat. The action-packed game drive will end late in the evening by around 6PM. You will now head towards your choice of accommodation, where a freshly prepared dinner awaits you. Ensure you get some good rest and recharge yourself for another eventful day.
Day
3
Ndutu to Ngorongoro/Karatu
Today you get another chance to view the beautiful wildlife spectacle at Ndutu. We start early in the day and after breakfast, depart for game drives around 6:20 AM with packed lunch. We continue with game drives till around 3:00 PM in the afternoon and then proceed towards our selected accommodation in Ngorongoro or Karatu for dinner and overnight.
Day
4
Ngorongoro Crater Tour (5 Hours) to Arusha
On the last day of your safari, you will have an early start. Finishing up with a quick breakfast you will head to Ngorongoro crater. The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest inactive, intact and unfilled volcanic caldera. It has a massive floor of about 260 sq kms with a depth of over 2000 feet. The 5-hour game drive on the crater floor will show you a lot of animal action. Keeping the camera ready is definitely recommended. The African elephant, buffalo, Black rhino, Hippos, Hyenas, Cheetahs and Lions are found in plenty. Post the picnic lunch at the beautiful Hippo pool, you will begin a steep ascend to the top exit of the crater. This is the last leg of your safari, with a 4hr drive left to Arusha. You will be dropped off to your preferred location in Arusha by 5:00 PM in the evening. With an incredible experience and loads of memories to cherish, this is the time you bid goodbye to your team.
Stay Locations
- Day 1 - Karatu or Tarangire (Within the Park) or Tarangire (Outside the Park)
- Day 2 - LKaratu or Lake Manyara (Outside the Park) or Lake Manyara (Within the Park)
- Day 3 - Karatu or Ngorongoro
Add-on tours in Serengeti
- Hot Air Balloon Ride: USD 540 per person
- Rhino Tracking: USD 110 per person
- Short Walking Tour (upto 4 hours): USD 45 per person
- Long Walking Tour (upto 6 hours): USD 60 per person
Add-on tours in Ndutu
- Hot Air Balloon Ride: USD 540 per person
- Short Walking Tour (upto 4 hours): USD 45 per person
- Long Walking Tour (upto 6 hours): USD 60 per person
Add-on tours in Ngorongoro
- Masai Village Tour: USD 25 per person
- Olduvai Gorge museum visit: USD 35 per person
- Ngorongoro Crater Rim Hike: USD 35 per person
Add-on tours in Tarangire
- Hot Air Balloon Ride: USD 540 per person
- Short Walking Tour (upto 4 hours): USD 45 per person
- Long Walking Tour (upto 6 hours): USD 60 per person
- Night Game Drives (for clients staying inside): USD 100-200 per person depending on lodge
Add-on tours in Karatu
- Coffee Plantation Tour: USD 20 per person
- Iraq Village Tour: USD 25 per person
- Endoro Falls & Elephant Caves visit: USD 35 per person
Transfers
This tour starts from Arusha. Kilimanjaro airport is the nearest international airport and Arusha airport is the nearest domestic airport.
Airport Pickup/Drop
Pickup or drop off at Arusha airport on the day of safari: No extra charge Pickup or drop off at Kilimanjaro airport on the day of safari: USD 30 per vehicle
Airport to Hotel transfers
Transfer from Arusha airport to Arusha hotel or vice versa: USD 25 per vehicle Transfer from Kilimanjaro airport to Arusha hotel or vice versa: USD 50 per vehicle
InterCity transfers
Transfer from Moshi to Arusha or vice versa: USD 100 per vehicle Transfer from Nairobi to Arusha or vice versa: USD 275 per vehicle
Flights
We do not book International Flights.
We can book local flights based on availability. Below are indicative additional costs for local flights.
Intercity Flights
- From Zanzibar to Arusha: From USD 100 per person (Morning flight)
- From Dar es salaam to Arusha: From USD 90 per person (Morning flight)
- From Arusha to Zanzibar: From USD 170 per person (Late Afternoon flight)
- From Arusha to Dar es salaam: From USD 110 per person (Late Afternoon flight)
This tour starts & ends at Arusha with road transfers between all locations. Central Serengeti is the farthest location you will be visiting in this tour and it is 7 hours from Arusha, each way. You can check about driving and flying to Serengeti here. To save drive time, you can directly fly into Central Serengeti where your safari vehicle with guide will be waiting to directly start the safari and cover other parks over the next few days making your way to Arusha by road on the last day. We will reroute the itinerary such that you cover all the parks included in the original itinerary with the same choice of accommodations & same number of nights as included in the original itinerary. This is called a Fly-in Safari
We can also reroute the itinerary such that you start with driving from Arusha on day 1 and cover other parks before you drive to Serengeti. We end the safari tour at Central Serengeti on the last day from where you can fly out to Ausha (or other cities). We will reroute the itinerary such that you cover all the parks included in the original itinerary with the same choice of accommodations & same number of nights as included in the original itinerary. This is called a Fly-out Safari.
Fly into Serengeti
- From Arusha to Central Serengeti: From USD 310 per person
- From Zanzibar to Central Serengeti: From USD 370 per person
- From Dar es Salaam to Central Serengeti: From USD 370 per person
Fly out of Serengeti
- From Central Serengeti to Arusha: From USD 200 per person
- From Central Serengeti to Zanzibar: From USD 420 per person
- From Central Serengeti to Dar es salaam: From USD 420 per person
Note 1: Rates mentioned above are indicative and subject to change based on airlines and party(group) size
Note 2: In the Fly into Serengeti rates mentioned above, in addition to airfare, above rates also include cost to send the safari landcruiser with guide a day in advance to Serengeti, in time for your arrival & additional park fees that results due to rerouting of itinerary.
Note 3: Flights into Serengeti land at around 10:30 AM and game drives can start soon after landing while flights out of Serengeti depart around 11:00 AM and game drives can be done till about 45 min before flight departure.
Meals
- Day 1 - Lunch & Dinner
- Day 2 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Day 3 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Day 4 - Breakfast & Lunch
Drive Times
- Day 1 -Arusha to Tarangire takes about 2.5 to 3 hours (106 km)
- Day 2 -Tarangire to Ndutu takes about 3 to 4 hours (221 km)
- Day 3 - Ndutu to NCA takes about 2.5 to 3 hours
- Day 4 - NCA to Arusha takes about 4 to 4.5 hours (154 km)
Note: These are estimated drive times. Because of the traffic, location of the accommodations, and several other factors, actual drive times may vary. Driving distances are approximate and do not account for exact places.
Inclusions
- Park Fees (for Non-Residents).
- Concession/ Camping Fees.
- Daily game drives while on Safari.
- A professional driver/guide.
- 4x4 Land Cruiser or Safari Van.
- All Taxes and VAT.
- Meals as per itinerary.
- Drinking water while on safari (2 litres per person per day).
Exclusions
- International flights.
- Optional activites in Lake Natron.
- Airport Transfers (Unless mentioned otherwise).
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour (Unless mentioned otherwise).
- Personal Items (Souvenirs, Travel Insurance, Visa Fees, etc.).
- Tips
- Government imposed increase of Taxes and or Park Fees.
- Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary.
