Atta - Nomad Tanzania - Wildebeest Migration Report

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Migration Update - 28th March 2008

Easter came early for many this year. The spring hares and African hares were plentiful and the weather decided to join in the fun. Over the last two weeks, there have been dramatic skies, thunder and lightening and heavy showers all over the northern circuit. For the last few years, the long rains at the end of the green season have not broken until mid-April but this year was different.

The rains were very welcome in the Serengeti where a long dry patch during late Feb and early March had meant that the wildebeest had dispersed and moved out of the short grass plains and south into the Macau, Maswa and Simyu areas. As soon as the heavens opened, the long lines of wildebeest headed straight back to the Ndutu area arriving in force over the Easter weekend.

The weather predications for the next week still indicate more rain to come but it might ease off in intensity towards the end of the coming week. This rain is especially welcome as the general rainfall figures over the last 3 months have been low which can then cause a problem later on as the dry season sets in.

posted by Nomad Tanzania at 12:18 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Migration Update - 26th February 2008

The rains have carried on in their unenthusiastic way, this season. Some heavy showers but mostly localised and not sustained. Consequently the main Migration herds are quick to move where the best options for food and water are. In the last two weeks, they have spent time in the Loliondo, Gol and Sanjan area but as soon as it started drying up, they moved south and west, passing through Ndutu onto the mid grass plains the other side.

Since the Migration does not move as one, there are still pockets of wildebeest to be found all over this area but the main concentrations are in the south and west. The forecast shows light showers towards at the end of the week, though these are unpredictable. The calving season is also nearing an end with the majority of the babies already here. Despite this, the other game remains excellent throughout the whole south and eastern areas of the eco-system, with plenty of cheetah and lion sightings.

Update 5th February 2008

Despite coming a little early this year, the rains in the Serengeti eco-system have been rather light so far, in fact, worryingly so. January was characterised by lots of dusty drives, as the plains dried out. There have been showers, and some quite heavy, dotted throughout this time but no real sustained period of rain. It is green across the short grass plains now and some more showers are predicted, so hopefully the grass will receive a prolonged boost.

The wildebeest calving season has started - in fact the first babies appeared around mid/late Jan and it is in full swing now. This is where we really hope for regular rainfall to keep enough nutritious grass for the babies to survive. The carnivore sightings are plenty, as they all crowd in for the fest and the terrain makes for good photo opportunities.

So long as the plains do not dry out, we would expect the herds to remain around the short grass and medium grass plain area from now till mid April.

posted by Nomad Tanzania at 6:12 AM 0 comments

Monday, January 07, 2008

Migration Update - 5th January 2008

The first showers arrived in good time this year. They were neither early nor late, not too heavy nor light. In mid month, the plains started greening up so that for Christmas, there was a bright green down all across the short grass plains. The Wildebeest responded by moving en masse to the richer pastures. The first groups arrived in mid Dec and larger herds arriving in time for Christmas dinner and the New year Celebrations. The Migration viewing has been excellent all across the southern Serengeti from Moru & Kusini though to Ndutu & Naibardat area as well as north to Barafu and Gol.

With the Migration, comes the attendant predators, the Nomads and the residents. The Eurasian Migrant birds are also here in full force. Large flocks of Adim’s storks were a feature of the month. With the short green grass, it is much easier to spot.

There has not been much more rain since the first showers, so even though it is green, the dust has made a quick reappearance. In order for the Migration to stay in this area and for the grass, we would like to see some more substantial showers. There has been some build up over this last week, and we hope there will be some showers coming up over the ‘no moon’ period.

posted by Nomad Tanzania at 2:01 AM 0 comments

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Migration Update - 26th November 2007

The main herds still seem to be straddling the border, the perfect ambassadors for the East African Community. Many are in the Lemai Wedge, north of the Mara River, where the grazing is still good. The floods of late Sept/early Oct in Kenya have completely receded and the level of the river is again low.

There have been light showers in the north West area of the Serengeti, though little elsewhere in the eco-system and therefore it seems unlikely that they will head south for a bit. While the Wildebeest often start moving off before we realise there is a hint of the rains coming, they won’t go until they are sure they will get enough sustenance. In the last few years, the date of their return to the rich southern short grass plains has varied from mid November to the end of January. Though in almost all years, by mid Dec, they are in the central plains of the Serengeti, if not further towards Ndutu.

The other game across the Northern Serengeti remains excellent.

posted by Nomad Tanzania at 10:43 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Migration Update - 31st October 2007

The focus of the main migration herds is still up in the North Western Serengeti, along the Mara River and the grazing grounds in the area. The heavier than expected showers of a few weeks ago mean that there is plenty of grazing around much of the northern Serengeti and general game remains very good as well. There has been no rain recently but there are indications that it might be building up.

As there have been no major large bush fires this year, and the grass remains nutritious and plentiful, both game and Maasai cattle are doing well compared to this time last year, when the country was still struggling with bad drought conditions.

Last month for a few days, the heavy rains in the Mau Hills and the headwaters of the Mara River flooded many areas in southern Kenya. The impact was felt by the younger yearlings who struggled to cross the rapid flowing waters during this period. There were many more drownings reported than usual at this specific time.

posted by Nomad Tanzania at 1:31 AM 0 comments

Friday, September 28, 2007

Migration Report - 28th September 2007

The northern Serengeti is still the place to be for the Migration, currently. Over the last couple of weeks there have been some heavy rainfalls in the whole area, which has refreshed the grass. The wildebeest are therefore quite spread out over and very large concentrations are unusual at the moment. There are some herds unusually far south for this time of the year, with some reaching below Lobo.

The Mara River, which flows through the Northern Serengeti on its way to Lake Victoria, continues to be a focal point with large herds on each side crossing both North to South and South to North.

The resident game continues to be excellent.

posted by Nomad Tanzania at 12:54 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Migration Report - 21st August 2007

The northern Serengeti is now full of massed wildebeest. The grass is still plentiful and there is sufficient water with the local streams and, of course, the river to keep them fat and happy. Last week saw some quite heavy rainfall across the whole area which will refresh the new growth of grass that grew after the early burning.

There have been reports of quite a few crossings of large herds over the last three weeks. As per usual, these crossings have been happening in both directions, as the Migration patterns between now and November will circle around the general area on both sides of the Mara River.

The resident game is likewise very good in the whole northern half of the park, and there are still significant and worthwhile sightings to be had around the Western Corridor/Moru/Seronera and Ndutu even as they dry up

posted by Nomad Tanzania at 6:39 AM 0 comments

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