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THE GREAT ANNUAL WILDEBEEST MIGRATION
Experience has taught us that, the Great Migration tops every list of East Africa safari visitor. Some call it the spectacle; others, the seventh new world wonder, the Annual Wildebeest Migration, and we, at Wemar Safaris call it the Annual Wildebeest Ritual! Whatever the name, the Great Annual Wildebeest Migration is inspiring site that you cannot afford to miss that happens yearly.
The largest and longest overland migration in the world, nowhere has there been such a large movement of wild animals other than Kenya and Tanzania. One of the must do list when visiting East Africa!
The show is anchored on Mara and Serengeti Ecosystem. What this means is that, the wildebeests do not require visa nor passport to access the two for their movement is never restricted. With a landmass of 40,000km², 1.8million wildebeest, over 400,000 Thompson gazelles, 30,000 zebras and antelopes and hundreds of predators setting out on a long trek from Tanzania Parks to Kenya’s Maasai Mara in search of greener pastures and water. It’s a cycle that never ends and repeats every year. However, their migration is never complete without some misfortunes befalling them.
In fact, a spectacular sight is when they have to cross the Grumeti River in northern Serengeti and the crocodile infested Mara River. As predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas accompany them to capitalize on the weak and the young, crocodiles lie in wait with anticipation for the big kill for those who can’t cope with the strong water currents.
The Migration Cycle
This is just but a summary of all the happenings.
JAN – MAR: Animals converge at Ndutu region because of the short green grass and water in Lake Ndutu as they move towards Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This is the calving season and females drop their young ones mostly in the third week of arrival due to assurance of security of short grass without the fear of predators lurking in taller grass. Approximately half a million calves are born during this season.
Where to stay: Ndutu Safari Lodge, Lemala Ndutu Camp, Kusini Camp.
APR –JUNE: The long rains have started, and the rivers are swelling and most of the grass in the southern parts of Serengeti is gone, the wildebeests start moving northwards of Serengeti and individual groups begin to congregate and form much larger herds in readiness for the long trek. This is also the time when mating is at its peak. Witnessing hundreds of thousands of animals on the plains as they graze, in itself is a sight to behold. They then start moving towards the banks of Grumeti River, the first barrier which by now is flooded due to heavy rains. Meaning, the second barrier for the animals is to take a plunge to risk the sharp teeth of crocodiles and the nature’s conspiracy to drown some animals due to strong water currents.
Where to stay: Grumeti River Camp, Migration Camp, Serengeti Serena, Kirawira Camp, Moru & Seronera Campsites.
JULY: The animals have dispensed with the first three hurdles, and now, they must overcome the last one: the crocodile infested Mara River which is a converging point is by this time also flooded and drowning is a very big possibility. It’s the best time.
Where to stay: Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Sayari Camp, Kichwa Tembo, Bataleur Camps.
AUG – OCT: The Mara is full and overflowing with large herds of wildebeest together with the predators.
Where to stay: Governors Camp, Mara Intrepids Camp, Sarova Mara Tented Camp, Mara Serena Safari lodge.
NOV – DEC: The short rains have started and our visitors, the wildebeests begin to move to the now lush grasses in Ndutu and Selei plains in Serengeti, crossing the Mara and Grumeti Rivers once again back to Tanzania as the cycle begins all over again.
Where to stay: Klein’s Camp.
Great Wildebeest Migration Facts
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It’s estimated that about ¼ million wildebeests die during migration from Serengeti to Mara and back mainly due to exhaustion or predation otherwise, their population would have spiraled out of control and exerted pressure on the ecosystem bringing about human/wildlife conflict.
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Wildebeest have a gestation period of 8-9 months.
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Wildebeest are also called Gnu because of the sound they produce during migration, “gnu”, “gnu”.
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½ million calves are born during the February and March and the newborns can be running after just 3 minutes.
MAASAI MARA
Maasai Mara National Reserve is part of the Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem which is home to the Great Annual Wildebeest Migration. The top wildlife destination in Africa is located in the Great Rift Valley southwest of Kenya covering 1,510km², with abundant wildlife, infinite plains, and stunning views. The National Reserve was named after the Maasai who inhabit the area and the Mara River, which flows through the reserve.
Maasai Mara offers so much variety ranging from the over 2 million wildebeest annual migration, the Big Five, to the hot-air balloon flights in the vast savanna and not forgetting the over 400 species of birds.
The Mara Triangle located in the North-Western part of the Mara Reserve is one third of Maasai Mara National Reserve covering an area of 510km². It falls within two natural borders and one political border; to the East is Mara River, to the West is Oloololo Escarpment also known as Siria Escarpment, and to the South West is the Tanzania/Serengeti border.
The Triangle is managed by the Mara Conservancy, a nonprofit organization. It’s less visited and less crowded, with often many wild animals and it is an ideal spot during the Annual Wildebeest Migration and offers an excellent opportunity to see the “Big Five”.
The Park can be accessed from Tanzanias Serengeti National Park or from Nairobi-Narok route and via the air through the eight airstrips: Musiara Airstrip, Kichwa tembo Airstrip, Siana Springs, Serena, Keekorok, Shikar, Ngerende, and Ol kiombo Airstrips.
There are many lodges and camps in the park that offer accommodation such as Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Sayari Mara Camp, Kichwa Tembo, Bateleur Camps, Mara Simba Lodge, Little Governors Camp, The Governors Private Camp, Keekorok Lodge, Mara Intrepids Club, and Sarova Mara Tented Camp.
AMBOSELI
Amboseli National Park is Kenya’s best photogenic and second most popular park that occupies 392km² of land and borders Kenya/Tanzania boundary next to Mount Kilimanjaro, which simply means the view is breathtaking and the landscape, simply stunning! The name “Amboseli”, means ‘salty dusty’ in Maasai language.
Amboseli is home to the large herds of over 900 free ranging elephants, impala, lions, leopards, buffalos, giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, and many more. In short, you can see the ‘Big Five’, feel the Maasai culture, watch the African sun as it goes to sleep over Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest and free standing mountain in the world and take great memorable photo opportunities that will last you a lifetime! Birds of all kinds can also be found here and so it is advisable that you bring your camera, binoculars, and don’t forget to bring yourself!
The Park is serviced by airstrips and one can be found at Empusel Gate. You can also access it by road from Nairobi-Namanga(240km), or from Mombasa through Tsavo West National Park via Kimana Gate.
The Park has several lodges that include Amboseli Sopa Lodge, Tortilis Camp, Amboseli Serena Lodge, and Oltukai Lodge among others. And if you are the camping type, come with your own camping materials because campsites have no facilities.
You’re advised to put on comfortable clothes, sunglasses, and a sunhat.
TSAVO NATIONAL PARKS
Tsavo has two parks which were divided due to or by the railway line into Tsavo East National Park covering 11,747km² and is 173kms northwest of Mombasa and 333kms southeast of Nairobi. Tsavo East can be accessed by road through Voi gate, Manyani gate, Buchuma gate, and Sala gate.
You can also access the park using Nairobi-Mombasa railway which runs through the Tsavo East National Park.
On the other hand, Tsavo West National Park covers an area of 9,065km² and offers some of the magnificent game viewing in the world with attractions that include the ‘Big Five’, different bird species, and diverse plantation.
Tsavo West also has the mzima springs that gushes out millions of gallons of crystal clear water, Yatta plateau that runs approximately 300kms and Lugard Falls, not forgetting the Galana River where crocodiles love to bathe.
Tsavo West can be accessed by road through Mtito gate, Chyulu gate, Maktau & Man Eaters gate.
Famed for man eaters during the railway construction in1900, Tsavo is the largest national park in Kenya and among the largest in the world established in 1948 with a total landmass area of 20,812km².
The park has a total of 19 airstrips with six airstrips in the southern part of the park and the remaining 13 in the north.
On accommodation front, both parks have plenty of best places to stay.
SERENGETI
Serengeti comes from the Maasai word “serengit” which means “endless plains”. The park is located in the northern parts of Tanzania bordering Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Researve and Ngorongoro Conservation area in the south. It was established in 1951 and it covers 14,763km².
The Serengeti Ecosystem is home to Olduvai Gorge, the cradle of human kind where man appeared over 2 million years ago, and the home of the seventh new world wonder, where the Great Annual Wildebeest Migration originates and has made it very famous. The wildebeest migrate through many parks, conservation areas and reserves. The Ecosystem includes Serengeti National Park in the middle, with Grumeti Ikorongo Game Reserve in the East, Loliondo Game Area in the West, Maasai Mara National Reserve to the North, and Maswa Game Reserve to the South, and continues to Ngorongoro Conservation unit, a World heritage Site named in 1979.
Serengeti is known as the jewel in the crown of Tanzania, its expansive ecosystem has 1.5million hectares of savanna, an annual migration of about 2million wildebeest, accompanied by thousands of predators, together with hundreds of thousands of gazelles, zebras, elands, and antelopes.
Serengeti has the highest concentration of the “Big Five” with 2,500 lions, the highest concentration anywhere in the world, 3,000 rhinos, over 500 species of birds and has the highest number of ostrich population in Tanzania.
Serengeti Ecosystem is one of the oldest on earth and its flora and fauna has barely changed in the past 1000 years.
When you decide to visit Serengeti, depending on the time of the year, you can stay at: Ndutu Safari Lodge, Lemala Ndutu Camp, Kusini Camp, Grumeti River Camp, Migration Camp, Serengeti Serena, Kirawira Camp, Bateleur Camps, Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Sayari Mara Camp, Kichwa Tempo, The Governors Private Camp, Kleins Camp, and Mara Intrepids Club and many others.
NGORONGORO CRATER
Ngorongoro Conservation Areas’ stunning landscape, spanning 809, 440 hectares of savanna highland plains, woodlands and forests, was established in 1959. The conservation is located between Serengeti National Park and Lake Manyara in Tanzania.
The Crater together with the surrounding highlands form Africa’s breathtakingly beautiful and famous safari destination is an ideal place to see the ‘Big Five’. Several animals call this caldera home, among them are thousands of wildebeest, buffalos, Thompson gazelles, zebras, black rhinos, lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, jackals, and approximately 400 species of birds but notably absent are giraffes. This is due to lack of tall acacia trees and secondly because of the steep crater walls which prove inhabitable.
The crater was formed when Ngorongoro volcano collapsed within itself forming the biggest caldera in the world of 260km² and 620m deep! Ngorongoro has a series of volcanoes one of which is the active Oldoinyo Lengai.
An archeological site at Olduvai Gorge in Ngorongoro has fossils and works of Dr. Leakey. Evidence associated with development of bipedalism ranging from zinjanthropus to Homo Sapien can be found at Lake Ndutu and documents that show development of stone technology and use of iron are also found here.
The best time to visit Ngorongoro is during the dry season (May to October) when animals congregate around permanent water sources.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area issues a 6hr safari permits and therefore, one can only make either a 6hr morning game drive or a 6hr afternoon game drive.
Lastly, accommodation is in plenty with many lodges build on the rim of the crater for phenomenal viewing among them Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Entamanu, Kirurumu Ngorongoro, and Lemala Ngorongoro.
MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
The park was established in 1960, and declared a World Heritage Site in 1981, it extends over 330km² of the northern Rift Valley and the lake covers 200km² of the total area. The alkaline soda ash lake is located on the Manyara Escarpment on the edge of the rift valley on your way to Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park. Manyara comes from Maasai word emanyara which refers to spiky protective hedge grown around the Maasai boma.
Its’ ground water forest, algae streaked hot springs, bush plains, wildlife and incredible bird life with bird species of up to 400, offers breathtaking views. Just like Lake Nakuru in Kenya, the lake is also a home to pink flamingoes, yellow billed storks, corkscrew and herons and the view cannot be gainsaid.
Wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, and large buffaloes meet here on the grassy plains that extend in its expansive view. The famous tree climbing lions and thousands of baboons call this park their home and make an interesting game viewing opportunity.
Accommodation is only at Manyara lodge, the sole accommodation found in the park.
TARANGIRE
As Tanzania’s sixth largest national park is located in Manyara region and covers 6,734km² of land comprising of dry open woodlands, thorny acacia, baobab trees and occasionally, palm trees can be sighted. The park derives its name from Tarangire River which runs through it.
Tarangire is blessed with a lot of animals ranging from elephants and by this I mean big herds of elephants, giraffes, zebras, orynx, elands, leopards, rhinos, cheetahs and kudu and over 550 species of birds, the most in one habitat anywhere in the world!
The park can be accessed by road which is about 7km from either Arusha or Ngorongoro Crater.
Tarangire Park has good accommodations at Tarangire Treetops, Olivers camp, and Swala camp which offers night safaris within the park. There is also walking safaris and adventurous fly camping trips.