RSSKenya Safari Travel: The Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration
Jan 24
Africa Africa, africa travel, destination, kenya safari, travel No Comments
The great wildebeest migration in East Africa occurs every year that draws countless visitors to come see this spectacular natural phenomenon. This truly awesome event no doubt shows that the Masai Mara and the Serengeti are truly some of the best national reserves in the world.
Wildebeest migration, sees over 1.5 million wildebeests, and 200,000 browsers cross the treacherous 1800 miles plains in search of green pastures. What makes it more unpredictable are the great Africa’s ravenous predators that stalk the edgy wildebeests.
Just before the migration begins, here is what happens. Its estimated that there occurs over 400,000 births in a 6 week period beginning January and ending at around mid March. Its said 80% of the wildebeest give birth and this triggers an impulse within the animals to start looking for greener pastures.
By the months of April and May, the vast wildebeests and browsers herds have depleted the grassy plains in the Western Corridor of the Serengeti. They move up further North around the time when there is long rains. Come June, they are at the Lamai wedge where the Mara Triangle breeding then occurs. This is a transitional time between the rains and dry seasons.
During the month of July, we have thousands upon thousands of wild herds move in a chaotic manner toward the Mara river bank. There is a lot of chaos at the animals push and shove as they seek to cross the river. The most brave of the animal finally jumps into the river that is infested with crocodile on full alert. The animals start jumping en mass and in the ensuing pandemonium, the weaker ones get trampled upon and other end up drowning in the jaws of the waiting crocodile.
Even though the animals might choose a shallow area to cross the river, many of them still drown or get cannibalized by the crocodile in the river.
During the month between July and October, the wildebeests eat on the grass that is in plenty at the Masai Mara. The grass becomes depleted in November and the short rains cause the animals to start moving back to the Serengeti via the Mara river. The grass is in plenty in Serengeti.
Along the migratory route, are lodges and camps where tourists can view this epic instinctive spectacle. At the Maasai Mara, the camps are, Governors II Moran Tented Camp, Governor’s Main Camp, Little Governor’s Camp and Bataluer camp. Serengeti has lodges like Faru Faru River and Sasakwa Hill Lodges. The camps there are Sabora Plains Tented Camp, Grumeti River Camp, Migration Camp and Kirawira Camp.
At the close of the month of November, the migration heads towards the Southern Serengeti in Tanzania to rest and await the net cycle of migration in the following year. Its good to say at this point that there are no specific days where one can witness the crossing. The safest bet would be for you to be there before they crossing starts!! For those that want to take a flight to Masai Mara instead of by road, they can do so through the Wilson Airport found along the Lang’ata road in Nairobi.
Find out more about African safaris at http://www.vesselafrica.com. Also see more information on the Little Governors Camp as you travel to Kenya.
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