Migration update: Drought conditions in Kenya

In response to recent concern in the media about the drought situation in Kenya, Offbeat Safari Camps have issued this update on the situation on the ground in Kenya:

Whilst we appreciate that some areas of Kenya may be struggling due to drought conditions this is not affecting in any way the experience that our guests are having whilst staying at any of Offbeat's properties.

It is dry in Kenya right now as a lot of areas did not get the usual rain in April and May. However, this happens every few years. The forecast is that the short November rains are going to arrive early, in October, and should continue through November too, so we’ve just got a few more weeks to wait – if the forecast is right! At the moment game viewing is spectacular as the game is concentrated near water. We hope that the below description of the areas in which we operate will help to reassure you and encourage you to send more clients to Kenya.

The Maasai Mara from Piers Winkworth – owner of Offbeat Mara Camp

Again the Mara is very dry and this has no doubt been reported on a fair bit. In particular reference to the river being low and the Mau forest being encroached on.

Around the camp (in our Offbeat valley) game viewing has been and continues to be excellent. Our Offbeat lions are seen at close quarters by car and horse almost every day, our 7 resident buffalo come into camp at night as usual, elephants come and go, leopard are seen more frequently and are becoming more habituated to our cars. This valley of 1,000 or so acres is exclusive to Offbeat Safaris (Offbeat Mara and the riding safaris). Outside this area the wider North Mara Conservancy (formerly known as Koyiaki) is very dry and there are quite a number of cattle. This is not a new situation and occurs most years towards the end of the dry season. We have had the odd bit of rain, and the Olare Orok stream still has enough water for the wildlife. We have had the odd bit of rain, but not enough. When the predicted rain of November hopefully comes pressure from livestock will ease.

Migration Update: Mara River crossing

The northern Serengeti and Masai Mara have been exceptionally dry this season. The rivers are flowing, but are very shallow making the crossings much easier for the wildebeest and zebra. They can be seen strolling across the Mara River at leisure rather than facing the normal swim. This has made the job a lot harder for the crocodiles - with very little place to hide in the shallow waters.

The herds are spread across the Masai Mara and northern Serengeti. They are having to move more to find suitable grazing in these low rainfall conditions. Last week large herds moved into the northern Serengeti following some rain in that area. The recent back-burning by the rangers in the Serengeti meant there was some new shoots for the herds. The majority of the migration is still in the Masai Mara, but spread widely across the region.

Some of our recommended camps for this time of year are:
Camps in private concessions -
Porini Lion Camp
Kicheche Camp
Offbeat Mara Camp

Camps in the Masai Mara Reserve -
Governor's Camp
Mara Intrepid's Camp

Migration Update: Mara Triangle

The migration is still moving widely across the Masai Mara and northern Serengeti. The core herds are located around the Mara Triangle. Paradise Plain is overflowing with wildebeest, zebra and Thomson gazelle. Safari guests have been enjoying exceptional gameviewing with lots of predators picking off the abundant plains game.

Migration news: Wildebeest still in the Masai Mara

The migration is still moving between the Serengeti and Masai Mara. In the last few days the Serengeti herds have been moving north into the Mara at Look Out Hill. The lower seasonal rains have meant the wildebeest and zebra have had to work harder to find good grazing. The Mara and Talek Rivers are flowing shallower than usual making crossing quite easy for the herds.

There are herds spread across the Masai Mara and northern Serengeti so any camp in this region will provide a good safari location.

Mara River crossing underway

The Masai Mara is overflowing with millions wildebeest and zebra. The entire area from Paradise Plain, Look Out Hill and the Mara Triangle is teeming with game and predators. The Mara River is flowing well, but shallow at most of the crossing points. The crocodiles have been active, but finding it harder to disguise their attack.

The next few weeks should be excellent in the Masai Mara with constant river crossings as the herds criss-cross the Mara and Talek River to find grazing. Any camps in the Mara or adjoining private concessions are a good locations to be based as the herds are spread across the central, western and northern part of the reserve. But, as always, if you can be based close to the Mara River, you will be ideally placed to see the crossings without travelling too far.

Migration News: Wildebeest in Masai Mara and Serengeti

The migrating herds have been moving back and forth between the Masai Mara and the Serengeti. In July the wildebeest and zebra are normally located in the north western Masai Mara around the Mara River. But this July they arrived a bit later than in 2008 and were seen moving back into the Serengeti on a regular basis. They seemed to be going back into the Serengeti to graze on the new grass shoots that sprang up after the Serengeti rangers had back-burnt the long grass of close to the northern border with Kenya. At times the Masai Mara has been quite deserted of any wildebeest. Having said that, there has been regular crossings and the normal crocodile feeding frenzy that marks the highlight of the migration calandar.

As usual, best area to be based in August is in the north western Masai Mara around the Talek or Mara Rivers. The wildebeest may move off for a few days, but invariably come back to this area for the better grazing and water. The northern Serengeti camps are also reporting excellent sightings of wildlife.

Safari guest numbers are about the same as 2008, down on previous years. Last year the Kenyan elections affected the tourist numbers and in 2009 it is the global economy.

Migration News: Migration from Grumeti to Masai Mara

The lead herds of wildebeest and zebra have reached the Masai Mara, but the laggards are only now leaving the dutwa plains and Mbalageti River in the south western part of the Serengeti. There are still a large population of wildebeest in the western corridor around Musabi areas all the way to Grumeti Reserve.


Photograph courtesy of Mbalageti Serengeti Camp, an excellent camp to see the migration from March to June. They saw these herds leaving the Mbalageti River this week.