The calving season in brief
The calving season takes place on the southern plains, usually between January and March. February is the peak, and the births taper off into early March. Many calves are born in a short span, which is why this stretch of the Great Migration draws so many visitors. It is a period of the year, not a date. Nobody can promise a birth on the day you visit.
The herds are in the southern short-grass plains for much of this time. The area is quite different from the north, where the herds cross rivers months later. If calving is your goal, plan for the south and plan for several days.
Where the calving happens
South of the central Serengeti, partly outside the national park.
The southern plains are the traditional birthing grounds. In the Serengeti the southern travel area includes the Kusini region. Ndutu lies just beyond it. Ndutu Safari Lodge is located in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, not in the national park. So southern Serengeti as a landscape does not mean inside the national park, and each camp has to be placed on its own.
This matters for fees. The national park and the conservation area charge separately, and paying for one does not cover the other. When you compare offers, ask which area your nights and your game drives fall in. For the area around Ndutu itself, see the Ndutu guide.
| Place | Area | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ndutu Safari Lodge | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | Not a lodge inside the national park |
| Ubuntu Migration Camp | Kusini, southern Serengeti | Mobile camp, south from mid-December to mid-March |
| Central Serengeti and Seronera | National park | North of the calving plains |
Calving season safaris and tours
Serengeti safaris and tours with live prices and availability.
Predators and the plains
Where there are calves, there are hunters.
The southern plains see more predator activity in the calving months. That does not mean a hunt happens on your game drive, and no guide can promise one. It does mean the south has a different feel in February than in August.
The camps differ too. Some camps move with the herds. Ubuntu Migration Camp, for example, is in the south from mid-December to mid-March, in the north from June to mid-November, and closed from mid-March to May and from mid-November to mid-December. A closed camp is not a closed park. The park is open all year.
Planning a calving trip
Four decisions that matter more than the exact date.
Choose the area first
Decide whether you want a camp inside the national park or one in the conservation area near Ndutu. Both have their own character and their own fees.
Allow several nights
The births spread over weeks. A few nights in the south give you more chances than a single morning.
Think about the camp season
Not every camp is open from January to March, and mobile camps change places. Ask where your camp stands on your dates.
Lodges and camps →Add a balloon flight
The Ndutu area has balloon flights from 20 December to 31 March. A shared flight is listed at $599 per person in 2026, park entry not included.
Balloon safari →Rain falls in the early part of the year too. The long rains run from March to mid-May, and the short rains fall in November and December. Check the best time page for the pattern. For the full year of herd movements, read the Great Migration page.
Getting to the south
Airstrips, roads and the distance to Seronera.
Scheduled flights serve Ndutu, including from Zanzibar via Arusha and Manyara. A flight does not include park entry, a lodge or a vehicle by itself, so check what your package adds. By road, the lodge at Ndutu gives about two hours to Seronera on the main road. That is an estimate for one connection, and rain, animals or checkpoints can change it.
Fees follow the area where you sleep and drive, so the route matters. A road trip from Arusha passes through the Ngorongoro Highlands before it reaches the southern plains. See the Arusha page for the road route and the Zanzibar page for flights.
Calving season: frequently asked questions
When is the calving season in the Serengeti?
The usual window is January to March, with the peak in February and the births tapering off into early March. These are typical months, and nobody can promise a birth on a specific day.
Where does the calving season take place?
On the southern plains, around Kusini and Ndutu. Ndutu Safari Lodge lies in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, not in the national park, so check where your camp is.
Do park fees cover Ndutu?
No. The national park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are separate and charge separately. Ask your operator which fees are in the price and which area they refer to. See park fees.
Will I see predators hunting?
The southern plains see more predator activity during the calving months, but no hunt can be promised. Sightings depend on the day, the guide and luck.
Is it the same as the river crossings?
No. The calving season is in the south from January to March. The river crossings are in the north between about July and October. They are two different parts of the migration.