Lemala Ndutu

A front-row seat for the Great Migration

From December to March, nine safari tents are set up from which to watch the wildebeest on their migration across southern Serengeti. This seasonal base is also a prime spot for the calving and rutting season. Between June and October, the camp moves north to Mara camp, where you may see the migrating herds cross the crocodile-infested Mara River.

The camp and its surrounds unfold like an adventure trail through candle-lit canvas and into the wilderness of the southern Serengeti. There’s the rush of seeing that first lion hunt, the pleasure of dining communally under crystal clear starry skies, a huddle around the campfire and falling asleep to the sound of a late-night roar.

Lemala Ndutu is about spotting wildebeest, zebra, lion and rhino on the grassy floor of the crater, and flamingo, ostrich and eagle owl on world-famous Lake Ndutu. From December to March, nine safari tents are set up inside the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Park – the green season epicentre from which to watch the arrival of over a million wildebeest on their migration across southern Serengeti.

The camp and its surrounds unfold like an adventure trail through candle lamp canvas and into the wilderness of the southern Serengeti. There’s the rush of seeing that first lion hunt, the pleasure of dining communally under crystal clear starry skies, a huddle around the campfire and falling asleep to the sound of a late night roar. 

Sensitively and stylishly built, tents are spacious with large beds, cosy rugs, wooden floors and safari showers all under the shade of acacia trees. The central mess tent filled with plumped-up cushions and leather sofas is there to be shared and enjoyed, and with early sunshine streaming through there’s nothing quite like a full English bush breakfast before a day of game driving ahead. It’s an authentic under-canvas experience with expert guides, Maasai warriors, full-day game drives and the potential to go on gentle walking safaris not often available elsewhere. And we love that this seasonal base is a prime spot for calving and rutting season, too.

Lemala Ndutu’s seasonal camp puts the thunder of the great wildebeest migration and the unique geology of the Ngorongoro Crater right at your feet.