The Great Southern Plains: 4-Day Wildlife & Culture Adventure

Departures are set for December 2026, on 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 December. That timing brings you to Ndutu as the migration herds gather on the southern plains ahead of the calving season, and it fits around the Christmas break. Ask our Arusha team if you need a date that isn't listed.

Usually, yes. December is when the wildebeest and zebra herds tend to move onto the southern plains around Ndutu, where they stay through to around March for the calving season. Their exact position shifts with the rains, so your guide spends day three tracking the herds and the cheetahs and other predators drawn to them. Nothing can be guaranteed.

On day one, on the way from Arusha to the Rift Valley, a local guide leads you through Mto wa Mbu, a lively multicultural village. The walk passes banana farms, local markets and craft workshops, giving you a feel for everyday life in the area before you continue to Karatu for the night.

The first night is at Eileen's Trees Inn in Karatu, a lodge in the green highlands near Ngorongoro. The next two nights are at Savannah Ndutu Camp, a tented camp on the southern plains, where evenings end by the campfire.

You rise early on day two to descend into the crater, then spend the morning on the crater floor with a picnic lunch before driving on to Ndutu in the afternoon. The crater holds a high density of wildlife, and your guide looks for lions, elephants, buffalo and the rare black rhino.

Yes. It's designed for travellers with only a few days, perhaps around Christmas, who still want village life, the Ngorongoro Crater and the herds of the southern Serengeti ecosystem in one short loop. The drives are manageable and you spend two nights in the same camp at Ndutu, so the pace stays relaxed.

It starts and ends in Arusha. We collect you after breakfast on day one and drive you back to Arusha after breakfast at camp on day four. If you're flying in, we suggest arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport the day before, and our team can book a night in Arusha for you.

Yes. Our Arusha team can add a night, for example a second day on the Ndutu plains or a night in Arusha before you start, or tailor the trip to your own dates. It can also run as a private safari for your family or group.

Light, neutral-coloured clothing for warm days on the plains, plus a fleece or warm jacket, as early mornings in Karatu and on the crater rim are cool. A light rain jacket is useful in December. Add a hat, sunscreen, binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens, and use a soft bag that fits easily in the safari vehicle.

The The Great Southern Plains: 4-Day Wildlife & Culture Adventure is 4 days and 3 nights. The day-by-day itinerary on this page shows where you go and stay each day.

This trip visits Karatu, Ngorongoro Crater, Ndutu Area and Mto wa Mbu.

It is rated easy: no special fitness is needed.

It runs for groups of 2 to 8 travellers.

Prices start from USD 2,255 per person. The final price depends on your travel dates and group size.

Included: Full board accommodation at handpicked lodges and camps, All game drives in 4x4 safari vehicles with pop-up roofs, Professional English-speaking safari guide, Park entry fees for all national parks and conservation areas, Ngorongoro Crater descent fee, Bottled water during game drives, Cultural walk at Mto wa Mbu and All transfers and transportation, and more (see the full list on this page).

Not included: International flights, Visa fees, Travel insurance (recommended), Alcoholic beverages, Tips and gratuities for guide and lodge staff, Personal items and souvenirs, Optional activities not mentioned in itinerary and Additional meals and drinks outside of full board.