Migration in the Masai Mara

The migration has been based in the Masai Mara since mid-June. The wildebeest and zebra continue to zig-zag across the Mara and Talek Rivers in search of better grazing. They can cross multiple times in a single day, offering safari guest lots of opportunities to see them evading the hungry crocodiles. There are wildebeest and zebra dotted around the Mara Triangle.

There are less tourists in the Masai Mara this year, giving those that have made the journey a much better safari experience. There are fewer white vans around and more opportunity for guests to find some privacy along the river's edge.

Migration news: Wildebeest still in the Masai Mara

The migration is still moving between the Serengeti and Masai Mara. In the last few days the Serengeti herds have been moving north into the Mara at Look Out Hill. The lower seasonal rains have meant the wildebeest and zebra have had to work harder to find good grazing. The Mara and Talek Rivers are flowing shallower than usual making crossing quite easy for the herds.

There are herds spread across the Masai Mara and northern Serengeti so any camp in this region will provide a good safari location.

Mara River crossing underway

The Masai Mara is overflowing with millions wildebeest and zebra. The entire area from Paradise Plain, Look Out Hill and the Mara Triangle is teeming with game and predators. The Mara River is flowing well, but shallow at most of the crossing points. The crocodiles have been active, but finding it harder to disguise their attack.

The next few weeks should be excellent in the Masai Mara with constant river crossings as the herds criss-cross the Mara and Talek River to find grazing. Any camps in the Mara or adjoining private concessions are a good locations to be based as the herds are spread across the central, western and northern part of the reserve. But, as always, if you can be based close to the Mara River, you will be ideally placed to see the crossings without travelling too far.

Masai Mara: Recommended camps for the migration

The migration is in full swing with over 2 million wildebeest, zebra and Thomson's gazelle spread across the Masai Mara and northern Serengeti! Any camp in this region will offer excellent game viewing. Depending on your budget and preferences, the Masai Mara has a wide variety of camps and lodges.

Sunsafaris specialise in tailor made safaris to Kenya and Tanzania. We recommend small personalised safari camps which we feel offer a superior safari experience.

For this time of year, we recommend:
Porini Lion Camp: A small tented camp in the Olare Orok Conservancy bordering the Masai Mara. They currently have resident cheetah and offer exclusive access to the conservancy, away from the large crowds. It is a bit of a drive to the Mara River, so we recommend that you split your time between this camp and a camp closer to the Mara River.
Little Governor's Camp: Little Governor's Camp is located along the Mara River and an excellent location to be based to see the wildebeest crossing the Mara River.
Karen Blixen Camp: Karen Blixen Camp is set on the bank of the Mara River in a private concession of land leased from a Masai landlord.

For more recommended camps and the best place to be located to see the migration, contact us.

Migration News: Mara River rises following some rain

There has been rain over the Mara in the last week. This has quickly filled the Mara and Talek Rivers and temporarily halted the crossings. The herds are backed up at Paradise and Pump-House crossing points waiting for the rivers to subside a bit. The rain should bring some much needed sustenance to the grass plains that have been maintaining huge herds of wildebeest. The herds are spread across most of the Masai Mara and adjoining Maasai community land, conservancies and ranches.

This has been a spectacular season for the migration. The wildebeest numbers are probably the highest seen in a number of years and at least comparable to 2001. There has been sufficient rain and generally the migration has been running a few weeks ahead of the normal migratory pattern. The grass was burnt back around June in the Masai Mara and the Serengeti. This was following by a decent level of rain which resulted in excellent grazing conditions for the arriving migration. They will now stay north in the Masai Mara and northern Serengeti until the first signs of rain in the southern Serengeti. They are likely to start heading south only towards October, giving them a long stay in the Mara this year.

Migration News: Mara River crossing continues

The wildebeest and zebra continue to cross the Mara River and spread out across the Masai Mara. Grazing is good on both sides of the border, in Kenya and Tanzania. The wildlife numbers are impressive with herds as far as the eye can see. All camps have reported excellent sightings of the migration herds and some spectacular predator action.

This time of year is also great for predators, with lots of sightings of cheetah, leopard and lion. There are a number of resident families of cheetah in the reserve and adjoining ranches.