Travelling down from Kenya every year the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCAA) plays host to one of the world’s greats natural spectacles – The Great Migration (December to April). Over two million migratory animals made up of several species wildebeest, zebra, eland and Thompson gazelle move clockwise from Ngorongoro and the Southern Serengeti to the Northern Serengeti into Kenya and back.

This migration route happens because they follow the rains and therefore the new grasses which grow up rapidly. The Ndutu area is famed for its short grass plains which grow grass which is particularly rich in nutrients and sustains the migratory animals whilst they have their babies. Traditionally the wildebeest and zebra tend to calve on these plains with a peak around February which makes for a beautiful natural spectacle and some exciting predator hunting behaviours. This spectacle makes game driving during the migration season at Ndutu pretty extraordinary!

Predator season (April to December) is a great season to really enjoy the resident predators of Ndutu and indeed Ndutu is a favourite of expert guides, scientists and biologists for its high numbers of cats including lion, leopard, cheetah, civet, serval, wild cat and caracal. The resident predators are territorial and so once they have had their young they remain at Ndutu in the local marsh areas which stay wet all year round and are an essential fresh water source for the herbivores therefore attracting predators. The marshes also serve as the ideal place for cheetah and lion to hide their offspring from danger. You can enjoy sightings of all three species of jackal including the rarely seen side-striped jackal and in the late afternoons you may glimpse striped hyena at the lake shore.

The wonderful thing about doing a game drive during this dry season is that the behaviours of these animals are more visible due to the lack of vegetation. The variety of habitats allows plenty of places to explore and you often find yourself having private encounters with predators.

Guides and vehicles are available on request and upon availability. Game drives can be carried out between 6am - 7pm.

Ndutu Safari Lodge work closely with Serengeti Balloon Safaris. They are the first company to set a balloon aloft over the Serengeti and the first to start flying in the Ndutu area, they have set the bar high for an exceptional adventure, delivered with safety at the forefront of their minds and with their passenger's experience as a priority. From the outset, they have established themselves as partners in conservation in the Parks in which they operate and they take an active role in ensuring ballooning standards are rigorously maintained. They have had to learn the vagaries of the weather from first-hand experience and as such, there are no more experienced pilots than those that fly the green and gold of Serengeti Balloon Safaris. They are adventurers at heart, with a penchant for detail and quality, and with each balloon that flies, they know they are doing something extraordinarily well.

Serengeti Balloon Safaris are available to book through Ndutu Safari Lodge. It would be advisable to book well-ahead of your stay in order to secure yourself a place. Tours from Serengeti Balloon Safaris tend to sell out.