by Nomad Tanzania
8 January 2013
Quick update on the beasts…it’s raining buckets everywhere!
The migration is spread all over the plains, from Makao all the way to the kusini woodlands, from Endulen all the way to our current Serengeti Safari Camp site, and well scattered all the way from Ndutu to Loliondo. Some of our Nomad guides saw the wild dogs near Kusini on the edge of the woodlands, and on the plains to Makao recently. It’s a pack of around 11, and 3 appeared to have collars so are being monitored. Nomad guide, Richard Knocker also saw a zorilla during his safari in December in Piyaya, southern Loliondo, and a few lucky folk have spotted (‘scuse the pun) cheetah…so it’s not all about the wildebeest.
Happy New Year and hoping for some early calving to make for some very happy people…
For a reminder on where the migration is at different times of the year, and what to expect in terms of experience consult our very helpful Guide to the Migration.
by Nomad Tanzania
23 October 2012
Great images just in from Lamai Serengeti where the wildebeest have been milling around, crossing and re-crossing for the last few weeks around the Kogatende area. It's a great time to be in the northern Serengeti!
by Nomad Tanzania
13 September 2012
Last week's trip to the Northern Serengeti gave us as good a demonstration as any of how incredibly frustrating wildebeest can be! We found ourselves sitting on the banks of the Mara River while herds streamed down from the North. Our patient guide, Philip pulled out the coffee and settled down for a long wait. As the hours progressed, the wildebeest milled around from left to right, forming splinter groups and toeing the banks. A few brave animals started to skid down the banks to the water's edge, only to lose courage at the last minute and clamber back up again. Eventually a critical mass seemed to have been reached and a palpable tension was building. All of a sudden the flood-gates opened and the animals began careering down the steep banks in their hundreds. From the edge of our seats, we watched dismayed as they reached the level of the water, suddenly seemed overcome by their haste and began walking in aimless circles again, before finally ending up back on the bank. They then ambled off in the opposite direction as though they'd forgotten what they'd come here for.
Later in the day, driving from Lamai Serengeti to Serengeti Safari Camp in the Bologonja area, the evening light painted the tawny grass in a warm glow. For as far as the eye could see there were wildebeest stretching to the horizon on all sides, grunting softly in silhouette against the fiery sky. That night, cosy in bed with a hot water bottle, the sound of hoofs in the grass and the bullfrog like noises of the herds moving around the guy ropes, was enough to send us into a peaceful sleep.
Nomad guide, Chediel, just called to say that the herds are still crossing and re-crossing the Mara River and there are many animals around the Bologonja area and heading towards Lobo.
Happy migration watching!
The Nomad Team
www.nomad-tanzania.com