Has The Migration Left The Mara?
 

Hi everyone-- great forum. I have learned so much reading the various threads.

I will be arriving in the Maasai Mara on October 7th. Will that be too late this year to witness the migration river crossings? I read the following on a Wildlife Direct Mara blog, posted today:

"The plains are quiet once again. As quickly as the millions of wildebeest came, they left — but not without dramatic casualties."

I had really hoped to witness the migration. This will be my second time to miss it if they've left already!!

I'm wondering too.

So do I, according to wildwatch it should be ok. That has been my only resource. Leaving tomorrow :)

Hi

I think the migration did leave the Mara but new rains and grass has made them return and some great action is taking place again.

This is Heritage report.....

Quote
"Monday, September 17, 2007
Migration Update, Maasai Mara, September 17th 2007
Two weeks after tricking us into believing that they had returned to the Serengeti for good, the wildebeest migration has once again proven its capacity for the unexpected. Over the past 10 days, the concentration of wildebeest in the central part of the Mara has swelled to an enormous number. Although most of the herds had moved back over the border via the Mara Triangle, they then made a U-turn to re-enter the Mara around the Enkoikwateet salt lick, where some herds had originally entered in July.

In fact, the entire migration map now appears like a new beginning, with high concentrations of wildebeest on the Olorukoti and Paradise plains. Westbound herds have again spread out on the Topi Plains, while herds from the Mara Triangle have begun crossing the Mara River at the main Paradise crossing point. Over the past three days, our guests have witnessed many animals crossing around here. While many animals are crossing over from the Mara Triangle, just as in the early days, others are heading north, and a western concentration has built up around Serena and south towards the border. Most of the other areas south of the Talek River up to Keekorok Lodge have very few animals, as most herds are concentrated in the western and northern areas of the reserve.

Most herds have settled temporarily on the plains around Rhino Ridge, where there was extensive burning of grass, and which are now sprouting with short fresh grass – fed by the recent unexpected rains. The crossing points around Paradise Plains have been alive with activity, with hundreds of animals crossing back and forth. The water in the river is quite high here, making these crossings even more dramatic......"
Unquote

Keep your fingers crossed and you should be posting some nice pics of river crossings in a few weeks.

Mohammed
(Sri Lanka)

The Migration doesn't always go in one direction, due to rains and supply of grass you often witness many migrations instead of one massive one.

The Wildebeest and zebra often cross back and forth over the Mara river and should still be in the Mara in October. When they actually leave in bulk depends largely on rainfall in the Southern Serengeti and the amount of feeding available in the Mara check this site out, it has a fairly accurate view of how the migration cycle goes http://www.africauncovered.com/calendar/

I am heading to the Mara next week so lets hope they are still there. I am sure they will be.