KENYA: Wildebeests Migration Happening Right Now!

Wildebeests Migration happening right now!
July 15, 2015 Admin Leave a comment

Do you know Maasai Mara national reserve can be easily accessed from Kisumu than Nairobi? Yes, now you know.

The Masai Mara migration is here again. Millions of animals are now crossing into Kenya. This baffling natural wonder takes place in Maasai Mara and Serengeti National Park. Jovago has summed up key facts you ought to know about the annual migration in the map above.

The great migration involves over a million wildebeests, thousands of zebras and gazelles. These animals race through the plains of Serengeti National Park into Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve at about 80km/h, covering over 1,200 miles.

Two key crossing points are Grumeti and Mara rivers. Here, animals have to endure the deep, muddy water and also watch out for the thousands of crocodiles and hippos. This migration also benefits other predators like jackals, hyenas, vultures and lions.

Great Migration Masai Mara Serengeti

The Great Migration Route

Around November, the migrating animals move south of Maasai Mara to enter the lush plains of Serengeti National Park. The land is green and fertile after the short rains. In December, they proceed south to spread over the eastern side of Serengeti, moving towards Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
While in the Ngorongoro Area, the calving season starts around February. The calves are up and running in no time, learning to graze in the open grasslands.
The herds spread to the western side of Serengeti, and begin to move North around April and May. The search for water and pasture continues north, sometimes splitting the great migration into columns with some moving North while others go west.
In June, the millions of migrating animals gather South of Grumeti River with crocodiles and other predators ready for a feast. When a good density of animals gathers at the crossing point, the migrating animals brave the numerous channels of Grumeti River and proceed north.

About 1.5 million wildebeests

400,000 zebras and

200,000 Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles

In July, the animals are close to the Kenya-Tanzania border and they only have to cross the Mara River to enter the sweeping plains of Maasai Mara.
The Mara River is where the greatest show on earth takes place. The stampede, the confusion, the crushing teeth of crocodiles and the thousands of vultures hovering over the crossing point are some of elements that make Mara River crossing the main obstacle of the great migration.
The millions of animals that survive race into the plains of Maasai Mara, and stay there from around August to October, before the journey back to Serengeti commences.

Best Hotels near the Great Migration Route :

Masai Mara Hotels

Keekorok Lodge
Fig Tree Camp

Serengeti National Park Hotels

Serengeti Pioneer Camp
Serian’s Serengeti North
Serengeti Migration Camp

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge
The Manor Ngorongoro

Grumeti Game Reserve

Singita Sabora Tented Camp
Singita Serengeti House
Singita Sasakwa Lodge