To get the most out of a wildebeest migration safari you need to know where the best places along the migration route are, the times you need to be in certain areas and who the top migration safari companies are.
The Best Spots On the Migration Route
Have you ever seen those wildlife documentaries that show masses of wildebeest swimming across a river being shadowed and sometimes dragged under by huge crocodiles or drowning because of the crush and fatigue?
And those wildebeest that do make it across safely sometimes fail at the last hurdle because the bank is too steep and slippery with mud for them to reach the top even though they make a huge effort to do so.
This all forms part of the incredible wildebeest migration that takes part every year in the Serengeti and Masai Mara game reserves in East Africa.
The best spots to see spectacles like the ones described above are at the Grumeti river in the western corridor of the Serengeti because this is the first major river the hordes of wildebeest need to cross in their quest for sweeter grazing in the north.
And the massive crocodiles are waiting...
The second and last major river they need to cross before they get to the Masai Mara reserve is the Mara and this is also an excellent vantage point from which to watch the drama play out.
But something that few people know is that there is another part of the wildebeest migration that is just as incredible as the actual trek north.
And this is the annual foaling of about 400 000 wildebeest calves all in about a three week period early in the year.
This is also an awesome spectacle and the best spot to experience this is the southern Serengeti in February. You are also bound to see a lot of the predators like lion, hyena, leopard and cheetah take advantage of this food bonanza.
Timing Is Everything With the Wildebeest Migration
So how is it possible for a million wildebeest to just disappear?
This is a question that gets asked reasonably often by people who go to the Serengeti to see the migration but get the timing wrong and then they fail to find the huge herds.
The answer is that the million wildebeest are still there but they are spread out across a wide area on the Serengeti plains so it just seems like there are fewer of them because they aren't ready to mass for the trip up north yet.
So how can you make sure you get the timing right?
It's extremely difficult to predict when the migration will occur because it's all dependant on the rain. And the rain comes at different times each year but it is possible to make a rough estimate based on past occurrences so if you are in the Central Serengeti in April-May you should start to see them move northwest towards the Grumeti controlled area.
In June you will find them doing their death defying swim across the Grumeti river and soon after in August they attempt to ford the Mara river in the north to reach the life sustaining grassland of the Masia Mara in Kenya.
In November-December the migration starts to move southwards towards the Serengeti plains again to capitalise on the fresh grasses that have grown there in the interim.
Top Wildebeest Migration Safari Companies
A very important decision you need to make if you want to experience the wildebeest migration successfully concerns the safari company that you choose to guide you.
It's very easy to become confused because there are so many operators in the market.
Make sure they are a reputable company by getting recommendations from previous travellers that have been on safari with them in Serengeti wildebeest migration trip reports.
You can also check their membership in various safari associations - KATO - Kenya Association of Tour Operators, TATO - Tanzania Association of Tour Operators and ATTA - African Travel and Tourism Association.
And lastly make sure that they can satisfactorily answer all your questions about their payment, refund and cancellation policies and what the exact itenirary will be.
Choosing the wrong company for your wildebeest migration safari can be disastrous.
Make the right choice of wildebeest migration companies by using the top three serengeti migration operators list which ranks the best companies according to their past performance.
The top three serengeti migration operators list ranks the best of the best honeymoon safari operators by using trip reports from previous travellers.
Welcome to Bragg Creek! Bragg Creek is located in the... Read More
Santa Cruz Church, the church of the holy cross, was... Read More
It was the end of my first year as a... Read More
Live your golfing dreams on an Ireland golf vacation.The K... Read More
Mt. Washington Valley Trails & Mt Washington - NHThe highest... Read More
For the fortunate few, life isn't complete without a backpacking... Read More
Costa Rica is a small country - just 75 mi/120... Read More
Eulogised as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, Cochin, Kerala's... Read More
Of course you know about Southern California's premier attraction, Disneyland... Read More
Sharklife.co.za has been fighting an ongoing for the protection of... Read More
I've had backpacking trips that included rain, snow, lightning, rockslides,... Read More
How many of you take the time to just relax... Read More
Solo backpacking means peace and quiet. No one to talk... Read More
Oregon's Rogue River is one of the nation's most beautiful.... Read More
Prevention is your best protection against lightning. Be sure to... Read More
The last thing you want on an African safari is... Read More
Today Bookpleasures and Sketchandtravel are pleased to have as our... Read More
If you love the thrill and adventure of kayak travel,... Read More
Bryce Whitmore designed the modern whitewater inflatable pontoon boat, and... Read More
I stood at the observation point on the balcony at... Read More
The Kenya safari circuit is one of the best in... Read More
We've all heard about whalewatching from boats or shore, and... Read More
Scotland has taken its place as the new Mecca for... Read More
There is something about a town tucked between the mountains... Read More
Hello Again,Today we will be talking about meal planning. Meals... Read More
There were four of us on that first Tom Sawyer... Read More
You CAN grab something to eat, enjoy every bite, AND... Read More
It is the end of the season for the year... Read More
Before you take off on that great outdoor adventure, be... Read More
Romancing History ? A Holiday in RajasthanRajasthan, the name evokes... Read More
The last thing you want on an African safari is... Read More
If anyplace on earth is a natural paradise, Plitvice Lakes... Read More
Phillip Island is a small island and nature reserve off... Read More
There are many manufacturers of inflatable boats on the market... Read More
For some 30 years I practiced law in Mesa, Arizona.... Read More
In The city of Arcadia California, right next door to... Read More
Hiking shoes versus hiking boots? Hiking shoes win. Okay, next... Read More
Camping mixed with outdoor activity is a great way to... Read More
Important information about camping stoves...What type of camping, hiking, or... Read More
If you love the thrill and adventure of kayak travel,... Read More
When you search online for a camping gear outlet you... Read More
Take a captivating trip through the Cape Cod National Seashore... Read More
So unknown is this treasure of Lake Jipe not many... Read More
An African honeymoon safari is the perfect way to celebrate... Read More
When you are planning a vacation to Maui or Rio... Read More
Tanzania's natural endowment as a wildlife safari destination is unrivalled.... Read More
Mystic Seaport celebrates the seafaring past of New England. Known... Read More
As the weather cools in late summer and the days... Read More
I bet you're wondering where the heck this articles going.... Read More
This truly beautiful country at the southern tip of dark... Read More
Outdoors |