Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Ndutu Photo Safaris

We have consistently aspired to provide a picture safari at the opposite terminus of the Great Migration, and this year, Guts and Janine conducted a reconnaissance to develop an outstanding itinerary for early 2025 -2026.

You will engage with them, along with other Active Africa Vacations Hosts, to explore the expansive plains of the Serengeti before observing the calving season of wildebeests and zebras in Ndutu. The safari concludes with a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the most renowned natural wonders globally.

We will convene in Nairobi, Kenya, where we will spend the night before boarding a chartered jet to fly directly to the Serengeti. This implies that we avoid losing a day traveling to Arusha and thereafter to the Serengeti the next day. Nairobi serves as a superior international hub.

Our objective is to arrive in the Serengeti around midday and register at our camp for the subsequent three nights — Serengeti Wilderness Camp. This camp is ideally situated in the center of the park and meets all the necessary criteria. The lodging is comfortable yet unpretentious. The camp is genuinely eco-friendly, established with appropriate regard for the delicate ecosystem, featuring en-suite flush toilets, bucket showers, and solar lights.

Each tent features a shaded veranda, allowing guests to unwind and appreciate the environment, watching the avian life and wildlife traversing the camp. The main dining space, informal lounge and fully equipped bar provide an excellent venue for relaxation and sharing safari anecdotes with other guests, while the inviting campfire is a popular choice for evening drinks and light refreshments. Numerous charging stations will be available! We have reserved numerous game observers, accommodating three visitors in each vehicle in addition to a Active African Vacations  Photo Host. Ample space for equipment and unrestricted mobility. The enclosed land cruisers observed in East Africa will be your mode of transportation, accompanied by the same driver throughout the entire safari. The photo hosts will alternate among the vehicles, allowing you to engage with each one.

We will drive south from the Serengeti to the plains of Ndutu, where we anticipate observing the wildebeest migration during their yearly calving season. We have selected this season as the optimal period to observe a congregation of animals; but, as with other wildlife encounters, certainty is not certain. This is Guts and Janine’s most informed conjecture after consulting with the crew on-site and their professional colleagues. In 2023, in the end of February, they encountered the remnants of the herd, which was really impressive, and they captured some excellent photographs. In addition to the action, they discovered unique moments apart from the herd in a lake teeming with flamingos.

Off-roading in Ndutu facilitates easier location. We will be residing at Ndutu Wilderness Camp, operated by the same entity, situated in the heart of the activity. During our stay at Ndutu, we have scheduled a morning hot air balloon excursion, which we anticipate will provide you with exceptional aerial photographs of the herd. This is consistently favored by all visitors to the Mara, so we opted to include it in this trip as well.

The culmination of this journey will be a visit to the renowned Ngorongoro Crater, where we will be accommodated at the soon-to-open Ngorongoro Lodge Melia. Guts and Janine first stayed at a different lodge during their reconnaissance, but it did not meet our standards; thus, we chose this newly established lodge situated on the crater’s edge, managed by a highly respected operator. Why not indulge in a little of luxury at the conclusion? All individuals have been assigned to woodland rooms. We will have the opportunity to descend to the crater floor for an entire day to investigate this remarkable caldera and its micro-ecosystem. It is remarkably exceptional.

We will depart for Arusha and Kilimanjaro International Airport, the hub from where we will either return to Nairobi or continue our journey to other destinations. If you seek relaxation on the beach, Zanzibar is the optimal choice. If you would like to continue with your safari, we would be pleased to arrange an add-on to see some of Kenya’s most renowned parks, including Amboseli, Tsavo, Mara, and Samburu.

Ultimately, this season is ideal for embarking on a gorilla expedition in either Rwanda or Uganda. If this is of interest, please inform your safari planner so we may incorporate it as a pre- or post-extension.