Migration News and Information 2012

Migration month by month

December to March:
AREA:Serengeti / Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Known as the short grass southern plains. [Ndutu and Salei plains]

A vast area with enormous herds of wildebeest and zebra spread over the plains. The great herds graze on grass produced by the recent rains.
Calving Season(late January through mid March when the wildebeest give birth over a period of a few weeks)
[March:herds start to move towards the central Serengeti woodlands]
April, May

AREA:Western Corridor[or Lobo][areas of the serengeti]

Depleted grazing forces the movement north and west to the long grass plains. The wildebeest once more congregating into massive herds

June:

AREA:Lamai Wedge and the Mara Triangle

Western Corridor's pastures now depleted the herds move further north. This time of year is the transition between the long rains ending in the short rains due in November. Breeding occurs at this time May through June.

July to October:

AREA: Crossing the Mara River from Tanzania into Kenya

The crossing of the swollen river make for spectacular game viewing. Sometimes shallow water allows the majority of animals to pass safely. In other areas waters boil with drowning wildebeest and slashing crocodiles.
Safarists tend not witness the wildebeest crossings as the timing is impossible to predict - in years of little rain very few wildebeest tend to cross the Mara River into Kenya.

*August:

Area: Lobo or Loliondo an area belonging to the Masai and outside the Serengeti National Park [areas of the serengeti]

In August there tends to be lots of crossing re crossing of the rivers
Between July and October the wildebeest reside in the northern Serengeti and Masai Mara in Kenya. As the Mara is terribly crowded many operators recommend northern Serengeti/Loliondo camps at this time as they offer the chance to see the wildebeest crossing the Mara River in a pristine environment.
November:

Area:Lobo / Northern Serengeti / Loliondo

The arrival of the short rains triggers the migration southward. During the short rains of November the wildebeest migration is best viewed from lodges/campsites in the Lobo area in the northern Serengeti.
December:

following rains Southwards

Moving south following the rains for the calving season [starting late January] in the southern Serengeti and so the cycle begins again

Wilderness areas of the Serengeti

This allows you the experience of leaving the road behind and view the Serengeti as did the first explorers. A true adventure if you are up to the walking and rigors of the bush. A most unique way to experience the migration.

 

News from the Migration

March 2012 - The rains have been heavy in March 2012 and the Wildebeest are on the southern plains in huge concentrations.  The concentrations are static for the moment as there is plenty of grazing.  However, the foals are filling out ready, when forced, to follow the herds in the quest for grazing in their long migration north.
Many camps have reported loads of predator activity with many witnessing lion, leopard and cheetah kills.

The Serengeti
Areas of the Serengeti explained - Serengeti National Park

Migration Realities

On this page we have given a ultra-simple guide of how the migration works with the animals following the rain and grazing - however - rarely does it work according to plan. The wildebeests natural home is in the short grass planes of the Southern Serengeti/Ngorongoro Conservation Area/Southern Loliondo - however the need for food drives them north and this is the migration that many come to witness. However,some if the huge herds can move north towards Lobo and others west through the Western Corridor - they can at times spread out [especially in years with much rain] and other times congregate into huge herds.

The crossing of the Mara and Grumeti river is what many people come to witness but they are unpredictable at best,the crossings are elusive and often disappointing watches. Some years many animals will not need to go as far as Kenya. The animals can take days,maybe weeks mulling around close to the Mara River before deciding to cross. Once the decision is made there is utter panic,a chaotic stampede as the herds struggle to get to the other side of a swollen river full of hungry crocodiles.

Hot Air Balloon Flights across the Serengeti.

New flights across the southern plains and the western corridor sections of the Serengeti have been introduced for 2011 - enabling unique perspectives of the migrating herds. more info on hot air balloons in the Serengeti.