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Tanzania – Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti Photo Tour 2024

US$17,195 person sharing

Spaces Available

Please note that costs & dates for 2024 tours are subject to change as not all our partner properties and local airlines have released their rates. Should we need to revise costs, we will endeavour to keep fees & dates as close to the original.

15 Feb 2024 – 26 Feb 2024

ORYX is proud to present you with an unforgettable 12 day wildlife photo safari to Tanzania’s world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater & the southern Serengeti Plains. Our focus on this Tanzania Photo Tour is on the astounding Crater scenery & wildlife that have made this large volcanic caldera their home, as well as one of Africa’s greatest natural spectacles: the bonanza of young wildebeest, zebra and gazelle which offer abundant opportunities for the local predators in the southern Serengeti!

 

Ngorongoro

Set off the beaten track and in Maasai territory, our camp is perched on the wild northern side of the Ngorongoro Crater rim. It is a thoughtfully designed refuge with stunning views of the surrounding dormant volcanic hills and craggy, lichen-festooned trees. With access to a Maasai village off the normal tourist track, we also have a lovely window into the daily flow of Maasai pastoralist life.

 

Southern Serengeti

Our first camp is located in the south-west of the Serengeti ecosystem and during the wildebeest birthing season, it’s hard to imagine a more stunning backdrop to our adventure. Dramatic storms sweep in new life and there are young wildebeest babies all over along with the attendant predators. This is the land of the Cheetah, Lion and Spotted Hyaena, and one of our aims is to photograph predations. With a pack of African Wild Dogs often ranging through the area, the photographic opportunities are diverse.

 

Our second camp is located within Serengeti National Park. Encapsulated by rugged Acacia woodland, the camp and surrounding area has a high concentration of big cats notably Lion and Leopard, and once out on the plains, is also well known for its Cheetah. Spotted Hyaena patrol the area as they look out for opportunities to scavenge as well as hunt.

 

As we spend good amounts of time in each area, we will have the opportunity to capture the wildebeest spectacle and the resident predators as they go about their lives. Join us as we reveal to you the wonders of one of the planets most iconic safari destinations!

Why this Photo Safari is for You

Destination Allure

The Ngorongoro Crater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a fascinating origin. Once a gigantic volcano thought to be similar in size to Kilimanjaro, its implosion formed what is the largest intact caldera in the world, now home to a staggering number of large mammals. The southern Serengeti plays host to the Wildebeest calving between January and March, and it’s hard to imagine a more exciting photo tour and travel experience! Dramatic storms sweep in new life and tens of thousands of Wildebeest and their babies cover the plains while ever watchful predators and scavengers lie in wait for a quick meal.

Wildlife

Ngorongoro Crater: one of the most densely populated conservation areas on earth with over 25,000 large mammals calling it home! Large herds of Wildebeest, Zebra and gazelle dots the plains and large-tusked Elephant bulls can be seen strolling relaxedly to forage-rich swamps or feeding on acacias. Black Rhino are often seen, as are Lion. Serengeti South: with breathtaking numbers of Wildebeest, their calves and dazzles of Zebra, the scenery with these herds is unbelievable! Predators thrive during this season with Lion prides, Cheetah, African Wild Dog and Spotted Hyaena being the top hunters. Bat-eared Fox and Martial Eagle are a few of the smaller predators that can be found. Migratory storks, elephant, plains game, Maasai Giraffe and more are found in this Wildlife Eden.

Small Group Departures

Limited to only 6 participants with two pop-roof private safari vehicles in Ngorongoro Crater, and two open private safari vehicles (canvas roof is easily added or removed) in the southern Serengeti.

More to Explore

We will visit two sought-after wildlife areas that also have beautiful landscapes: Ngorongoro Crater and the Southern Serengeti. In the Southern Serengeti, we will maximise your opportunities to capture the wildebeest calving by visiting 2 key areas in the southern Serengeti, namely in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park. We are allowed off road in the NCA (Camp 1) which allows greater freedom of movement, photographic opportunities and experiences.

Guided Experience

Local knowledge of the region and its inhabitants is key to crafting the ultimate photography tour experience. Combined with the photographic expertise of your ORYX Photo Tour Leader, and you are in for an adventure that will further fuel your excitement for photography and the destination.

Penny Robartes

ORYX LEADER
Penny Robartes

12 Days
6 Guests + 1 ORYX Leader
Classic
Wildlife
  • Destination
    Tanzania
  • Departure
    Arusha
  • person sharing
    US$17,195
  • Single Supplement
    US$2,035
  • Photographic Highlights
    Ngorongoro Crater scenery & wildlife, Maasai village excursion, Wildebeest and Zebra migration with calves and foals, Leopard, Lion, Cheetah, African Wild Dog, Spotted Hyaena, Elephant
  • Guide
    Penny Robartes

From our gallery

Best of the Southern Serengeti

Tanzania-Wildebeest Migration Photo Safari
Lions photography in Tanzania
Serengeti Photographic Expedition
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Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to Hotel in Arusha

After arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, and having taken care of passport control and collected luggage, you will be met outside the arrivals hall exit by an ORYX representative and driven to our accommodations. At dinner tonight, we will be met by ORYX Senior photo tour leader Penny Robartes, who will be host and photographic leader for the duration of this incredible safari. During dinner tonight, Penny will discuss in detail the upcoming Ngorongoro & Serengeti photo safari, answering any questions and providing insight into this amazing part of Africa!
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Day 2: Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater

We depart Arusha after an early breakfast this morning for Ngorongoro Crater. We will be driven in 2 private, pop-roof safari vehicles, allowing space to sit back and soak up the beautiful scenery that we drive through. After checking in at the Loduare Gate of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, we move onto a dirt track that snakes through the outer edges of Ngorongoro Crater. Our camp is located near the northern edge of the crater and is surrounded with stunning Acacia trees and boasts expansive views over the rolling hills that define this portion of Ngorongoro. We have an afternoon activity planned in the form of a walk through the beautiful open country towards a Maasai Boma. We will spend time with the Maasai, learning about their cattle, homes and rituals, and photographing them as the sun starts to dip along the western horizon.
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Day 3: Day tour to Ngorongoro Crater floor

This morning we rise before the sun, enjoying a hot cup of tea or coffee in our rooms before driving to the descent road into the crater. We will spend most of the day on the crater floor photographing the remarkable numbers of animals that inhabit the “garden of Eden”.   In the afternoon, we ascend out of the crater and head back to Entamanu, where we can relax and enjoy the glorious landscapes that surround us.
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Day 4: Flight Manyara Airstrip to Serengeti South, transfer to camp; PM game drive

Following a delicious breakfast, we retrace our steps back towards Lake Manyara, stopping at the Manyara Airstrip. We fly from here to the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti, specifically in a part that falls under the management of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. After checking in, having lunch and some time to settle in, we will begin our first afternoon game drive in one of the most celebrated wildlife areas on earth. This safari is designed to focus on predator – prey interactions, and as the majority of the Wildebeest will have offspring or will be in the process of calving, this means a lot of small calves and consequently, there will be lot of opportunities for us to witness predations!
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Days 5 to 7: Southern Serengeti region of Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The incredible concentration of Wildebeest calves (and sometimes Zebra foals) is a sight to behold, and in addition attracts large numbers of predators who take full advantage of this protein boost! With a mixture of weeks-old to newborn calves, we will seek to capture the birthing and predator-prey action that abounds during this season. On the predator side, this area produces great photo opportunities for Lion; however, it is perhaps best known as one of Africa’s better sites for the lithe, lightning fast Cheetah! Furthermore, we may be fortunate to photograph African Wild Dog, a pack of which resides in the area around our camp. Our routine for the following days will be simple: rising predawn, enjoying a cup of steaming coffee or tea, and getting out into the field pre-sunrise so that we are able to maximise our time photographing in the soft, golden light around dawn. Once the light becomes more harsh and the wildlife less active, we will find a beautiful place to have our breakfast as we enjoy the scenery we are in. During the harsh light associated with the midday hours, we will have time in camp to relax, catch forty winks and of course to edit and review photographs during dedicated post-processing sessions. Later in the afternoon, we will head out to photograph the splendours of the Serengeti again!
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Day 8: Depart Kakessio (NCA) and drive to Kusini (Serengeti NP)

Today our morning will commence as it has for the last few days with the exception that we will not be returning back to our camp, but onwards to our next exciting destination. Departing early will give us the opportunity to photograph in the productive early hours while the light is good, while simultaneously covering ground en route to our next camp on this safari. We will make our way to our camp located west of Ndutu in Serengeti National Park, aiming to arrive in camp at lunchtime. Post lunch and a rest, we will depart on an afternoon game drive and start exploring the general area that will serve as our base for the last four nights of the safari.
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Days 9 to 11: Serengeti National Park

The Kusini area, being located within the borders of Serengeti National Park in an area that combines rivercourses, plains, woodlands and a few kopjes, is a hotspot for predators. Lion are common and as too are Cheetah – the former, social big cats sometimes being seen lazing on granite kopjes, the latter, more slightly built cat typically found in the more open areas where they can simultaneously search for prey and keep an eye out for other predators. Our routine for the following days will be simple: rising predawn, enjoying a cup of steaming coffee or tea, and getting out into the field pre-sunrise so that we are able to maximise our time photographing in the soft, golden light around dawn. Once the light becomes more harsh and the wildlife less active, we will find a beautiful place to have our breakfast as we enjoy the scenery we are in. During the harsh light associated with the midday hours, we will have time in camp to relax, catch forty winks and of course to edit and review photographs during dedicated post-processing sessions. Later in the afternoon, we will head out to photograph the splendours of the Serengeti again!
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Day 12: Flight from Serengeti to Hotel, lunch and transfer to JRO and depart

After a final morning’s exploration and photography, we will depart the Serengeti (time to be advised) and fly to Arusha Airport. Here we will be collected and transferred to our hotel for lunch and dayroom facilities. After lunch and freshening up, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport where this safari sadly comes to an end.
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