Ndutu Region in Serengeti - Complete Guide to Wildlife, Calving Season & Safaris

The best time to visit the Ndutu Area in Serengeti is from mid-January to February. So, this is the peak season for the wildebeest calving events in Serengeti National Park. Also, these months are optimal for predator-prey interactions as the predators, including the Tanzania big five cats, prey on the newborn calves in the Ndutu Area. Lastly, this period offers excellent wildlife viewing, most especially around Lake Ndutu. So, this is because the grass around the Ndutu region is shorter and wildlife is easily seen.

The worst time to visit Serengeti’s Ndutu is from March to late April. Additionally, this is because during this time, the rains are very heavy. So, the Ndutu tracks may become impassable, and accessing the magical safari parts of the Ndutu region would be hard. Hence, making the Serengeti safari in Ndutu hardly possible.

You must get to Serengeti National Park first before reaching the Ndutu Area. So, Ndutu is accessible by both by air and road. Hence, choosing the right route depends on your time, comfort, and budget. Firstly, get to Ndutu by air via  Ndutu Airstrip, which is a small airstrip that connects this region directly to Arusha, Kilimanjaro International Airport, or Seronera. A Light aircraft carries about 12-15 passengers, offering scenic aerial views of the Serengeti plains, volcanoes, and the Rift Valley before landing on the dirt runway surrounded by wildlife.

Some Ndutu Safari Lodges usually provide road transfers from the airstrip to your accommodation. Sometimes, you can get to your lodge through mini game drives en route, hence giving your Ndutu safari a head start. Alternatively, you can get to Ndutu by Road from Arusha or Karatu. So, travelers drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the southern Serengeti. Additionally, the journey takes up to 5 hours, depending on the traffic. On the road, you get an unmatched view of the rolling plains and the Great Rift Valley geographical features as you head to the Ndutu area. So, travel in the best 4×4 vehicles in Tanzania by road with our Serengeti Masai Mara Experts.

1. The Great Migration Calving Season in Ndutu Region

Ndutu region hosts huge numbers of wildebeests alongside zebras and gazelles from December to March. So, during this season, the wildebeest give birth in a highly synchronized window. Many sources and operators report this as the main reason to visit the Ndutu region of Serengeti National Park. During the rainy months in Tanzania, the Ndutu plains become a literal nursery for the migration. So, this is because of its short, nutrient-rich grass and this is why mothers arrive here for the best possible forage.

Also, to give calves a nutritional start so they can stand/run within minutes. The calving season in Ndutu usually happens around the Naabi-Ndutu plains, and this is where travelers can get to witness the optimal breeding of the calves.

2. Nature photography in Ndutu during off-road driving.

Ndutu is among the best areas in Serengeti National Park which offers off-road driving. So, Ndutu safari guides can legally leave the tracks to follow wildlife whereby which is rare in the Serengeti as a whole. The off-road driving takes you to areas that have the best have great photographic sceneries. Also, there’s unmatched exclusivity since only a few people are allowed and given the permit. You can reposition to observe predator behavior as you watch them feed, guard, and suckle without being restricted to a single track in Ndutu.

 3. Nature Walks Around Ndutu Wetlands

There are permanent or semi-permanent wetlands in Ndutu fed by groundwater. Also, they remain green when the surrounding plains in the Ndutu Area dry. Additionally, these Ndutu wetlands provide year-round water that attracts grazers and browsers. Also, create compressed edges where predator-prey interactions are frequent. As you follow the hiking tracks in Ndutu, you are likely to see lions resting in the shade, leopards whose tracks run the fringes. Also, you will spot concentrations of birds at the water holes.

4. Sunrise & Sunset Drives + Sundowners in Ndutu Region of Serengeti

The flat horizons in the Ndutu region allow dramatic light. So,  predators, including lions and leopards, are most active in the cooler low light. Hence, dawn and dusk game drives in Ndutu combine spectacle with behaviorally-rich sightings. Also, enjoy sun-downer moments where you watch the dramatic sunsets and sun-rises as you enjoy a glass of wine or champagne.

5. Birdwatching safaris in Ndutu.

Because the Ndutu region is a mix of wetlands, woodlands, and open plains, it draws resident and migratory bird species in Tanzania. Additionally, the rains trigger insect booms and seed flushes, attracting migratory birds from different regions. The different bird species in Ndutu include the Kori bustards, the secretary birds, and numerous raptors. These birds in Ndutu are usually sighted around the acacia woodlands of the Ndutu region.

6. Witness the Predator-Prey Encounters in the Ndutu Plains

Because of the presence of many weaker vulnerable individuals, predators in Ndutu concentrate there since prey is dense, exposed, and predictable. Ndutu Safari lovers are likely to witness predators like lions use the short grass as an advantage to spot and ambush their prey. So, the predators in this region hunt by collaborative stalking and pounce on clustered calves or single stragglers. However, cheetahs capitalize on open, flat ground for sprint hunts, and the Nqutu’s plains let you follow full-length chases.

On the other hand, hyenas use numbers and are seen harassing and sometimes stealing carcasses from smaller predators. Although during calving in Ndutu, they usually move in large, bold groups.  During the game drives in this area of the Serengeti, the predators are usually concentrated around Lake Ndutu.

Predator prey experinces during the great Migration calving season in Ndutu, Serengeti

1. Ndutu Safari Lodge

Ndutu Safari Lodge is a traditional stone-and-thatch lodge with a lakefront. Also, it is close to the calving plains in Ndutu. Additionally, Ndutu Safari Lodge is also a family-friendly accommodation facility with cozy interiors. Prices at this Ndutu lodge range in between $270-$700 per person per night. Lastly, all-inclusive Ndutu Safari Lodge packages often include meals, game drives, and park fees.

2. Lemala Ndutu Mobile Camp.

This is a Luxury tented camp which sometimes does seasonal positioning near migrating herds. Lemala Ndutu Mobile Camp in Serengeti is an intimate, high photographic access camp and usually has a small number of guests on which ensures privacy. Prices at this Ndutu Camp range between 500$-$1,000 per person per night.

3. Lake Ndutu Luxury Tented Lodge

This is a mid-to-high range tented accommodation in Ndutu with ensuite facilities like an ensuite bathroom. Also, its tents are elevated with a great look out of the Ndutu plains, hence offering a classic safari experience. Lastly, the prices for Lake Ndutu Luxury Tented Lodge range between $350-$750 per night.