Big Five and the Annual Migration
The vast majority of the Migration occurs in Tanzania's Serengeti and the short period that it moves into Kenya's Masai Mara coincides with peak safari season.. Experience the Great Migration, an amazing natural wonder where massive concentrations of wildebeest, zebras, and other annuals migrate to find greener pastures and fresh waterholes.
One of the finest wildlife
sanctuaries in Kenya, is the Maasai Mara which flows into the
Serengeti, home to migrant birds, about 57
different species of birds of prey and
wildlife in abundance. Around 8 percent of the country’s land is protected. It’s easy to see why so many visitors flock to Kenya from around the
world to experience a truly unique African adventure in one of the
world’s most pristine safari destinations.
Kenya shares borders with five countries: Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania.
To the east, it is bounded by the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean.
The Great Rift Valley runs north to south through the country, which is
named after Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest peak. It is also home
to Lake Victoria, the second-largest freshwater lake in the world.
Kenya is land of
sweeping savannah grasslands inhabited by charismatic mega-fauna,
including Big Cats, the Big Five (elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and
rhino) and just about everything in between. Elsewhere, landscapes here
stir the soul with deserts in the north, dense forests in the west, Rift
Valley lakes in the center and tropical coast out east.
On arrival, one
is immediately struck by the large herds
of elephant, shuffling about almost the
grasslands. Due to the prolific amount
of game, it is not surprising that lion,
cheetah and leopard find an ongoing
source of food here. Within the Mara
river, hippo wallow.
However, by far the most
spectacular sight in the
Maasai Mara, is the massive migration of animals to new
grazing pastures each year. Between July and August each year, literally
millions of wildebeest, head in their droves from the Serengeti
in search of fresh grasslands further
north towards the Maasai Mara in Kenya.
The people are just as diverse as the landscape: Kenya is home to 44 officially recognised tribes.
For any safari in Kenya, you can
either chose from a few examples on our
site, or tailor your own tour. You can
also choose from a range of
accommodation from
camping,
the luxury game lodges.
Lake Baringo is the most northerly of the Rift Valley Lakes. The lake is fed by several rivers, El Molo, Perkerra and Ol Arabel, and has no obvious outlet; the waters are assumed to seep through lake sediments into the faulted volcanic bedrock. It is one of the two freshwater lakes in the Rift Valley in Kenya, the other being Lake Naivasha
Lake Naivasha is almost 13kms across, but its waters are shallow with an average depth of five metres. Lake Naivasha supports a diverse water-bird community. It provides a diverse habitat for a variety of mammals and fish such as tilapia, black bass, and Crayfish. Among the birds that can be spotted here are Cormorants, Warblers, Black Herons, Grey-backed Fiscal, and the Fish Eagle.
Lake Nakuru has become world famous for one particular reason. Thousands of flamingo, joined into a massive flock, fringe the shores of this soda lake to feed on algae that forms on the lake bed. Nakuru does, however have more to offer. It is also a sanctuary for Black and White Rhino and is also home to huge herds of waterbuck, zebra, buffalo, the endangered Rothschild Giraffe and more.
This park is famous for its massive cliffs and hot springs and is home to a variety of bird and wildlife. Unlike Kenya's other National Parks, walking and biking is permitted here which is why our biking tours go into this park.
The Aberdare National Park, with an area of 767 Km2 covers the higher areas of the Aberdare Mountain Ranges of Central Kenya, from altitude of 1829m to 4000m above sea level. Animals easily observed in the park include; the Black Rhino, leopard, baboon, black and white Colobus monkey and sykes monkey. Rarer sightings include those of lions, the golden cat and the bongo
For most, Amboseli is all about its big game - elephants, lions and
cheetahs. The plains are vast and the landscape is dominated by the
glistening majestic snow capped Kilimanjaro immediately to the south.
Main game viewing lies in the eastern half of the park. Game includes
elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, maasai giraffe and buffalo. Also
common game such as zebra, eland, hartebeest, white-bearded Gnu,
waterbuck, Thomsons
and Grant gazelle and Impala
Day-1: Nairobi - Amboseli
08H30 Depart Nairobi for Amboseli game reserve via Namanga on the Tanzania border. Picnic lunch en route, on arrival and time permitting, you proceed on for an afternoon game drive, dinner and overnight at the campsite.
Day-2: Amboseli NP
Early morning game drive when Mt. Kilimanjaro usually appears from its mantle of clouds, return for breakfast and proceed on for another game drive, lunch followed by a siesta and an afternoon game drive, dinner and overnight at the campsite.
Day-3: Amboseli - Tsavo
06H30, after breakfast depart Amboseli for Tsavo West National Park crossing the dramatic lava flow at the park boundary, picnic lunch followed by a game drive in this Kenyas largest park, noted especially for its enormous elephants population. Visit Mzima Springs - an Oasis where hippo and crocodile can be seen. Dinner and overnight at the campsite located at the Main gate.
Day-4: Tsavo
Breakfast and depart for a morning game drive, there after return for lunch. Afternoon game drive, dinner and overnight at the Aruba Campsite.
Day-5: Tsavo - Nairobi
Early morning game drives, there after break up camp and drive back to Nairobi with picnic lunch to arrive by 4.00 p.m.
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Day-1: Nairobi - Amboseli
Depart Nairobi for Amboseli game reserve via Namanga on the Tanzania border Get to Amboseli in time for lunch at the lodge and proceed on for an afternoon game drive which provides a chance to see elephants, lions and many other plains game, dinner and overnight at the Lodge.
Day-2: Amboseli NP
Early morning game drive, return for breakfast and proceed on for further game drive, lunch and an afternoon game drive, dinner and overnight at Lodge.
Day-3: Amboseli - Tsavo West
After breakfast depart Amboseli for Tsavo West National Park crossing the dramatic lava flow at the park boundary. This Park is the biggest in Kenya. Arrive at the Lodge in time for lunch followed by a game drive in this large park, noted especially for its enormous elephants population Visit Mzima Springs - an Oasis where hippo and crocodile can be seen. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge.
Day-4: Tsavo West NP/ Tsavo East NP
Depart after breakfast for Tsavo East National Park. Arrive at the lodge in time for Lunch. Proceed for an afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge.
Day-5: Tsavo - Nairobi
Departure after breakfast for an enroute game drive out of the park for Nairobi arriving in the afternoon around 16h00. Lunch on this day is not included.
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Day-1: Nairobi to Lake Baringo
Depart Nairobi and later descend to the floor of the Great Rift Valley, for Lake Baringo arriving in the afternoon at the lodge for lunch. This is a fresh water lake, which supports a great variety of birds as well as hippos and crocodiles. Enjoy an evening boat ride - the lake is reputed to be the bird-watching center of Kenya - overnight at Lodge.
Day-2: Lake Baringo - Lake Nakuru
Early in the morning we head south via Lake Bogoria, which is a shallow soda Lake with a beautiful scenery and also home to a sizable number of flamingos and other species of birds The highlight however is the boiling hot springs and geyser, which also contributes to the beauty of the lake. Afterwards proceed to Lake Nakuru in the South - another shallow soda lake that is described as an ornithologist paradise and one of the world's most magnificent sights Here one has an opportunity to see up to two million flamingos besides tens of thousands of others birds if lucky Lake Nakuru is a rhino sanctuary and also harbors lions, warthog, waterbuck, buffalo, hippo and many other animals. Dinner and overnight in the Lodge inside the park.
Day-3: Lake Nakuru - Lake Naivasha
Depart after breakfast for Lake Naivasha National park. Buy lunch enroute. On arrival in Naivasha proceed for a nature walk at the Hell's gate National Park; later proceed on to check into the Lodge dinner and overnight.
Day-4: Lake Naivasha - Masai Mara
After breakfast proceed to Masai Mara. Arrive at the Lodge in time for lunch & proceed on for a game drive in search for black manned lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, rhino and other plain game. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge.
Day-5: Masai Mara
This day is spent game viewing across the rich tree studded grassland and rolling hills. The famous Masai Mara is renowned for its great herds of plains game, black manned lion, leopard, cheetah & elephants. All meals at the Lodge.
Day-6: Masai Mara - Nairobi
After breakfast depart for Nairobi & arriving in the afternoon around 16h00. Lunch on this day is not included.
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The Great wildebeest Migration is the largest herd movement of animals on the planet. The constant movement of 1.2 million wildebeest and 300,000 zebra along with topi and other
gazelle move in a constant cycle through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem on an age-old route in search of grazing and water.
The circuit takes the animals from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the south of the Serengeti in Tanzania, up through the Serengeti and across into the Masai Mara in Kenya and back again. Predicting exactly when the great crossing of the animals across the Mara River is very difficult – nobody knows exactly when. It is generally believed that their journey is dictated primarily by
their response to the weather; they follow the rains and the growth of
new grass.
To navigate through the seasons, click the arrow on the right of the image
Around January each year, the migration will be finishing a southward trek, moving along the eastern edge of the Serengeti and into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Here the plains are rich in nutritious grass, providing the herds with the best conditions for raising their newborn calves. The best places to stay is Those interested in witnessing calving, is in the southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro
April sees the start of the long rains which run until around May. After bearing their young in February and March, around April the wildebeest herds begin to drift northwest toward the fresher grass of the central Serengeti, drawing with them thousands of zebra and smaller groups of antelope, and the herds generally start to move in a north-westerly direction towards the Moru and Simba Kopjes.
During June, the dry season starts with large concentrations of wildebeest in the Western Serengeti and on the southern banks of the Grumeti River. Here they will encounter their first of many river crossings. Some of the herds will have already split up into smaller groups.
August is generally considered the best time to witness the dramatic river crossings from the northern Serengeti into the Masai Mara. In years when the river is in full flow, the panic and confusion at the crossings — combined with crocodiles and surging currents — can cause massive loss of life. Some herds will remain in the Serengeti whilst others move to the Mara. In some years, so herds have crossed and then come back immediately.
October is still a good time to be in the Mara although it does tend to be quite busy with tourists. The neighbouring private conservancies are much less crowded. Most of the migrating columns have gradually moved eastward.
Between late October and November the short rains come and many wildebeest start to heard south to Serengeti past Namiri Plains. By this stage the grasses in the deep south of the Serengeti are lush with rain and fresh grass.
With their 3 000km journey (1900miles) over, the herds gather and prepare for the calving season once again, in a never ending cycle.