Project Description
Serengeti, Ndutu and Ngorongoro Photo Safari
We have always wanted to offer a photo safari at the other “end” of the Great Migration and this year Guts and Janine went to scope it out and have designed this amazing itinerary for early 2024.
You will spend time with them (and the other Pangolin Photo Hosts) exploring the vast open plains of the Serengeti before witnessing Wildebeest and Zebra Calving Season in Ndutu. The safari ends with a visit to one of the most iconic natural wonders of the world – the Ngorongoro Crater.
We will meet in Nairobi, Kenya where we will overnight and then we have chartered a plane to fly directly into the Serengeti from there. This means we don’t lose a day having to fly to Arusha and then on to the Serengeti the next day. Nairobi is also a far better hub to get to internationally speaking.
We aim to land in the Serengeti around lunch time and check into our camp for the next three nights – Serengeti Wilderness Camp. This camp is in a great location right in the middle of the park and ticks all the right boxes. The accommodation is comfortable but not over the top. It’s a truly eco-friendly camp set up with due respect for this fragile ecosystem, complete with en-suite flush toilets, bucket showers and solar lighting.
Every tent boasts a shady veranda, where guests can relax and soak up their surroundings, enjoying the birdlife and game passing through the camp. The central dining area, casual lounge and well-stocked bar are a great spot to relax and swap safari stories with fellow guests, with the cosy campfire a firm favourite for sundowners and snacks. There will be plenty of charging points! We have booked lots of game viewers so it will be 3 guests per vehicle plus a Pangolin Photo Host. Plenty of room for gear and freedom of movement. They are the enclosed land cruisers that you see in East Africa and you will be in the same vehicle with the same driver for the duration of the whole safari. The photo hosts will rotate through the vehicles so you can spend time with each of them.
From the Serengeti, we will drive south to the plans of Ndutu and where we hope to find the wildebeest migration in residency during their annual calving season. We have chosen this time of year as the best bet to see the mass of animals in one place but as with all wildlife experiences nothing is guaranteed. This is Guts and Janine’s best guess though having spoken to the team on the ground and their fellow pros. In 2023 (they went at the end of Feb) they found the tail end of the herd but that in itself was super impressive and they got some great shots. Along with the action they also found some special moments away from the herd with a lake full of flamingos.
In Ndutu you can off-road which makes positioning easier. We will be staying at Ndutu Wilderness Camp which is run by the same operator and is right in the middle of the action. While staying at Ndutu we have arranged one morning to go up in a hot air balloon which should, we hope, get you some amazing aerial shots of the herd. This is always super popular with everyone who goes to The Mara so we decided to include it too on this trip!
The grand finale to this trip will be a visit to the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater where we will be staying at the Ngorongoro Lodge Melia which is about to open. Guts and Janine did stay at another lodge during their recce but it wasn’t up to scratch and so we opted for this brand-new lodge right on the crater edge run by a very reputable operator… why not have a splash of luxury at the end? We have booked everyone into forest rooms! We will be able to descend to the crater floor for a full day to explore this amazing caldera and its micro ecosystem. It’s quite extraordinary.
We will leave to head back to Arusha and Kilimanjaro International Airport which is the hub we will use to either head back to Nairobi or extend the trip to other locations. If you feel like some time for R and R on the beach then Zanzibar is the best option. Otherwise, if you would like to carry on with your safari we would be happy to create an add-on to see some of the most iconic parks in Kenya – Amboseli, Tsavo, Mara, Samburu etc.
Lastly, this time of year is great for going on a gorilla trek in either Rwanda or Uganda. If this is of interest please let your safari planner know and we can build this in as a pre or post extension.
24th January to 2nd February 2024
Price $12,995 per person sharing
If you are traveling alone and require your own room there is a supplement of $2,950
- Meet and Greet at Jomo Kenyatta (Nairobi) Airport
- 1 night Four Points Sheraton
- Charter Flight to The Serengeti
- 3 nights at Serengeti Wilderness Camp
- Private Game Viewers throughout (3 guests each)
- 3 Nights Ndutu Wilderness camp
- Hot Air Balloon in Ndutu
- 2 Nights at Ngorongoro Melia
- All Park fees and permits
- All Meals and drinks (excl premium spirits)
- Return transfer to Arusha
- Soft drinks and water throughout
- Image review sessions throughout the photo safari
- Guided by The Pangolin Photo Hosts (3:1 Ratio)
- Visa fees if applicable
- Laundry and items of a personal nature
- Optional Gratuities (suggested $10 – $20 per guest per day)
- Travel Insurance
With the grass being consumed fast than it can grow by the herds it can mean that it gets a little dusty at times. Make sure that you have something to cover your camera in between the action that doesn’t require you to put it back in your bag. Our go-too option is a kikoi – which is a traditional small East African piece of fabric that has hundreds of uses from swaddling babies to wearing as a traditional trouser alternative and of course a camera protector!
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