Listen to an audio version of this blog post! Just press the play button below.
Picture this: The immense sprawling fields of the southern Serengeti. Now add thousands, no, tens of thousands of wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, and more. And… to these plains thick with wildlife add uncountable baby animals dropping into the lush grasses or taking their first steps.
This is the calving season in the area known as Ndutu. It begins in December when the Great Migration of millions of grazers has herded south from the Masai Mara, following the rains and attracted to the rich vegetation here. This birthing season continues through March.
The drama of all this new life is an incredibly touching scene. Perhaps even more so as the predators of the area, all the big cats, have also recently given birth to their young and are anxious to feed them. This then, is the tableau of survival that plays out in Ndutu during this amazing time of the year.
But within months all the young will be walking and running with the herd, as the great masses of grazers head back north, leaving behind the predators and the masses of other wildlife that populate this part of the Serengeti throughout the year.
The Colorful Varieties of Ndutu
Ndutu as they say, is easy on the eye. Rolling grasslands give way to acacia woodlands where giraffes, monkeys, baboons, elephants, and antelope thrive. The area’s alkaline lakes draw in a fluttering carpet of pink flamingoes.
The birdlife here exceeds 400 species so don’t be surprised to find ostrich, cuckoos, storks, pelicans, heron, ibis, hawks, eagles, owls, vultures, buzzards, and a rainbow canopy of smaller winged creatures wherever you roam in this active region of Tanzania.
Unlike the migrating grazers, all the big cats make Ndutu their home year-round, so any season is a great safari time for spotting these stunning predators. During the dry season, you’ll likely find them gathered around the area’s watering holes.
The region is home to many prides of lions, plus cheetahs, hyenas, caracal, and African wildcats. And you may be lucky to spot an elusive leopard, lounging on a tree branch or lurking in the bush on an evening prowl.
The Calving Season
But should you be here during this fertile time, you’ll see these predators move into an active hunt when up to 8,000 wildebeest young are born each day. For this isn’t just the time when the grazers are birthing. In the amazing parallels of nature, the predators too have given birth and they have hungry mouths to feed.
The sights and sounds of the thousands of newborn wildebeests, zebras, antelope, and more attract the big cats, luring them to the birthing fields. But first, they must get past the protective animal mothers who stand guard around their young, forming a defensive barrier.
What follows is an emotional display of survival between grazer and predator. But ironically, this period of mass calving is a way that nature helps the survival for the majority of newborns. As in the old adage, ‘There’s safety in numbers.’, the predators get more than their fill, thus protecting most of the animal babies who are left alone, to grow and become part of the herd.
Join us at Ndutu any time of the year to witness the immense numbers of active wildlife and the overwhelming drama of survival that makes this region a must-part of the great Serengeti.
YOUR DREAM AFRICAN SAFARI AWAITS...
Explore magical Kenya & incredible Tanzania
Just call, WhatsApp, email us or fill online enquiry form and one of our friendly travel advisors will have you on the road to adventure – your own personalized safari.
Why uncompromising? Because exploring these two East African countries will bring you up close to every manner of wildlife experience.
For depth and variety of landscapes, wildlife experiences and cultural moments, the parks of Kenya and Tanzania are a perfect fit. Our cross-border tours will bring you the big drama of thundering herds and the heart-skipping wonder of a sudden encounter with a lone gazelle. It’s all here in on these safaris.
Please explore our tour listings below – we offer journeys to over ten national parks in Kenya and Tanzania. Looking for something more? Africa Kenya Safaris will customize any of these adventures to suit your desires, budget, and personal style.
So join us for an exciting international safari and enjoy the best of Africa’s two finest wildlife habitats.
Just contact one of our friendly travel experts and together you will begin the adventure of your dream safari to Kenya and Tanzania.
Our 7 - 10 Days Combined Kenya & Tanzania Safaris
4 parks: Masai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Lake Manyara
5 parks: Masai Mara, Lake Victoria/Serengeti/Ngorongoro, & Tarangire
2 countries, 9 parks: Amboseli, Aberdare, Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire or Lake Manyara
Choose Your East Africa Safari Tour
Our Africa Safaris in Kenya, Tanzania & Zanzibar
Check out our many East Africa safari tours:
NAIROBI EXCURSIONS
Africa Kenya Safaris offers you full and half-day excursions & trips from Nairobi
KENYA SAFARI FROM NAIROBI
Explore our multi-day Kenya safari adventures ranging from 2 – 12 days from Nairobi.
NAIROBI TO DIANI BEACH SAFARIS
Enjoy a Kenya wildlife safari then finish up your holiday at Kenya’s Diani Beach.
DIANI BEACH KENYA SAFARIS
Explore our Kenya safaris from beach resorts of Diani – voted Africa’s leading beach destination
AMBOSELI KENYA SAFARIS
Explore Amboseli – famous for large herds of elephants and scenic views of Mount Kilimanjaro
KENYA FLIGHT SAFARIS
Book Kenya flight Safaris and explore Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu & Lewa Conservancy.
MASAI MARA KENYA SAFARIS
Masai Mara is home of the Great Wildebeest Migration, Big Five of Africa, Big cats, Masai culture etc.
KENYA BEACH TO NAIROBI SAFARIS
Book Exciting African safaris starting from/to the beautiful Diani beach resorts
KENYA-TANZANIA SAFARIS
Experience wildlife parks, beaches and mountains of Kenya & Tanzania.
KENYA SAFARI & DIANI BEACH
Experience the best of both worlds – a thrilling Kenya safari and a dream Diani beach vacation
KENYA SHORT GROUP SAFARIS
Join our exciting Kenya short Group safari Tours from Nairobi in 4×4 safari jeeps
TANZANIA SAFARI HOLIDAYS
Exciting 4×4 Tanzania safaris from Arusha town. Explore Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Manyara & Tarangire.
ZANZIBAR BEACH HOLIDAYS
Pre/post your African safari holiday in Kenya & Tanzania, ‘escape’ to Africa’s leading beach destination – Zanzibar!
MOUNTAIN CLIMBING TOURS
Best Africa mountain climbing adventure tour packages and safaris. Climb Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro
EAST AFRICA BEACH HOLIDAYS
Best family-friendly beach holidays on the sandy beaches of Mombasa, Diani, Malindi, Watamu, Lamu & Zanzibar
HOLIDAY EXPERIENCES
You came to Africa to live an experience – to see the Big 5, Big cats, wildebeest migration & so much more!
Customize your dream African safari
At Africa Kenya Safaris we are always flexible with your options, we will offer our thoughts on seasons, budgets, lifestyle, accommodations, first-hand experience of the parks, and all the possible activities to fill out your safari story. We’ll work with your impressions and dreams and add our ideas on which to build your adventure.
