Ndutu Plains

Ndutu is not on most lists of Tanzania's famous parks. It actually lies inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, just south of the Serengeti boundary. But for a few weeks each year it hosts one of the most concentrated wildlife events in Africa, because this is where the wildebeest come to give birth.

Calving peaks from late January through February, when as many as 8,000 calves can be born in a single day. So many vulnerable young animals bring predators in large numbers. Lions, cheetahs, hyenas and jackals all follow the herds here.

The short-grass plains are flat and open, which makes game viewing superb. You can see for miles, and cheetahs in particular love this terrain for hunting. A safari here is less about covering distance and more about staying put while the action unfolds around you.

Because calving happens in a fairly narrow window, a trip to Ndutu needs careful timing. We follow the herds each season and can build your itinerary around the calving if that is your priority.