"Who needs busy river crossings?" says Ndutu Safari Lodge

At Ndutu Safari Lodge - located in the southern corner of the Serengeti - they are now deep into the dry ("predator') season with clear blue skies and the characteristic smell of soda dust from Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek hanging in the air.  

Whilst hundreds of vehicles crowd the central and northern Serengeti hell bent on seeing the wildebeest migration crossing the perennial Grumeti and Mara River systems, Ndutu offers something increasingly rare in today’s safari world: solitude with spectacular wildlife encounters.

"During the dry season in the southern reaches of the ecosystem, you’ll witness the natural theatre without the crowds that have come to define peak season elsewhere further north" says UK representative, Charlie Morrison at Green Travel Marketing

The vast majority of clients at the moment are transiting through on their journey’s further north to catch the crossings and Ndutu guests consistently report having wildlife sightings to themselves.  

As co-owner Rob Barbour explained, "They are often reporting watching a pride of lions hunt while being the only vehicle for miles.  Visualise being able to stay as long as you like to observe the intricate dynamics of the lion pride.  These intimate moments create connections with nature that simply aren’t possible when sharing the experience with dozens of other safari vehicles".  

They have had recent sightings of a female leopard and two cubs that are remarkably comfortable in the presence of vehicles. A female cheetah with a very recent cub - hiding up in the small marsh and occasionally popping her head up to scan her surroundings when she hears an unfamiliar sound. The marsh reeds and rushes providing the perfect concealment and protection for young predators.

Dry season birding brings the vocal sandgrouse in from the grass plains where they drink quickly at the waters edge,  load their feathers with droplets of water to take water back to their thirsty chicks and take off nervously before the ever present servals pounce. 

The absence of engine noise reveals Ndutu’s true soundtrack. Dawn breaks (Jupiter and Venus currently lying close together - the brightest planets in the eastern sky)  with the comforting notes of Ring Necked Doves a sound heard the length of sub saharan Africa.

As the sun rises over the Ngorongoro Crater rim, we hear the chorus of screeching Fishers Love birds as they prepare to drop into the Ndutu bird bath, just in front of the dining area and occasionally the haunting, repeated whistle of a Pearl Spotted Owlet as it hunts the other bird species.  

Rob expanded, "This past week I have counted up to 14 species at the small bird bath at any one time.  Among them - White Bellied Canaries, Red Billed Fire Finches, Blue Capped Cordon Bleu,   Grey Headed Silver Bills, Crimson Rumped Waxbills,  Hilderbandts and Superb Starlings and the endemic Grey-Breasted Spur Fowl."

For more information on Ndutu safari Lodge - including some excellent special offers - contact info@ndutu.com or charlie@campbell-bell.com (01931 713288)