WILDEBEEST CALVING SEASON PHOTO SAFARI
SAFARI OVERVIEW
Join us for one of Africa’s most intense and unforgettable photographic experiences.
Every February, the southern Serengeti’s Ndutu region becomes ground zero for the Great Migration’s calving season. Over 500,000 wildebeest give birth on the short-grass plains — and predators are everywhere. Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, and vultures converge for the feast, creating daily scenes of high drama, raw emotion, and explosive action. This is predator-prey photography at its most visceral.
We’ll spend 5 nights in Ndutu, flying straight into the action for maximum time on the ground. Expect golden light, stalking predators, newborn life, and hunts unfolding in front of your lens. This is not a safari for the faint of heart — it's a front-row seat to the brutality and beauty of nature.
After Ndutu, we spend 2 nights in Karatu, with a full-day photographic expedition into the iconic Ngorongoro Crater — a wildlife-packed caldera where rhinos, tuskers, lions, and massive herds offer a completely different environment and style of photography.
This is a highly focused photographic safari, limited to just 4 guests, traveling in customized photographic vehicles. We teach and shoot alongside you in the field, ensuring you not only witness the drama, but capture it powerfully.
GROUP SIZE
4 guests + 1 photo host
LOCATION
Ndutu Serengeti + Ngorongoro Crater
PRICE
To Be Announced
DURATION
9 days / 8 nights
PHOTOGRPHY SKILL LEVEL
All skill levels welcome
2027 PRICE:
TO BE ANNOUNED
+ single supplement fee (if applicable)
30% DEPOSIT TO CONFIRM BOOKING
2028 PRICE TBA
Airport transfers (pick-up and drop-off at Kilimanjaro International Airport – JRO)
All accommodation in mid-luxury tented camps
All road transfers between camps and airstrips
All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily)
All beverages including coffee, water, tea, non-alcoholic beverages, local beers, wines, and spirits
All national park and conservancy entry fees
Daily game drives with prime access to migration and predator hotspots
Two domestic chartered flights (Arusha to Ndutu and Karatu to JRO)
Includes 25kg total luggage allowance per person (10kg additional for camera gear)
Photographic guidance and tutorials throughout the safari
Optional one-on-one photo critiques with your photo host
Pre-tour virtual meeting with your photography guide for preparation and gear planning
International flights (arrival and departure to Tanzania)
Personal Travel Insurance (required for all guests)
Premium alcoholic beverages
Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra activities, etc.)
Activities not listed in itinerary
Gratuities/tips for guides/staff
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
-
Calving Season Action at Ground Zero
Photograph the most dramatic season in the Serengeti as over 500,000 wildebeest give birth on the Ndutu plains — with predators in every direction. Expect intense lion hunts, high-speed cheetah chases, hyena chaos, and vulture clean-ups as life and death unfold before your lens.
-
Fly Straight Into the Heart of the Drama
We skip the long drives and fly directly into Ndutu, landing you in the action from day one. With five full days in the migration zone, you’ll spend more time shooting and less time in transit — maximizing every opportunity.
-
Custom-Built Vehicles for Photographers
Travel in private, customised vehicles designed specifically for photography. With just four guests per vehicle, you’ll have freedom of movement, unobstructed views, and the ability to position perfectly for every moment — from golden light portraits to fast-paced action.
-
Expert Photo Tuition in the Field
This is a hands-on, in-the-moment learning experience. From tracking predators to mastering light and storytelling, we shoot alongside you, offering personalized instruction, composition feedback, and technical support throughout the trip.
-
Small Group, Big Flexibility
Limited to only four guests, this intimate safari gives us the freedom to move with the action. Whether it’s waiting for a cheetah to hunt or tracking a pride of lions through the grass, our flexible schedule means we always prioritize the best photographic opportunities.
-
Ngorongoro Crater: A Wild Finale
Cap the journey with a full-day photographic expedition inside the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater. From endangered black rhinos to massive bull elephants and high-density predator sightings, this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers a powerful, contrasting backdrop to the Ndutu plains.
ITINERARY
ARRIVAL DAY
-
Guests arrive in Arusha (Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO))
-
Transfer to Arusha accommodation (Approx. 1 hours drive from airport)
-
Meet and Greet with photo host at 6:00pm
-
Overnight in Arusha - Mount Meru Hotel
(Guests must arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport no later than 3:00pm on arrival day)-
FLY TO NDUTU REGION / BEGIN SAFARI OUTINGS
-
Transfer to Arusha Airport (Approx. 30 minutes)
-
Chartered flight: Arusha to Ndutu Region
-
Afternoon photographic safari to monitor the predators and herds
-
Introduction to image selection and post processing regarding predator/prey interaction photography
-
Overnight in Ndutu Region
PHOTOGRAPHY FOCUS: This will be the group's first day on safari to find and monitor the mega herds of the Great Migration. The group will photograph the wildebeests in their thousands as they protect their newborns from predators of the plains.
-
PREDATOR/PREY PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI OUTINGS
-
Full day OR two safaris daily - photographic safaris to photograph the mega herds and the predators that follow
-
Possibilities to photograph other African wildlife throughout these safari outings
-
Image selection and post processing sessions will happen each evening with your photo host
-
Overnight in Ndutu Region
PHOTOGRAPHY FOCUS: Each safari will be dedicated to photographing the mega herds of the Great Migration and the predators that follow. The group will photograph the wildebeests in their thousands as they give birth to their young.
-
TRANSFER TO NGORONGORO CRATER
-
Safari transfer to Ngorongoro Crater
-
Evening for image selection and post processing with photo host
-
overnight near Ngorongoro Crater rim
PHOTOGRAPHY FOCUS: The evening will be dedicated to image selection and post processing with your photo host
-
FULL DAY NGORONGORO CRATER FLOOR
-
Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater descend point
-
Full day photographic safari on the crater floor
-
Return to the lodge for image selection and post processing with photo host
-
Overnight near Ngorongoro Crater rim
PHOTOGRAPHY FOCUS: Ngorongoro Crater floor has it all! Spending the day on the crater floor will provide photographic opportunities of all of your favourite African wildlife species including the Big 5.
-
DEPARTURE DAY
-
Fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) arrival before 2:00pm
-
END OF TOUR
(Guests must depart after 5:00pm on this day)
-
RECOMMENDED GEAR
CAMERA BODY:
-
Guests are encouraged to bring a camera body with a minimum of 24-megapixels to guarantee the best results while on safari. This can be mirrorless or a DSLR, as your photo host is experienced with both and will be able to offer assistance whenever need be.
-
A second camera body is always a great consideration, however, this is not mandatory. This can be used as a backup, or you can keep a second lens attached and switch back and forth between cameras.
LENSES:
-
500mm prime lens: Perfect for capturing distant wildlife such as big cats on the hunt or large herds from a safe and respectful distance. Its reach allows for stunning detail without disturbing the animals.
-
70–200mm lens: Ideal for action-packed scenes during the migration, including dramatic predator/prey interactions at relatively close range. This lens offers excellent versatility for both environmental portraits and intimate moments.
-
If using a 500mm prime lens, it’s recommended to also bring a zoom lens (like the 70–200mm) for added flexibility. This ensures you’re ready for both distant and close-range scenes without needing to swap lenses during fast-paced wildlife moments.
LOCATION
NDUTU (SOUTHERN SERENGETI/NGORO CONSERVATION AREA):
Each year in February, the short-grass plains of Ndutu become the epicenter of one of Africa’s most powerful wildlife events — the calving season of the Great Migration. Over half a million wildebeest give birth within a matter of weeks, flooding the landscape with newborn life. But with life comes death, as predators gather in force. Lions stalk the herds, cheetahs sprint across open plains, hyenas circle in packs, and vultures patrol the skies. It’s a raw, unfiltered display of nature’s most primal moments.
This is where story-driven wildlife photography comes alive. With wide-open spaces, soft golden light, and nonstop predator-prey interaction, Ndutu offers unmatched opportunities to capture action, emotion, and drama. Our mobile camp places you right where it’s happening — in the heart of the migration zone, timed for peak birthing and peak predation. Every drive brings the potential for something unforgettable.
NGORONGORO CRATER:
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ngorongoro Crater is a wildlife-rich basin formed within an ancient volcano. Its lush floor is home to a dense concentration of species including rhino, lion, zebra, and flamingos—offering an unmatched variety of subjects in a single day’s shoot.
ACCOMMODATION
Set in the heart of the Serengeti, Esirai Camp is a mobile tented camp that follows the rhythm of the Great Migration—positioned in the lush southern plains near Ndutu from December to March, and in the northern Serengeti near the Mara River from July to October. This eco-conscious camp combines understated luxury with a deep respect for nature, offering guests the perfect balance of comfort and authenticity.
For photographers, Esirai provides front-row access to some of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife moments—from the calving season’s raw predator action in February to the dramatic river crossings in July. Its intimate design, attentive staff, and sustainable ethos make it an ideal base for our Great Migration photo safaris.
