Live from Ndutu - migration update
 

Just received txt msg from guides at Ndutu:

"Ndutu is dry now. Driving no problem. Big herds have moved and are now in the Oldupai Gorge area. Cats at Ndutu are very active - day and night.

Wildebeests have no babies yet."

How about the zebras?

Thanks Eben. Please keep us posted. I'll be at Ndutu Mar. 11-16. Hopefully not too late.

Natalie

Hello, i am knew in the forum but i have been reading it for a long time.I am impress of how many people is crazy about Africa like i am.
It´S nice to here good news about Ndutu.
Travelnat,i think you will be ok in March, I went last week of April 06 and there where animals all over the place,the migration was very close an lions and cheetah at its best,good luck.

TXT just in from guides with clients at TWC Hugo Memorial camp:

"Cats are crazy - lost count. Migration not currently at central Ndutu. Big herds a short drive away in Ndutu triangle. No babies yet"

And another from a guide at the Ngorongoro Crater:

"wildebeests babies being born in crater"

I guess this means the big drop period on the plains will start any day now - I need to start packing and fly over there ...

... Whoopie! Baby Wildies.

From what I've read and don't ask me where, something about the "birthin of babies" (thank you Gone with the Wind)... around the Full Moon in February, which the calendar shows as next Saturday, the 17th. Guess we're pretty close.

Boy are those lions, especially the cubs, going to be dragging those very very full bellies!

I read the full moon theory on this forum quite some time ago.

I just got this email from my friend in Tanzania on Feb 6.

Jambo Kristina. Hope your doing ok. The road down the crater are unbelievable. Nomally guides use radios for animal signal but now they use them to ask where there is the possibility to pass. I was there today and it is muddy and still raining, can you imagine that we stay at Serena lodge but we use Sopa road to get off the crater!?
Last two days three cars had to overnight on the crater floor, they got stuck and no way to help them. Guides are now driving off-road because we dont trust the roads any more. I hope you will enjoy the news of what is happening here. I will be heading to the Serengeti next; I do not know what I am going to discover there just keep in touch. BONIFACE

txt from guides (they are at Hugo Memorial camp at Ndutu) for 2 nights:

"Very big herds near Gol. Did not see babies. No rain. Roads OK."

This is great news for all of us going to Ndutu area soon. I will be there in 2 weeks for 12 days. Hoping to catch/film birth week on the plains!

Eben, I've been trying to find some info on the location of Hugo Memorial Camp. Can you help me out. I'm not finding it on your website?

Eben, it's strange that they are still not calving ... in Jan 2006 we saw a few wildebeest new-borns, I think six total, but in Jan 2007 didn't see a single one and to learn they are still not calving as of Feb 22 is strange, but very interesting.

Bill

Calo

I will try to post my new Ndutu map this weekend! I have the new locations including Milineum Camp, etc.

Hugo Memorial camp sites are just west of Ndutu Lodge in the NCA. Basically the 2 green markers at 10oclock next to Ndutu on this old map:
http://www.go-safari.com/images/SerengetiSouthNdutu.jpg

I wonder if the drought of last year caused the rutting to be delayed so the 3-week birth period is later as a result?

I mentiond in another thread, from friend just back last weekend, she saw baby beesties in the Crater, but nothing much elsewhere.

Believe it's still a matter of luck catching the herds, let alone the calving, just right regardless how well you think you've planned. Whether in the Serengeti or in/around the Masai Mara.

Thank you for clearing up the location of Hugo Memorial, Eben!

Interesting theory about the late calving season this year...it certainly seems plausible.

Txt from guide at TWC Hugo Camp at Ndutu:

"Where are you man? Wildebeests babies everywhere at Ndutu. Come now."

OK, I am in Uganda right now and will arrive In Tanzania on Saturday then straight to Ndutu!

The birth explosion has begun!

And 2nd part of txt:

"No rains. Very dusty"

Amazing - and I thought we will be floating in water this month near Ndutu!

Hi,

New here and from Holland. Big Africa fan and since 1996 traveling to this great continent.

But the present situation at Ndutu soundt great. Next weekend will leave for two weeks Tanzania and 8 nights Serengeti special campsites. Seems Moru special campsite is a good choice.

Amsterdam kilimanjaro lodge
Kilimanjaro Manyara NP Campsite
Manyara NP Manyara NP Campsite
Manyara NP Serengeti NP Moru Special camp
Serengeti NP Serengeti NP Moru Special camp
Serengeti NP Serengeti NP Moru Special camp
Serengeti NP Serengeti NP Lobo Special camp
Serengeti NP Serengeti NP Lobo Special camp
Serengeti NP Serengeti NP Lobo Special camp
Serengeti NP Serengeti NP Moru Special camp
Serengeti NP Serengeti NP Moru Special camp
Serengeti NP Tarangire NP Campsite
Tarangire NP Tarangire NP Campsite
Tarangire NP Arusha lodge

Nxai

Darn...just returned from Ndutu a few weeks ago and missed all the babies. Although there were tons of wildebeest babies in the crater. Even saw some newborns struggle with their first steps. They are so cute when they are little. Trip report on the way.

Do the crater wildebeests give birth earlier than the Serengeti ones? Or is there not sequence or pattern?