Tanzania Festival of Wildlife

Our 2024 Festival of Wildlife will be held in Tanzania, in the vast wildlifefilled plains of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, on the edge of the Southern Serengeti. Team member and Wildlife Photographer Emma Healey gives an insight on what to expect on this very special trip.

In true Festival fashion we'll have exclusive use of Ndutu Safari Lodge and in addition to the expert local team, I'll be joined by fellow wildlife photographers Bret Charman and Nick Garbutt. A comprehensive programme of photography workshops, talks and tutorials will be available alongside the usual morning and afternoon game drives.

The Festival takes place in April when over two million migratory animals made up of wildebeest, zebra, eland and Thomson's gazelle will gradually be easing westwards, following the rains and the new grass it brings. At this time, it's anticipated that the great herds will still be within striking distance of the lodge, allowing us to enjoy this magnificent spectacle, but significantly also leaving behind areas void of the easy pickings of migration and therefore forcing the resident predators, of which there are many, to work harder for their meals. The timing represents a period of transition, not only for the wildlife, but also for visiting tourists, as the mobile camps relocate north, making for a more exclusive experience.

The Ndutu region of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is famed for its big cats and is arguably one of the best places in Africa to see lion and cheetah. The enormous acacia-studded grasslands are the perfect habitat for both, but they also hold a tantalising variety of other sought-after species. Both serval and caracal roam these lands, as do striped hyena, bat-eared fox and three species of jackal. Falling within a conservation area rather than a national park we're also afforded a greater level of flexibility and can venture off-road in pursuit of sightings, an important consideration in such a vast wilderness.

In addition to our stay at Ndutu Safari Lodge, we're offering a pre-Festival extension to the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater, a lost world of Eden that provides refuge to the Big Five, alongside a wealth of ungulates and vibrant flamingo-filled lakes. Our base will be the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, the only lodge on the Eastern Rim with breathtaking views out over the crater. Post Festival, there will be the option to join a 3-night walking safari in a remote camp before continuing on to the verdant forests of Manyara National Park for two nights, offering a completely contrasting experience to our time at Ndutu. For those with a passion for primates there's the opportunity to travel to neighbouring Uganda to visit sites for both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees.

The Festival promises to be the experience of a lifetime and we'd love you to join us.

Festival of Wildlife Tanzania

9 Apr 2024

11 days, from £5,995

Festival of Wildlife Extensions

Ngorongoro Crater:

7 - 11 Apr, from £1,995

Serengeti Walking Safari: 18 - 24 Apr, from £3,495

Uganda Gorillas: 18 - 23 Apr, from £2,795

Uganda Gorillas & Chimps: 18 - 25 Apr, from £4,995 (Uganda prices exclude permits)

For full details and a day-to-day itinerary visit our website or contact our expert team.

4 30 years' experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

“Ndutu is a place that leaves an indelible mark. It's addictive: when you've visited once, you'll want to return again and again, and I can think of no better place in Africa to host a Festival of Wildlife.”