Masai Mara Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Safari Holiday 2012- 1.8 million Reasons to Move

Mar 29
15:13

2012

Robert Muhoho

Robert Muhoho

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Masai mara wildebeest migration safari holidays are very popular in Kenya where you can see the animals migrate from serengeti into masai mara plains in large numbers.

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Masai mara Serengeti Migration Safari This year

The wildebeest migration is one of the single largest movement of animals across the plains of serengeti and the masai mara. The wildebeest migration safari in 2012 starts in August through to october following the migration in the masai mara. You will be in the thick of things witnessing one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

Serengeti Migration Safari in Tanzania Holidays

In February to march the wildebeest are in the south serengeti plains and ngorongoro area. The grass is lush and the its breeding time and lots of young calves are roaming everywhere. There are over 500,000 new born calves every season and this attracts the predators of the plains including lions,Masai Mara Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Safari Holiday 2012- 1.8 million Reasons to Move Articles hyenas and cheetahs who are attracted to the easy catches of calves here. There are more than 10,000 hyenas in serengeti and over 8,000 lions here.

Wildebeest Calves-Born to Run

A wildebeest calf is born to run and will be standing in 10 minutes from birth and can outrun a lion in half an hour from birth. By April the rains have arrived and the area is very green with grass but by june the area starts to dry up as the rains start moving north into masai mara towards the mau complex. The wildebeests start to gather in one large herd and a wide file preparing for the migration in june and by start of july, the migration is full swing.

How many Wildebeests are in the masai mara migration

The wildebeest move following the fresh grass with the rainfall cycle. The wildebeest are more than 1.8million animals and over 500,000 zebras and Gazelles. The migration of these animals is so vast that they form a black blanket over the plains eating all the grass in their paths like natural lawn mowers. They will cross into masai mara southern areas in August and turn northwards crossing the talek river and finall turning westwards again to face the mara river.

Dramatic Wildebeest Migration Mara River Crossing

By the time the wildebeest are getting to the mara river, the rains in the mau escarpment are heavy and the river mara is very swollen and full with raging currents. The wildebeest river crossings are the most dramatic events in the whole of the migration. Hundreds of the wildebeests will accumulate by the banks as they survey the safe areas to make a crossing where they can see no crocodiles. Finally, they will approach the water cautiously and as soon as some get in the water, the crocodiles will advance and this play continues until one of the gnus decides to make a run for it.

All the other jumpy wildebeest jump in after the first one and its an free for all stampede. The wildebeests stampede at the river mara leaves many of them dead but still the vast majority continue on the journey. The big cats also escort the migration and are also on hand to welcome them to new areas. Its a time of plenty and most of the lions for example are well fed by 7am in the morning and all they can do for the rest of the day is just to watch in disinterest.

The Wildebeest migration doe not have a start or end

Finally the wildebeest migration re-enters Serengeti to the north and they start streaming southwards towards the ngorongoro plains by November and December back to the breeding grounds to prepare for the next migration. The wildebeest migration does not have a starting point but is a cyclic event that never stops but only goes through the several stages of breeding, feeding and moving.

When is the wildebeest migration Safari in Masai Mara Kenya

The masai mara migration safari holidays are some of the most popular holidays in Kenya. The masai mara migration safaris are usually from July to October of every year and most of the places here fully are booked. You need to book your room early to ensure that you don't miss out on the migration.

Sojourns Safaris offers you the best Kenya Masai Mara migration safari holidays. To find out more on the Masai Mara wildebeest/gnu migration Safari holidays tours, Trips, safaris and Travels, click here : Masai mara Migration 2012 Holidays or for 4 days Kenya masai mara lion safari holidays here: 2012 Masai Mara Wildebeest Safari