You’ve heard stories, seen pictures, and had it on your bucket list for years – now it’s time to experience the phenomenon of the Great Migration for yourself!
Possibly the most exhilarating event in nature and now classified as a “Seven New Wonders of the World”, is the annual Wildebeest and Zebra Migration of East Africa. As the seasons change, thousands upon thousands of wild animals cross the Serengeti plains of East Africa towards the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in search of food and water. With no exact start or finish, the specific timing and route all depend on the rains each year.
With the rain fuelling the migration, it dictates where the herds will be at different times of the year. The yearly cycle begins in the south of the Serengeti National Park, where half a million calves are born between January and March. But when the rains end in May, the land dries fast and the grazing animals must move on in order to survive, heading for their dry season refuge in the Maasai Mara, Kenya.
As the migration moves further north, it truly sets the path for the most dramatic natural spectacle in the world – The famous Mara River Crossing. Here millions of wildebeest and zebras make their way across the river. They will be hunted, stalked and run down by the larger carnivores as they arrive at the Mara River in their tens of thousands, gathering and waiting to find the perfect opportunity to run the gauntlet.
By late October, the short rains begin to fall on the Serengeti’s plains, filling seasonal watering holes and bringing new blooms of growth, the wildebeest and zebra’s start heading back south.
This experience will give you a front row seat to the migration. With all-inclusive, luxury migratory camps specifically focusing on following the migration, it is truly one for the adventurer at heart, one who enjoys the rugged edges although still appreciates the creature comforts and enjoys the luxurious side of travel.
Due to the migration being unpredictable, please enquire for our up-to-date advice on which camps will give you the best opportunity to witness this once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon for your potential dates.
