Questions & Advice
Serengeti Balloon Safaris has provided answers to the following topics in the questions and advice section;
I am able to travel to the Serengeti some time between 15 October & 15 November. When would be the best week to view the Migration in Tanzania?
- By:
- Belinda
- On:
- 07 July 2011
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Dear Belinda The migrating herds tend to start their return journey to Tanzania during October. Therefore the later you leave it, the more migrating beasts you are likely to see. Do bear in mind that the short rains generally occur in mid/late November; on that basis I would suggest travelling end October/ early November and to the northern part of the Serengeti. I hope this helps. Warm regards Sandy, Pulse Africa
On: 08 July 2011
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Flightlink Flies Daily to Serengeti (Seronera & Grumeti) from Dar at 0830Hrs and from Arusha at 1045Hrs. The Cost from Dar is USD380 and From Arusha is USD180 Incl. Taxes
We also fly from Serengeti to Arusha, Dar and Zanzibar Daily. Departure Serengeti at 1215Hrs Arrive Zanzibar at 1500Hrs or Dar at 1530Hrs.
for info & Reservations: fly@raha.com/+255786 747 400
On: 08 July 2011
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Hello Belinda
The great herd's movements are dictated by available grazing which in turn is dependent on rainfall. It is impossible for anybody to predict with pinpoint accuracy exactly where they will be on a certain week. It is a fairly safe bet however that they will be traveling from the north towards southern Serengeti during the period you mention. We have a base in central Serengeti near Seronera and the wildebeest migration is generally in the Seronera Valley in big numbers from mid November through to mid December. From here they continue to the short grass plains in Serengeti South & NCAA where the cows calve early February. Safari Njema! Have a great safari!
Best wishes, Tony Pascoe, Serengeti Balloon Safaris
On: 08 July 2011
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Dear Belinda,
The Migration will start to head to Tanzania from mid October. Its advisable to make your arrangements from mid October to early November.
Kind regards,
Rose - Real Africa Ltd
On: 08 July 2011
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Dear Belinda,
October sees most of the wildebeest in Kenya's Masai Mara. Their movement is directly related to the rains, so the herds may cross the Mara River repeatedly according the where the best grazing is. In November the herds move north en masse to the grassy plains of the southern Serengeti. Given your dates, traveling towards the end of October, beginning of November would be the safest bet. I hope this helps! Warm regards, Leeann - andBeyond
On: 08 July 2011
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Hi Belinda!
It has been interesting to see everyone’s replies to your question. I agree with everyone in part, but have my own view of things I thought you may like to hear.
The first thing to say is that these herds are certainly unpredictable. Having said that you can be reassured by the fact that the sheer size of the Great Migration guarantees herds throughout the period you are looking to travel. The actual size of these herds (ie whether you hit the mega herds) however is all down to luck. Have a look at the Migration Map on our website http://www.africaodyssey.com/tanzania/great-migration to get an idea of what the herds are ‘supposed’ to do.
I travelled to Kogatende (Northern Serengeti) in November 2009 and again at the start of October 2010 - my sixth and seventh trip to the park. You will typically see a number of herds trying to cross the Mara river – crossings are pretty much guaranteed. It is simply not possible however to say that travelling at the end of October or beginning of November would be better game viewing! Travelling to the Northern Serengeti at any time from 15th October to 15th November will be very similar; you will always guarantee the herds crossing the river and predator concentrations are good.
However I would travel around the 15th November and I would actually travel to the centre of the park to try and coincide with the mega herd on its move to the Southern Plains. The centre of the park (Seronera) overflows with predators and the normal issue of it being ‘too busy down there’ is much less significant as there are far fewer people in the Serengeti in November! The downside is that you will miss the river crossings, but there are certainly advantages.
Most importantly - rates. One point that everyone is missing is that virtually all camps drop their rates significantly on the 1st November. You can pick up the best mobile camps at a great price. Couple this with the fact that November is much quieter in the Serengeti than October and that a bit of rain makes the Serengeti a much more beautiful place...and its November for me, without any doubt!
Good luck in your research! Julian
On: 08 July 2011
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Hello Belinda,
From all the advice given you can see you’re safe to travel any time between your dates and see the Migration in full flow. The reason why there is no clear cut time to travel is because it does vary from year to year. If I had to pick a time my advice would be to travel as close to the 15th of October as possible and go to the Northern Serengeti. Nothing is set in stone but the Wildebeest tend to gather in the North and move from North to South from October and move quickly. Once they start moving South later in October/ November they become more dispersed however the viewing is still good. By late November they will be gone from the Masai Mara & Northern Serengeti completely and well spread on their way to the Ndutu area for calving in January to March.
Having personally been in the north in mid October 2010, I saw so many predators and wildebeest and had the bonus of seeing great river crossings. Taking advantage of the drop in rates on 1st November is also worth considering in which case pick a camp towards Central Serengeti but you are unlikely to see such concentrated river crossing.
I hope this helps and I’m sure you will have an awesome time in Tanzania. It is real once in life time stuff!! Contact us if you want advice on which camp to use.
On: 08 July 2011
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The migration is driven by availability of food and water and the migration of Wildebeest and Zebra in particular from the Maasai Mara in Kenya to the Serengeti in Tanzania is usually triggered by the short rains that start any time from October to the end of November, sometimes even early December. The rains can be very unpredictable and seem to be even more unpredictable as the impact of global warming has made the weather and rainy seasons very erratic.
Therefore planning a safari that coincides with the migration back to the Tanzanian part of the Serengeti Maasai Mara eco-system is not easy. If you have to travel in the given window you have mentioned then chose to travel in the latter part of your window and don’t hang your hat on seeing a major movement and or concentrations of migrants. Also chose as part of your safari one or more of the northern camps closer to the Maasai Mara and if your are really set on seeing large concentrations of game then the best time to see the spectacle is from mid to end December onwards on the Southern Serengeti short grass plains in the Ndutu area.
On: 08 July 2011