Ndutu Safari Lodge

Ndutu Safari lodge is located in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area on the edge of the Southern Serengeti plains filled with acacia trees and wide views across Lake Ndutu.

We have thirty four en-suite cottages at Ndutu which range from double, twins, triples and a quad room and all are built from local materials. Our stone and thatch cottages are naturally cool due to the thick walls and they provide simple and comfortable accommodation. Each room has an en- suite bathroom with hot showers, sink and flushing toilet.

All of the cottages have a private veranda overlooking the natural unfenced landscape of indigenous trees and shrubs outside your cottage door ensuring you are never far from the host of birds and mammals who call the Ndutu area home. The cottages extend from a warm and welcoming central dining, seating and bar or ‘mess’ area which has long been a gathering place for friends old and new.

Dining

Here at Ndutu we are committed to our guests feeling refreshed and nourished during their stay. After a restful night set yourself up for the day from the wealth of freshly prepared options for breakfast. If you are opting for an early game drive we can arrange for a tasty bush breakfast on the move.

All dining at the Lodge is in the central seating, dining and bar area which is the heart of the lodge, with views over the broad vista of the plains onto Lake Ndutu in the distance . Lunch and dinner are served at your table with a generous three-course menu of deliciously tempting options for lunch and a hearty four -course dinner served each evening. Our central bar serves mean cocktails which is a great way to start off your evening.

The evening campfire is a legendary part of life at Ndutu. For decades, this has been the time and place where after a day’s adventures wildlife photographers, trackers, safari guides, filmmakers and natural history experts have gathered in the evening calm after day’s exploration. Sit as the sunset fades across the plains and enjoy a drink or two in the firelight of the daily campfire, share some tasty pre-dinner nibbles and absorb the silence descending around you as night falls before heading inside for your four course dinner allowing more time for conversation and relaxation.

But don’t expect to lose weight on safari with us. The homemade cookie jar is on offer all day along with complementary hot drinks!

Rooms

All images credit to Ndutu Safari lodge

MIGRATION

Mid December – April

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.

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.

The Wildebeest continue to mature on the short grass plains well into March and April gaining strength for the long migration to the North following the rains and the new pastures.

Activities at the lodge include vehicle safari, walking safari and balloon safari

Explore Ballon Safari here – December to March

Button Link

THE PREDATOR

This 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.

All images credit to Ndutu Safari lodge

You can be at the lodge by either road transport from Arusha city taking approximately 3-4 hours to Ndutu safari lodge while flying from Arusha to ndutu airstrip it takes about 50 minutes or an hour then few minutes just 1 km to be transferred to the lodge.

Ndutu Safari Lodge

All images credit to Ndutu Safari lodge

Some of the animals found in this area.
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.

All images credit to Ndutu Safari lodge

Some of the birds found in this area.
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.

DOWNLOAD PDF OF BIRD LIST

All images credit to Ndutu Safari lodge

VALID FROM 1 April 2024 – 15 Dec 2025

Stay 2 Nights get 2^nd Night at 120 PP

Offer aBest time to visit

The big herds usually arrive on the plains of Ndutu around November and December and move off around April and Maypplies in Predator season only subsequent 2 Night stays offer continues to apply.

Kids 5-12 Pay half US$ 70 PP

Kids under 5 free

VALID YEAR ROUND excluding Christmas new year & 15 Jan – 15 March

Stay 5 Nights for the price of 4.

Offer applies to one Night full board accommodation only excluding drinks laundry, conservation and park fees applies to the 5^th Night.

conservation and park fees apply with both offers. These offers are non-combinable.

MIGRATION CALVING SEASON 2024, LAST MINUTE AVAILABLITY

We are delighted to confirm that we have some remaining limited availability for this coming migration season in Ndutu Safari Lodge. Special offers apply. see details above.

$390 PP normal rate

The big herds usually arrive on the plains of Ndutu around November and December and move off around April and May