Ndutu and the Southern Serengeti Plains

Ndutu sits on the boundary between the southern Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, on short-grass plains grown on volcanic ash blown from the highlands. That ash makes the grass unusually rich in calcium and phosphorus, which is precisely what lactating wildebeest need — and it is why the migration returns here every year to give birth. Between late January and March several hundred thousand calves are born within a few short weeks, and the concentration of newborn prey draws in lion, cheetah, hyena and wild dog at densities that are hard to match anywhere else. Because Ndutu lies partly within the conservation area, off-road driving is permitted in places where it is not allowed inside the national park, which makes a substantial difference to predator viewing.

Why visit Ndutu

• The calving season, when several hundred thousand wildebeest are born in a few weeks on the short-grass plains.
• Extremely concentrated predator activity following the newborn herds.
• Off-road driving is permitted in parts of the Ndutu area, unlike inside Serengeti National Park.
• Open short grass that makes cheetah viewing and photography exceptional.

Wildlife

During calving, vast wildebeest and zebra herds with newborn calves, and the predators that follow them — lion, cheetah, spotted hyena and occasionally wild dog. Outside calving season the plains are much emptier, though resident cheetah, gazelle and smaller predators remain. Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek hold flamingo and waterbirds.

• Newborn wildebeest calves in their hundreds of thousands
• Cheetah hunting on open short grass
• Very high lion and hyena concentrations during calving
• Occasional African wild dog sightings
• Flamingo on the Ndutu and Masek soda lakes

Best time to visit

Late January to March, and effectively only then. Peak calving usually falls in February. Outside this window the herds have moved on and the short-grass plains are largely empty, so Ndutu is not worth a detour.

Late January–March, with February the peak of calving.

Things to do

Calving-season game drives

Following the herds and the predators working the edges of them.

Off-road predator viewing

Permitted in parts of the Ndutu area, which transforms cheetah and lion photography.

Short-grass plains photography

Open terrain, low horizons and clean backgrounds make this a photographer's location.

How long to stay

Two to three nights during calving season. Camps here are seasonal and mobile, following the herds, so availability is tight and should be booked well ahead.

What it combines with

Ndutu is combined with the central Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire on calving-season itineraries.