Ndutu (Ngorongoro Conservation Area) and Central Serengeti National Park (Seronera area) - February 2023

[Nik63]

We wanted to spend a short break in Tanzania. It was not the first time. First of all we spent 3 nights in Zanzibar. We stayed in the northwestern part of the Island (Kendwa) where the tide is not a big issue. Great beach and great hotel (Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa). We loved all.

 

After that we moved to Ndutu. We flew with Auric Air from Zanzibar to Arusha and then from Arusha to Ndutu Airstrip via Tarangire Airstrip and Manyara Airstrip.

 

Upon arrival in Ndutu Airstrip we started our safari. The company that arranged the trip was Lion King Adventures. Lion King Adventures is aTanzanian tour operator. Our guide was Immanuel. This guy did an oustanding job.

 

3rd February 2023 - A selection of sightings.

 

Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus) - A colorful bird very common in Tanzania 

 

 

All around lots of Masai Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardis tippelskirchi)

 

 

 

A solitary Chestnut Sparrow (Passer eminibey)

 

 

The well known Helmeted Guineafowls (Numida meleagris) with their bony casque on top of the head

 

 

A Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)

 

 

Lovely Zebras - Grant's Zebra occurs throughout Eas Africa (Equus quagga boehmi)

 

 

Giraffes once again

 

 

 

A Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) is landing

 

 

A Marabou Stork in the water

 

 

Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus)

 

 

A side view of an African White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus)

 

 

African White-backed Vultures (Gyps africanus) and Rueppel's Griffon Vultures (Gyps rueppelli) on a carcass

 

 

 

 

European roller (Coracias garrulus)

 

 

 

Once again Zebras and Giraffes

 

 

 

The Common Warthogs of East Africa (Phacochoerus africanus massaicus)

 

 

 

Laughing Dove

 

 

Naivasha Dik-dik (Madoqua cavendishi)

 

 

Common Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus mearnsi)

 

 

 

A mum and a young Zebra

 

 

Grey-breasted Spurfowl (Francolinus rufopictus aka Pternistis rufopictus)

 

 

 

A fantastic pride

 

 

 

 

 

 

A coalition of three beautiful Lions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) - A lovely mum and three cute cubs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An old King!

 

 

 

A zebra....well endowed :-)

 

 

A male White-bellied Bustard (Eupodotis senegalensis)

 

 

Breastfeeding

 

 

Grey-breasted Spurfowl (Francolinus rufopictus aka Pternistis rufopictus)

 

 

Giraffe

 

 

Yellow-throated Sandgrouse (Pterocles gutturalis)

 

 

Grant's Gazelle (Nanger granti)

 

 

Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)

 

 

A magnificent Striped Hyaena (Hyaena hyaena) -  Strictly nocturnal - Very uncommon during the day

 

 

To be continued

[Tom Kellie]

~ @Nik63:

 

Thank you for posting this selection of images.

 

The striped hyena is a very special sighting indeed.

 

Zanzibar plus Ndutu and the Central Serengeti sounds like a wonderful break.

 

Tom K.

[jeremie]

This stripped hyena sighting is really cool!

[Atravelynn]

Like the others, I am amazed at the striped hyena!  What did your guide say about it?  Excellent getaway!

[Kitsafari]

you saw a lot! and a striped hyena too - just awesome. 

[Nik63]

4th February 2023 - A selection of early morning sightings - We are still in the Ndutu area at the border between the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti National Park

 

Ready for commencing the game drive! The car is pefectly mantained and very clean!

 

 

The ubiquitous Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus)

 

 

The Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus)

 

 

A nice view of a wet area

 

 

A lovely Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

 

 

Sandpiper Marsh (Tringa stagnatilis)

 

 

 

Southern Ground-hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) - I apologize for the poor quality of the picture

 

 

Coke's Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus coki) - A magnificent herd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of Blacksmith Lapwings all around

 

 

A breeding male of Steel-blue Whydah (Vidua hypocherina)

 

 

 

 

 

European roller (Coracias garrulus)

 

 

Abdim's stork (Ciconia abdimi)

 

 

 

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)

 

 

 

Thousands and thousands of Zebras and Wildebeests are everywhere

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori)

 

 

 

A Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)

 

 

 

Striped Hyenas and Hooded Vultures on a carcass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A large herd of Common Eland (Tragelaphus oryx aka Taurotragus oryx)

 

 

 

 

Wildebeest calves

 

 

 

Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus)

 

 

Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarius)

 

 

Spotted Hyaena (Crocuta crocuta)

 

 

 

 

 

Zebras and Wattled Starlings (Creatophora cinerea)

 

 

 

 

Grant's Gazelle (Nanger granti)

 

 

Cheetas (Mum + 3 cubs). Probably the same individuals that we had spotted the day before

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued

 

 

 

[Tom Kellie]

~ @Nik63:

 

The starlings on a zebra back images are terrific!

 

Thank you so much.

 

      Tom K.

[ice]

These three male lions you saw are (from what I can see in your pictures) part of a coalition of five. They entered the NCA sometime during the last dry season (we saw them taking over an NCA Pride last October) and they are obviously planning to stay.

 

 

Edited February 26, 2023 by ice

[Nik63]

@icethanks for the info. Yes. They look like the same lions.

 

[Nik63]

4th February 2023 - We are still in the Ndutu area. This is a selection of the late morning sightings 

 

Around midday - Is is very hot - Lovely lionesses looking for shade

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rufous-naped Lark (Mirafra africana)

 

 

Crowned lapwing (Vanellus coronatus)

 

 

Steenbok (Raphicerus campestris)

 

 

Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)

 

 

Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)

 

 

A male Vitelline Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus) is working hard for building his nest

 

 

Even the Elephants are looking for shade

 

 

 

 

Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur)

 

 

To be continued

 

 

[Galana]

Another vote for the Striped Hyena encounter. I have yet to see one.

[ice]

Did you see the striped hyena near Ndutu Lodge?

[Nik63]

2 hours ago, ice said:

Did you see the striped hyena near Ndutu Lodge?

Not far away from our camp that was Ang'ata Migration Camp

[Nik63]

4th February - Still in the Ndutu area - Some more sightings

 

 

 

A juvenile Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus)

 

 

 

A White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis)

 

 

 

A Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis)

 

 

 

 

 

Yellow-winged Bat (Lavia frons)

 

 

 

Naivasha Dik-dik (Madoqua cavendishi)

 

 

 

 

Vitelline Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus)

 

 

Lake Ndutu is full of Lesser Flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marabou Storks (Leptoptilos crumeniferus)

 

 

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

 

 

 

Little Stint (Calidris minuta)

 

 

 

Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)

 

 

Chestnut-banded Plover (Charadrius pallidus)

 

 

 

We are so lucky. Once againg the Striped Hyaena (Hyaena hyaena). Very to close to our camp. The same individual that we saw the day before

 

 

We have visitors in the camp!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued

 

 

[jeremie]

Are you kidding me? You spot twice the stripped hyena?????? This is not fair...... Lucky you!!!

[Kitsafari]

striped hyena 2x? how lucky can you get? very lucky in Ndutu! really jealous. 

 

love the row of starlingson the zebra too, as well as the herd of elands running in one direction and all the horns facing one way. it looks like a nice camp with plenty of lingering wildlife.

[offshorebirder]

Besides the two Striped Hyenas, I am jealous of the Chestnut-banded Plover.

 

I have met those formidably spiked caterpillars in the Maasai Mara - thanks for including those photos.

 

[gatoratlarge]

No way!  A stripey??  So jealous---remains on my list of "want to see's" how fantastic!  Really love the running elands too!  We just got back from Ndutu area one week ago, wonder if we crossed paths?  I need to start a TR too.  Thanks for the motivation 

[TonyQ]

You had wonderful sightings. I am another one who has never seen a Striped Hyena!

 

Your camp looks nice 

[Nik63]

5th February 2023 - In the morning - Still in Ndutu

 

Let's start our game drive

 

 

Lions (male and female) - We waited a lot but they did not mate - Too tired may be? Who knows!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grey-breasted Spurfowl (Francolinus rufopictus)

 

 

Rufous-naped Lark (Mirafra africana)

 

 

 

Crowned Lapwing (Vanellus coronatus)

 

 

 

Dark Chanting-Goshawak (Melierax metabates)

 

 

 

 

Greay-breasted Spurfowl (Francolinus rufipictus)

 

 

Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus)

 

 

 

Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)

 

 

Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus)

 

 

So cute - Fischer's Lovebird (Agapornis fischeri)

 

 

 

 

 

Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus)

 

 

African White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus)

 

 

 

Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus)

 

 

 

Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur)

 

 

Neck fighting

 

 

Banded Mongoose (Mungos mungo)

 

 

Hildebrandt's Starling (Lamprotornis hildebrandti)

 

 

Awesome!!! I'm speechles!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

African Mourning Dove (Streptopelia decipiens)

 

 

Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur)

 

 

D'Arnaud's Barbet (Trachyphonus darnaudii)

 

 

Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)

 

 

To be continued

 

[Nik63]

On 3/3/2023 at 12:58 AM, Kitsafari said:

striped hyena 2x? how lucky can you get? very lucky in Ndutu! really jealous. 

 

love the row of starlingson the zebra too, as well as the herd of elands running in one direction and all the horns facing one way. it looks like a nice camp with plenty of lingering wildlife.

Yes, the Elands were amazing!

[Nik63]

On 3/12/2023 at 12:25 PM, TonyQ said:

You had wonderful sightings. I am another one who has never seen a Striped Hyena!

 

Your camp looks nice 

Thank you!

[Nik63]

On 3/2/2023 at 8:46 PM, jeremie said:

Are you kidding me? You spot twice the stripped hyena?????? This is not fair...... Lucky you!!!

I know, we have been so lucky! All the guides in the area said so!

[Nik63]

On 3/12/2023 at 1:17 AM, gatoratlarge said:

No way!  A stripey??  So jealous---remains on my list of "want to see's" how fantastic!  Really love the running elands too!  We just got back from Ndutu area one week ago, wonder if we crossed paths?  I need to start a TR too.  Thanks for the motivation 

Please, start your TR. I'd love to read it.

[Zim Girl]

Lovely pictures of the lion in the tree!