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Africa
holiday safaris, masai Mara wildebeest migration safari,
Serengeti wildebeest migration ,Africa budget holiday
safari packages to Masai mara .
The endless plains of east Africa are the setting for
the world's greatest wildlife spectacle - the 1.5
million animal ungulate (wildebeest) migration. From the
vast Serengeti plains to the champagne colored hills of
Kenya's Masai Mara over 1.4 million wildebeest and
200,000 zebra and gazelle, relentlessly tracked by
Africa's great predators, migrate in a clockwise fashion
over 1,800 miles each year in search of rain ripened
grass.
There is no real beginning or end to a wildebeest's
journey. Its life is an endless pilgrimage, a constant
search for food and water. The only beginning is at the
moment of birth. An estimated 400,000 wildebeest calves
are born during a six week period early each year -
usually between late January and mid-March.
DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH
The Serengeti National Park / Ngorongoro Conservation
Area is arguably the most impressive wildlife sanctuary
in the world. During the months December through March
the seemingly unending plains of the southern Serengeti
and the Conservation Area are inhabited by enormous
herds of wildebeest and zebra. The great herds graze on
rain ripened grass. In the calving season (late January
through mid March) the herds concentrate at the Ndutu
and Salei plains ( Southern Serengeti / Ngorongoro
Conservation Area) attracting the attention of predators
like lion, cheetah and hyena.
APRIL, MAY
During the months April and May the depleted plains are
unable to sustain the endless herds. The migration,
sweeping west and north, moves from the short grass
plains of the southern Serengeti / Ngorongoro
Conservation Area to the long grass plains and woodland
of the Serengeti's western Corridor, almost to Lake
Victoria . This period is during the long rains and is
considered off season for wildlife viewing in east
Africa as roads are often impassable.
JUNE
By the end of May the wildebeest have exhausted the
Western Corridor's best pastures and the herds must move
further north. Entering the Lamai Wedge and the Mara
Triangle breeding occurs May through June. This is a
transitional period between the rains and the dry
season.
JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER
By July the countless herds have amassed along the
swollen Mara River - a final barrier from the short
sweet grasses of the Masai Mara. Sometimes the crossing
place they have chosen is shallow allowing the majority
of animals to pass safely. In other areas the waters
boil with drowning wildebeest and slashing crocodiles.
Between July and October the wildebeest reside in the
Mara.
NOVEMBER
The arrival of the short rains call the migration
southward. As November ends the migration is making its
way back to the southern Serengeti and early in the year
they once again give birth. The circle of life is
complete.
*Note - the migration is a natural event and the timing
varies month by month; year by year.
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