December 2014 - Wildebeest migration updates

Hi Carel,

There are big groups of migration around Ndutu area,all the way from Golini to small marsh and big marsh which is very close to our camp.

Here is the attachment of wildebeest migration together with dozens of zebras in a small mash few meters in front of our camp.

Kind Regards,
Benson,
Lemala Ndutu

Hi Carel,

Guests at Lemala Ndutu are enjoying the migration around camp and directly in front by the small marsh. The numbers are growing and the cheetah sightings have been amazing this past week with lots of kills seen.

Keep well,
Veronica

Hi Carel, 

Lots of rain in the offing, a bright day building to rain all over.

The herds are spread out feeding with lots of obviously pregnant females. The birthing season is not far away.

Keep well,
Alex

Dear Carel,

Happy boxing day! Just to let you know that we had a lot of rain the whole of yesterday and through the night. Our rain gauge reads 100mls.

Thanks,
Angel

Hi Carel,

Report from Marando Shauri, one of our guides. We are getting good rain now and the wildebeest are filling Caracal Plateau, coming in from Kusini and Makau woodlands.

Long lines heading out towards Gol and Lemuta. Frontier Forest woodland areas full, as well as the marsh areas. Large groups of zebra around the lodge. Many cheetah sightings with cubs so a great time to be here.

Hi Carel,

Happy Christmas! This just in from Nomad guide Emmanuel Njawa:

Things are starting to warm up around here after a few days of rain. Some substantial herds of wildebeest are now coming in from Kusini direction, possibly Maswa woodlands and are presently spreading between the Hidden Valley, Miti Mitatu, the minor and big swamps coming towards the eastern Ndutu woodlands.

We even saw a few hundred gnus galloping towards Naibadad possibly to start filling the plains overlooking Ngorongoro highlands. We're also seeing big numbers of cheetahs (we saw, in three hours, three mothers all with between three to five cubs) and lots of lions.

Dear Carel,

We had 90mm rain last night I am sending a couple of photos from yesterday - herds are moving from Sopa area across to Lake Magadi.

Merry Christmas to you!

Kind Regards,
Alison

Hi Carel,

We have had some movement but only in the Southern side of Serengeti. They are spreading even wider between Serengeti South airstrip and Kusini now than Ndutu.

Heavy rains in Central and South Serengeti have confused the wildebeests quite a bit and they seem quite happy to be in area with still plentiful lush green grass, seems that it is going to be a good calving season and it might come a little early.

Season’s greetings from us all at Coastal.

Thanks and Regards,
Capt. Joel J Fernandes,
Coastal Aviation,
Arusha

Hi Carel, 

A small update from here, seem to be getting some wide spread rain at last and reports coming in that the wildebeest and zebra are coming in long lines from Moru and Kusini to the plains around the marshes.

Woodlands around Frontier Forest full. Heading from Small Marsh plain to Triangle / Naabi Plain.

Until next update, take care!
Ainslie

Hey Carel,

The signal has been pretty temperamental. Perhaps to do with the storms. We have just had another half an inch now. There is a large herd spread from us here in Kakessio north for about ten kilometers and along the Maswa tree line. Its a lot greener here.

South of Ndutu it remains partially dry and there are large herds of Zebra west of the tree line. The lush green area starts again at the Serengeti boundary as you head west towards Kusini. Large mixed herds here too. There are occasional sightings of foals on the plains, probably premature births. It wouldn't surprise me if we see the foals dropping in the next two weeks.

Some baby Zebra already up and running...

Hi Carel,

Update on the rain situation at Ndutu... yesterday big rainfall and widespread too, so hopefully wildies will head back this way soon.

Will keep you posted,
Ainslie

Hi Carel,

We had 130 mm rain yesterday afternoon. Wildebeest are moving from Moru area back to Serengeti Pioneer Camp and across to Lake Magadi area.

Scattered herds of zebra and wildebeest in camp currently.

Kind Regards,
Alison

Hi Carel,

An update from Pioneer Camp, the wildebeest are back - large herds of wildebeest in front of Pioneer Camp stretching to the Moru area. 18th December 2014 - 110 mm of rain. 

Kind Regards,
Alison

Hi Carel,

Now in Kakessio, having driven in from Arusha via the Crater rim and magical Mysigio. One of the must-do drives in Africa through the avenues of old growth Acacia Lahai… Scattered storms in the mid afternoon have been the current weather pattern over the past days.

Large storm clouds gathering around Oldeani and the Crater, drift west over the southern plains. Yesterday over the “Miti Mitato” area, today along the Maswa boundary road, there are reasonable herds spread out around Esere and Laetoli.

Smaller herds here in Kakessio but more on the horizon behind Kimuma. The masai are slowly drifting away from their summer pastures headed for the plateau behind us at Ngaireshi. Separately there are big herds on the plains west of Ndutu towards Kusini and the tree line there

Keep well,
Alex

Morning Carel,

Reporting live and direct from the small marsh in Ndutu big herds of wildebeest fill the marsh areas and scattered of zebra, good water for all and looking green.

Preparations on schedule for a fantastic birthing season in Ndutu!

Hello Carel,

There seems to have been a lot of rain out past Ndutu which is bringing the wildebeest streaming back from Olduvai, Lemuta in the direction of Kusini.

Yesterday evening a great number of wildebeest in Long Gully and Marsh areas but definately on a mission heading to rain. Wishing it would rain here so that they would stop a while! 

Cheers for now,
Ainslie

‎Hi Carel,

We got some coordinates of some of the big herds. They have been parading in the south parts of the Serengeti, between Ndutu and Kusini. And last week I had the opportunity to get up close, on ground.

I spent 24 hrs in the Serengeti and saw the big 5 (including 2 rhinos), cheetahs, the migration and tonnes of fantastic birds (4 lifers). I can, with the full conviction, say that this is the best place in the world to Safari.

Here are some pictures from the air. Have a fantastic day!

Hi Carel,

Just heard from Nomad guide Rowland Ngowi. The big herds of the migration are currently moving towards the Kusini woodlands and Kakesio, and there are some scattered herds around Ndutu and towards Mawe Ya Simba.

Hi Carel,

Update from Ndutu Safari Lodge - Still lots of reports from drivers of vast numbers of wildebeest extending through marsh woodlands and out toward Two trees and also around the shores of Lake Ndutu.

The large numbers that we had around the lodge have now moved on. Large herds of gazelle out between marsh and Hidden Valley and Guests have seen some good cheetah action.

A limited amount of rain is failling in random locations, and none in the immediate vicinity of the lodge. Very windy too.

Regards,
Ainslie

Hi Carel,

Due to customer demand and the great herd movements, Serengeti Balloon Safaris will be commencing balloon operations in Serengeti South earlier this year. We will be starting on 13th December (rather than the previously published 20th December).

We look forward to again providing guests from camps and lodges in Serengeti South and Ndutu areas with an unforgettable experience viewing the great migration and attendant predators from a unique perspective.

Best wishes,
Tony

Hi Carel,

Reports from the ground show that it's greening up quickly following last weeks big storms. The herds are spread through Kusini and Ndutu, the southernmost elements flooding into the plains south of mlima matiti.

In the Mara, the Loita herds are spread over the Mara North Conservancy and Ol Are Orok. Images to follow.

Cheers,
Alex

Morning Carel,

The rain here as usual is very localised. Nothing over the lodge for 10 days now, but big thunderstorms and rainfall over the marsh areas yesterday.

Wildebeest spreading out over Caracal plateau and slowly further out onto the plains. Woodlands quite full, and out on the triangle between here and Naabi. So many cheetah around. Guests are seeing upwards of 9 different sightings in a day.

Have a good day,
Ainslie

Hi Carel,

Wildebeest and zebra spread all through both marshes and the surrounding woodlands and plains, and out onto Caracal Plateau, shores of Lake Ndutu and around the Lodge.

All the best,
Ainslie

Hi Carel,

Reports from the Driver Guide Training Course happening at Ndutu Lodge, is that the Triangle between Lake Ndutu and Naabi is full, and they are streaming in past Two Trees.

First big mob seen out on Caracal Plateau yesterday afternoon too, and more coming in from Kusini way. Images to follow Carel.

Cheers,
Ainslie

Morning Carel,

As the migration heads south to Ndutu the big herds are presently around the Naabi and Gol kopjes areas with some scatterings in the Moru area also. The Makoma and Seronera area has plenty of resident game with some small groupings of wildebeest who look like they are making their way south at a slow pace.

Unfortunately no pics on this till our guides are out again.

Warm regards,
Veronica

Hi Carel,

Heavy rain through both Kusini, Makau and Kakessio yesterday. Reports of large herds near Naabi heading into Ndutu. still waiting on images we don’t have the internet set up in camp and the signal is poor today.

Cheers,
Alex

Hi Carel,

26mm rain overnight. A small amount falling everyday so in the immediate Lodge vicinity things are greening up. Satellite map shows more coming. Still bone dry out on the plains towards Two Trees.

Small pockets of wildebeest and zebra, including a group of about 1000 out on Caracal Plateau yesterday. Hamisi, one of our drivers took this photo on caracal plateau yesterday afternoon.

Cheers,
Ainslie

Hi Carel,

There have been large rains in the southern Serengeti. Big herds are wending their way through the treeline at Kusini, headed southwards towards the short grass plains north of our Serengeti South camp which is now established near Kakessio. Images to follow tomorrow.

Cheers,
Alex

Morning Carel,

There is rain most evenings in the central Serengeti and that is probably the reason the herds are fairly spread out and moving around aimlessly at present, we have fairly big herds moving through Moru and Makoma and our guides have seen them around Lake Magadi again heading back north towards Moru and Alan Root's camp area.

Keep well,
Ebenezer,
Lemala Ewanjan Head Guide

Hi Carel,

I went for a scout around this morning. The large numbers of wildebeest that were here in the marshes last week seem to have retreated, and remaining is just small groups of wildies and zebra and larger groups of gazelle. It is still bone dry out round Two Trees.

There is very little grass growing and still enormous groups of cattle in Long Gully and Marsh areas. Guests who have been here for the last 6 days have had amazing luck with cheetah - recording 21 different ones, many with small cubs.

The lions also are recovering some of the pre-dry season condition, thanks to the few wildebeest and zebra here.

All the best,
Ainslie

Hi Carel,

We had rain last night, 28mm

Thanks,
Nathoo