2022/03/10 – Serengeti Calving and Kopjes

• Starting and ending in Kilimanjaro Intl Airport, Tanzania
• Safari dates: March 10th 2022 to March 20th 2022
• 1 night in Arusha, 1 night at Ngorongoro Crater, 4 nights in Ndutu, NCA and 4 nights in Serengeti NP
• Small group of 6 participants
• Guided by Federico Veronesi

This safari will take us to one of the best areas for wildlife watching and photography in the world, the southern part of the Serengeti ecosystem, at the time when over one million Wildebeests gather here to feed and give birth to their calves. The immense Serengeti ecosystem extends for almost 30,000 sq kms and hosts an unmatched quantity and concentration of wildlife in a varied setting of open savannahs with giant rocky formations, rocky hills and acacia woodlands. It comprises the Masai Mara NR in Kenya, the Serengeti NP, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Loliondo Game Controlled Area and Maswa Game Reserve.

Unique landscapes and teeming wildlife in the Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro was an active volcano which last erupted about 8 million years ago. The tip of the crater collapsed, leaving a 265 sq kms wide caldera with extremely nutritious pastures that attracted wild animals first and Maasai livestock later. The Ngorongoro Crater is 600 meters deep, and hosts an impressive concentration of animals, including Black Rhinoceros, large bull Elephants and a very high concentration of Lions.

Here we will photograph wildlife surrounded by the majestic landscapes and colours of the crater. The setting is particularly fascinating on cloudy or misty days.

Five days in the endless Serengeti short-grass plains among the migrating Wildebeests and their predators

In the western side of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, endless short-grass plains extend as far as the eye can see. At the heart of this immense savannah and surrounded by a beautiful Acacia woodland are Lakes Ndutu and Masek. The short-grass plains come to life during the wet season. New shoots of grass emerge and the Wildebeests return from the north. This grass is particularly rich in salts and minerals, providing the ideal conditions for the Wildebeests cows to give birth to their babies.

This area in this time of the year hosts an amazingly high concentration of Cheetahs. We will follow families of this fascinating cat, hoping to see them hunt. Lions are also abundant around Lake Ndutu. We will wait for the Wildebeests to give birth to their calves and also search for the smaller but equally interesting animals, Servals, Caracals, African Wild Cat, Honey Badgers, Striped Hyenas, Golden and Common Jackals and Bat-eared Foxes.

Four days searching for big cats on the magnificent kopjes in Serengeti NP

Serengeti National Park extends for 14,763 sq kms, and is the heart of the ecosystem. At this time of the year, wildlife is mostly abundant in the southern plains, which come to life during the rainy season.

The kopjes are a key feature of the Central/Southern Serengeti. They are gigantic rocky formations that rise from the plains and provide shade, nutrition and water to a large variety of wildlife. The shapes of many of these rocks are truly spectacular and provide an excellent setting for iconic images of predators looking down on the plains from an elevated position. We will camp in two beautiful locations, which give us access to remote areas of the park, where we will have the privilege of enjoying majestic wildlife in a magnificent setting on our own, with hardly any other vehicle in sight.

Small group of keen photographers

This safari is for only a maximum of 6 guests on two vehicles. Federico will share the time equally between the two. Federico will be able to offer each guest a very personalized photographic support. Each guest will have plenty of space on the vehicles. Federico will constantly communicate to all guests via hand-held radio between the two vehicles.

Full row of seats on the vehicle

We believe it is crucial that every photographer on the tour has a full row of seats on the vehicle to him/herself. This provides ample space for the equipment, but most of all, allows everyone to photograph on both sides of the vehicle without overlapping with other guests. Couples can request to share a row of seats on the vehicle if one of the two members is not a keen photographer, for a maximum of one couple per vehicle.

Vehicles fully customised for photography

Our vehicles are fully customised to satisfy the needs of photographers. They have fully open sides for an interrupted field of view and supports at the right height to lean the big lenses on. We provide bean bags in plenty but we also supply supports to mount your tripod head on. Vehicles also have pop-up roof for photography from a higher angle when required.

Accommodation in the heart of the parks

At the Ngorongoro Crater we’ll sleep in a beautiful lodge on the crater rim, near the access road to the crater floor, ensuring we are inside the crater before sunrise.

In Lake Ndutu we will sleep in a beautiful lodge in the heart of the woodlands that surround the lakes and marshes. Predators abound all around the lodge. The cottages have a wonderful view on the woodlands surrounding the lakes. All cottages are en-suite, with comfortable beds and an excellent international cuisine. Sockets for charging equipment are supplied in each room.

In the Serengeti NP we will sleep in a permanent luxury camp with the best access to the plains and the kopjes. Tents are all en-suite, built on raised wooden platforms. Food and service are amazing.

All accommodation is on full-board basis, including breakfast, lunch and dinner. We will always have packed breakfast during our game drive, and depending on the situation, we’ll have lunch in camp or we’ll pack it with us and have it under a tree in the savannah.

Photographer/guide with in-depth knowledge and experience of the parks

Federico Veronesi will be your guide for the whole safari. He will share his time equally between the two vehicles. Throughout the safari he will share his knowledge on the wildlife and parks of Tanzania. Through the years he learned to understand and predict animals’ behaviour, ensuring you’ll often be in the best spot for photography, all without running from one place to the other and most importantly without disturbing them or destroying their environment. Federico will provide assistance to participants on all aspects of wildlife photography, from composition and light in the field, to processing of images in the evening in camp.

The vehicles will be driven by professional local guides who have extensive knowledge of the parks visited and are used to working with photographers.