Africa's Greatest Wildlife Spectacle:
The Masai Mara - Kenya & The Serengeti - Tanzania

Every year, since time immemorial, the Masai Mara Game Reserve has braced itself for the annual invasion of millions of Wildebeest and animals from its bordering neighbour the Serengeti National Park - in what is probably the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth. As winter approaches and the grass starts to dry out, the vast, family herds of Wildebeest, scattered over the sweeping grass plains of the Serengeti, join into bigger herds, all moving north towards the Mara, driven by the prospect of sweet, young grass from the impending rains there.

Other animals are also caught up in this huge mass of wildebeest and, ultimately, this avalanche of wildlife includes almost one and a half million blue wildebeest, 18 000 eland, 200 000 zebras, and half a million Thompson's gazelle.

Eventually, this massive column of animals reaches the Grumeti and Mara Rivers, where the scenes you have seen so often on Discovery Channel, and National Geographic, occur. In their haste to reach the lush plains of the Masai Mara, the wildebeest plunge wildly into the water, where the waiting crocodiles join in the feast.

Finally, most reach their destination and spread out across the Masai Mara Reserve, where they recover from their arduous trek. After fattening up on the sweet grasses there, they again gather in preparation for their return journey in November, when this age-old cycle will repeat itself.

Depending on how the rains have fallen in the Serengeti, far south across the border in Tanzania, this return journey can take place late in November. This gives the effective migration-viewing period in the Masai Mara from July  November, 5 full months.

Select African Safaris, in conjunction with Mpata Safari Club, have put together a very affordable package, over the peak activity period, for South Africans to have the opportunity to experience this incredible wildlife spectacle.

December to January	March to May
June to August	September to November

The Myth Of the Migration

Most people believe that the migration, particularly the river crossing, is a spontaneous, "once off" occurrence, that only a priveledged few who happen to be at the right place at that exact moment, will ever witness. Until our first migration experience this is certainly what we believed!Nothing could be further from the truth!

If you only took the time, you would realize that it is not possible for these millions of animals to cross simultaneously. What happens in reality is that this huge congregation of animals breaks up into large herds, and these herds cross the river at different times, and different places.

In addition, the Mara River where we witness the migration river crossings is an extremely long river that bends and turns as it meanders across the Masai Mara plains. Even after these herds of animals have completed the initial crossings, they usually still have to cross the river again somewhere else to get to their grazing grounds.

In August last year we witnessed the same herd cross the river in 2 different places in one day, and then cross back again in the afternoon. 3 crossings at one point in one day!And then later in the year when the animals return to the Serengeti, on the reverse Southern migration, usually October / November, the process is repeated.In fact, all the groups we sent between July to November last year experienced a a crossing. Obviously, depending on when the rains fall, the best viewing season can vary. It is generally accepted however that July to October is the best time.

However, crossings have been witnessed in June and November, and as the rates during these months are much lower than the peak season, it makes good sense to plan a trip late June, or early November.Another myth that needs to be dispelled, is that the Masai Mara is only worth visiting during the migration. The resident wildlife is amazing.

The Mara has an incredibly large population of game, particularly the big cats lion, cheetah, and leopard. When we were there in February last year we witnessed a cheetah stalk and kill a gazelle, two failed lion kill attempts, and a leopard pull 's freshly killed prey up a tree to escape the hyenas below all this in the space of 3 days!

When we were there in July last year, the BBC had its film crews scattered around the park filming the latest episodes of the "Big Cat Diaries" - TV documentaries on lions, leopards, and cheetah.

We followed them for 3 days while they filmed a cheetah and her 3 cubs. In their opinion the Masai Mara was one of the best places in the world to observe these magnificent creatures.Even if your are not an ardent wildlife enthusiast, Mpata Safari Club is the ideal place to just relax, either around the pool, or in your own private jacuzzi with its magnificent views of the Mara River below, and experience the unspoilt beauty and tranquillity of the real "Out of Africa" Kenya.