Hi,
I'm planning a safari trip for 6–7 days in late Januar - Beginning of February and need some advice.

I read that the migration will be around the Ndutu area in January - February. Is it worth visiting the Central Serengeti at all at this time? Why would you want to go there if the herds haven't arrived there yet?

Just trying to understand where I must be in Jan-Feb for the best experience in order to see the great migration, but am really confused.

I have an example itinerary suggested to me:

2 - days Ndutu
2 - days Serengeti
2 - Ngorongoro

Should I take away 1 day from Serengeti and add Tarangire to the itinerary or add an extra day in Ndutu instead of Serengeti.

Thanks

If you don't get answers here, I suggest you ask your question on TripAdvisor's Africa forum. There is a prolific poster on that site, Safari Craig, who owns a very well respected US travel agency with a strong safari focus. He's a wonderful source of great information, one of the most valuable on that entire site, in my opinion.

I'm not sure if he posts on Fodor's or not, but there's a good chance he or an associate will spot your query there...

Safari is about a lot more than just the herds of the migration. There is a substantial number of species that do not migrate at all. I have a particular interest in the big cats, and they do not migrate, they are territorial and will be there whether the herds are or not. It's really "only" the herds of wildebeest and some zebras that migrate, everything else (eles, giraffe, zebra, hippos, numerous antelope species, cape buffalo, reptiles, birds, etc) will be there anyway. The Serengeti is arguably one of the best places in the world to see the big cats, migration season or not. Just because the migration might not be there doesn't mean everything else closes up shop and hides away!

Amy that's very helpful. I've not been to East Africa in about 30 years but I have taken quite a few safari trips to Southern Africa. I'm thinking about a return to East Africa and have been daunted by the limited times to see the migration. But I, too, love cats, and from what I'm understanding, I would not miss all that much if I took a trip at a non-migration time...maybe the camps are even a bit less crowded/less expensive, outside of migration seasons (??)

I was looking at Grumeti, for a start. Would that, too, be good even outside migration seasons? Have you been to that reserve? Many thanks!!

> Should I take away 1 day from Serengeti

We were in Tanzania in February 20 years ago. I completely agree with what Amy said. We had more time than you. I don't remember the exact details but it was on the order of 2-3 days Tarangire, 2 Manyara, 2-3 Ngorongoro, 3 Ndutu (saw migration there, yes it was impressive), 3 lodge Serengeti, 3 tent camp Serengeti, plus Kili. Every stop was fantastic.

If anything, if you can squeeze in another couple of days, rather than take away, that would be better. Good luck.

Having been to Tanzania in both July and February, I preferred the latter when everything was green. We did have a bit of rain, but saw tremedous herds as well as a wildebeest giving birth. February is not the best time for Tarangire, so we skipped it on the Feb. trip, only going there in July. We did make a half day visit to Manyara during Feb.

I'd ask the operator where "Serengeti" means for your itinirary. We spent our time on our Feb. trip around Ndutu, Lake Masek, Hidden Valley, Gol Kopjes and Kusini plains. We saw so many lions we started skipping them, as well as many cheetah, but no leopard on this trip.

Anyway, no I don't think you should take time away from a Seregeti area and add to Tarangire if going in Jan/Feb (I think Feb is probably better for migration and births). Add time somewhere in south/east Seregeti/Ngorongoro Conservation area if you are adding time somewhere.

Have a good tripl

ekskrunchy, I've only been to TZ once and did the common northern route (Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Ndutu, Serengeti) but have been to the Maasai Mara 8x and it is the same ecosystem as the Serengeti, just a different name when you cross the border. The same concept holds true there: high season is when the migration herds are there, but outside of high season, "all the rest" remain. I know Grumeti can be good for river crossings at certain times of year, but I don't know much about it otherwise. I have zero interest in seeing river crossings mainly due to their unpredictability and the requirement to sit for hours and wait only for it to never happen. I'd much rather go when it's quieter, less trafficked and less frazzled. Other than cheetah though, which can have vast "home ranges", lions and leopards don't migrate like the plains game do.

All but one of my safaris have been in either Jan or Feb. I like it because it's hot and dry then, and less likely to rain (although that's changed a bit since I first started going on safari many years ago). I had a good time in Tarangire (in Feb) with some of the best elephant sightings I've ever had (which Tarangire is known for). Also saw lions with young cubs there. In Ndutu at the same time of year (Feb), that's when the migration is there and the wildebeest are calving, so that's "high season" for that area. It was interesting to see the vast numbers of animals and we did see some newly born wildebeest, but it does get a bit samey after a while.

The difference between Ndutu and other parts of the Serengeti is really the ability to off-road. If you're in a national park you can't, which can mean your sightings are quite a ways off. If I were to add time anywhere, it'd be to Ndutu for that reason. It more closely mirrors the experience in the private conservancies in Kenya, which I love.