Lodge Review: Ndutu Safari Lodge, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania

The first thing I saw on their home page was a photo of lots of vibrant Fischer’s Lovebirds – and I knew we had to stay there.  Ndutu Safari Lodge didn’t disappoint either in wildlife nor in facilities.  It was awesome!

Prices are very reasonable for this part of Tanzania, I think you save a bit by not actually entering Serengeti NP but by being on the border in the NCA with similar wildlife.  After seeing all the birds in the area, I wish we could have stayed longer than the one night.

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As you enter, you see the reception area and the rear of some rooms as the rooms face a plain where you can watch wildlife.

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They have a shop but it was closed by the time we arrived.

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They have an excellent display of informational boards about the wildlife to be found in the lodge surrounds.

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Nice to see which birds to look for!

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Here is our bungalow with the backpacks sitting outside.  Yes, that really is ALL we traveled for a month in Africa with!

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This room could hold up to 4 people but it was nice to have extra room to sort our stuff out.

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Coffee & tea is provided but there are better varieties of both in the dining room.

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The bathroom was huge!

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Storage cabinet, thankfully we didn’t need the umbrella.

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This bungalow is actually a duplex and the closest one to the dining room and the pond where the lovebirds come to drink, I had requested this.

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Most people get at least a breakfast and dinner package as there is no where else to eat.  The food was really good.  Don’t forget to try some of the exotic teas!

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The garden was gorgeous and apparently this sunbird agrees!  I think it’s a female by the colour.

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Caution not to go beyond a certain point, there are wild animals out there!

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Fischer’s Lovebirds!  They were readily seen around the lodge and not afraid to pose for photos.

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Scarlet-breasted Sunbird

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Caught in the headlights – now you know what it really looks like!

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The resident Genet.  These guys are not cats as some people call them, you can tell by the face.  This one is a mother and I caught a glimpse of her baby but he wouldn’t come out for a photo.  Genets are very elegant and graceful and it was fun to watch her antics during dinner.  She caught and ate a large moth.

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A well-named Beautiful Sunbird

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The best thing to do at Ndutu is to stake out this little pond and see who comes in for a drink.  It’s within sight of the dining room so have a leisurely breakfast and coffee and enjoy the show!

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Laughing Doves

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Nubian Woodpecker

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Beautiful Sunbird

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Inquisitive Fischer’s Lovebird

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Bathing beauties!

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Another educational poster at the lodge.

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Taking A Break At Tarangire Safari Lodge

After lunch, we pushed on but it was obvious the birds were taking a break so when we passed a sign leading to Tarangire Safari Lodge, I decided it was time for us to take a break too!

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The travel blogger in me was keen to check out the accommodation as well.  Of course I couldn’t enter a bungalow but the grounds and facilities were excellent!  They even had wifi at the restaurant so I could check my emails while resting and sipping cold drinks.  The lucky guests had a pool to cool off in.  It was really hot that day!

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I really loved the poster they had to show what birds frequent the area!

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Our driver had gone off to where the other drivers & guides hang out for a nap and promised to pick us up at 4pm.  Ina & I headed to the restaurant to chill out and have some ice-cold drinks.

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The view from the restaurant is amazing!

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While we were sitting and relaxing, we could see some Beautiful Sunbirds.

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There was also a cute little Speckled Mousebird.

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Female Beautiful Sunbird

IMG_6663 IMG_6665 IMG_6666 IMG_6667Refreshed and rejuvenated, we were ready to make our final afternoon safari in Tarangire.  I had been talking to some other people who had seen Meyer’s Parrots that morning and I got their guide to tell our guide where to find them.  So off we went!