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Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration Overview: Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration Safari: The annual wildebeest migration in Kenya and Tanzania is arguably the most spectacular natural event in Africa. More than 3 million large mammals have made the vast Masai Mara and Serengeti plains their home.   May & June In late May, the herds leave the Western Corridor for the northern Serengeti plains and woodlands. The fresh, tender and mineral-rich pastures on the other side of the humans' border, in Masai Mara, are the irresistible bait for the animals to finally invade the Kenyan reserve, an event which usually starts in late June to early July. The troops coming from the south meet here another migratory contingent: the resident wildebeest herds of the Mara region. These animals reside in the Loita Plains and Hills, northeast of the Mara, until the dry season brings the tougher days and it is time to seek the evergreen Mara basin. July to October Throughout the month of July, the herds cross the Sand River, a mostly dry tributary of the Mara which roughly follows the boundary line between Kenya and Tanzania. The parade takes the eastern sector of Masai Mara, surrounding the Keekorok Lodge area. The trek follows westward, leading the herds to face the major challenge along their quest: crossing the Mara river and frequently also its tributary, the Talek. By then, the rains at the Mau Escarpment, where the Mara rises, have fed the stream to its highest levels. The steep banks are populated with trunk-looking basking crocodiles that seem almost to be expecting their annual banquet. The operation of fording the river is the most delicate along the migration, and as such seems to plunge the gnus in a state of anxiety that only relieves when the whole herd has crossed. The trekkers walk along the left (eastern) bank of the Mara looking for a suitable point to cross. There are plenty of preferred crossings along the course, which are easily identifiable by the lack of vegetation, the depressed slopes and the deep grooves carved by the animals' hooves. These are the most secure places to ford the river, those that ensure a minimal mortality. Nonetheless, the apparent programming of the whole process sometimes seems to collapse, and the nervous herds occasionally choose places where the banks are too steep and many of the animals break their legs down the cliff or fall flat into the waters. The herds gather at the suitable points and wander around nervously, their grunts sounding loud in the air. Eventually, one animal takes the lead and approaches the rim, scanning the opposite edge to analyze if any danger awaits after the crossing. When it finally dives into the stream, this seems to haul the rest of the herd. More animals follow in a single line across the river, while the lagged ones throw themselves towards the stream until the rearguard pushes the troops to a frantic race that ends up with some animals trampled to death, lying aside the course. Along the boreal summer, the crossings repeat over and over, and the survivors graze peacefully on the Mara Triangle grasslands unless disturbed by the early-morning and late-evening hunts of lion and cheetah, the latter preying on the calves. By October, the rains are heading south back to the Serengeti. This is when the pace of the march reverses, bringing the herds to face once more the quest for the southern grasslands. The rite of fording the river is again part of nature's call. In the last days of October, the migration heads towards the vast plains of the southern Serengeti, where a new generation of calves will be born to start the cycle of life all over again. Normally the route is down the eastern side and the pace is fast. Quite often a million animals can be seen stretched out. Masai Mara Migration Safari: Day 1: Arrival- Nairobi Today, you arrive at Nairobi, Kenya's vibrant capital city. Met and assisted. Transfer to your overnight city deluxe hotel, Nairobi Safari Club on bed and breakfast.   Day 2: Nairobi - Masai Mara, Kenya Pick up from your hotel at 7:30am with a drive to Masai Mara safari tour through The Great African Rift Valley and Narok Town. Arrive in time for lunch at your preferred lodge to include leisure. An afternoon game drive will follow to explore Hemingways country and Lion, Cheetah, Elephant, Buffalo and other animals of the same order. Set in the Oloolaimutia valley the lodge blends in perfetly with its surrounding hillside landscape. The accent here is on the Masai people and the fabulous wealth of wildlife, birdlife, and natural flora to be found in the fabled Masai Mara Game Reserve Mara Sopa Lodge has earned a well-deserved reputation for the friendliness and care offered to its guests by its management and staff. The Mara Sopa Lodge has 200 beds by way of 77 rooms, 12 suites and 1 Presidential suite, all of which are 'rondavel' style and have en-suite bathroom facilities which provide shaving sockets and hairdryers. Every room and suite has a private, elevated verandah with splendid views across the valley and on which guests can relax, sunbathe and watch resident birds and wildlife. Mini-bars are also available in each room. Dinner and overnight stay at Mara Sopa Lodge, B,L,D. Day 3 & 4 : Masai Mara, Kenya Two game drives per day, morning and afternoon to enjoy this natural wonder of Masai Mara. Game drives includes extensive plains which include not only the well known predatory animals but also with Zebra, Wildebeest, Giraffe, Hippo and the dangerous Crocodiles. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge, B,L,D. Optional hot air balloon ride is US$ 450 per person or a visit to a local Maasai village US$ 25 per person   Day 5: Masai Mara to Nairobi, Kenya Early morning game viewing. After breakfast, drive back to Nairobi to arrive in the afternoon at approximately 2pm. Transfer to the airport for your flight to the next destination where the tour ends, B.   Migration safari tour cost: US$ 1,250 Per person sharing. Single room supplement: US$ 243. Optional flight in and out of Masai Mara: US$ 330 per person extra, taxes inclusive. Tour Cost Includes: -Guarantee price/guarantee safari on confirmation -Transport on safari in a comfortable safari van equipped for game viewing, photography and touring -Full board accommodation on safari and meal plan as described, B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner -One night accommodation at The Stanley Hotel on bed and breakfast -Accommodation in double/triple room -All park entrance fees to include government taxes -Service of an English speaking professional driver/guide -All game drives as detailed in the itinerary -Bottled water whilst on safari -Start and end in Nairobi -Return airport transfers -Personalised service Tour Cost excludes: -Tips -Laundry -Beverages/Drinks -International flights -Visas -Items of a personal nature -Optional activities and any other extras not detailed in the above itinerary   To reserve the above 5 days Masai Mara migration safari , please contact us! Wildebeest Migration travel information: 1.5 million wildebeest (gnu), 300,000 Thomson's gazelle, 250,000 zebras leave the Serengeti in Tanzania in May, lured to the northern Maasai Mara in Kenya by rainfall and the promise of sprouting, nutrient-rich grasses. Predators such as lion, hyaena and cheetah follow hot on their heels... From January onwards, massive herds of wildebeest gather on the plains of the Serengeti. This 22 000 square kilometre ecosystem of grass- and wood-land is home to a staggering two million herbivores. Here the wildebeest drop their calves (numbers estimated at 400 000). Predators like spotted hyaena, lion, cheetah, leopard and jackals flourish, feeding on the excessive glut of wildebeest veal. Once the long rains cease in May, the plains dry up quickly and become dry, harsh, and inhospitable. The calves are now strong enough to begin their first journey, and it is then that the long march north begins. From the Simba and Moru Koppies (hills) in the north-west, the wooded grassland plains of the Serengeti separate into two corridors: to the west lie the Mbalageti and Grumeti rivers and Lake Victoria, while the other corridor extends north through woodland and over hills towards the Maasai Mara. The rutting season in June is a noisy, dusty affair - with male wildebeest vociferously showing off their genetic superiority. Soon, most of the 'ladies' are pregnant. The herds then move on to Lake Victoria - the second-largest lake in the world, which has its own micro-climate and produces sufficient rainfall and pasture along its shores. Many wildebeest move north-west and cross into the Maasai Mara, having to negotiate the Mara River from July onwards. The Mara River crossing is extraordinary - optimistic vultures and Marabou storks line the banks in anticipation as the wildebeest plunge into the river, negotiating both the strong current and crocodiles in their inexhaustible drive for fodder. The wildebeest remain in the Maasai Mara for two to three months, sustained by the short rains and pasture. They head south between October and December, and move along the eastern section of the Serengeti in time to give birth during the life-giving long rains of the South. * Note: The movements of the wildebeest are dependent on regional rainfall, their movements differ yearly. Seasons: The short rains fall from Nov-Dec, the long rains fall from Mar-May. The wildebeest calve on the Serengeti Plains from Jan-Mar. They generally depart the Serengeti in May, where they head east and north for Lake Victoria and the Maasai Mara, crossing the Mara River around July. They leave the Mara in Oct-Dec. Wildlife: You may see: wildebeest, zebra, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, bat eared fox, hunting dog, jackal, Patterson's eland, klipspringer, dikdik, impala, zebra, gazelles, water, bush and reed buck, topi, kongoni, cotton's oribi, grey bush duiker, roan antelope, buffalo, spring hare, porcupine, warthog, hyraxes, baboon, vervet monkey, colobus monkey, patas monkey, mongoose, crocodile. Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration Safari, Masai Mara Serengeti migration, wildebeest Migration Safari, Serengeti Masai Mara annual wildebeest migration, Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration, Maasai Mara Migration Safari.

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