What's been happening at Ndutu?
February 2001
Driving across the plains last week, the sheer numbers of Wildebeest and zebra was absolutely mind blowing. 
Tracking
the big herds across the short grass plains at this time of year has to be one of the most rewarding experiences in
nature. At a distance the wildebeest look like ants spread across the plain for as far as the eye can see. They're
constantly moving searching for fresh grass and the calving season is now well under way. The sight of the light tan
calves sticking close to their mother's side only adds to the spectacle.
Lions are being seen daily. Spotted hyenas seem to be sleeping in every hollow, scrape or puddle, full and almost
too fat to move in this time of plenty. 
Cheetahs
are very visible at the moment, generally away from the big herds, on the periphery of all the action and tucked away
from the competition of hyenas and lions. Leopards have been seen on a regular basis, although we seem to see them
more often in our dry season months, as the vegetation is then much shorter so they are far more visible. Just last
week there was a male lazing in a tree just a few hundred metres from the lodge entrance.
The wildebeest have competition for the new grass in the shape of the armyworm, which have invaded the plains in their millions to eat down the taller grasses. Armyworms, the scourge of the farmers are the migratory birds gain. European white storks, visiting from Eastern Europe have flocked to the area in their thousands to feast on the worms along with abdims and marabou storks. A local bird expert counted over sixteen thousand white storks in one flock on the plains and with a world population of only 400,000 that's quite something.
There has been great excitement on the bird front as for the first time village weavers, also known as black-headed weavers, have been breeding in large colonies around the lodge grounds thus providing great photographic opportunities. The resident wire tailed swallows who raised three broods of fledglings last year are breeding again in the bar. Huge flocks of wattled starlings are everywhere; the breeding males have bright yellow heads and bizarre black wattles making them a colourful addition to the already prolific bird life.
The
night sky so far this month has been spectacular. The January sky was very disappointing with many overcast nights,
but we were lucky enough to witness the moon eclipse in its full splendour. Venus is shining bright in the
west and Jupiter and Saturn are easily seen overhead. Sitting out by the camp-fire in the evening Auriga
(the herdsman) is visible in the north. The familiar Orion (the hunter) is squaring up to Taurus the
bull whose fiery red eye looks down from directly above. Others easily seen at this time of year are Gemini
(the twins), Pleiades (the seven sisters). Perseus (the hero) is just starting to disappear into the
western horizon but is being replaced by the magnificent Leo the lion. It rises from the east and with a little
imagination or a few sundowners actually looks like a lion.
With the above average rains, we have so far received, exciting times are sure to continue. The wildebeest will stay here as long as it keeps raining, The birds are nesting, butterflies and wild flowers are everywhere, the plains are just bursting with life. If you are planning to visit Ndutu, the coming months are sure to be special.