Most people travel to Africa during the drier months to escape the rain and mud and to easier see the wildlife which normally concentrates around the water courses. With the shorter, drier grass and the concentration of wildlife – often the sitings are more prevalent, Having said this there are plenty of good reasons not to follow this widely held logic as was illustrated so perfectly for me when I traveled to the Ndutu area of the southern Serengeti in late April.
Traditionally Ndutu is supposedly at it’s best between December and March when the vast herds of migrating wildebeest congregate on the sweet short grass plains of the southern Serengeti to drop their young. As a result the predators are also prevalent, as are the scores of non permanent mobile camps and hoards of enthusiastic tourists.
By April the vast majority of camps have left to to prepare for the movement of the wildebeest as they move north into the central Serengeti. The grass is still green and the evening thunder storms provide an incredible back drop to the endless plains.
Flowers are bursting into bloom and butterflies and birds abound. For those safari goers who enjoy the little creatures this is the season of sensory overload. Even the wildebeest hadn’t travelled too far and we were able to drive among them on their trek north. We were able to enjoy the resident cheetah and lion who stay around the perennial springs and marshes around Ndutu and pretty much had the experience to ourselves for as long as we wanted.
Every season has something special and sometimes it really does pay not to follow the crowds.