5-Day Ndutu Migration Safari from Zanzibar (Fly-In Tanzania Adventure)

Day 1 – Zanzibar ✈️ Arusha → Ndutu

Fly-In from Zanzibar + Scenic Transfer + Half-Day Ndutu Game Drive

Your 5-day safari adventure begins with a smooth morning transfer from your hotel in Zanzibar to the airport. After check-in, board your scenic flight to Arusha, where your dedicated Travel Wise Safari guide will be waiting to greet you with a warm welcome and a briefing about the day ahead.

🌄 Scenic Drive to Ndutu – From Highland Forests to Open Plains

The journey from Arusha to Ndutu takes roughly 6 hours (260 km) and offers a gradual transition from modern towns and lush agricultural fields into wild, untouched landscapes.

Along the route, you will experience:

• Verdant farmlands dotted with banana plantations and coffee fields

• Local villages & Maasai communities, offering a glimpse of daily life

• Entry into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area after 3.5 hours

• A breathtaking shift from mountainous forests to golden plains

As the elevation rises, the air becomes crisp and the views of Ngorongoro Highlands expand dramatically. Wildlife is often spotted along the way—including giraffes, zebras, and even elephants.

🐾 Half-Day Ndutu Game Drive – Migration Territory

Upon arriving in Ndutu, your safari begins immediately with a half-day game drive, complete with a picnic lunch served under the shade of an acacia tree.

Ndutu lies at the heart of the Great Wildebeest Migration, especially between December and April when:

• Millions of wildebeest & zebras roam the plains

• Calving season brings hundreds of thousands of newborns

• Predators gather for hunting opportunities

This region is famed for its dramatic predator interactions and close-up wildlife encounters.

🎯 Spot All Six Big Cats

Ndutu is one of the only places in Africa where you may see:

• Lions

• Leopards

• Cheetahs

• Servals

• Caracals

• African wildcats

Your exciting first day on safari ends around 6:00 PM, followed by dinner and a peaceful night at your migration camp.

Accommodation : Safari Haven Migration Camp — Mid-Range

DAY 2 – Full-Day Ndutu Game Drive

Migration Encounters, Calving Season & Predator Action

Today is devoted entirely to exploring the wildlife-rich Ndutu plains, a place where nature’s drama unfolds in every direction. Your guide will adapt the day to your interests and recommend the best times for sightings.

Option A: Full-Day Game Drive (Recommended)

• Depart at 8:00 AM with packed lunch

• Explore lakes, marshes, woodlands & vast plains

• Follow Migration herds across iconic landscapes

• Return to lodge around 6:00 PM

Option B: Split Game Drive

• 6:20 AM–10:30 AM early morning game drive

• Return to lodge for rest & a hot lunch

• 3:00 PM–6:00 PM afternoon game drive

Why Ndutu Is a Photographer’s Dream

Ndutu’s scenery and wildlife density make it one of Africa’s premier photography hotspots. You’ll enjoy:

• Off-road access for close-up animal interactions

• Big cats perched on termite mounds

• Rolling green plains filled with calves & predators

• Golden sunshine, dramatic skies & vibrant colours

• Herds stretching across the horizon

Expect spectacular sights: cheetahs sprinting across the plains, lions guarding newborn calves, hyenas patrolling marshlands, and elephants grazing under acacia trees.

After an unforgettable day, return to your lodge for a warm dinner and rest under a sky filled with stars.

Accommodation : Safari Haven Migration Camp — Mid-Range

DAY 3 – Ndutu → Central Serengeti

Into the Heart of Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, enjoy a final morning game drive in Ndutu before heading north toward the legendary Central Serengeti. This region offers year-round wildlife viewing and is home to many of Africa’s iconic species.

🌍 Journey to the Endless Plains

The word Serengeti comes from the Maasai term “Siringet,” meaning “endless plains”. This region delivers:

• Sweeping grasslands as far as the eye can see

• Dense populations of lions, leopards & hyenas

• Elephants, buffalo, giraffes & endless plains game

• Seasonal Migration herds moving through

Along the route, you’ll encounter the famous Serengeti kopjes—ancient granite formations that provide shelter, shade, and hunting vantage points for wildlife.

Enjoy a picnic lunch en route as you explore the game-rich central region.

Your evening concludes at your Serengeti lodge with dinner and relaxation.

Accommodation : Central Serengeti Safari Haven — Mid-Range

DAY 4 – Central Serengeti → Ngorongoro / Karatu

Morning Game Drive + Scenic Transfer

Start your day with a sunrise game drive in the Serengeti, one of the best times to witness wildlife activity. Predators often return from night hunts, while elephants, gazelles, and giraffes begin their morning routines.

By late morning, depart the Serengeti and make your way toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

🌿 Optional Cultural & Historical Experiences

(Available at an extra cost)

• Maasai cultural boma visit

• Ngorongoro crater rim hike

• Olduvai Gorge museum & archaeological site – cradle of humankind

Arrive in Ngorongoro or Karatu by evening for dinner and relaxation before the next day’s crater tour.

Accommodation : Mvuli Ngorongoro — Mid-Range

DAY 5 – Ngorongoro Crater Tour → Arusha → Zanzibar

Full-Day Crater Safari + Return Flight

Your final day begins early with a drive to the rim of the legendary Ngorongoro Crater—one of Africa’s most spectacular natural wonders.

🦏 Descend into the Crater (6:30 AM)

The crater is home to over 25,000 animals, including:

• Endangered black rhinos

• Large tusker elephants

• Lions & hyenas

• Hippos & flamingos

• Zebras, wildebeests & gazelles

• Over 400 bird species

The crater is one of the few places where the Big Five can be seen in a single day.

Enjoy a picnic lunch at the serene Hippo Pool, surrounded by breathtaking crater walls.

Return to Zanzibar

After your crater safari, drive back to Arusha (approx. 4 hours) and catch your flight back to Zanzibar, marking the end of a truly unforgettable 5-day adventure through Tanzania’s greatest wildlife sanctuaries.