September 2015 - Wildebeest migration updates

Here are some of the images I took of the Marsh Pride of lions in the Masai Mara earlier today. 

Here's all the video highlights from Day 1 of #MaraLive - the world's first live web broadcast of the great wildebeest migration from the Masai Mara, Kenya.

HI Carel,

This morning, a good number of gnus and few zebras crossed at the Talek River Rekero Camp crossing point. A few stragglers could be seen feeding near Chinese Hill and south of Rhino Ridge.

A few crossed at the Mara river main crossing point heading south. The northern plains / Musiara area is empty and so is the eastern plains / Topi plains / Double cross area.

Regards
Onesmus
 

Here are some of the images we captured in the Masai Mara on Day 1 of #MaraLive.

MakeItKenya.com Photographer Stuart Price took these wonderful images of the wildlife in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya,

Together, MakeItKenya.com and HerdTracker will be hosting the world's first live web broadcast of the great wildebeest migration from 29 September - 5 October 2015 via Periscope and YouTube Live Streaming.

Follow all the action live here. 

Hi Carel,

I was lucky enough to witness a Mara River crossing of a couple of thousand wildebeest yesterday morning at crossing point number one, a 10 minute drive from Camp Zebra.

Kind Regards,
Marc

The aftermath of a stampede at Mara River crossing point number one this morning. 

Hi Carel,

It is always fun watching Topi's cross the Mara River, they hit the water with full force and swim across in the shortest time possible.

Meanwhile, the herds are still streaming down at Paradise Plains from North of Rhino Ridge. A few herds were hanging at Chinese Hill south of Rhino Ridge, also at Topi Plains east of Rhino Ridge.

On our way, we found a Tawny eagle feeding on a newborn Thomson's gazelle - the cycle of life.

Regards,
Onesmus
 

Hi Carel,

The Mara River main crossings are continuing on a daily basis and the herds are still heading south. There are clouds forming every evening but very slight showers, we anticipate more rains in the coming days.

A few herds have been crossing Talek River near Rekero camp also headed south.

Regards,
Onesmus

Hi Carel,

Wonderful crossing just before lunch today, 4 hours of wildebeest crossing at No1 on the western side of Lemala Mara and we estimate 500 000 animals crossed, we only had 1 other vehicle there so a wonderful crossing.

Miraji,
Lemala Mara Trainee guide

 

Hi Carel

We witnessed lots and lots of wildebeest crossing for hours at the Mara River main crossing heading south to the Mara Triangle most likely to the salt lick.

There are long lines of wildebeest from Musiara Marsh,Topi Plains across Paradise Plain to the Mara River. This evening, we had some rain in the Eastern Mara to Roan Hills which most likely might change the movement of wildebeest.

Regards,
Puis

Hi Carel,

Yesterday morning at the Mara River Main crossing point and the Cul De Sac crossing point, the herds started making their way across at 08:00 a.m and went on for better part of the day.

The herds seem to have made the big decision of heading back south (Serengeti) although some are stopping at Ngiro Are area (Mara Triangle Conservancy) for a salt lick session which a very important mineral for the pregnant wildebeests mamas.

This evening we had showers coming from south.

Regards
Onesmus
 

Hi Carel,

There are more herds still headed south. We saw a big crossing today at the Mara River main crossing point and as usual, they are crossing over from Mara Reserve to the Mara Triangle Conservancy then moving to the Serengeti in Tanzania.

A good number of wildebeest are enjoying the salt licks in the Ngiro-Are area, with a few herds still at Musiara Marsh area (North of Rhino Ridge) and also in the Hammerkop area (south).

Regards,
Onesmus
 

Hi Carel,

The savannah is getting dry and dusty. There are a few herds strolling the short grass plains of Paradise (west). We've seen great river crossings at both the Cul De Sac and the Main Mara River crossing points.

The herds are heading back to Serengeti, this year we have experienced a very short Migration period (August-September) here in Masai Mara.
 
Regards
Onesmus
 

Hi Carel, 

The Mara River main crossings and Cul De Sac crossings are happening at least once a day, with herds still headed south (serengeti).

Around one hundred thousand gnus still enjoying the short grass around Marsh / Bila Shaka area (north of the reserve). Clouds forming so we might have wet moments in few days time..

Regards,
Onesmus
 

Hi Carel,

This morning there were two crossings at the cul de sac all going south west, the first crossing was at 08:00 a.m. with an estimated 10,000 animals crossing and the second crossing was at 10:30 a.m. with an estimated 100,000 animals crossing.

Guides are saying that the last crossing at 10:30 a.m. was the largest seen at any one time in many years. A few were taken by crocodile and many succumbed to being trodden and died whilst try to cross and clamber up the rocks on the west bank of the Mara River.

It was a very dusty atmosphere particularly when large numbers of ungulates congregate such as this morning. Later on, there were still many wildebeest and zebra massing towards the mara river in long lines.

Photos courtesy of Mark Levy.

Thanks,
Patrick

Hi Carel,

The wildebeest are covering most areas of the East Marsh, Bila Shaka, Rhino Ridge and north east Musiara grasslands. This photo was taken yesterday at 17:30.

Thanks,
Patrick

Hi Carel,

The rains have started to pour again in the Mara Reserve yesterday morning. A good number of gnus, zebras and topi's crossed at Mara River Main Crossing point and also at Look-out hill crossing point (from north to south).

A crocodile had a change of diet when he caught a topi. A few thousand can still seen around Musiara Marsh area and we spotted a bigger herd at the Mara / Serengeti border towards Ngiro-Are side (Mara Triangle Conservancy).

Regards
Onesmus
 

Hi Carel,

This morning at 10:45 a.m. at the Cul de sac crossing point there was a huge crossing of wildebeest, with some topi and zebra. They built up for over three hours before deciding to cross.

It was the topi who started the crossing followed by the wildebeest then the zebra. They crossed in a dense mass from east to south west for over 25 minutes this may well be an estimate of 10,000 + animals. One topi was taken and five wildebeest, the crocodile were very active at this crossing. 

Further downstream there was another crossing at 11:55 a.m. the wildebeest crossed again from the east to south west at the main rocky crossing below Serena, an estimated 2,000-3,000 crossed there.  

Thanks,
Patrick
 

Lemala Kuria Hills guides took these wonderful video footage of the wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River at crossing points 2-8.

The herds moved from the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, to the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. 

Hi Carel,

Yesterday morning and afternoon there was a large number of wildebeest crossing and going south west at the cul de sac crossing point upstream of the main crossing below Serena.

Meanwhile, an estimated 1,000 wildebeest crossed coming from the south west and going east upstream from the Kichwa crossing point. 

The grassland plains of the north Musiara marsh and into masai land are covered in large herds of wildebeest and zebra.

Photo of courtesy of Celia Levy, who witnessed the wildebeest crossing at the cul de sac crossing point.

Thanks,
Patrick
 

Hi Carel,

Yesterday we were lucky to witness a mega crossing at Mara River main crossing point, over 50,000 individuals crossed over to the Mara Triangle conservancy en-route back to Serengeti.

We could hear thunders and rain clouds forming down south (Serengeti). These are the herds which were feeding at Musiara marsh area (Northern Mara).

Regards,
Onesmus

Hi Carel,

I went to see the migration for the first time yesterday and it was truly amazing- still in full swing! Millions of Wildebeest gracing the land! And a beautiful crossing!

I can’t give you co-ordinates due to the lack of a GPS- but it was in the region of the Burrangat Plains where we saw the crossing

Near the camp they are very few left but we expect in a week or two the herds to head back on their way out.

I will send through photographs and a video shortly- once I’ve downloaded and compressed the file.

Kind Regards,

Charlotte.

Hi Carel,

The herds have now settled at south plains / Rongai / Posee area. Up north of the reserve, we have a decent herd which seems to be enjoying the food at the  Musiara / marsh area.

We've had a few showers last night, just enough to clear the dust and wet the grass.

Regards,
Onesmus
 

Hi Carel,

The migration has moved down south to Rongai / Posee Plains all the way towards the Talek Gate, another big herd still feeding at Topi Plains and spreading to the Musiara Marsh (North of Rhino Ridge). 

A few gnus crossed the Talek River today by Rekero camp heading south (Serengeti direction).

Regards,
Onesmus

Dear Carel,

Our guests witnessed some wonderful crossings of the Mara River yesterday – 9th September.  Images below were taken by one of our driver guides John Sankei.

Best regards,
Amanda Lucas

Hi Carel,

We witnessed a big group of wildebeest crossing the Mara River at crossing point number two before I left the Lemala Mara camp to head to Arusha.

Thanks,
Miraji

Hi,Carel

Hope thing are going well!

Due to the current rains around the north of Serengeti / Mara, there are herds of wildebeest scattered all around the Lemai areas heading back towards the south west of the Mara River, where they crossed at Number 0,1 and 4.

I spotted a few other herds all scattered around Lemai Plains!

Firozdin,
Ranger Safaris Guide

Hi Carel,

We were missing the zebra and wildebeest at Pioneer camp so we came to the Mara to see them!

We saw an amazing crossing yesterday at the Serena crossing point, which lasted for just under an hour. Roughly 3000 to 4000 wildebeest and 10 zebra crossed the Mara River.

Regards,
Tom and Alison
 

Hi Carel,

There was a good crossing this morning on the Mara River at the cul de sac crossing point going from east to west with an estimated 20,000 animals crossing and four taken by crocodiles.

Photos courtesy of Stephen O'Connell.

Thanks,
Patrick

Hi Carel,

There were two huge crossings..one at the cul de sac crossing point and the other at Main crossing point. A few Gnus fell victim to the crocodiles.

The herds were crossing over to the Mara Triangle side (south) probably on their way back to Serengeti.
 
Regards
Onesmus
 

Hi Carel,

Nice crossing in camp this morning, just below the bar deck at Governors Camp, photos are attached.

Kind regards,
Ariana 

Hi Carel,

We witnessed a good two hour Talek River crossing right at Rekero Camp (100 meters west of the camp). Herds were moving from North to south part of Mara (Rongai Plains).

There are huge herds still at Topi Plains, the Rhino Ridge area all the way to Rongai / Posee Plains.

Regards,
Onesmus
 

Hi Carel

Guests at Lemala Mara were treated to a stunning crossing yesterday at crossing point 8.

Thanks,
Jarred

Hi Carel,

We have been experiencing good rains every evening, big herds stretching from Paradise Plains, east and south of Rhino Ridge all the way to Mara River, yesterday the herds crossed Mara River at Chinese Hill crossing point.

Thanks,
Onesmus
 

Hi Carel,

We witnessed a crossing this morning on the Mara River at Chinese Hill at 10.00 a.m which lasted for 15 minutes. An estimated 600 wildebeest crossed from West to East.

There are still good numbers of wildebeest on Paradise Plains, Rhino Ridge and south Bila Shaka. Since the recent light rains in the last 24 hours, many wildebeest that were on the east Musiara Plains and north Marsh have moved up north east into the Mara conservation areas.

There are also good numbers in the northern Bila Shaka and east Topi Plains. Guides reporting back from the Trans Mara conservancy have indicated huge numbers aligning the Oloololo escarpment, good grazing is still available.

Thanks,
Patrick

Hi Carel,

After the rains last night, only few hundred wildebeest and zebras crossed the Mara River today at the main crossing.

The big herds filled south of Rhino Ridge stretching towards Chinese hill, more gnus still at Paradise Plains and also the Mara Triangle Conservancy.

Hi Carel,

Just wanted to share the attached photo with you. Wonderful view as you drive down the Oloololo Escarpment into the Mara Triangle upon our private road from Mara Engai Wilderness Lodge. The Mara plains are dotted with wildebeest.

Thanks,
Amanda

Hi Carel,

Big herds still busy feeding 10 miles west of Rekero Camp at Paradise Plains. The rains are back in the north of the Mara.

A few wildebeest and zebra crossed today. The big herds were also witnessed over the western side of Mara River Mara Triangle Conservancy.

Regards,
Onesmus

Yesterday, we witnessed a huge crossing at Mara River main crossing point, interestingly, they crossed back and forth both to the Mara Triangle Conservancy and back to the Mara Reserve. 

The migration has moved from the north of the reserve heading west to the Mara Triangle Conservancy, good signs of rains so we are anticipating interesting turn of events.

Hi Carel,

This morning at 10:30 a.m until 14:30 p.m there were many, in fact, huge numbers of wildebeest crossing at the main crossing points below Serena.

Most of these crossings were coming from the Trans Mara in the west, although earlier on at 09:30 a.m, there were a few zebra and wildebeest that crossed from the east to the west side.

Interestingly, some of those that crossed from the east to the west then joined up with those coming from the west side that were rushing down to the river in long columns. Guides and guests were coming back this evening saying they saw at least four different crossing during the late morning and early afternoon.

There were an estimated 5,000 - 10,000 that crossed this morning at various points at the main crossing areas. Four wildebeest were taken by crocodiles.