Migration news: Wildebeest are in the Southern Serengeti

The migration is located in the Southern Serengeti. They have been around Ndutu, Gol Kopjes,Naabi Hill and into Ngorongoro Conservation Area for the past few weeks. Grazing conditions are ideal with decent rain and good grass.

This is where the migrating wildebeest and Zebra will be based for the next few months and where they will foal.

Ndutu Pleins is the favoured grazing location across the entire eco-system, and the place where the wildebeest prefer to be based. This is the best place for them to foal due to the high nutrition short grasses of the southern Serengeti. They will remain here until they are forced to leave due to changing rainfalls and weather (normally around April/May).

Sunsafaris can arrange your safari to see the annual migration in 2014. Happy New Year!

Migration heading south

There has been rain in the southern and south eastern Serengeti and this has started to pull the migrating herds south. Although the herds are still spread across vast parts of the Serengeti, the main movement is southerly. There are large herds in the central Serengeti and Loliondo. Herds have arrived at Moru Kopje and are continuing south. Most guides are predicting they will be in southern Serengeti for the next few months, as occurs every year at this time. This is where the grasses are the most nutritional (on the Ndutu Pleins) and where the herds prefer to foal.

There has been an interesting (and misleading) debate going on about the migration. Around June last year there was a comment emanating from Tanzania that the migration may not reach the Masai Mara in 2013. This proved to be completely incorrect and the Masai Mara experienced a fantastic migration this year. The reverse argument now seems to be happening. Could it be a bit of retaliation? Yes, the migration did turn back at some point, but does it mean they will not migration - absolutely not. Their path will vary widely from year to year, but the overall migration routes will remain. Climate change is impacting the migration, but the general movements are likely to be roughly the same, for now. Watch this space.

Migration have turned back!

Due to the lack of rain in the Serengeti, the migration has turned back and is heading north into the Masai Mara. This is a very rare event. The herds should be in the Southern Serengeti by this time. They are due to foal soon so the impact of them being in the Masai Mara could have a big impact on the migration and the herds this season.

Migration news: Rain in Southern Serengeti

There has been heavy rainfall over the Serengeti. The main migrating herds are located on Ndutu grass plains, but are spread across the entire south eastern Serengeti - from the western slopes of Ngorongoro Crater, to Kusini, and south as far as Maswa Game Reserve.

Safari gameviewing is a challenge (but rewarding) at the moment. A lot of the area is muddy and some of the small tracks have been closed. Safari enthusiasts will have to endure a lot of rain. But the big advantage is that the Serengeti is abandoned by most travellers. You will have the plains to yourself! This is foaling season. There will soon be 10s of thousands of wildebeest foals across the Ndutu Plains. The cats will be around picking off the weak and isolated. #

The best camps to be located at the moment are the permanent camps in the southern and central Serengeti. We recommend avoiding mobile camps that are generally not set up to handle the rain.

At this time we recommend: Kusini Camp - A luxury tented camp south west of the Ndutu Plains. Ndutu Lodge - A basic, but comfortable camp close to the migration. The annual migration will be located in the southern Serengeti for the next few months until the rain subsides and the young new foals get enough strength to start the move west and noth-west.

Rain in the Serengeti

There has been rain throughout the Serengeti. The herds are moving south towards the Ndutu plains where the grass is now starting to look lush. The are located across the eastern corridor of the Serengeto and into Loliondo Game Controlled area.

Gameviewing is excellent. The best places to be based are at Seronera or in the private tented camps in Loliondo.

Storm brewing over the Serengeti

Storm approaching over the Serengeti.

There has been a lot of rain over the Serengeti over the past week. The main migrating herds are located on Ndutu grass plains, but are spread across the entire south eastern Serengeti.