WHY IS TANZANIA’S WILDEBEEST CALVING SEASON A BIG DEAL
With the Serengeti National Park stealing the limelight on several occasions, the wildebeest migration is now on top of the list for every traveler to East Africa. If you are looking to taste the crème de la crème of an action-packed safari, the calving season in the Ndutu region, located between Ngorongoro and, Serengeti will surprise you with promising wildlife adventures.
With a handful of accommodation options, fewer tourists, a massive concentration of wildebeests with their young calves and hungry predators, there is lots of action that unfolds during the calving season.
If you are planning your safari to Tanzania from December to April, here is why you must not miss the wildebeest calving season in Ndutu, the starting point of the full migration cycle.
- Drive off-road and explore rewarding sights
Tanzania is known for wildlife conservation and most national parks feature well-defined driving tracks with due respect to the freedom of movement to the animals. With unique landscapes; rolling grasslands that remain untouched, Ndutu is one of those very few safari parks where vehicles are allowed to be driven off-road. And this means guests can watch animals in action from a short distance, allowing photographers and wildlife enthusiasts to get closer to the animals in their 4by4.
- Nearly 100,000 calves born in 2 weeks
What a treat to the eyes! The high season from June to December features plenty of wildlife, and not forgetting tourist vehicles. However, from mid-December onwards, those few travelers become a part of a breath-taking phenomenon, one of the best-kept secrets of the migration- the calving season. It is in the Ndutu region where travelers get to witness the beginning of the full wildebeest migration cycle, starting from birth giving being the highlight of ‘the circle of life’.
- Abundant of predator action
While the migration season is known for watching thousands of wildebeest moving across distances, the calving season is comparatively slow and allows you to study the behavior of predators. With nearly 8,000calves born every day, these feeble animals rely on the nourishment from their mothers and fresh grass, and in no time, their strength is tested by attacks of lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and leopards.
There is a delicious feast for the predators every hour and,wildlife action for the travelers goes unmissed!
- Stay at rewarding properties from mid to high-end.
With a favorable location, North of Ngorongoro and South of Serengeti, Ndutu gives travelers the best of two famous destinations. There are a handful of lodges in Ndutu that offer a unique perspective of this less-known tourist hot-spot. Watch the best of wildlife views from the classic Ndutu Safari Lodge, which is perfect for the budget to mid-range travelers. Thanks to the concentration of young calves and predators around this lodge are nearly always fully booked.
- The perfect weather.
Weather plays a crucial role during your safari, and especially if it is raining, Ndutu becomes impassable. The calving season from December through mid-April is dry, featuring sunshine and fresh grass that has sprouted from the short rains. And this makes game drives favorable, any time of the day, and travelers can enjoy safari at their own pace. Besides this, guests can also enjoy a balloon safari, sundowners and, bushwalk to spot wildlife in hiding. And this makes the calving season a perfect holiday away from the buzz of several tourists.
Want to book a safari during the calving season? Ask us for special offers and combine your holiday with Northern Circuit Safari and beach getaway to Zanzibar.
Cover photo credits: Takashi Muramatsu