Monday, December 16, 2013

Migration heading south

There has been rain in the southern and south eastern Serengeti and this has started to pull the migrating herds south. Although the herds are still spread across vast parts of the Serengeti, the main movement is southerly. There are large herds in the central Serengeti and Loliondo. Herds have arrived at Moru Kopje and are continuing south. Most guides are predicting they will be in southern Serengeti for the next few months, as occurs every year at this time. This is where the grasses are the most nutritional (on the Ndutu Pleins) and where the herds prefer to foal.

There has been an interesting (and misleading) debate going on about the migration. Around June last year there was a comment emanating from Tanzania that the migration may not reach the Masai Mara in 2013. This proved to be completely incorrect and the Masai Mara experienced a fantastic migration this year. The reverse argument now seems to be happening. Could it be a bit of retaliation? Yes, the migration did turn back at some point, but does it mean they will not migration - absolutely not. Their path will vary widely from year to year, but the overall migration routes will remain. Climate change is impacting the migration, but the general movements are likely to be roughly the same, for now. Watch this space.

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