Migration update 2012: Southern Serengeti

The rains have been very poor this year. Typically, the bulk of the herds would be around Lake Ndutu on the Ndutu Plains. This is where they prefer to calve, at the rich short grass plains.
However, this year the rains have been poor and the herds have had to split across the southern Serengeti looking for grazing. They are currently spread around the outer slopes of Ngorongoro, towards Maswa, around Kusini and north to the Seronera area (central Serengeti). Ndutu is only supporting a small percentage of the herds. They are waiting to calve at the first sign of rains and they will all congregate on Ndutu Plains to graze on the new shoots of grass.

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.

Migration news: Wildebeest in central Serengeti

The migration has moved south to the central Serengeti around Seronera. There are also large herds between Naabi, Gol Kopjes and Golini. The good rains means that the wildebeest will continue moving south into the southern Serengeti and base themselves around the Ndutu plains. Ndutu Plains has short grass plains and the richest grazing throughout the Serengeti/Masai Mara migratory eco-system. This is there preferred location during the rainy months and this is where they will remain until about March or April. They will foal in the Southern Serengeti in December/January.

Video of the migration in September

Video of the migration in the Serengeti in September (2010).

Migration in the Masai Mara

The Mara River is still flowing strongly and the Masai Mara is green and supporting huge herds of wildebeest and zebra. The herds are crossing the Mara River on a daily basis, often unsuccessfully. Carcass can be seen dragged down the fast flowing river. The herds are in the central Masai Mara and northern Serengeti. It looks like they will remain here for a few weeks more, at least until the grasslands turn dry and they start to get drawn south towards the Serengeti in search of better pastures. The best camps at this time are the camps around the Mara River or Talek River or northern Serengeti: Masai Mara Camps: Mara Intrepid Camp Governor's Camp Olonana Tented Camp Serengeti Camps: Klein's Camp Serengeti Under Canvas