October 2015 - Wildebeest migration updates

Hi Carel,

Impressive numbers of wildebeest on both side of the Mara River below Lookout Hill and along Sand River. There were about 20,000 building up for a crossing yesterday although maybe 5000 had already crossed during the morning.

Central Mara plains are now packed again with wildebeest in some places, we probably saw around 50,000 gnus in total yesterday on our morning drive and currently have a small herd of several hundred grazing in front of our mess.

Cheers,
Mark
 

HI Carel

I just took this image of the wildebeest migration close to the Lamai Serengeti Camp. 

Kind Regards,
Alex

Hi Carel,

I talked to a guide who is currently in the Masai Mara a few minutes ago. He says the gnu's are in the Lamai area of the Serengeti, over half a million of them.

The Mara Triangle is also littered with them, with huge herds crossing at Chinese Hill, 7km west of Rekero Camp.

Regards,
Onesmus

Hi Carel,

The rain has started falling out on the plains to the west of us and yesterday reached Makao Plains, Caracal Plateau, the Marshes and Long Gully turned into a river.

It seems like the rain dance you did for Ndutu worked once again! 

Thanks
Ainslie

Hi Carel

We've had daily localised showers helping the grass stay lush and green here in the northern Serengeti. We spotted the herds between the Kogatende and Nyamalumbwa areas

The herds have started moving to the southern plains though, as many of our travellers staying at the Lamai and Serengeti Safari Camp have seen the herds make their way back into the Serengeti from the Masai Mara.

Regards,
Tara

Hi Carel,

There was a crossing at the Mara River yesterday below Lookout Hill of about 5000 wildebeest and another this morning of about the same.

There are still about 10,000 gnus south of Serena on the Triangle side, although very spread out and seems they might cross over into the main reserve in the next few days.

Cheers,
Mark

Hi Carel 

I just heard from guests driving in from Frankfurt Zoological Society in Seronera that there are massive herds of zebra and wildebeest heading this way and south. They found them all along our access road and the main road between Seronera and Ikoma about 15 km from Four Seasons. 

Some good rains the past few days seems to have brought them this way from the west. Lets hope they stick around as the grass greens up.

Regards,
Oli 

Hi Carel

Yesterday, 10,000 wildebeest crossed from the Mara Triangle into the Mara Reserve at Lookout Hill.

Here are some images of the crossing.

Kind Regards,
Jay Kang'e,
Mara Intrepids Camp

Hi Carel,

We saw lots of small scattered herds throughout the central Mara south of the Rongai with zebra herds numbering more that the beesties.

No sign of those big herds along the Sand River at Sala’s, just a few groups numbering in the hundreds.

Thanks,
Mark Boyd,
Sala's Camp

Hi Carel

We witnessed a lovely crossing yesterday morning at No 7.  It took well over 15 minutes to complete and there was plenty of noise as you can imagine.

Our guests are seeing some great stuff aside from this including family of cheetah, elephants, lions and cubs and quite a few leopard sightings as well.

Kind Regards,
Veronica Otter,
Lemala Camps
 

Hi Carel,

There are large herds are still massed in Lamai following a week of big rain in the area. Some movement north into the triangle with several small Mara River crossings near two, three and five. 

The herds are spread out and feeding on the new grass on the plains of the northern Lamai and Wogakuria. 

Regards,
Alex

Hi Carel,

Not much movement in the area. A few herds have been said to be be further south. But the primary herds are well spread between Lamai and Kogatende airstrips and southwards.

Capt. Joel J Fernandes
Coastal Aviation, Arusha
 

Hi Carel

Yesterday morning, only 1 km away from Rekero Camp, a hyena pulled down a topi. A few minutes later, Malaika and her three cubs pushed him away from his delicacy, which is quite rare and uncommon since its always hyenas which are documented stealing cheetah food!

Regards,
Onesmus
 

Hi Carel.

Heavy rains have started to spread across Mara and its environs. We spotted a few zebra and wildebeest foraging in the savannah.

We watched this lioness hunt a warthog only for the male whom we call Lipstick to snatch it away from her.

Regards,
Onesmus
 

Hi Jarred

At the moment, the migration is littered between the Kogatende and Lamai airstrip. The rains and the previous burning is keeping the grass fresh enough for the wildebeest to remain in the area. I fear that it may affect the migration patterns in the coming months.

Thanks and Regards,
Captain Joel J Fernandes
Coastal Aviation, Arusha
 

Hi Carel,

Resident wildebeest in small herds are being seen moving through the conservation areas such as the Mara North conservancy.

They are walking slowly in files ponderously in a south westerly direction; the grassland plains they pass through are dry and parched with residual grasses as short as stubble. Rain clouds are building up with scattered showers in isolated areas.

Thanks,
Patrick
 

Hi Jarred,

There are a few scattered herds of resident Loita wildebeest that are moving back and forth within the Musiara areas.

We also witnessed a small crossing of these resident wildebeest at the main crossing point of an estimated 300 who were going south west two days ago.

There has been intermittent showers of rain on Paradise Plains, although generally the grassland plains are very dry.

Attached is a photo of resident wildebeest that were building up on the Paradise Plains.

Thanks,
Patrick

Hi Carel,

The skies have finally opened in most parts of Mara Reserve and and the conservancies. I spotted this beautiful stallion near Rekero Camp.

Regards
Onesmus
 

Hi Carel,

We’ve seen continued crossings over the past few days at number four headed north.

We've had big rains at Kogatende and over the southern part of the Mara Triangle have brought fresh grass. I can see large herds, 200,000 or so across the plains, mobile and straddling the Mara Serengeti border.

Our internet is not strong enough for images but I’ll ask if one of the guides has some on their phone to send through to you.

Cheers,
Alex
 

Hi Carel,

The stragglers are casually heading back to Serengeti, at look-out hill area. We have started to experience some rains and we expect even more rains in the coming week.

Regards,
Onesmus
 

Hi Carel,

A good number of zebras can be seen at south of Rekero Camp (Rongai area). These are the resident / Loita herds slowly heading back home north and east of Mara (Naboisho, Olare Motorogi and Mara North conservancies).

Regards,
Onesmus
 

Hi Carel,

There was a reasonable crossing at the Cul de sac crossing point yesterday, an estimated three hundred crossed going south West. None were taken by crocodile although there were two close shaves.

Kind Regards,
Ariana

Photos are attached. Please credit Maina Wachira Governors Il Moran Camp Guide. 

Hi Carel

Yesterday, a few Thomson's gazelle began to cross the Mara River and one fell prey to a Nile crocodile.

Regards,
Pius OIekoyianto

Hi Carel

We were waiting for the herds to cross at the Mara River Cul De Sac crossing point when a crocodile decided he had waited long enough in the water so he popped out of the water and everybody bolted.

All in all, we watched a 20 minute crossing at the Mara River main crossing point.

Regards,
Onesmus
 

Hi Carel,

Storms are brewing. Lots of movement and lots of sedentary herds just feeding on the new flush of grass.

Kind Regards,
Alex

Hi Carel,

The migration is still heading south. There's a few herds still hanging near Chinese hill 5 kms west of Rekero Camp the Savannah is quite dry, we have been experiencing thunders and lighting followed by light showers for the last two evenings. 

Regards,
Onesmus

Hi Carel, There were many wildebeest crossing yesterday at the main crossing going south West, these are the resident/loita wildebeest. Photo courtesy of Jurgen Paliko. Thanks, Patrick

Richard Pye, the Warden of the Olare Motorogi Conservancy sent us this image of one of the many herds heading west through the conservancies.

This looks like the Loita herds as they are not resident by the looks of their condition.

Hi Carel

Here's an aerial image I took of a Mara River crossing near Kogatende last week. The herds have continued to move south at the moment.

Regards,
Jarrod

Hi Carel

Small crossing this morning at No 3 seen by our guides from Lemala Mara. Lasted about 8 mins and no excitement as think the crocodiles are still too full from the last crossing.

Warm regards,
Lemala Mara
 

Hey Carel,

I was just chatting to one of the guides and he told me that over the weekend some big crossings took place and then, during the week the herds started moving south, through Ikorongo and the Grumeti Game Reserve.

There's a large herds towards the west and on the way to Seronera - Retima and Serena as of yesterday afternoon. It also looked like it rained over that way recently, but still pretty dry around us, despite a few showers this past week, so I imagine the herds are looking for greener pastures.

Even so we have has a few smaller herds of zebra and wildebeest visiting our waterhole yesterday and this morning. 

Cheers,
Oli 

Hi Carel

Some big herds spotted 2nm of Grumeti and Sasakwa airstrip and tonnes still hanging around Northern Serengeti area just south of the the Sand river near Kogatende.

Regards,
Capt. Joel J Fernandes
 

Hi Carel,

There is a large herd around Sasakwa / Singita Grumeti Reserves with more heading south from Kogatende to join them. Lots of widespread herds around the Serena Seronera hotel area as well.

There are scattered herds arriving from the Mara Triangle.

Regards,
Jarrod

Here are some of the amazing footage that Make It Kenya photographer Stuart Price captured on Day 5 and 6 of #MaraLive - The world's first live web broadcast of the great wildebeest migration from the Masai Mara, Kenya. 

The Persicope broadcasts have ended, but you can still view all the action on the #MaraLive dedicated website. 

Hi Carel,

There was a good crossing lasting 15 minutes at the main crossing below Serena yesterday morning at 8.30am. Wildebeest, Zebra and Topi all crossed at once with Topi leading the crossing all going south west. There was an estimated 2,000 animals that crossed here. Photos courtesy of Kevin Twiddy.

Thanks,
Patrick
 

Hi Carel,

As we hear reports of the migration having departed from the Mara National Reserve, some large tens of thousands of wildebeest are still up on the Olare Motorogi Conservancy.

Over the last hot and windy 24 hours these herds have begun lining up and heading south-west towards Rhino Ridge and Topi Plains. If the dry weather persists and they reach the Mara River there will be come big crossings in the week to come.

Richard Pye,
Olare Motorogi Conservancy

Hi Carel,

Charlie....the leader.... leading the herds as they cross Talek River Rekero crossing this morning.

Our guests are enjoying both their breakfast and the crossing... talk of double luck, or is it two at a price of one! Ha! 

Regards
Onesmus
 

Hi Carel,

Malaika is one of the most famous Cheetahs in Kenya playing hide and seek with the gnu's after they spotted her. Meanwhile the herds kept on crossing Talek River next to Rekero Camp heading south.

Clouds kept forming but no rains yet, the big cats, especially lionesses, are still nursing hangovers from the festive season which is coming to an end.

Regards
Onesmus
 

We witnessed a big crossing at the Serena crossing point this afternoon. The herds moved from north to south. Pictures to follow.

Hi Carel,

Lots of crossings still happening here. Yesterday morning herds were seen crossing North to South at Makutano.  No doubt yesterdays rains will have changed up their direction yet again.

Thanks,
Alex

Lemala Camps took this wonderful video footage of the wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River at crossing point number 1.

Today the HerdTracker and Make It Kenya team were joined up by a few CNN reporters - and the sights and sounds of the wildlife in the Masai Mara didn't disappoint.

Hi Carel

A huge storm in Kogatende right now. It's going to stir up lots of business. 

Regards,
Alex

Hi Carel

We’ve seen a number of crossings over the last few days headed south at crossing points 1 2 and 3. More at 7 as well.

The full moon brought some rain to the north and the large herds that were at drama mobile and the southwestern part of the Mara Triangle have been headed north. Reports this morning show there are big crossings in the Masai Mara and lots of smaller herds crossing both ways all along the river here in the Serengeti.

Thanks,
Alex

Sanjay Gupta of Governors' Camps took these wonderful images of their baloon safari above the Masai Mara National Reserve.