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Mara River Crossings: A Great Migration Spectacle

Many people associate the Great Wildebeest Migration with the spectacle of thousands of animals tumbling through the waters of the Mara River. They had to stay out of the way of the crocodiles’ fangs in order to reach the fertile land beyond.

The Masai Mara is home to the great migration. In search of better pastures, more than a million wildebeests migrate annually from the Serengeti national park into Kenya’s well-known Masai Mara.

During the months of July to October, there are large herds of the wildebeests and other animals will fight to make their way into the Masai Mara. This is as they run away from the dry Serengeti national park in Tanzania. The wildebeests have to cross the crocodile infested waters of the Mara River which makes this journey a lot more tricky and tedious. The spectacle of how the wildebeests plash this water to cross to the other shore and also survive the crocodiles is really interesting.

Because of these migratory occurrences, the Masai Mara contains the largest concentration of animals in all of East Africa. The African big five animals are highly sought after by tourists on safari to the Masai Mara national reserve.

The Masai Mara National reserve is located in the south western region of Kenya. The Reserve gets its name from the Masai people of the area.

Something else you should consider about the Masai Mara is their distinctive culture. Since this reserve was gazetted, the Masai, who were nomads, have been engaging in all kinds of activity. You should investigate their life to learn about how they lived and how they are currently living. You will find it fascinating how some of the older customs—like communal living, for instance—have persisted.

For travelers interested in the great migration of the wildebeests, July to October is the best time. You will also have a chance to see some migratory birds if you visit between October and April. December and March are the best warm months for the game viewing.

The Mara River

Mara River crossing during the Great Migration

The great migration and Mara River Crossing happens between the Serengeti National park and the Masai Mara national reserve. There over one million wildebeest that cross the Mara river in Tanzania and Kenya during the dry season. The wildebeest and other animals plunge into the waters of the Mara River to cross to the other side. Despite the fact that they are crossing the river, the waters are infested with crocodiles. They also set traps to hunt down these animals and so it’s always interesting to see how they survive.

The time that’s the wildebeests cross the river is unpredictable since every year there are different patterns of the rain and dry seasons. Therefore there are no guarantees that you will see these animals crossing. Plan your trip and stay around the Mara River an stay a few extra nights to observe and see if you can see the animals cross.

The best time to see the wildebeest migration is usually between July and October. Its within these months that you will have chances of seeing the wildebeests crossing.

Visit Masai Mara in Kenya with these recommended Kenya tour operators or drop us an inquiry below to book your safari in Kenya directly through this website.



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