The Great Wildebeest Migration
The continuous search for the best food and water is the cause for the wildebeest and zebra migration in Serengeti and Maasai Mara ecosystems. Despite the fact that this journey follows a similar annual route, the exact timings are determined by rainfall.
When the rains beckon, the wildebeest go. In spite of the big cats in waiting, or the rivers thick with crocodiles, they diligently follow their inner compass in a never-ending circular journey.
According to Tom Thomson, The Great Wildebeest Migration is the second largest overland migration in the world, with wildlife travelling a total of 800km or more during each cycle. The magnificence of the event lies in its magnitude. Between 1.4 and 2.5 million wildebeest, as well as zebra and other species, plod or canter across Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve in search of good grazing. And if you are lucky, you get to go along for the adventure.
He also adds that, the herds follow a clockwise migration through Tanzania’s Serengeti ecosystem. In February and March, they give birth on the nutrient-rich Southern Plains, including in and around the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. From there, they move north through Serengeti National Park and the Maswa Game Reserve, with some splintering off into the Grumeti Reserve in April and May, while others continue through the Central Serengeti. By July, the herds converge in the Lamai region along the Mara River, straddling the Kenya-Tanzania border, where dramatic river crossings peak in August and taper off by the end of September or mid-October. Most of the herds do not fully cross into Kenya but linger along the river’s edge. In October, as southern rains begin, the herds start their return journey via the Central Serengeti and the Loliondo Game Controlled Area on the park’s eastern boundary. By December and January, they are back in the south, ready to begin the cycle again.
It is established that during the migration, about 250,000 wildebeest and 30,000 zebras die every year as a result of predation by carnivores, drowning, thirst, hunger, and exhaustion.
B Hudson Tours Limited is here for you to help you plan your accommodation in Maasai Mara in 4 to 5-star hotels close to where the great wildebeest – Mara River Crossing takes place. We have 4×4 land cruisers with an option of closed ones for those who would like to be picked up from Nairobi and also open ones especially for photographers. Our tour guides are highly experienced and well trained and this makes them more qualified to offer you the best game experience at the great Maasai Mara. Through their many years of experience, they know when and where you can spot the big cats during a game drive.
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Tel: +254-702-035-328
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