Wildebeest migration safari

In spite of the fact that the great wildebeest migration occurs in two countries Kenya’s masai mara and Tanzania’s serengeti, and all the vagaries of weather patterns and apparently random game movements coupled with pressure to find the right spots … planning a trip to catch the best of the great annual wildebeest migration is reasonably straight forward…

The thing to consider when trying to catch the migration is the time of year.

If you are looking at going on safari during July to mid October then Kenya is the place to be. The best places to be at this time is Mara River and Central Plains. In fact the closer your tents or lodges are to this places the better because at this time of the year this is where the action is.Off course if you are considering a masai mara balloon safari then the location of your lodges might not matter that much.

Any other time of the year the migration will be found in Tanzania.

The migration solution…in summary

If the migration is your primary focus then

• Plan and book well in advance
• If destination is first priority that is you prefer one of the two countries, then you’re going to have travel at specific times
• If you’re flexible time wise then choose destination based on what other add-ons you’re keen to do so the logistics don’t get too complicated. A great way to cap an African wildlife safari is often a beach experience.
• Don’t think of combining or switching at the last moment on the cheap.
• Logistically it’s best to handle the Serengeti from Arusha and the Mara from Nairobi - this will help with decisions on beach breaks or other safaris into southern Tanzania or elsewhere in Kenya.
• If you’ve left things a bit too late or if you can’t get the right space for this season then rather postpone your trip for next year than take second best now.

Finally

The trick is to work with smaller outfits or more specialized tour operators with the flexibility and real interest to get out into the bush before the big tour companies arrive, are happy to typically hold breakfast under a tree when the minibuses are doing their rounds and then spend some time looking for quieter spots to catch the afternoons and early evenings without crowds.