How to Have the Best Calving Season Safari Experience in Tanzania? 5 Expert Tips
The Great Wildebeest Migration. For most of us, this evokes images of the African plains and thousands upon thousands of wild animals moving across a vast savannah on a scale we can hardly imagine. An experience fitting for the bucket list of every intrepid traveler.
And then there are the river crossings. At least for those who are up for the sensory overload as they watch countless wildebeest, zebra, and antelope stampeding across rivers choked with crocodiles as hungry lions prowl the opposite shore.
In the southern Serengeti in the early months of the year, safari-goers can view a spectacle every bit as dramatic and sweeping of scale as any other natural event in Africa. It's calving season, as the great migration's annual cycle begins again. Fantastical numbers of wildebeest converge, encircled by the male and non-calving females, forming a ring of protection around the young ones from the huge numbers of circling predators looking for their chance.
Calving season in the Ndutu Region usually doesn't quite attract the same number of tourists as the high season in northern Serengeti. But for those who care to see where life begins for the Great Wildebeest Migration, the experience will wildly exceed their expectations.
So let's look at why we recommend a visit to Tanzania during the calving season, what you can expect, and a few tips on how to set it up.
The Calving Season of Tanzania - Nature’s Circle of Life in Action
As the wildebeest continue their migration cycle south, following the rain and the fresh grass it brings, they come full circle to the Ndutu region. Ndutu, connecting the southern Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, is where almost two million wildebeest congregate for calving season.
From late December through March, an average of 8,000 calves are born each day. These vast herds, joined by hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle, feed on the nutritious grass growing in the fertile soil laid down through eons of volcanic activity from Ngorongoro, just east of the region. The wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle migrate and coexist in a natural symbiosis, with the zebras and gazelle preferring the taller wild grasses and the wildebeest going for the abundant short grass.
Almost two million animals will move through the region throughout the Tanzanian summer months, feasting on the nutrient-rich grass and allowing the newborn calves to grow in size and strength. And while the younglings can stand and walk within minutes of being born, they'll need every advantage to survive their journey.
As nature would have it, this is also a birthing season for lion cubs. Lionesses train their cubs to hunt and survive in this season of abundant prey.
Some of us may think that the predators have it easy, especially with so many weak and vulnerable newborn calves standing before them. But the fact is that their struggle to find a meal and keep themselves and their cubs fed is equally challenging.
The wildebeest cows are very smart and, over tens of thousands of years, have learned the tricks of the predators. They know to herd together and form protective rings around their newborn calves, ensuring they're not easy prey for equally desperate and cunning predators.
You may not know that wildebeest possess a "swarm intelligence," allowing them to systematically explore new stretches of grassland while deterring predators as a large yet cohesive herd. So during calving season, the melee out on the plains can appear chaotic and random, with every animal fighting to survive and protect its young. But it is actually an instinctive, coordinated pitched battle. What transpires are the most dramatic hunting scenes of an intensity impossible to convey on TV or film.
Why is The Calving Season a Good Time To Go on Safari?
Each season has its advantages, and a lot depends on your preferences and African safari wish list. But, if you ask us, the calving season is extra special for one reason. It offers it all.
A panoramic, mind-boggling view of wildlife, almost two million animals, as far as the eye can see--with nature's life cycle on full display. And you'll watch as the world's largest land animal migration takes its first steps. You will gain a deeper understanding of nature and the day-to-day struggles that these magnificent animals, prey and predator, endure as they fight to survive another day. There is no better place to witness a cheetah chase than in Ndutu during Calving Season.
A calving season safari offers the opportunity to explore the Ndutu plains of the southern Serengeti ecosystem. This is the only place where you are allowed to go off-road - the perfect chance for superb sightings since you will be able to get really close to the animals!
The scenery will be green, and everything screams “new life.” The best time for photo safaris as well since the grass in the Ndutu plains is short year-round.
Visitors also have the chance to see more wildlife here than anywhere else in Africa. The world's largest volcanic caldera, the Ngorongoro Crater, lies just to the southeast, with its own ecosystem and wildlife tableau. Or visit Olduvai Gorge, one of the earliest sites of human habitation.
A safari during calving season will be an experience that never leaves you.
Tips to Have the Best Calving Season Safari Experience
We hope you agree that we've offered some excellent reasons to book a calving season safari. Here are a few tips to ensure you set yourself up for the most enjoyable safari experience imaginable.
Book with a Safari Operator Who Knows Tanzania Like the Back of their Hand
There are countless tour operators out there, but you'll want a reputable guide with ground-level intel on the live location of the herds. It's a large region with seasonal variations in locations, timing, and weather. Sababu Safaris has the best team of knowledgeable and experienced guides who ensure you get to the right place at the right time.
Book Well in Advance
Especially during the end of December and in January/February, accommodations can book up very early. We recommend booking your safari at least six months in advance.
Be Patient with Nature
Nature is unpredictable. It's easy to feel a little impatient--or worry that you might miss out entirely--if you don't see your favorite animal right on the first day. But remember this: you're in the wild. Your tempo and mindset will need to re-align to fit that of nature and the animals in the area. Nature has its own timing, playing out over vast regions of land. Allow some time and let your guide choose the best time and place to witness these amazing creatures. You will not be disappointed.
Keep Your Camera Handy
You'll look upon scenic vistas and fantastic spectacles that will be beyond anything you can describe in words. You'll want to capture it all in photos, and you won't want to miss memorializing everything you see. These sights are not easy to come by, and you will have traveled far to witness them. So, invest in a decent camera and keep it handy. We recommend reading up on a few wildlife photography pointers and giving yourself a fighting chance at capturing what is elusive and beyond beautiful.
Dress Appropriately
We cannot overstate the importance of dressing comfortably. Calving season temperatures can be very hot, especially in January and February, with a chance of a shower at any time. Choose clothing that is lightweight, versatile, and that will protect you from the elements. Use layers to stay warm in the evenings, and be sure to bring a hat to shield you from the sun.
Book your Calving Season Safari With Us
The calving season in the southern Serengeti is a favorite Tanzanian safari option for those who can travel from the end of December through March. There is much to recommend for a calving season safari, but picking the right tour operator will make all the difference in a seamless, thoroughly enjoyable safari experience.
We at Sababu Safaris guarantee exactly that. Read what our customers have to say about our stellar track record here. Need more information or want to go ahead and book your safari adventure? Get in touch with us today.