November 2014 - Wildebeest migration updates

I am in Moru as I post this. I haven't experienced such large concentration of wildebeest for a very long time. The whole area from Lake Magadi towards Olbaye hills along River Mbalageti, facing Nyaruboro hills (facing West of Moru kopjes) is covered with wildebeest parked shoulder to shoulder. I think the majority of the millions of these migratory creatures seem to be around here! Emmanuel Njawa, Nomad Guide. Attached image of our resident lion

Morning Carel, this was around Ngong Hill (Masai Musical rock) Moru Kopjes and more on its way so an incredible sight. Lots of predator interaction and our guests are having a wonderful time. I will let you know what the movement is today but i think they will be here for a while. Keep well Hamza Visram Dunia Camp head-guide

Hi Carel, Hope you are well, the video was this morning, this herds are coming back from the southern plains towards Moru Kopjes close "Jiwe la Chapati", the Kusini side has dried up a little so some of the herds are moving east and others south towards Ndutu marsh areas. More herds are close to Naabi Gate! Regards Hamza.

Good Morning Carel Umelala salaama? Hope so! Attached are a few photos I took the other day. Not completely hot off the press but it's still the same out there. Hope they will do. Have a good day. Ainslie

Morning Carel, the main herds are already at Moru plains and between Kusini and Ndutu as you know, we still have some of the herds moving past camp, so there is a good move to the south now. I will let you know what we bump into today, will be heading a little further south-west towards Kusini today. Keep well Hamza Visram - Dunia Camp Head Guide

Hi Carel The rain from the last few days have sparked some urgency towards the south, instead of the traditional south-eastern Serengeti plains does it seem that there is a movement towards the south-west, there are some arriving at our camp at Ndutu with some good rain there too. We still have some herds moving past Ewanjan from Seronera so it seems that the movement for now is towards Kusini and Ndutu areas. Video to follow, keep well Ebenezer Lemala Ewanjan

Hi Carel Last night 10mm of rain, scattered herds around Serengeti Pioneer Camp. Moru area - Chipati Mawe large herds moving in the direction of Kusini - approx 1000 plus of wildebeest. Approx 200 buffalo and 20 eland in the same area. Kind Regards Alison

Hi Carel Update from Ndutu: A sizeable group of wildebeest and zebra spread out through both Big Marsh and Small Marsh at Ndutu today. Reports of long lines coming in from Kusini and large numbers out on the triangle. Cheers Ainslie

Morning Carel Some wildebeest moving through Moru and onwards towards the south, seems that there is some urgency and there must have been some rain towards Maswa and Ndutu. Regards Angel - Dunia Camp

Hi Carel We have rain in the afternoons and evenings. Yesterday we had 15mm of rain in late afternoon/evening. Wildebeest continue to walk past Serengeti Pioneer Camp to Moru area. Guides have also reported that the migration has been seen on the Sopa / Lake Magadi junction road, many zebra on the Sopa Road. Also large herds of wildebeest at Maswa. Kind Regards, Alison

Hi Carel, I am back yes, nothing much to report migration wise but we did have 36mm of rain overnight, lets see if there is more, I don't think it is enough for any significant change but with more rain there might be an early move down to us. Keep well, Ainslie

Morning Carel, we had a beautiful flight this morning with good numbers of wildebeest and zebra in the Seronera area. We flew for 1.1hr over the Seronera Valley, passing Makoma Hill and into Sopa Valley with a gentle drag landing. The animal viewing was spectacular with mass numbers of wildebeest/zebra, many hyena, jackals, bat eared fox, gazelle, hartebeest, impala, kori bustard and lots of vultures. We had breakfast at River Tree and all passengers very happy (see video) Capt. Moses Msuya

Morning Carel, we had a wonderful flight this morning with two balloons out of Seronera, we flew 31 pax at 5 kts. The low level winds took us down the river for a beautiful river run and good steering ability, one balloon landing at Water Pump and the other at Tree 1, we witnessed some of the migratory herds as they were moving towards the southern plains (See video) and after the main road while flying along the long grass and river we found few Impala, Giraffe, a Cheetah hunting, and at least 20 lion. We had breakfast at Tree 1 and all passengers very happy. Capt. Moses Msuya

Hi there - just an update so that you can plan your safari during December and January, there is a definite indication that the herds are moving towards the southern Serengeti plains a little early this year, the traditional "calving" time would be February at lakes Ndutu and Masek and or plains around Naabi, Matiti Hill, Ndutu, Gol Kopjes and towards Kusini and Maswa to the west. It seems that the herds should arrive at Kusini, Matiti and or Ndutu during December and if we have some rain they should stay there for a while until they drop their calves and foal anytime from mid January to mid March. So have a look at what rooms are available at Ndutu / Naabi / Masek and or Kusini so that you can grab rooms. February at Ndutu should already be fully booked in anticipation of the calving that takes place so it would be hard to find space. Keep well Carel

Hi Carel We can confirm that the herds are between Moru and Naabi gate. In terms of airstrips, it's 5nm east of Serengeti South and 5nm west of Ndutu. Just grazing in the area. The rains have been plentiful and the grass is green everywhere. Still no photos that are worth sharing. Thanks and Regards, Joel

Morning Carel I was in Seronera a few days ago and it's starting to get pretty dry. There were a few small pockets of wildebeest, but also large numbers of zebra and also quite a few large groups of Thomson's gazelle - as well as three different groups of lions - each with quite young cubs and each with a wildebeest kill! Cheers Oli

Dear Carel, Yes – we had rain on Monday 28mm . Zebra around all over, Thanks Angel

Morning Carel, big herds of zebra and wildebeest are still being seen around the Moru Kopjes area as well as Ikoma Gate and central Serengeti. A few days ago, a pack of 15 wild dogs was seen 2 kilometers from Lemala Ewanjan which is situated at Makoma Hill in central Serengeti. Herds of wildebeest and zebra are still being seen around Lemala Ewanjan and last night, lions killed a wildebeest next to tent number 9. Keep well Tom

Dear Carel, Hope you are doing fine, Right now the wildebeest have left to South of Serengeti. Only some zebra left behind, We will keep on updating you what is going on over here, Thanks and good night Angel

Hi Carel, from Ebenezer at Lemala Ewanjan - "This week has been attractive between central Serengeti and Moru area wonderful sightings have be seen with the client who stay at our camp. The big head of migration is between central Seronera and Moru area, but we still have some wildebeest and zebra around camp here at Makoma Hill. Lots of lion, leopard and cheetah making the most of it" - keep well, Veronica.

Dear Carel We have a few wildebeest around!! No rain - last rain was on the 7th November 2 mm. Starting to look dry this side. Wildebeest are moving through to Moru area, we have a small herd around Pioneer Camp. Last couple of nights lions walking through camp, chasing the wildebeest but no successful hunt. I have attached a photo taken around the Moru area. Kind Regards Alison

Morning Carel, just an update on the Loita migration that is still around, the grazing towards the east of the Mara and Loita hills are thinned out and some of the Loita herds are still with us, good numbers on Paradise Plains and one or two small crossing at the main crossing point down stream from camp. Patrick captured this Zebra not making the crossing and the herds at Paradise plains. Keep well Ariana

Hi Carel, the herds are scattered all over the place due to the rains, they are stretching a few miles south of the Ndutu area all the way north towards Seronera. The majority of the herds are centered around the Moru area and right now the migration is right at the front door of Dunia Camp with the herds making lots of noise at night whilst passing through. There are also a few groups that are heading towards the southern Serengeti. Keep well Japhet Matiko Asilia Guide

Hi Carel no rain here for a week or two now and the grass around Four Seasons is starting to turn yellow. There are however still scattered herds around and the whole way along the Ikoma Circuit and our access road we are still driving through wildebeest - plus some very well fed lions! The dry weather has brought loads of elephants to our waterhole too - we had over 100 visit yesterday and have had a constant stream come to drink and swim this morning too. It's heating up, so hopefully we will get more rain soon though. I thought I would share this full moon photo with you, that was taken near the Lodge the other night by photographer Rick Collins. Cheers Oli

Dear Carel Yesterday wildebeest and zebra everywhere... from the main junction Sero - Sopa to Lake Magadi, past Dunia Camp, Serengeti Pioneer Camp, the mass herds are around Moru. Small rain shower this afternoon. Large herd of buffalo - approx 400 around the road junction of Lake Magadi / Sopa / Sero. Today Wildebeest in Pioneer Camp, approx herd of 150. Scattered herds around Dunia and Pioneer Camp, main herds Moru area. Kind Regards Alison Mees

Hi Carel, I just landed at Seronera airstrip and the herds are quite scattered at the moment with the rains, stretching few miles south of Ndutu all the way back just north of Seronera with a few small herds. The rains have cleaned up the skies pretty good and with visibility at crystal clear, the landscape is looking fantastic. It also means its a little windy right from the start of the day, putting us to work for a change. Photos, I’ll hopefully get some in the next couple of days. Keep well Joel

Hi Carel, Scattered showers only in the last week or so around Ndutu. As a result the herds are quite scattered. Some are down towards Moru and occasional small groups wander through heading south and west. Plenty of gazelles on the plains around the Ndutu Woodlands and so cheetah action has been superb. I am heading off tomorrow and Ainslie will be back on or around 20th November. Thanks Carel Rob Barbour Relief Manager Ndutu

Hi Carel The group we have staying at the Lodge in at the moment had a wonderful day yesterday; they few over huge herds on their balloon flight first thing in the morning. Then thousands of zebra around Seronera on the drive back and in the afternoon they drove along the Ikoma Circuit, close to Four Seasons Safari Lodge, and for 20 minutes drove through scattered herds of grazing wildebeest. Quite a day! Oli

Morning Carel, guests have experienced great sightings of the migration all around Lemala Ewanjan Tented Camp this past week. Good rains have fallen in the area which has attracted large herds of zebra and wildebeest. The animals come right into the camp at night and can be seen all around the tents which the guests have loved. Lots of rain all round so the march to Ndutu will probably slow down a little, our camp goes up at Ndutu early December. Keep well Ebenezer - Lemala Ewanjan

Dear Carel All is well at SPC. This morning at Pioneer Camp we had approx 1000-1500 wildebeest and zebra in camp. Along our access road, and around some of the tents. By the afternoon they had moved through the camp and were heading to Moru Kopjes area, leaving a few wildebeest and Zebra in the woodland area of camp. Kind Regards Alison