Wildebeest Migration in Masai Mara and Serengeti

Masai Mara is Kenya’s most famous and mostgrasslands and undulating hills sets the scene for the
visited game reserve. Open savannahs, rollingsplendor of the Mara. The Serengeti is the start and
grasslands and undulating hills sets the scene for thefinish line for one of the worlds’ migrations. Every
splendor of the Mara. The Serengeti is the start andyear, wildebeests, zebras and gazelles roam pushing
finish line for one of the worlds’ migrations. Everyever forward in a clockwise rotation covering the
year, wildebeests, zebras and gazelles roam pushingMasai Mara and Serengeti in Tanzania encountering
ever forward in a clockwise rotation covering thefriends and foes alike. Wildebeests have fro millions of
Masai Mara and Serengeti in Tanzania encountering years been trekking, coping with disease, drought and
friends and foes alike. Wildebeests have fro millions ofpredators.
 years been trekking, coping with disease, drought andDuring the wet season the Serengeti is a nice place to
predators. SampWildebeests Crossing Mara River lelive in. Grass abounds in the Southern plains and in
movie During the wet season the Serengeti is a niceNgorongoro Conservation Area, where from late
place to live in. Grass abounds in the Southern plainsJanuary to mid-march, along a six week period,
and in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where from400,000 newborn wildebeests see their first light. Many
late January to mid-march, along a six week period,are grabbed by jackals and hyena early at birth, and
400,000 newborn wildebeests see their first light. Manynever have a chance to experience the hiking fate.
are grabbed by jackals and hyena early at birth, andSurvivors have scarce time to strengthen their legs,
never have a chance to experience the hiking fate.since the trek starts in April. By the by then the rains
Survivors have scarce time to strengthen their legs,are over in Southern Serengeti and the plains have
since the trek starts in April. By the by then the rainsdried up. The great herds then gather and face the
are over in Southern Serengeti and the plains havelong march Norhtwards and Westwards.
dried up. The great herds then gather and face theYou will get to see more than one million wildebeests,
long march Norhtwards and Westwards. You will gethalf a million gazelles, and 200,000 zebras constantly
to see more than one million wildebeests, half a millionon the move – All in search of fresh grass and
gazelles, and 200,000 zebras constantly on the movewater.
– All in search of fresh grass and water. MayMay & June
& June In late May, the herds leave the WesternIn late May, the herds leave the Western Corridor for
Corridor for the northern Serengeti plains andthe northern Serengeti plains and woodlands. The
woodlands. The fresh, tender and mineral-rich pasturesfresh, tender and mineral-rich pastures on the other
on the other side of the humans' border, in Masai Mara,side of the humans' border, in Masai Mara, are the
are the irresistible bait for the animals to finally invadeirresistible bait for the animals to finally invade the
the Kenyan reserve, an event which usually starts inKenyan reserve, an event which usually starts in late
late June to early July. The troops coming from theJune to early July. The troops coming from the south
south meet here another migratory contingent: themeet here another migratory contingent: the resident
resident wildebeest herds of the Mara region. Thesewildebeest herds of the Mara region. These animals
animals together reside in the Loita Plains and Hills,together reside in the Loita Plains and Hills, northeast of
northeast of the Mara, until the dry season brings thethe Mara, until the dry season brings the tougher days
tougher days and it is time to seek the evergreenand it is time to seek the evergreen Mara basin.
Mara basin. July to October From July to October, theJuly to October
image of the wildebeests columns traversing the plainsFrom July to October, the image of the wildebeests
is one of the beautiful spectacle a visitor can watch.columns traversing the plains is one of the beautiful
By October the rains are heading back to Serengeti.spectacle a visitor can watch. By October the rains
This is when the pace of the march reverses, bringingare heading back to Serengeti. This is when the pace
the herds to face once more the quest for Southernof the march reverses, bringing the herds to face once
grasslands. In the last days of October, the migration ismore the quest for Southern grasslands. In the last
on the vast plains of the Serengeti, where a newdays of October, the migration is on the vast plains of
generation of calves will be born to start the cycle ofthe Serengeti, where a new generation of calves will
life all over again. They are all tracked by elusivebe born to start the cycle of life all over again.
predators: black-manned lions, leopards, cheetahs, andThey are all tracked by elusive predators:
hyenas, and circled by vultures as their journey unfolds.black-manned lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas,
Tourists often find themselves amazed at the realityand circled by vultures as their journey unfolds.
that unfolds as the herds cross the rivers. Other wildlifeTourists often find themselves amazed at the reality
includes elephants, topi, impala, giraffe, gazelle, baboons,that unfolds as the herds cross the rivers. Other wildlife
jackals, water buffalo, ostriches, antelope and more.includes elephants, topi, impala, giraffe, gazelle, baboons,
The river banks and water-holes sees hippo, crocodilejackals, water buffalo, ostriches, antelope and more.
and abundant birdlife including herons, kestrels,The river banks and water-holes sees hippo, crocodile
corncrakes, bee-eaters, hornbills, shrikes, sunbirds andand abundant birdlife including herons, kestrels,
over 53 different types of birds of prey.corncrakes, bee-eaters, hornbills, shrikes, sunbirds and
Masai Mara is Kenya’s most famous and mostover 53 different types of birds of prey.
visited game reserve. Open savannahs, rolling