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Masai Mara Annual Wildebeest
migration safari Masai Mara Wildlife Wildlife Migration
Safaris, Africa animal Migration, Maasai Mara wildebeest
Migration (3 Days/2 Nights) Masai
Mara Lodge Safaris
Day 1. Nairobi/Maasai Mara
Depart Nairobi in the morning and drive to the floor of
the Rift Valley - to Maasai Mara Game Reserve arriving
in time for lunch. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and
overnight at Masai Mara Sopa Lodge or Similar Lodge.
Meal plan: {L, D}
Day 2. Maasai Mara
Spend the day in Maasai Mara, Kenya's most popular game
sanctuary where you will have the best opportunity of
spotting the Big Five - lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino
and elephant.
Game drives are flexible, with the option of going out
with picnic lunch boxes to spend entire day in the the
park, or you can choose to have early morning and late
afternoon game drives. You will also have the option of
visiting a local Maasai village (US$25 per person).
All meals and overnight at the Masai Mara lodge.
Meal plan: {B, L, D}
Day 3. Maasai Mara/Nairobi
Another early morning game drive in Mara, then depart
after breakfast and drive back to Nairobi arriving at
lunch time.
Meal plan: {B}
Prices include:
- Transportation in a custom safari minibus with pop-up
roof ideal for game viewing and sightseeing.
- Services of a trained and experienced English speaking
driver/guide
- Fullboard accommodation in the lodge/tented camp as
mentioned
- Bottled water for use during the safari
- Game drives and all park entry fees
Not included:
- International air transportation to and from Nairobi
- Expenses of personal nature such as visas,
travel/baggage insurance, laundry, beverages, tips etc.
Wildebeest Migration - The Migration Made Simple
Wildebeest location updates (see below) and a month by
month guide to lodges and camps giving you the best
opportunity to witness the east Africa’s wildebeest
migration.
The endless plains of east Africa are the setting for
the world’s greatest wildlife spectacle - the 1.5
million animal ungulate (wildebeest) migration. From the
vast Serengeti plains to the champagne colored hills of
Kenya’s Masai Mara over 1.4 million wildebeest and
200,000 zebra and gazelle, relentlessly tracked by
Africa’s great predators, migrate in a clockwise fashion
over 1,800 miles each year in search of rain ripened
grass.
There is no real beginning or end to a wildebeest's
journey. Its life is an endless pilgrimage, a constant
search for food and water. The only beginning is at the
moment of birth. An estimated 400,000 wildebeest calves
are born during a six week period early each year -
usually between late January and mid-March.
As of September 1, 2008: The Wildebeest herds are
currently in the northern areas of Tanzania's Serengeti
National Park and in Kenya's Masai Mara Reserve.
Wildebeest have been crossing the Mara River daily.
Guests staying at the Governor's Camps in the Mara and
at Migration Camp in the Serengeti have been seeing
hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra daily.
As of November 1, 2008: October continued a trend of
cool mornings and warm days in Kenya's Masai Mara. The
migrating herds of wildebeest and zebra have grazed the
Mara grasses right down. The northern and central areas
of the Serengeti have received some very heavy rain
showers and the herds have followed their noses in
search of lush, green grass. The end of the month was
marked by large river crossings as wildebeest and zebra
left the Mara on their long trek down south. The herds
now stretch from Lobo through the Tagora plains area to
central Seronera area and down to Naabi Hill. It is
common to receive patches of wet weather in the
Serengeti towards the end of the dry season (in
October), so the rain may just be this and not an early
onset of the short rains. If this is the case, it will
dry out rapidly and the wildebeest will head back north
until they feel the real rains start.
As of January 1, 2009: The mega-herd spent the holidays
on the Ndutu plains however, due to lack of rain, have
traveled north and west to the longer grass plains
around Kusini and Naabi Hill on the border between the
Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation
Area. When the rains return the nutrient rich short
grass will green up rapidly and the herds will return
southeast to the Ngorongoro Conservation area for
calving.
As of March 1, 2009: As of late February, the lack of
good rains has forced the migration to move towards the
Maswa Game Reserve border. With the coming of the long
rains we expect the herds to return to the Ndutu area
and complete calving.
December, January, Feburary, March: The Serengeti
National Park / Ngorongoro Conservation Area is arguably
the most impressive wildlife sanctuary in the world.
During the months December through March the seemingly
unending plains of the southern Serengeti and the
Conservation Area are inhabited by enormous herds of
wildebeest and zebra. The great herds graze on rain
ripened grass. We feel this is the best time to visit
the Serengeti.
In the calving season (late January through mid March
when over 80% of the wildebeest give birth over a period
of a few weeks) the herds concentrate at the Ndutu and
Salei plains (Southern Serengeti / Ngorongoro
Conservation Area) attracting the attention of predators
like lion, cheetah and hyena.
During this period the migration is best observed from a
luxury mobile camp in the Ndutu / Naabi area or from
Ndutu Safari Lodge.
April, May: During the months April and May the depleted
plains are unable to sustain the endless herds. The
migration, sweeping west and north, moves from the short
grass plains of the southern Serengeti / Ngorongoro
Conservation Area to the long grass plains and woodland
of the Serengeti’s western Corridor, almost to Lake
Victoria.
This period is during the long rains and is considered
off season for wildlife viewing in east Africa as roads
are often impassable. Ndutu Safari Lodge, Kusini Camp
and the Serengeti Serena Lodge are fine for wildlife
viewing during this time. So are campsites in the Ndutu/Naabi
area.
June: By the end of May the wildebeest have exhausted
the Western Corridor’s best pastures and the herds must
move further north. Entering the Lamai Wedge and the
Mara Triangle breeding occurs May through June.
This is a transitional period between the rains and the
dry season. Faru Faru River Lodge, Sasakwa Hill Lodge,
Sabora Plains Tented Camp, Grumeti River Camp, Migration
Camp, and Kirawira Camp are good options for viewing the
migration at this time. Seronera and Moru area campsites
are best.
July, August, September, October: By July the countless
herds have amassed along the swollen Mara River - a
final barrier from the short sweet grasses of the Masai
Mara. Sometimes the crossing place they have chosen is
shallow allowing the majority of animals to pass safely.
In other areas the waters boil with drowning wildebeest
and slashing crocodiles. Please note that the vast
majority of travelers do not witness the wildebeest
crossing of the Mara as the timing and duration varies
widely each year - in years of little rain very few
wildebeest cross the Mara River into Kenya.
Between July and October the wildebeest reside in the
Mara. We recommend Governor's Il Moran Tented Camp as
the leading safari camp in the Masai Mara. Other tented
camps include Governor's Main Camp, Little Governor’s
Camp, and Bataluer Camp. Tanzanian lodges recommended
during this time include Faru Faru River Lodge, Sasakwa
Hill Lodge, Sabora Plains Tented Camp, Grumeti River
Camp, Migration Camp and Kirawira Camp. Kirawira and
Moru area campsites are best.
November: The arrival of the short rains call the
migration southward. During the short rains of November
the wildebeest migration is best viewed from Klein’s
Camp. Campsites in the Lobo area are best.
As November ends the migration is making its way back to
the southern Serengeti and early in the year they once
again give birth. The circle of life is complete.
*Note - the migration is a natural event and the timing
varies month by month; year by year.
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