Tanzania & Kenya
Tanzania
Tanzania is Africa’s visual masterpiece. It is a country of magnificent natural splendour, astounding wildlife, seductive beaches, charming ancient towns, ancient archaeological sites and geological wonders.
Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, rises from lush, grassy plains and towers over the land. Its snow-capped peak is a sight to behold. Climbing Kilimanjaro is surprisingly easy, and standing on the roof of Africa is a life-changing experience.
The ideal bush and beach destination, visitors can witness the mighty herds of the Great Migration thundering across the Serengeti plains, and end their unforgettable safari with a serene beach holiday on Zanzibar: the intoxicatingly beautiful and exotic Spice Island.
For many people, the aim of a trip to Tanzania or Kenya is to see the “Great Migration”.
The migration is not a once-off event, it’s a continuous annual process – and the herds of animals are present in different parts of the country at different times of the year.
Kenya
Resting in the magnificent Great Rift Valley and presided over by the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, Kenya is characterised by hauntingly beautiful natural landscapes of forested hills, patchwork farms, wooded savanna and vast forests brimming with an extraordinary abundance of wildlife.
The nation’s diverse range of traditional African cultures is influenced by over 70 unique ethnic groups from the Maasai, Samburu, Kikuyu, and Turkana tribes to the Arabs and Indians that settled on the coast. Add to this: an exquisite tropical coastline fringed with breathtaking golden sand beaches; gorgeous coral gardens providing excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities; and a slew of lively beach resorts, and it is easy to see why so many visitors flock here from around the world to experience a truly unique African adventure in one of the world’s most pristine safari destinations.
We design your East Africa experience to ensure that you are in the right part of Tanzania or Kenya to view the amazing phenomenon of the Migration
Singita Sasakwa Lodge Serengeti
Singita Faru Faru River Lodge Serengeti
Singita Sabora Tented Camp Grumeti
&Beyond Mnemba Island Lodge Zanzibar
Arusha Coffee Lodge
Salt Lick Safari Lodge Kenya
Elewana Serengeti Pioneer Camp – Tanzania
Lemala Ndutu Mobile Tented Camp – Tanzania
Lemala Ngorongoro Luxury Tented Camp – Tanzania
Olivers Camp – Tarangire
Karisia AirBnC Walking Safari Camp – Kenya
Karisia Luxury & Classic Walking Safari Camp – Kenya
Karisia Tumaren Camp – Kenya
Kili Villas – Arusha – Tanzania
Rivertrees Country Inn – Arusha – Tanzania
Serengeti Migration Camp – Tanzania
Hemingways Hotel – Nairobi – Kenya
Sasaab Camp – Kenya
Elewana Elsa’s Kopje Meru – Kenya
Elewana Tortilis Camp Amboseli – Kenya
The Manor at Ngorongoro – Tanzania
Tarangire Treetops – Tanzania
Lemala Kuria Hills – Tanzania
&Beyond Bateleur Camp – Kenya
Giraffe Manor – Kenya
Serengeti Under Canvas – Tanzania
&Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp – Kenya
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge – Ngorongoro Crater
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Lemala Luxury Camp – Ngorongoro Crater
&Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
&Beyond Kleins Camp – Serengeti – Tanzania (Luxury)
&Beyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp – Serengeti – Tanzania
Tanzania Western Grumeti Fly-in Safari
13 Days Luxury Tanzania Beach & Bush Safari
Fly Me Around East Africa
15 Days Tanzania, Victoria Falls & Cape Town
6 Nights Pinnacles, Rivers & Plains – Karisia, Kenya
Karisia – 4 Night Tumaren Camp Based Safari
10 Days Tanzania & Rwanda Gorilla Trekking
10 Day Kenya & Tanzania Safari
11 Days Best of Kenya – Luxury
10 Days Luxury Tanzania
For many people, the aim of a trip to Tanzania or Kenya is to see the “Great Migration”.
The migration is not a once-off event, it’s a continuous annual process – the attached graphics show where the main herds generally should be at any particular time, but often they are NOT! The herds often move backwards and forwards, and across the park, sometimes over 40 km overnight! It is also not one huge herd of animals, but numerous large and small herds, all with their own particular agenda.
The movement of the herds is governed by a variety of factors, each of which independently and jointly make the animals move. Amongst others:
- Rainfall – the time of the rains, and also the duration and intensity of the showers has an effect on the grazing and water quality.
- Water sources and quality – basically, many of the streams and rivers that cross the Serengeti have a high chloride and fluoride content. The water smells and animals do not like drinking it – a good quantity of rain will flush out a lot of salts, leaving pools of decent water… low quantity of rain will not.
- Controlled burning by National Parks and (uncontrolled) by poachers and natural fires on the edge of the parks – often drives the game away, until the new grass comes back – which can often only take a week or two.
- Predation
- Poaching and hunting outside the parks
- Numerous other factors – it’s not an exact science
Another point is River Crossings – the famous “huge crocodile catches baby zebra” photo we all want. Apart from the fact that professionals spend months at a time in the park obtaining the right image, you have to have patience. Often you can sit at a great spot, with a large mass of wildebeest on one bank waiting to cross, and they do nothing for 2 days …and as soon as you wake up late, or leave your spot for an hour, you return to the spot and THEY HAVE ALL CROSSED in 20 minutes and are standing on the opposite bank, with only a few fat crocodiles to show where they were!!!! (We once saw a whole wildebeest completely eaten in 4 minutes by 11 crocs on the Grumeti River).
The following should be used as a guideline when planning your safari to East Africa – movement of wildlife depends on a great many aspects – but this helps to explain the seasonality of game viewing. Remember there is resident game throughout the year in the Serengeti/Ngorongoro eco-systems.
JAN / FEB / MARCH
The big herds of wildebeest are generally in the southern plains of the Serengeti eco-system, calving takes place over approximately two weeks. Lots of predators, good visibility of game, mix of open plains and some woodland.
APRIL / MAY
The herds start moving toward central Serengeti. This is typically the rainy season, however, game viewing is still excellent and there are some great discounts available at lodges and camps. It generally doesn’t rain all day. Photography is generally superb with moody skies and good depth of colour.
JUNE / JULY / AUGUST
The wildebeest move from the central area and split to the west and north, continuing their trek toward the Mara River. River crossings may be seen in both the western corridor (Grumeti area) and north (Mara River) within the Serengeti.
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER
Whilst some of the wildebeest successfully reach the Masai Mara, there are still hundreds of thousands remaining in the northern region of Serengeti, offering those with patience the chance to see river crossings (the Mara River runs through the Serengeti).
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER
The big herds start to return from the north, to the southern plains, to start the whole process again!
REMEMBER…..
There is excellent game viewing throughout the year both in Tanzania and Kenya.
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