The annual migration of nearly 2 million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles through Kenya and Tanzania is a spectacle unlike any other. My family and I witnessed the Great Migration firsthand last June while traveling with a land cruiser on its Kenya - Tanzania : luxury safari adventure itinerary. The Great Migration follows a predictable route but the exact timing varies a bit each year, depending on the start and severity of the dry season throughout eastern Africa .
Wildebeests and zebras typically spend December to April in Tanzania , nursing new calves born in the spring. The slow-moving calves draw the attention of lions, cheetahs and hyenas, and this mix of predator and prey offers prime wildlife-viewing opportunities in nature preserves like Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
The animals will remain here until seasonal rains end, usually in May. Grass and leaves wither, forcing grazing species to move west and then north in search of food. This is the start of the Great Migration, a steady stream of animals in columns that can stretch for miles, heading toward the western and northern Serengeti.
Predators -- more territorial than migratory -- await the zebra and wildebeest as they pass through their hunting grounds. The herds must cross the Grumeti River , where crocodiles will feast on the weak and the slow. Scavenging birds watch from treetops and circle overhead. June and July are the best months for witnessing the Great Migration in the western and northern Serengeti some at Maasai Mara game reserve.
As the summer progresses, the herds travel farther north. Between July and August, they cross the Mara River , where some are lost in surging floodwaters and others are seized by waiting crocs. They move into Kenya , typically reaching the abundant greenery of the Maasai Mara in August or September, a dazzling number of animals within a single nature preserve.
Some naturalists claim that the Maasai Mara contains the largest concentration of predators along the migratory route,true. The animals will stay here until October or November. Most safaris visit the area before fall brings another rainy season to the plains and the herds turn south toward Tanzania .
Those animals that complete the journey will have traveled more than 1,800 miles, covering Africa 's vast grasslands in a clockwise direction. http://www.machameshuttle.com/
Selected tour Migration Adventure luxury 14 Days
Day 1 Arrive Nairobi, Kenya
Upon arrival at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you are met and transferred to the Nairobi Serena Hotel or similar.(BB)
Day 2 Nairobi / Samburu
Meet your safari/Tour guide and head north through breathtaking scenery dotted with rushing mountain streams and fields of tea and coffee. After Nanyuki town, you will reach the outpost known as Isiolo, the last major stop on the journey into the remote northern frontier. Descend from the lush highlands to the arid Laikipia Plains and the small oasis of the famed Samburu Game Reserve. Samburu lies on the fringe of the hot and sparsely populated northern region of Kenya. In the afternoon, there will be a game drive viewing returning to the lodge as the sun sets. (B,L,D)
Day 3 Samburu
Samburu is home to a number of unusual animals and birds such as the Grey zebra, beisa oryx, dik dik, and ostrich. Also, keep your eyes open for lion, cheetah and antelope on early morning and afternoon game drives. The Uaso Nyiro River provides bathing pools for hippos and elephants, and you may even spot a crocodile or a reticulated giraffe. There is also a splendid variety of birds. (B,L,D)
Day 4 Samburu / Mt. Kenya
Leaving the Samburu, head south towards Mt. Kenya and the Mountain Lodge, with spectacular views of the forested slopes and peaks of the Aberdare Mountain Range along the way. The setting has served as the inspiration for writers and artists over the years. Arrive at the lodge in time for lunch. This is a tree lodge, set in a forest glade with a waterhole that attracts a variety of wildlife, both day and night. The waterhole is floodlit and there is an underground viewing platform. (B,L,D)
Day 5 Mt. Kenya / Great Rift Valley
Depart early for Nyahuru Falls. Then descend to the floor of the Great Rift Valley and Lake Nakuru National Park. A game drive takes you into the park, famous for its pink flamingos and a sanctuary for hundreds of other species of birds as well as leopard, black rhino and waterbuck. This afternoon, enjoy another game drive as the sun sets. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Great Rift Valley / Masai Mara
Climb the western escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. Head towards the Masai Mara Game Reserve, which boasts a rich concentration of wildlife. After lunch, a game drive viewing till late then return to your lodge. (B,L,D)
Day 7 Masai Mara
Enjoy early morning and afternoon game drives, affording opportunities to search for the "big five" - elephants, buffalos, lions, rhinos and leopards. The more adventurous can take an optional hot air balloon ride to see the park from a bird's eye view. (B,L,D)
Day 8 Masai Mara / Nairobi/ Arusha
Depart the Masai Mara and return to Nairobi. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Kilimanjaro and head to the bustling town of Arusha. (B,L,D)
Day 9 Arusha / Lake Manyara
Start the day with a nature walk. After lunch, head south through the Masai Steppe filled with African villages and maize, coffee and banana plantations. Continue to your lodge, perched on the edge of the Rift Valley.(B,L,D)
Day 10 Lake Manyara /Serengeti
Enjoy a game drive before moving on to Serengeti National Park. Covering 5,600 square miles, the Serengeti is home to one of the largest wild animal populations in Africa. (B,L,D)
Day 11 Serengeti
Delight in morning and evening game viewing. Millions of wildebeest, Thompson’s gazelle and zebra gather for annual migrations, attracting attention from their predators – lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena. (B,L,D)
Day 12 Serengeti / Ngorongoro
Travel to Olduvai Gorge, site of Louis and Mary Leakey’s archaeological discoveries. Their findings include some of man’s earliest known ancestral remains. On to Ngorongoro. (B,L,D)
Day 13 Ngorongoro Crater
Descend by Land Rover/Cruiser nearly 2,000 feet into this extinct collapsed volcano to experience spectacular game viewing. Vast herds of zebra, wildebeest, gazelle, and their predators roam the crater floor. This afternoon, visit a Maasai village, then return to your lodge. (B,L,D)
Day 14 Ngorongoro Crater /Arusha / Nairobi
Travel via Arusha to Nairobi and the Carnivore Restaurant for a Farewell Dinner. Later, you are transferred for your evening flight. (B,L,D)
More on wildebeest migration tours:
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Trekkijng mount kilimanjaro is possible, http://www.machameshuttle.com/
