Ndutu Wildlands Camp

I stayed at the Ndutu Wildlands camp for 7 nights between 4th and 10th February, 2012. I am a keen wildlife photographer and was looking for basic comfort, decent food and proximity to wilderness.

My agent decided to put me up in this camp. I am overjoyed. On all three accounts, I could not have asked for more.

This tent is pretty close to all major areas of wildlife activities in Ndutu. I was happy to see a team of 12 wild life photographers from USA staying at the same time.

If you are planning a Wildlife Photo Safari in the wilderness, this is the place to stay. Simple, neat and clean tents without fences.

No fancies yet had all the basics we needed clean comfortable bed, flush toilets and hot water showers in the tent. We spent a whole week there.

We heard animal sounds in the nights.

Other Hotels and Safari Lodges in Arusha

This camp is in the center of the game drives, this allowed us to spend a lot of time in the field. The staff were really nice.

They looked after us very well. We were all vegetarians and they served delicious meals.

A simple gesture but it was really nice, the whole staff ( 9 of them ) came to see us off on the last day.

Two points to be noted. It took our drivers a good 2 hours to find the place. So if you book please make sure your drivers know where it is.

Accommodation was simple - a temporary tent with beds and some furniture, and an attached enclosure with sink, shower and toilet (which relied on hand carried water for use).

The food (including the inevitable daily "lunch box") was the best we had while on safari, and the camp manager, Philemon, was attentive and helpful throughout.

Our camp was situated above a mainly dry lake bed, where in the morning we would find cheetah, jackals and wild dogs conducting their morning hunt.

At night, a big fire blazed outside, and the staff served drinks and snacks while we waited for our dinner.

I would have enjoyed spending more time at the camp, but our schedule was tight, and after 2 days we left for the Ngorongoro crater.

Some suggestions

1. Remember to take couple of face masks (? surgeon's mask). Entire Ndutu is dusty, thanks to dust storms and the speeding vehicles.

2. If you need to buy a prepaid sim card - go for airtel. Works in certain patches - definitely better than Vodafone.

3. Do not carry anything mad of oil. Ants love them!

4. For a fee laundry is possible.

5. If you have a GPS system, take the co-ordinates of the lodge.

Latitude: S 2d 58m 26.26s

Longitude: E 34d 56m 38.41s

6. This lodge is in the Ngorongora territory and close to the border of Serengeti. If you are traveling in a group and in more than one vehicle, tell your guide to take separate entry permits for each vehicle.

To avoid more work, all vehicle numbers may be entered in one sheet of paper and this could turn out to be a pain!

7. It may be worthwhile taking an air transport insurance ( ask your travel agent )

Overall the Ndutu Wildlands Camp is wonderful and a terrific place to spend one or two nights.

The staff while friendly and efficient were at times indifferent. The food is very good as far as safari food is concerned.

There are some limitations as to selection of drinks (understandable in that they have to be trucked in from a distance).

I would recommend this as a safari stop. The game viewing during the Great Migration is spectacular in this area.