Wildebeest Migration cycle Serengeti / Maasai Mara.
It is the habitual Annual Migration for which Serengeti and Maasai Mara Game Reserves are most famous.
The endless plains of east Africa are the setting for the world's greatest wildlife spectacle which is the largest of protected area. From the vast Serengeti plains to the champagne colored hills of Kenya's Masai Mara over 1.5 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra and gazelle, relentlessly tracked by Africa's great predators, migrate an endless pilgrimage year in year out in a clockwise fashion over a distance of 1,800 miles in constant search for wood and water.

The Wildebeest travel through a variety of parks, reserves and protected areas and through a variety of habitat flowing south from the northern hills to the southern plains for the short rains every October and November. They then swirl west and north after the long rains in April, May and June.
The instinct to move can never be explained but it is so strong and ancient that no drought, gorge or the crocodile infested river can hold them back.
The beginning is at the moment of birth where by an estimated 400,000 wildebeest calves are born during a six week period early each year following a routine pattern as follows:
Late December / early January – Ndutu region, Tanzania.
Traditionally, this is when the calves are born. The migration remains passive until April when the calves are strong enough to start moving north.
Early April / May / June – Serengeti, Tanzania.
The migration begins moving north-west following the long rains across the Serengeti plains towards the western corridor and the Grumeti River.
June / July – Western corridor, Tanzania.
The animals gather in the western corridor.
August / September – Masai Mara, Kenya.
The migration crosses the Grumeti River and moves north-east into the northern steps of Masai Mara.
October / November / Early December – Masai Mara, Kenya/Northern Tanzania / Serengeti.
As the short rains begin in northern Tanzania, the migration begins to move south back into the Klein’s/Lobo region of the Serengeti. From here, they follow the rains through to Seronera and end up at Ndutu again for the calving season.

KENYA WILDEBEEST MIGRATION SAFARIS.

The Maasai Mara Game Reserve is arguably Kenya’s most popular, famous and most visited game reserve in Kenya. The film ‘Out of Africa’ was made to a great extent in this reserve. Virtually every type of wildlife can be seen at the Mara. A spectacle worth seeing is the annual migration of millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle from Serengeti plains across the Tanzania border and the Mara River to reach Maasai Mara
7 Days Kenya Wildebeest migration safari package.
Day 01: Arrival and transfer to your Hotel for overnight. B/B.
Advise us with your flight details for meeting at the Airport.

Day 02: Nairobi – Arberdares
Our representatives will brief you on the safari after breakfast and introduce you to your safari driver/guide. Leave the hotel and drive up to the Mt. Kenya region, arriving in time for lunch. Lunch at the aberdare country club. Afternoon transfer by club transport to the Ark in their special vehicles through the thick forest zone in good time to see the game as they visit the floodlit waterhole. Dinner and overnight at the Ark(B,L,D).

Day 03: Arberdares - Lake Nakuru
Depart after breakfast via the great Thomson falls at Nyahururu, to descend into the great rift valley where lake Nakuru is located. Arrive in time for lunch and after take a game drive. Dinner and overnight at Lion Hill lodge(B,L,D).

Day 04: Lake Nakuru – Maasai Mara
After breakfast depart for Maasai Mara through the floor of the great rift valley arriving in time for lunch at Mara Sopa lodge. You proceed with an afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at the lodge(B,L,D).

Days 05 / 06: Maasai Mara

Balloon Safari at Maasai Mara.

Days well spent in this vast game reserve exploring the plains that are full of wildebeest, zebra, impala, topi, giraffe, thomson's gazelle. Also regularly seen are leopards, lions, hyenas, cheetah, jackal and bat-eared foxes which prey on the weak and young migrating wildebeests. Black rhino are a little shy and hard to spot but are often seen at a distance. Elephant, baboon, water buffalo, ostrich and a variety of bird life are also seen in the Mara. Hippos are abundant in the Mara River as are very large Nile crocodiles, who lay in wait for a meal as the wildebeest cross on their annual quest to find new pastures. Meals, dinner and overnight at the Lodge(B,L,D).

Days 07: Maasai Mara – Nairobi.
After breakfast, depart the game reserve with a final game drive headed back to Nairobi.
Evening transfer to the airport for your flight back home or days at leisure in Nairobi.

13 Days Kenya/Tanzania Combo Wildebeest migration safari package.
Day 01: Arrival and transfer to your Hotel for overnight. B/B.
Advise us with your flight details for meeting at the Airport.

Day 02: Nairobi – Treetops
Leave the hotel after breakfast and drive up to the Mt. Kenya region, arriving in time for lunch. Lunch at the aberdare country club. Afternoon transfer by club transport to the Ark in their special vehicles through the thick forest zone in good time to see the game as they visit the floodlit waterhole. Dinner and overnight at the Ark(B,L,D).

Day 03: Treetops – Samburu
Breakfast at the Ark. Morning transfer back down to the Aberdare country club and drive via the equator to Samburu national game reserve, arriving by lunchtime at Samburu Lodge. Afternoon game drive after lunch. Dinner and overnight at Samburu Serena Lodge(B,L,D).

Day 04: Samburu
Early morning game drive before returning to the lodge for breakfast. Morning game drive. Lunch at the lodge. Afternoon game drive in search of lions, elephants, gerenuk, grevy’s zebra, oryx’s, the reticulated giraffe (only found in this game reserve) and other plains game. Dinner and overnight at the lodge(B,L,D).

Day 05: Samburu – Lake Nakuru
Depart after breakfast past the northern tip of the aberdare mountains via the great Thomson falls at Nyahururu, to descend into the great rift valley where lake Nakuru is located. Arrive in time for lunch and there after take a game drive in this pink colored Flamingo Lake. Dinner and overnight at Lion Hill lodge(B,L,D).

Day 06: Lake Nakuru – Maasai Mara
Drive south along the floor of the Great Rift Valley after breakfast arriving at the Mara in good time for lunch. Take a late afternoon game drive in this most popular game park in Kenya. Dinner and overnight at Mara Serena Lodge(B,L,D).

Days 07 / 08: Maasai Mara
Days well spent in this vast game reserve exploring the plains that are full of wildebeest, zebra, impala, topi, giraffe, thomson's gazelle. Also regularly seen are leopards, lions, hyenas, cheetah, jackal and bat-eared foxes which prey on the weak and young migrating wildebeests. Black rhino are a little shy and hard to spot but are often seen at a distance. Elephant, baboon, water buffalo, ostrich and a variety of bird life are also seen in the Mara. Hippos are abundant in the Mara River as are very large Nile crocodiles, who lay in wait for a meal as the wildebeest cross on their annual quest to find new pastures. Meals, dinner and overnight at the Lodge(B,L,D).

Days 09 / 10: Maasai Mara – Serengeti
Depart Maasai Mara after breakfast and head to the Serengeti plains through the border (Isebania). Our Tanzanian driver cum guide will meet up with you at the border and assist with the crossing formalities.
Proceed to your Lodge with a game drive en route in good time for lunch.
Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge or similar(B,L,D).

Day 11: Serengeti – Ngorongoro
With packed lunch, leave for the Ngorongoro conservation area through the famous Olduvai gorge where Dr. Louis and Mary Leakey made their discovery of early man. Attend a lecture and visit a small museum then head for the crater tour.You will be taken 2000ft down the crater by a 4wheel drive vehicle.
The crater is a virtual “Noah’s Ark”, inhabited by almost every species of wildlife indigenous to East Africa including the rare black rhino. It contains a river, several swamps, a soda lake – complete with flamingoes, a forest and open plains. The large bull elephants that reside here have extremely large tusks due to the rich mineral content of the volcanic soil and its grasses.
Explore the crater before ascending back to the Lodge for dinner and overnight(B,L,D).

Day 12: Ngorongoro – Lake Manyara
After breakfast, leave Ngorongoro with packed lunch for Lake Manyara national Park.
Whole day game drive in this park famous for its tree climbing lions and a variety of bird species. The national park is also home to the largest concentration of baboons anywhere in the world. Dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge or similar(B,L,D).

Day 13: Lake Manyara – Arusha / Nairobi
Drive back to Arusha after morning breakfast arriving in time to catch the shuttle bus back to Nairobi or for n afternoon at leisure waiting to connect in the evening at Kilimanjaro airport for a flight back home.

TANZANIA WILDEBEEST MIGRATION SAFARIS.
8 Days Tanzania Wildebeest migration safari package
Day 01: Nairobi - Arusha
Board a shuttle bus to Arusha from Nairobi via Namanga boarder to arrive Arusha by 1400 hrs. Drop off at your Hotel for Dinner and overnight stay(B,B) OR
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport where our representative will meet and transfer you to Arusha for overnight at your Hotel(B,B).

Day 02: Arusha - Lake Manyara
Leave Arusha at 0800 hrs and proceed to Lake Manyara National Park with packed lunch for a whole day game drive. The park offers varied ecosystems, incredible bird life, and breathtaking views and is also famous for its tree-climbing lions which make the ancient mahogany and elegant acacia trees their home during the rainy season. The national park is also home to the largest concentration of baboons anywhere in the world.
Dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge(B,L,D).

Day 03 – Lake Manyara – Serengeti National Park
Pre – breakfast early morning game drive then return to the lodge for breakfast.
Depart the lodge and drive to Serengeti national park passing via Olduvai Gorge with packed lunches. Afternoon game drives then proceed to Serengeti Sopa Lodge for dinner and overnight (B,L,D).
Day 04: Serengeti National Park
A whole day well spent with morning and afternoon game drives to explore the plains, Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Sopa Lodge(B,L,D).
Day 05: Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro Crater.
Begin the day with an early morning game drive, then return to the lodge for breakfast . Depart the lodge with a view game and packed lunch to proceed to Ngorongoro conservation area for dinner and overnight stay at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. This is beautifully set by the crater rim(B,L,D).

Day 06: Ngorongoro Crater.
After an early morning breakfast leave with picnic lunch for the crater tour some 2000ft down by a 4 - wheel drive vehicle.
The crater was formed some 2.5 million years ago from a volcanic mountain sinking due to inactivity. It’s a Caldera measuring 22.5 km’s across and the rim walls stand 600m high. Views from within and from the rim are breathtaking. The crater houses 30,000 animals and a large variety of birds, which rarely move from the area due to the abundant availability of water through wet and dry seasons. Explore the crater before ascending back to the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge for dinner and overnight(B,L,D).
Day 07: Ngorongoro - Tarangire
After breakfast drive to Tarangire National Park with your packed lunch. Afternoon game drive. The park offers views of grass and floodplains with impressive baobab and flat topped acacia trees scattered throughout.
Tarangire measures 2,600 sq km’s and features an impressive amount and array of bird life and plant life. The park is named after the Tarangire River, which runs directly through the center of the park and is the only permanent water source for the animals. Along the banks of this river you will find herds of wildebeest and zebra, followed by Grant’s Gazelle, Thomson ’s gazelle and many others. Lurking in the background lion and leopard keep a watchful eye on a possible meal. Dinner and overnight at Tarangire Safari Lodge./Sopa Lodge(B,L,D).

Day 08: Tarangire - Arusha
Early morning game drive and then return to the lodge for breakfast. Drive to Arusha town to arrive by lunch time. Board an afternoon shuttle bus back to Nairobi to arrive by 1900 hrs or a transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for a flight back home.

14 Days Tanzania/Kenya Combo Wildebeest migration safari package.

This safari itinerary can be re-arranged to suit individual taste and you can fly into Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro International Airport to start the safari.

Day 01: Nairobi - Arusha
Board a shuttle bus to Arusha town from Nairobi via Namanga boarder to arrive by 1400 hrs. Drop off at your Hotel for Dinner and overnight stay(B,B) OR
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport where our representative will meet and transfer you to Arusha town at your Hotel for overnight(B,B).
Day 02: Arusha - Lake Manyara
Depart Arusha in the morning for Lake Manyara National Park. Whole day game drive. The park is famous for its tree climbing lions.
Dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara Tree Lodge(B,L,D).

Day 03: Lake Manyara - Ngorongoro
After breakfast, drive to Ngorongoro Crater and arrive at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge in good time for lunch. In the afternoon, have a visit to the Maasai Village to learn the tribe’s dances and culture. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge(B,L,D).
Day 04: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast descend into the Ngorongoro Crater with packed lunch for a game drive. Spend the afternoon at leisure back at the lodge(B,L,D).

Day 05: Ngorongoro - Serengeti
After breakfast drive to Serengeti National Park, via the Olduvai Gorge which is an archaeological site. With some game viewing en route, proceed to your lodge. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge(B,L,D).

Game drive
Days 06/07: Serengeti National Park–Western Corridor
Both days are well spent in this phenomenal National park created to preserve the path of the world’s largest wildebeest migration trail covering nearly 15,000 square kilometres.
The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai name meaning ‘endless plains’, and these rolling distances of short grass plains provide an exceptional landscape for wildlife viewing.A unique combination of diverse habitats enables it to support more than 30 species of large harbivores and nearly 500 species of birds with small rivers, lakes and swamps scattered throughout. Its landscape, originally formed by volcanic activity, has been sculptured by the concerted action of wind, rain and sun.
Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Serena Lodge or Kirawira Luxury Tented Camp(B,L,D).
Day 08: Serengeti - Maasai Mara
After breakfast, depart for Kenya-Tanzania border (Isebania) with packed lunch. Our Kenyan guide will meet and pick you from the border to continue with safari at Masai Mara Game Reserve. Dinner and overnight at Maasai Mara Sopa Lodge(B,L,D).
Wildebeest crossing Mara river
Days 09 - 12: Maasai Mara
Masai Mara National Reserve is Kenya's finest wildlife reserve. Seasoned safari travellers, travel writers, documentary makers and researchers often admit that the Masai Mara is one of their favourite places. Perhaps it is because of the 'big skies', the open savannahs, the romance of films like 'Out of Africa' and certainly because of the annual wildebeest migration, the density of game, the variety of birdlife and the chance of a hot air balloon ride. The wildlife is abundant and the gentle rolling grasslands ensure that animals are never out of sight. Birds, too, are prolific, including migrants. The tall red-robed Maasai people have a lifestyle that is completely at odds with western practices, and from whom one learns to question certain western values.
The climate is gentle, rarely too hot and well-spread rainfall year round.
A combination of all these things plus something to do with the spirit of the place - which is hard to put into words - is what attracts people to the Mara over and over.
Dinner and overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge or Mara Serena Lodge(B,L,D).

Day 13: Masai Mara - Lake Nakuru
Depart Maasai Mara for Lake Nakuru. Lunch at the Lion Hill. Afternoon game drives at Lake Nakuru National Park, a nature lover's paradise, famous for her bird spectacle of a million flamingoes, the White Rhino and the rare leopard. Dinner and overnight at Lake Nakuru Lion Hill Lodge(B,L,D).
Day 14: Lake Nakuru – Nairobi – Depart Home
Depart Lake Nakuru after breakfast and drive to Nairobi. Lunch on your own. Transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to catch your international flight home.