Our Guide to the Great Migration in Kenya: Often dubbed as the “Greatest Show on Earth”, The Great Migration is one of the most incredible wildlife spectacle in the world. In Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, the Great Migration see thousands of wildebeests migrate across the Mara River.
Fillowing the rains, around 1.5 million wildebeest, 400,000 zebras and 200,000 gazelles travel in a clockwise direction from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park through Kenya’s Maasai Mara Game Reserve during the months from July to October.
The Great Migration is a once-in-a lifetime experience and it is worth booking your safari to see the Great Migration right first time. From when to travel to where to stay, this is our guide to the Great Migration in Kenya.
Best time o visit Kenya for the Great Migration
July to October
July to October is peak season for migration safaris and is when most river crossing takes place, during these months, herds are making their way between Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara. So this when you will have the best chance of seeing a river crossing, it is not an easy crossing for these animals as they face threats from crocodiles, lions and poachers.
Once they reach the plains of the Maasai Mara, herds gaze between different pastures and feed on the rich grass found here. From October onwards. After having depleted the grass of the Maasai Mara, the herds make their way back south to the Serengeti.
Our Guide to the Great Migration in Kenya: Kenya Vs. Tanzania: Where should I go?
With the herds of wildebeests passing through both Tanzania and Kenya during their migration, it can be hard to choose which country to witness this incredible spectacle. Tanzania’s Serengeti isn’t as easily accessible as the Maasai Mara, so its not a great option for families. The isolated nature of the area does mean, though that the park tends to be much quieter.
Here, you could witness the river crossing or migration sighting to yourself, or share it with just one other vehicle.
In Kenya, you stand a much better chance of seeing the migration and river crossings, as the wildebeest’ route through the Mara is much more concentrated that their route through Tanzania. The Maasai Mara is also much more accessible than the Serengeti is, as you can fly straight there from Nairobi within a day. This area is also prime territory for the Big Five, so you can spot lions, buffaloes, leopards, elephants and rhinos alongside wildebeest.
Where to stay in Kenya
Private Conservancies
Kenya is a popular migration safari destination and because of this, it has become overrun with crowd. For a more peaceful experience, staying in a private conservancy is a great way to avoid the hordes of tourists. Our expert travel designers have stayed in all of the private conservancies of Maasai Mara has to offer, so they will be happy to advise on the best camp for your individual need no matter who you are travelling with.
An agreement between the Maasai landowners and safari camp owners has seen much of the land to the north and east of the Maasai Mara converted into wildlife conservancies. These private conservancies and reserves separate from the Maasai Mara Game Reserve itself, they are right on the border through. So travelers can still combine and exclusive safari experience with the beautiful surroundings. With a limited number of camps permitted in the conservancies, travelers can also take comfort in the fact they are contributing to a low-impact and mor sustainable form of tourism by staying here.
If you are set on watching a river crossing, you can visit the Maasai Mara National Reserve for a day from these private conservancies. A side from avoiding the crowds, private conservancies offer night drives and walking safari which aren’t allowed in national parks and public game drives dur to their busy nature.
Seasonal Camps
As the wildebeest are only in Kenya for a few months of the year – from July to October, several seasonal camps are set up. These take advantage of the best migration sites and are custom-made for tracking the herds, so they are a great option for those who don’t mind the crowds.
Our Guide to the Great Migration in Kenya : How to see a Mara River Crossing
As the wildebeest and their fellow mammals migrate from the Serengeti into the Maasai Mara, they must cross the Mara River. Located on the border between Tanzania and Kenya, this is one of the most treacherous points of the migration. Hungry crocodiles wait beneath the surface making it a hazardous crossing.
With millions of clattering hooves, crashing waters and predators waiting on the other side, some animals may not even make it out alive to the other end.
River crossings take place from August to October, but there is no guarantee of seeing one. Even if you arrive at the exact moment that the herds are gathering on the ban, they might imply stand there for a couple of days nervously waiting for the first wildebeest to take the leap. The animals know that predators lurk in and around the river, so they are understandably reluctant to cross. Wildebeest may even gather in their thousands on the banks before deciding to walk away and find a different crossing point.
With a private guide leading you through the Maasai Mara, your chances of witnessing a river crossing without the crowds will increase. There is still only a 20-30% a chance you will see one, though, so its worth managing your expectations before you arrive. It is also worth remembering that the months when river crossings happen are peak season, you are likely to encounter some other vehicles, regardless of how hard you try to avoid the crowds.
Top things to do in Kenya
Kenya is understandably a must visit destination for witnessing the Great Migration, there are plenty of other things to do here, though, so you don’t have to count on wildebeest sightings for an exhilarating trip. The Maasai Mara is an incredibly wildlife rich area, so spotting the Big Five is relatively hassle – free with lions particularly prevalent amongst these plains. On a migration safari itself, there are many ways to fill your time when you are not chasing the wildebeest.
Some of the activities to take part in including hot air ballooning safari, horse riding, walking safari, night drives and bush breakfast which are excellent ways of seeing Kenya from a different perspective.
Away from the plains of Maasai Mara, the magnificent Amboseli offers arresting views over the world – famous Mount Kilimanjaro, while the Chyulu Hills in the east are a fantastic place to learn about Maasai culture. In the north, the romantic Laikipia region of the Great Rift Valley is prime rhino territory while the open bushland of the Samburu National Reserve offers a varied landscape for lions, leopards and cheetahs. Kenya offers something for everyone as it is rich with game and culture that can be as action packed or laid back as you may like.
