The Mass Migration

Image credit: Into Safaris

Over several decades, Kenya has come to be appreciated as a tourist destination for a number of reasons. Our coastal towns for their rich history and serenity; our safari rally for lovers of speed and raving engines; our equatorial climate and diverse geography. Then there’s the event that is one of the most anticipated annual occasion of each year – the Great Wildebeest Migration.  

Wildlife enthusiasts, professionals, photographers and tourists make their way to Maasai Mara to witness thousands of wildebeests move in haste searching for greener pastures. 

The migration is a natural habit for the wildebeests, but to onlookers, this natural event of wildlife moving as a community across the vast plains to smaller areas coupled with the ‘at-the-edge-of-your-seat’ feeling as they cross the river crowded with hungry crocodiles is what makes this event one that’s unique to Kenya. This migration promotes our country as a go-to tourist destination. 

Perhaps you’ve already witnessed this migration… 

But if you have not, it is worth knowing that the migration is an all-year event where these animals cross from the Serengeti Park in Tanzania to our very own Maasai Mara National Reserve. Because the migration happens all year round, one can visit at any time of the year, which means you are guaranteed a different and unique though still exciting experience no matter when you decide to visit the Reserve. However, the most popular time to visit, or at least the time many people flock to the Mara is between July and September of every year. 

And it’s not just wildebeests that you’ll spot. Among them you will spot the black and white stripes of zebras who are among the migration comrades also in search of grassland. The height of this migration is definitely where the scaley, powerful amphibians that lurk in the Mara River. It’s like watching an action-packed movie! 

And true enough, not all the wildebeests make it past the river as some end up as meals – and this is a clear reminder of the primary school Science lesson on food chains. Wildebeest eats grass, crocodile eats wildebeest. And then crocodile is eaten by….? But we digress. 

All this is to say that a trip to the Maasai Mara National Reserve at least once in your lifetime is worth the visit. 

Have you already witnessed this great migration? Let us know!