The Ndutu Plains lie in the southernmost reaches of the Serengeti ecosystem, straddling the border between Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. During January to March, the vast short-grass plains around Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek become the stage for one of the most extraordinary events in nature: the wildebeest calving season.
Over 300,000 calves are born in a concentrated window of 2-3 weeks, creating an explosion of new life that attracts every predator in the ecosystem. Cheetah, lion, and hyena hunting rates reach their annual peak, and the density of predator-prey interactions during calving season rivals anything seen during the famous Mara River crossings.
The Ndutu area is accessible from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area gate and requires a conservation fee rather than the standard Serengeti park fee. The permanent Lake Ndutu and nearby Lake Masek attract resident wildlife year-round, making Ndutu rewarding even outside the calving season.