The best game viewing spot is around Lake Ndutu, where enormous herds congregate. It is a shallow alkaline lake that is located on the eastern border of Serengeti national park. In 1973, the shores of lake Ndutu were the location of an archaeological excavation site about 140 square meters that led to the discovery of the Ndutu cranium and several remains of tools from over 500.000 years ago.

Today, it serves as a water source for the animals and shares the same basin as Lake Masek, which is located a short distance east of it, but inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The forests and granite kopjes around Lake Ndutu are also home to many animals outside of the migration months.

Excursions Around Ndutu

Olduvai Gorge (the Maasai spelling is Oldupai, which means “the place of the wild sisal”) is one of the world’s most significant paleoanthropological sites. It is a steep-sided ravine in the Great Rift Valley, about 48 km long. Located 25 km from Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek, the gorge cuts into Pleistocene lake bed sediments up to a depth of 90 m. Remains of the earliest evidence of our human ancestors were found here, which have proven invaluable in furthering our understanding of early human evolution. The hundreds of fossils (bones) discovered here date back millions of years. You can also visit a small museum at this site to learn about the fascinating excavations and discoveries that have taken place here.

Travel Time to Ndutu

Ngorongoro Crater – Ndutu: 1-hour drive.

Central Serengeti – Ndutu: 3 hours drive

Lake Manyara – Ndutu: 3 hours drive