Vehicle Fords on the Mara?
 

We will be in the Masai Mara during second week of August 2008, staying at the Serena. While there is much on this forum about the herds crossing the Mara, I have seen almost no references to vehicles doing so. Accepting the premise that there are no stupid questions...

Are there a reasonable number of locations that allow vehicles to ford the Mara River in the Masai Mara, at this time of the season (August) or at others? I can appreciate that this is impacted by rainfall and river levels, but my presumption is that there MUST be ways to get from one side to the other.

I could just ask our Operator, but its far more interesting to get the straight dope (and whatever else is thrown in) on the Africa Forum.

Thanks, Jim.

Hi Jim, it's Bill, who met you at Ndutu last year :)

I'm no expert on the Mara, but when we were there in January it rained quite a bit and we had some sporty crossings of the Talek river, which actually ran thru camp and was pretty high at times. But there was a ford with a rocky bottom so no problem ... they also had a foot-bridge that crossed this river at the lodge so in case of a giant storm you could leave the jeeps on the other side and walk across to the tent camp.

Later when we moved to a different camp at Kichwa Tembo we passed a spot on the Mara where about 30,000 wildebeests drowned last year. The carcasses were still there, though a bit shriveled and dried out. There was a big all-weather bridge at this crossing so no problems for vehicles.

Dunno about the other 98% of the Mara but at these two places (both not many miles from the Serena) we could get across without much drama.

Bill

hi jim,
in august the mara river is supposed to be still rough. no river crossing unless you get an amphibian - but it will fail due to missing permissmion to do so ;-)

oops - at least that i know off i should add.

Hoping this isn't too naive a question ...

Do the zebs & wildees ever use the man-made bridges to cross the river?

riz
never

The Serena is on the south side of the Mara river. There are two bridges, one located at the hippo pools at the south end of the reserve near the Tanzania border, the other outside of the reserve to the northwest. I recall both being some distance from the Serena (maybe 45 min?). I don't know about non-bridge crossings. Someone correct my geography if I'm mistaken, but I don't see how crossing the Talek would get you to/from the Serena.

Patty

You're right that crossing the talek doesn't help with the mara. Unlike the mara river, there are a number of places where, at certain times of the year, you can cross the talek without going over bridge

Phil

Thanks to all for the responses to my question and misc. discussion. My wife took note of my posting and advises that, absent a bridge, we will be perfectly content with whatever side of the Mara we find ourselves on.

55 days to go!

If one was staying at Kichwa Tembo is there easy driving access to the area east of the Mara River?

cj