The Great migration is without a doubt one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on the planet. The movement of the wildebeest herds can be extremely unpredictable, with it all depending on seasonal rains. Combining the Northern Serengeti Migration with the Great Migration in Kenya will offer you the best of both worlds and also maximize your chances of witnessing the great migration in full swing.
I recently hosted this exact itinerary and was once again blown away by the diversity of both wildlife and different landscapes that the two countries offer.
The safari starts in Tanzania's northern Serengeti where we spend 6 nights at Kaskaz camp, ideally situated away from the crowds and with a breathtaking view over the plains of the Serengeti.
A combination of lack of rains and wild fires in East Africa meant that the migratory herds moved through Tanzania and Kenya a little bit earlier than usual this year, and spending their time moving from one burnt area to the next in search of nutritious new grass.
During our time in the Northern Serengeti, the plains towards Lamai was covered in a sea of wildebeest which, from far away appeared like ants in the distance. This in itself is a spectacular sight and something that is virtually impossible to capture with a single image or even video.
One of the major reasons why I believe combining the Northern Serengeti and Masai Mara gives you the best of both worlds is the opportunity of maximizing your chances on both the migratory herds, as well as a variety of predators. If the herds are not present in the Northern Serengeti, then they will most likely be in the Mara Triangle and visa versa. Predators are in abundance in both the Northern Serengeti and the Masai Mara, although over the past few years I've experienced better leopard viewing in the Northern Serengeti, mainly because of the rocky outcrops found in the area.
We had some unbelievable sightings of these elusive cats and were spoilt on most mornings with a mother and sub adult roaming around the iconic rocky outcrops.
The Mara Triangle consists of a lot more open grasslands and rolling hills and of course our Wild Eye Mara Camp which is located right next to the Mara river.
The location of the Wild Eye Mara Camp ensures that you are as close as you could possibly be to the most favored and dramatic crossing points around the Mara River.
During our week in the Mara triangle the plains from the border up to the river was covered with wildebeest. The burnt grasslands and some sporadic rains, meant that the herds didn't move far from the nutritious new shoots coming out after the rains and weren't interested in crossing the river.
One thing you can be sure of when traveling to the Mara Triangle is that there will be predators, lots of predators.
Our week was filled with some incredible sightings, with lions all over the place, leopard never too far from camp, and a female cheetah with 4 tiny cubs that stole everyone's hearts. It is the first time in about 7 years that we have had cheetah cubs in the Mara Triangle and what a treat it was to spend time with her and we watched her hunt and navigate her way around the other predators that were present.
Both of these destination offer incredible viewing and different photographic opportunities and experiences. Witnessing The Great Migration from both sides not only gives you a better understanding of this incredible spectacle, but also offers you the best chance to see The Great Migration in full swing and gives you an incredible 12-day safari experience.
With all of the above considered you can see why the Northern Serengeti and Masai Mara offers you the best of both worlds.
Johan
Northern Serengeti and Great Migration Safari
The mighty Mara River moving through Kenya's Masai Mara and Tanzania's Northern Serengeti, flows right through the herds feedings grounds, making multiple river crossings of various sizes, a necessary evil for both Zebra and Wildebeest throughout the season. Not only do the river's resident crocodiles pose imminent threat, lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena all stake their claim to the abundance of prey. It’s an action packed experience!
Private Migration safari in Tanzania and Kenya
An incredible bucket list opportunity to experience the greatest wildlife spectacle on the planet. Annually millions of Wildebeest and Zebras migrate between the Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Masai Mara reserves.
