Lodges & partnersNdutu Ngorongoro Conservation

Malaika Ndutu Luxury Camp

Nineteen tents on the southern Serengeti calving plains, open December through April for the wildebeest birthing season.

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Tier
Comfort
Location
Ndutu Ngorongoro Conservation

About

About Malaika Ndutu Luxury Camp.

Malaika Ndutu Luxury Camp operates inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area on the southern Serengeti calving plains. The camp opens from December through April for the calving migration, when the wildebeest herds give birth on the short grass plains around Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek, and the resident predator network closes in on the newborns.

Nineteen tents in total: eighteen Luxury Tents and one Luxury Family Tent, all wheelchair accessible, full board served in the mess tent. The kitchen prepares gluten free and vegan menus on request.

The calving season runs roughly from late January through March, with peak action in February when hundreds of thousands of calves drop on the plains in a matter of weeks. Cheetah numbers are unusually high in Ndutu during the calving window, and the open short grass landscape makes sightings exceptional for photography.

Reach the camp by light aircraft to Ndutu airstrip (about 1 hour from Arusha, then 45 minutes by vehicle) or by road from Arusha at around 260 kilometres and five to six hours, usually broken at Karatu or the Ngorongoro rim.

Signature experiences

Why guests choose it.

  1. Calving season game drives

    Twice daily drives onto the calving plains around Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek, with cheetah, leopard, and resident lion typical.

  2. Lake Ndutu birdlife

    Flamingo, pelican, and a stack of waterfowl species on Lake Ndutu and the alkaline pans nearby.

  3. Bush meal experience

    A bush lunch, dinner, or breakfast served out on the short grass plain, set up by the camp team for an additional fee.

Room types

Where you will sleep.

Luxury Tent

Canvas tent with ensuite hot water bathroom, set on the Ndutu calving plains. Available as Single, Double, Twin, and Triple configurations.

Up to 4 guests

Luxury Family Tent

Interconnecting Luxury Tent for up to four guests with one double bed and two single beds.

At a glance

The essentials, in brief.

Amenities

  • Hot Shower
  • Flush Toilets
  • 24-hour Electricity (220V)
  • Mineral Water With Meals
  • Mosquito Net
  • Hair Dryer
  • In Room Safe
  • Bathroom Amenities
  • Wi Fi
  • Lounge
  • Private Dining Available
  • Card payment accepted (Visa and Mastercard)
  • Wheelchair Accessible
  • Gluten free and vegan menus on request
  • Radio Call
  • Extra Bed Available
  • Room Service On Request
  • Laundry Service On Request

Best for

  • Calving Season
  • Photography
  • Family
  • First Time Safari

Wildlife and nature

  • Wildebeest Calving (peak February)
  • Cheetah on the short grass plains
  • Leopard and lion prides on the kopjes
  • Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek waterbirds
  • Flamingo On The Alkaline Pans

Best time to visit

When to go.

  • January: best
  • February: best
  • March: best
  • April: best
  • May: closed
  • June: closed
  • July: closed
  • August: closed
  • September: closed
  • October: closed
  • November: closed
  • December: best
Best monthsClosed

Best months: December to April. Closed in May to November.

Location & access

Getting there.

Location

Ndutu Ngorongoro Conservation

Arriving by air

1 hour 45 minutes total: 1 hour flight from Arusha Airport (ARK) to Ndutu airstrip, then a 45-minute vehicle transfer to camp.

By road

Around 5 to 6 hours from Arusha (260 km), typically with a break at Karatu or the Ngorongoro rim.

On the map

Where it sits.

3.018° S, 34.997° E

What's included

What the rate covers.

Included

  • Full Board (breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
  • Mineral Water With Meals
  • VAT And Tourism Development Levy
  • 24-hour Electricity (220V)
  • Wheelchair Accessibility

Not included

  • Park entry fees (paid per day, per person, at park gate)
  • Concession And Camping Fees
  • WMA Fees Where Applicable
  • Laundry
  • Drinks Beyond Water At Meals
  • Medical Insurance And Emergency Evacuation
  • Tips And Gratuities
  • Tanzania inbound travel insurance, 44 USD per adult (children 3 to 17 half price, under 3 free), compulsory from 1 October 2026 and bought online before travel

Frequently asked

Questions, answered.

How many tents does the camp have?

Nineteen tents: eighteen Luxury Tents and one Luxury Family Tent. All are wheelchair accessible.

When is the camp open?

December through April for the calving migration, and it is closed the rest of the year. Calving peaks in February.

How do guests reach the camp?

By light aircraft to Ndutu airstrip, around an hour from Arusha, then a 45 minute transfer to camp. By road it is around 260 kilometres and five to six hours from Arusha, with about another hour from Kilimanjaro to Arusha before that.

Are families with children welcome?

Yes. Children under five are complimentary, and five to twelve are charged at half the adult sharing rate when sharing with adults. The Luxury Family Tent takes up to four guests with one double bed and two single beds.

What is included in the rate?

Full board with mineral water, VAT, and TDL. Park entry, concession, camping fees, drinks beyond water, and laundry are charged separately.

What is the best time to visit?

Mid January through March for the calving peak. The whole December through April window is strong for cheetah on the open plains.

Which authority charges entry at Ndutu?

Ndutu sits inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area even though the plains run on into the southern Serengeti, so entry is charged by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority rather than the national park authority. Concession and camping fees apply on top. All of these are priced separately at the figures current for your dates.

Is there power in the tents?

Yes, around the clock at 220 volts, with charging points in the tents and in the main pavilion. Sockets are the British style three pin type, so bring an adapter for anything with two pin plugs.

Is there Wi Fi, and will my phone work?

There is Wi Fi and guests describe it as patchy. It is enough for a message home on a good evening and not enough to work on. Mobile coverage on the Ndutu plains is thin, so plan for days away from the phone.

What is the camp like at the height of calving?

Busy with wildlife rather than with people. Through late January and February the short grass plains around camp carry wildebeest and zebra in numbers, and the predators follow the calves, so cheetah, lion and hyena are often within a few minutes of the tents rather than an hour away. The camp operates only in this window and is built around it.

Do I need travel insurance to visit?

Yes. From 1 October 2026 visitors entering mainland Tanzania must hold the government inbound travel insurance, 44 USD per adult and valid for up to 92 days, covering emergency medical care, evacuation, repatriation and lost luggage. Children aged 3 to 17 pay half and infants under 3 are free. It is bought online before you fly or on arrival, and residents of Tanzania and of East African and SADC countries are exempt. If you land in Zanzibar first, the Zanzibar policy covers you instead. It is paid by you directly and is not part of your trip price.

What's nearby

Worth the short trip.

  • Olduvai Gorge

    About 1 hour by road. Paleontological site where the Leakeys uncovered some of the earliest human fossils.

  • Lake Masek and Lake Ndutu

    Alkaline lakes with flamingo, pelican, and waterbird concentrations during the calving window.

Nearby

Other places to stay nearby.

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