Destined2

I am a single female wanting to spend at least 7 nights at Ndtu some time in January or February, and might consider March 2010. Need information about if game drive vehicles are on site (with drivers) and is it possible to fly into Ndutu from Arusha, JRO or DAR? My interests besides the migration are the big cats especially the cheetahs. I have been on safari before in Kenya and Tanzania, but did not make it to the serengeti. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thank you in advance

Bill_H

Ndutu has one or two jeeps with drivers that you can reserve in advance. So you can fly in from Arusha to the nearby airstrip and you're set.

However most people would bring their own driver/vehicle from Arusha and include a shorter stay at Tarangire and/or Lake Manyara, which are on the way from Arusha. And almost everyone stops by Ngorongoro Crater, which is pretty unique. All of these are within a few hours drive so it's easy to set up a loop from Arusha.

But if you just had 7 days and aren't interested in the other places, then flying into Ndutu for the whole week is a good idea. Should see plenty of cats, I think in Jan 2007 we saw 73 lions and 17 cheetah at Ndutu and in Feb 2008 I think 58 lions and 28 cheetahs.

I would book as far in advance as possible as they often fill up solid from mid-Jan thru March.

Bill

atravelynn

Great question, Destined2. Your plan is someday my plan. Somehow I thought there were more vehicles at Ndutu than just a couple.

Have a fantastic trip next year and be sure to report back about the logistics, the wildes, and hopefully lots of cats.

Bill_H

<b>Somehow I thought there were more vehicles at Ndutu than just a couple.</b>

I think they have one jeep set aside for guests and a second vehicle that the staff uses but that they can rent out to guests part of the time.

Almost everyone arrives with their own jeep and driver. I've only seen the Ndutu jeep out a couple of times in the three years we went there.

Destined2

Thank you for your help. I have already been to Tarangire and the crater. and as extraordinary as rhey are I really would like to spend time in the Serengeti during rhe migration. Thank you for the information about the jeeps .. it would be more worthwhile to drive from Arusha. I am very aware that Ndutu books up qickly at that rime of year and might have to consider 2011. Tkank you in advance

atravelynn

Destined2,

In the current economy that seems to be headed further downward at the moment, I cannot imagine there isn't room for one in Ndutu next migration season, especially with your flexibility on dates. I would think there may be deals in 2010 that will not be available in 2011--unless things just continue to get worse and worse.

If you drive from Arusha, you will likely have a private vehicle the entire time. I was thinking if you flew to Ndutu, you'd share a vehicle with others. Even if you ended up alone for part or all of the week, if you indicated you were willing to share the vehicle with others, then the overall cost might be less than a private guide and vehicle.

If you do any cost comparisons of driving to Ndutu privately or flying and offering to share, I'd be interested. Thanks.

sandi

Assuming Ndutu does have a vehicle for guest use who fly in, be aware that they may only do morning and afternoon game drives. And, if you share with other guests, you have the possible issues of "other guests." If you wish the lodge vehicle on an exclusive basis you have to figure a supplemental fee which can be quite costly.

If arranging with an Arusha-based outfitter for your own guide/vehicle for the drive to Ndutu... long as it is, once here you can pretty much set your own scheduled. Many of the private guide/vehicles (don't have daily mileage limits, but verify beforehand) will work with you on a schedule for game drives for morning, afternoon or full-day.

And, as no one can assure exactly where the herds might be, if in the Serengeti itself (Ndutu Lodge is in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area) another park fee is due, which is more easily arranged with your own guide/vehicle.

These are things to consider.

atravelynn

Good things to consider, Sandi.

ShayTay

You might also consider staying at one of the tented camps that will be set up in the Ndutu area during that time, such as Simiyu Camp or Nomad's Serengeti Safari Camp.

There is an airstrip near Ndutu, but I don't know if any of the domestic airlines fly into it on a regular basis, as they do to Seronera.

sandi

>>Simiyu Camp or Nomad's Serengeti Safari Camp.

There is an airstrip near Ndutu, but I don't know if any of the domestic airlines fly into it on a regular basis, as they do to Seronera.<<

There is a big price difference between Simiyu and Nomad's, the latter being the more expensive. As to the flights in/out of Ndutu, during "the season" they have been running flights these past 2/season ('08 & '09). Might not do so from April forward (till November or thereabouts) as insufficient paxs stay in the area out of "season"; never hurts though to verify.

atravelynn

Which do you think is the less expensive option for one person who will be spending about one week in Ndutu?

Fly to one of the less expensive mobile camps and join shared game drives

- or -

Hire your won private guide and vehicle to meet you when you fly in and stay at Ndutu.

Here is a list of mobiles in Southern Serengeti, plus a lot of other camps.

http://www.kiliwarriors.com/safari_camps_lodges.htm

Bill_H

The drive from Arusha to Ndudu is about 6 hours, so you can start in Arusha and still make it to Ndutu in time for an afternoon game drive.

As for reserving in advance, Ndutu has (or at least had in the past) a very generous reservations policy (no initial deposit to hold your room) so consequently many tour operators reserve a block of rooms a year in advance for the prime migration months (Jan - March), then cancel some of them in November-Dec when deposits are due if they didn't fill up. So the norm is to show it filled early, then have openings a couple of months before the migration.

But there are usually a couple of big time photo/film crews booking 60-90 days and enough people who don't cancel that it isn't certain you can get a particular 7 day stretch if you book late. I've done this twice, waiting on hold to see which days we would get, and once had to take 3 days, then a 3 day gap, then another 4 days at Ndutu (we went to Seronera the middle 3 days), and another time we had to settle for 6 days instead of 7 at Ndutu, staying at the crater the other day.

So if you know in advance you want 7 days then you are wise to book well in advance and not count on people dropping out ahead of you. Sometimes the on-hold list is pretty deep too. Late January seemed easier to get than mid-Feb - mid-March, fwiw.

Finally, it appeared to me the Ndutu jeep was not used that often so you probably wouldn't have to share. I've only seen it go out a couple of times, once with a family of 3 and a second time with a husband/wife couple. But I'd rather have my own jeep.

jules39

We just had 7 nights in Ndutu this Feb (2009). I would definately have my own vehicle just so I was guranteed the flexability I want. You travel a long way to get there from wherever your home is & it is not a "cheap" trip so I would hate to find myself in a situation where I had to flex around other people or only be able to go out at set times. Sandi says all this very well. In my investigations often the camps were at least as expensive as Ndutu if not more expensive. You can definately drive from Arusha to Ndutu as others have said. Or if you don't want to drive you could arrange your own car & driver through an agency in Arusha & have them meet you in Ndutu and you fly. Booking at Ndutu is always a waitlist situation it seems to me. This was our second time there & both times we had to wait to see if we could get in. This time we got everything we wanted. Last time we had to go to a camp for 3 nights. It is a fantastic place. We saw lots & lots of cheetah activity this time. Happy planning J

Destined2

Thank you so much for all the useful information. I am sold on having a seperate driver to take me to Ndutu from Arusha. I did not realize that using the camp vehicle could mean sharing with others, and restriction on game drives etc. I understand that the booking is difficult during January - February, and even wondered if a tour operator could assure that you would have the days that you requested, and some flexibility would be a good idea. I have been to the crater in September, but would imagine it would be much different during Jan/ Feb. I have not been to the serengeti at all, and would imagine that there is alot of diversity in the seronera and other parts of the serengeti. I am sure that each area has it's own distinct wildlife and habitat. Would love to see lots of the big cats, and have only sort of seen one leopard in the mara. My favorites are the cheetahs, and climbing lions would be exciting. As far as the migration .. it is a thrill on it's own. Thank you all so much for all your advice, and for sharing. This is still very much in the planning stages, and who knows maybe I will find another enthusiastic safari goer that wants to travel on the same path.










Would love to see lots of cheetahs, but the thrill of the migration speaks for itself. Thank you so much

banylarua

H Destined2:

I'm going to Tanzania, to go on safari, in january 2010 (15th - 29 th I'll be there). I would like to join a group to go on safari along serengueti (seronera an ndutu area) because of the migration. I love the photography, and I prefer to sleep in a camping, not in a lodges.
Do you like to join a group whit me?, I hope to join a group, it will be cheaper and security. I will travel alone, my girlfriend doesn't like this tipe of trip. I'm 33 years old, an I from Spain.([email protected])