Calving Season in Ndutu: What to Expect

Between roughly January and March, the short-grass plains around Lake Ndutu become one of the most dramatic wildlife stages on earth. Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest gather to give birth, and the predators of the southern Serengeti ecosystem follow close behind.

Ndutu sits within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, right on the border of the southern Serengeti. For many of our guests, a calving safari is the most memorable thing they have ever seen in the wild.

When calving happens

The herds arrive on the southern plains with the short rains, roughly November to December, and calving usually peaks in late January and February. At the height of the season, thousands of calves can be born in a single day, often within a few weeks of one another.

This synchronized birthing is a survival strategy. So many calves arrive at once that predators cannot take them all, and a wildebeest calf can usually stand and run within minutes of birth.

Exact timing depends on rainfall, so we keep an eye on reports from the field before confirming camps.

Calving season also coincides with a period when many other animals have young, so you may see baby zebra, gazelle fawns and lion cubs on the same drive.

Predators on the plains

Calving season is famous for predator activity. Lions, spotted hyenas and jackals are busy, and the open plains are some of the best cheetah country in Tanzania. Because the grass is short, hunts are easier to see than in most other seasons.

This can be intense to watch. Your guide will position the vehicle well and give animals space, but it helps to be mentally prepared for the realities of life and death on the plains.

The landscape around Lake Ndutu

Ndutu is a mix of open grassland, acacia woodland and two shallow soda lakes, Ndutu and Masek. The woodland edges are good for giraffe, elephant and birdlife, while the plains hold the herds.

Because Ndutu is part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area rather than the national park, the regulations are different from the Serengeti. Your guide will know the current rules on where vehicles can go.

Weather and what to pack

January to March sits between the short and long rains, so days are generally warm with afternoon showers possible. Mornings can be cool, and the plains are dusty when dry and muddy after rain.

• A light fleece or jacket for early drives
• A rain shell for afternoon storms
• A dust cover or bag for camera gear
• Neutral-colored clothing in khaki, olive or tan
• Sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat

Where to stay

There are lodges and seasonal tented camps around Ndutu and the southern Serengeti plains. Seasonal camps book up early for February, so planning several months ahead is wise. Staying close to the herds means less driving and more time watching.

Some camps on the plains are tented and fairly simple, while lodges near the lake offer more permanent rooms. Whichever you choose, ask about the distance to where the herds currently are. Herds can drift away from a fixed lodge, which is why mobile and seasonal camps are popular at this time of year.