Showing posts with label Kenya Wildlife Safari. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kenya Wildlife Safari. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Masai Mara and Serengeti wildebeest migration: Kenya wildlife safari


Masai Mara and Serengeti Wildebeest migration: Kenya wildlife safari


Wildebeest migration between Serengeti into the Maasai Mara is the most unique wildlife spectacle in Kenya. This wildebeest migration is such a magnificent phenomenon covering movement of over 1 million combined herbivores crossing the Mara plains and rivers. Mara River crossings are the single most spectacular where the gnus of the Mara trudge into the rivers fully infested with crocodiles and raging water currents. The wildebeest is notable as the wag of the Savannah. Aka gnu, it has a structure similar to a young horse with a deeply built frontal shoulders and chest and a lean posterior. The animal legs are so thin it’s intriguing how it is able support the proportionately bigger body framework. The gnu has an unusual behavior as considered to other bovids. Surprisingly, a herd of gnus will usually fling different directions if attacked by a lion.

The Wildebeest Migration:
What gives the gnu its populous repute is not its body structure, but the spectre and absolute sheer numbers created by its migration. These animals migrate to and from the Serengeti and Mara plains in Tanzania and Kenya respectively. This is necessitated by search of lush grass and water. Researchers have estimated that greater than one million of these so called gnus are always on the move during the dramatic migration season from end of June and October. These numbers are so huge that miles upon miles of Savannah grassland is blanketed by a large mass of moving beasts. They simply extend from one horizon to the other; of the conveniently flat and treeless Maasai Mara plains. This is a sight to behold especially when you are on a Kenya wildlife safari. The gnu migration phenomenon is so enormous that satellites miles away in space are more certainly able to capture the flow as a black moving mass on the plains of this Kenya's great wildlife reserve. Now, that is huge for sure: and to excite more it is awesome viewing it on the ground during guided game drives or afloat with balloon Safari, a great experience not to be missed!

Masai Mara Wildebeests crossing Mara River
Mara River Crossings:
The most memorable and dramatic Masai Mara safari experience is when you observe the migrating wildebeest at the several Mara River crossing points. Numbers upon numbers congregate at such river crossings not sure of their next move, but to cross the river. The crossings are such infamous spots that the wildebeests have developed a self safeguarding instinct over time. Gnus will amass in their hundred of thousands at the banks of River Mara that is rife with the raging water currents and the heavily dreaded Nile crocodile. Put in the fast water current, prominent stampedes and jaw retorting crocodiles in this whole movie theatre and you are assured to get an exciting recipe for mass kills at such river crossings. The Mara River is typically awash with bloated mass of gnus carcass that the Nile crocodiles feast on for several days on end.

It is estimated that more than 250,000 of the migrating gnu die from stampede, drowning, the predators and crocodiles each year. But even this annual bloodbath is not enough to scale down their numbers. The gnu deaths during migration period are replenished by the more 400,000 births every year in the Serengeti especially in the February-March period. The deaths during this migration season are now considered as a natural population watch; rather a natural selection at its best.

Do and Die Point:
Mara River crossings are favorite spectacular points to observe the Masai Mara migration on your safari in Kenya. The animals will collect hesitantly in large numbers on the banks, not sure of when to plunge. Those other wildebeests behind the front line keep amassing into hundreds of thousands until the pressure on those in the front is too much to bear.


Eventually, they take the plunge; and when they do so, even the waiting Nile crocodiles scatter to the edges. The panic of being trampled by the millions of gnus is so real for even a crocodile to risk a head on confrontation. Hundreds upon hundreds make this death-daring- high plunges into the water, that the splash makes a swash-like a million water falls.

The Wildebeest Predators:
The Wildebeest migration is such that an Iota of population of other herbivores, join in the migration including Gazelles and Zebras. Lion prides also accompany (as they eat some, of course) and invite the migrating wildebeests on either side of the Mara River Crossing points. The lions stark up their stomachs with wildebeest carcass to a point, the prey pacifies the prides in the Mara plains with little fear. As long as a lion has had his 35 odd kilos of meat a day, he poses no threat. It is surely a game of numbers. The Leopards on other hand, don’t have to stroll far to hunt its prey. All they will do is seize on unsuspecting wildebeest as they pass by their (leopards) tree parches. The rest of the wildebeests scatter as usual in different directions. This is just another sacrifice, after all; they still got the numbers to dominate. This is one of the most rare  picture-perfect moments when you are on your Masai Mara wildlife safari.

Visiting the Masai Mara National Reserve:
It is not only the carnivores that will accompany migrating wildebeests but also humans as well. The Maasai Mara attracts such great interest that the ensuring demand during the months of June through October is not met. You will find it hard to get a space in the lodges, various tented camps and camping grounds if you do not book well in advance. Your accommodation in the Mara varies from 4-star to 5-star deluxe lodges or luxury tented camps and also simple camping tents. Wildebeest Migration takes place everyday of the 4 month period of July-October. You are as such assured a sighting irrespective of which month of the four  you visit.


Your bookings can be handled by several very professional companies which also offer transportation and transfers from airports, self drive car hire and lodging in the Mara. Make sure you see the migration the next time you make a safari in Kenya. Mount Kenya Climbing Expeditions offer a variety of African wildlife safari trips including wildebeest migration. You can take advantage of their offers.

Wildlife Safaris in Kenya - Kenya Wildlife Safari Holiday


Wildlife Safaris in Kenya: Kenya Wildlife Safari:

The Masai Mara National Reserve is likely the most celebrated and most gone by reserve in Kenya. It offers stunning perspectives (found in the film 'Out of Africa', a lot of which was recorded here) an exceptional thickness of creatures including the "Enormous Five" and numerous assortments of amusement.

A noteworthy element is the yearly relocation of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle from the fields of the Serengeti that cross the Tanzanian outskirt and streams to achieve the Mara's rich meadow from late June, chased by the predators: lion, panther, cheetah, hyena and hovered by vultures as the excursion develops.

Aside from the regular movement, diversion review is amazing year round. Diversion incorporates: elephant, Black Rhino, bison, fields zebra, roan pronghorn in little numbers, white-hairy gnu, oribi, warthog, Thomson's and Grant's gazelle, hartebeest and the enormous felines; the waterways are home to hippo and crocodiles.

Feathered creature life is as lavish as natural life. This incorporates  white-tipped peak, red winged schalow's turaco, ross turaco, vigilant guinea fowl and orange buff pel's angling owl,. The open plain winged animals incorporate Jackson's bustard, the dark bellied hartlaubs bustard. Al least 53 types of winged animals of prey have been recorded.

The Mara involves 200 sq. miles of open fields, forests and riverine woods. The Mara is a piece of an enormous biological community, adjoining with the fields of the Serengeti, which extends over the outskirt into Tanzania. In the event that meeting the Mara from July through October, guests ought to take the chance to witness one of the world's most prominent characteristic exhibitions, the Great Wildebeest Migration from the Serengeti. Every year the guarantee of downpour and new nurturing grass in the north brings more than 1.3 million Wildebeest together into a solitary gigantic group.


The crowds of the Mara draw in a lot of predators. This is the best location in the whole of of Kenya to see Pride of Lions. Whether they are on the chase or very still in family gathers, Lions are frequently found in the store. Cheetahs are likewise regularly seen here, as are Hyena and littler predators, for example, Jackals.

A safari through the Mara gives the guest a chance to experience a few unique living spaces in a solitary day. On the totally open meadows you can go through colossal crowds of Zebra, Giraffe, Gazelle, and Topi. The specialist predators are a constant vicinity among the crowds. Around the waters of the Musiara-Swamp elephants can be discovered looking for shelter from the warmth. Going along the banks of the Mara and Talek there are magnificent stream perspectives of Hippos and Crocodiles, while the riverine backwoods teem with Bird life and Monkeys.

This extraordinary scope of characteristic environments implies that there is bounty to investigate, and a lot of animal types to experience. A safari into the wilds of Kenya is an adventure into nature at its purest. All over you look there is a bounty of life.

A hot-air inflatable is outlined against an African sky as another day breaks over the Masai Mara. Find exactly how much a Kenya safari natural life occasion can offer you...

Kenya has a radiant atmosphere and scene - a portion of which lays on the equator - making for a place that is known for astonishing complexity. There are snow-topped mountains, for example, Mount Kenya, Africa's second biggest mountain after Mount Kilimanjaro in neighboring Tanzania. The waterfalls and rich tropical backwoods of Aberdare National Park give an appreciated help from the parched open fields of Samburu and Kenya's north-eastern district. In the event that that isn't sufficient, guests can loll in the daylight on the palm-bordered white shorelines of the Coast Province.

Hot air balloon ride in Masai Mara over wildebeests migration

Most guests to Kenya encounter this remarkable complexity by spending a couple of days on the coast, showering in the warm, quiet waters of the Indian Ocean, before wandering inland for that quintessential of African encounters: the Kenya safari. Untamed life in Kenya is astonishing; especially in the Masai Mara, home of the enormous five - elephant, wild ox, rhinoceros, lion, panther - and also hippos, crocodiles and the now jeopardized cheetah. Winged animals and natural life are as plentiful as they are changed and it is an entirely extraordinary affair. Envision being encompassed by a huge number of wildebeest and zebra, thundering along like an awesome train towards greener fields. This is their Great Annual Migration. It is both humbling and perplexing.

Be that as it may, there's a great deal more to a safari in Kenya than simply amusement drives. Safari lodges themselves are radiant for untamed life seeing while you make the most of your lunch between amusement drives. Cabins and camps are normally situated next to streams, which draw a wide range of untamed life to drink and bathe. Safari lodge exercises are very novel, what with welcomes to silver-administration bramble meals; night amusement drives to track the panther; shrubbery picnics and Maasai moving. Find every one of the insider facts of Kenya safaris and more in the photograph outlined Kenya safari untamed life occasion travelog.

All data for Kenya travel can be found on this site, including visa necessities, pokes and the best intestinal sickness tablets for Kenya. From adrenaline junkies searching for energy and enterprise, to sun-admirers arranging an unwinding shoreline occasion - a Kenya get-away has it all.

Whether you're arranging a shoreline occasion in Kenya, natural life safari, or a Kenya shoreline - safari combo, you will find a lot of data here to help with your arrangements. Maybe you're uncertain about which diversion reserve(s) to visit or perhaps you're simply pondering when is the best time to go to Kenya? Mount Kenya Climbing Expeditions is your favored Kenya Wildlife safari accomplice and will counsel you on every one of the prerequisites, best time to travel, safari bundles and you will just kick back and appreciate the Kenyan safari experience!