The Great Migration – River crossing
The great Migration – River crossing
The Great Migration’s river crossings are amazing scenes you should miss in the course of the Great Migration, the Migration has two major river crossing that is the Grumeti River crossing in Tanzania and the Mara River Crossing in Kenya.
The Grumeti River is the first water obstacle encountered by the herds on their journey and The Mara River Crossing is the second river crossing, considered to be most chaotic and drama river crossing as the herds attempt to cross the 400 kilometers long and deep river.
THE MISCONCEPTION OF THE GREAT MIGRATION
There are many misconceptions surrounding the Great Migration and one of them is that when people think of the Great Migration, they think of iconic wildebeest river crossing which takes place along Mara River which separates Masai Mara and Serengeti.
The Great Migration, river crossing takes place from late June – October.
Fact is, The Great Migration is a year-long cyclical event where by the wildebeests and other plains games that are Zebras, Thomson and grant’s gazelles follow the rains from the East of the Serengeti down through the North-west of Ngorongoro Conservation Area, back up through the central and west of the Serengeti, all the way up north to the Masai Mara national reserve, and then back down again through the central and east of Serengeti national park.
The whole annual Great Migration is filled with plenty of action including
- Calving season – from January to March
- Rutting season – from April – May
- River crossing season – from June to October
In November and December – the herds continue to move South to start the whole cycle all over again.
Most of the wildlife lovers / travelers consider The River Crossings that is Mara and Grumeti river crossings to be the most desirable and exiting season of the Great Migration to witness and a must do on an Africa safari bucket list.
WHAT MAKES THE RIVER CROSSING A BUCKET LIST EVENT
The sheer volumes of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles are a wonder itself, over 1.3 million wildebeests and over 300,000 zebras and 200,000 gazelles participate in the annual migration “Great Migration” which is the largest herd movement of animals in the world. The herds are so large that they can easily be seen from Space.
The dramatic river crossings are exciting and exhilarating to watch, however patience is needed to witness this spectacle first hand. To cross the Mara River and Grumeti River from Serengeti national park in Tanzania into Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya, wildebeests can take hours to full days to cross the rivers. The herds eagerly wait for one of their comrades to take the first step into the waters, however it is quite scary to go first as there are predators to watch out such as crocodiles in the river and big cats- lions, leopards and cheetahs waiting to pick off the weakest of the herd. Also there is a muddy riverbed to navigate, so the herds have to make sure they don’t get stuck and some of the sides of the ravine turn out to be too steep to climb, forcing the herds back across the treacherous river to start the exercise all over again.
In the end, one brave wildebeest takes their first step or rather jump into the river thus causing a cascading movement of the whole herd, one following the other in a simultaneous effect which is a nerve wrecking event to see.
WHY DO WILDEBEESTS CROSS THE RIVER
The Wildebeests do not cross the river for nothing, they have an aim to why they cross and that is food.
Food
The wildebeests move following the rains that is by watching the movement of the rain clouds, using their instincts they know that where there is heavy rain, there is green grass which they eat soon after.
There instincts impels them to follow the storm clouds across the Mara and Grumeti Rivers.
WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO STAY TO SEE THE GREAT MIGRATION RIVER CROSSINGS?
There are several best accommodations to stay to see the Great River Crossings, these accommodation options are situated in the northern Serengeti and Masai Mara and they include
Ubuntu Migration Camp
Ubuntu Migration Camp is a traditional tented camp designed to leave no trace as it can easily be disassembled and be moved with the herds as they search for new pastures.
Since the wildebeest migration moves in a continuous cycle through the Serengeti and Masai Mara national reserve, so as to give you the best chance of seeing the herds Ubuntu Migration Camp moves between the northern and southern Serengeti.
The Ubuntu Migration camp is open from
- Mid – November to Mid – March and in this period it is in the Southern Serengeti
- Mid – June to October and in this period it is in Northern Serengeti.
The Ubutu Migration Camp is closed from Mid – March to mid- June and the beginning to mid – November.
Accommodation at Ubuntu Migration Camp
Ubuntu Migration Camp has a total of 10 tented suites including 1 four – sleeper family tent, the tented suites have en-suite bathrooms, hot- water showers and bath, flushing toilets, complementary laundry service, solar and generator power and battery – charging facilities.
The tents are canvas safari tents with mesh side panels purposely to let the light in during the day, the tents have king –sized or twin beds.
Olakira Migration Camp
Olakira Migration Camp is a mobile camp following the wildebeest migration around the Serengeti plains, the epic river crossing in the north to the southern plains where you can witness the birth of thougrumetis of calves as the herds are in their calving season.
Olakira Migration Camp is open from June to October and December to March. The camp is closed in April, May and November.
Accommodation at Olakira Migration Camp
Olakira Migration Camp offers the closet possible view of the Great Wildebeest Migration action as it follows the migration throughout the year, the camp has a total of 9 tents including 1 family tent. These canvas tents are designed to blend into the bush without leaving a trace and offering great comfort at the same time, also the tents are stargazing tent design and they feature en-suite bathrooms, Hot – water showers and bath, flushing toilets, solar and generator power and battery – charging facilities.
A portion of the tents boast a 270 ° view from beneath a net thus offering you the best of the outdoors while remaining indoors.
Sayari Camp
Sayari Camp is another best accommodation to stay at to witness the migration, this award winning camo is situated in the north of Serengeti national park in a prime location to witness the epic Mara River Crossing as thougrumetis of wildebeests crash across the Mara River.
The Mara River is just a few minutes from the camp.
Sayari Camo is open from June to March and is closed from April to May.
Accommodation at Sayari Camp
Sayari Camp consists of 15 bright and spacious tents overlooking the golden plains, these suites have walk – in showers, al fresco tubs and verandas. The tents have mahogany floors and king or twin beds with fine linens and colorful cushions.
Other accommodation options include
Lemala Kuria Hills Lodge
Sala’s Camp
Singita Faru Faru Lodge
Mara River Tented Camp among others.
