Tag: zebras

This post is about the Great Migration from Tanzania to Kenya which happens every year when 2 million Wildebeest, along with another 1-2 million Zebras, Topis and other animals, cross the border from Tanzania into Kenya for food. It happens between July and October and our Guide told us that by November there will be little to no grass left. I have photos but it’s hard to really tell the the amount of animals that we saw milling about on the plains. I also read that really this event can occur, to a certain extent, all year long as animals search for food. 

They cross the Mara river where I read that over 3,000 crocodiles await them; not to mention the big cats which are also happy to see these herds. If you have ever watched the National Geographic channel and watched their episode on this migration, this is the spot where it happens. We also saw some metal tracks built along the water by National Geographic that they leave there and use them for their cameras to record this event. 

When we were there we saw a lot of hippos lounging around in the river.

While we were there we could see smoke in the distance and we were told that the people in Tanzania set fires near the border so that the animals won’t cross to come onto the Masai Mara. They say it’s because of tourism, they don’t want the animals to leave because they want tourists to see them. That’s what we were told but I also read that it’s controlled burning to allow the grass to grow.

So who knows what is really happening over there. I do know that it was quite something to see thousands upon thousands of animals on the plains.

That’s it for the Masai Mara, on to Nairobi for one night and then we head to Amboseli National Park.