18 Things You’ll Need To Know Before Booking Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Safari
To help avid safari lovers to experience the great wildebeest migration in all its glory & splendour you’re going to need answers to the questions floating in your mind. This blog is all about the answer of the most popular 18 faqs regarding wildebeest migration, including the costs of an African safari to make sure that ramblers capture the magical experience of Serengeti Wildebeest Migration they are hoping for.
These 18 things will give every safari tourist an idea about Serengeti, its ecosystem and the migration that is associated with it. Departing for these tours is rejuvenating experience before going back home with all the fresh & remarkable memories.
Now please have a look to these 18 FAQs related to Wildebeest Migration are as follows:-
How Lengthy Should A Safari Be To See The Migration?
One week period for a safari trip to Serengeti is the minimum amount of time needed for experiencing a migration safari. However, an individual’s budget dictates how long or short safari can be. At the end of the day, the more time you spend on safari, the better are the chances for a person for watching & observing the migration.
If budget is a restraint, speaking with the booking agent to find more suitable & affordable accommodation options so that you can extend the time with The Serengeti Wildebeest Migration.
Is It Better To Go To The Masai Mara Or Serengeti For Watching Migration?
Tanzania has more than 90% of the Serengeti ecosystem within it but less than 10% of the housing spaces for holiday makers. The Masai Mara, Kenya, has less than 10% of the ecosystem but over 90% of the accommodation. It also depends on the time of year any visitor comes to Tanzania and such a thing determines which side of the Mara River is better for explorers to stay at.
It’s a good idea for every individual to book a spot at one or two rooms on each side, depending on the time of year they are travelling. The migration can be found on the Tanzanian side of the Mara River throughout the year but a massive number of wildebeest cross into the Maasai Mara between late July and October every year. It is suggested to try to combine the Serengeti with the Maasai Mara from late July to October for enjoying the Serengeti Wildebeest Migration in a much more useful & better way.
Does It Get Congested Around The Migration Time?
It depends on the time of year people visit it. Some people prefer to go during the calving season starting from February till the end of March & others visit the Serengeti Park during the river-crossing season at the Grumeti River from June to mid-July and the Mara River from August till the last day of October.
For instance, if there are more accommodations than more people will come to watch the migration and in a similar manner, fewer accommodations means less number of people will come. Where day-trippers are going in the Maasai Mara is extremely essential. Just speaking with the booking agent will help you in getting the best possible lodgings options in the Mara that would have discoverers to stay in the right quiet little corner.
How Much Has To Be Paid For A Great Migration Safari?
The new & fresh migration safari packages are now available and are organised according to budget and travel dates. They range from between $1650 and $2900. Just remember that you can create your own safari package based on the budget by subtracting a few days and choosing less expensive accommodations. Consider going out of season to keep the price of your package down.
But remember that the fall & rise in rates depends on the increase and decrease in demand & thus, it is advised to plan and book your trips and packages wisely to avoid any last minute changes. Certainly, nobody will like to overlook Africa’s Great Serengeti Wildebeest Migration that is one of the top attractions for any safari trip or tour.
Is It Feasible To Get Close Accommodation To The Migration?
Yes, it is possible. There are certain key & tactical areas where the herds will pass because of usual migration routes and also because these giant herds need access to drinking water.
It means that the tour guides can predict quite exactly where the herds will be situated particularly when they are not mobile during the calving season. Each of these areas has diverse levels of housing & lodgings and the more customers speak with their travel experts, the more options he or she will have.
What Other Wildlife Can Be Seen On A Migration Safari Other Than Wildebeest?
The migration of wildebeest is nothing but a big & majestic circle of life organised by nature itself which means a lot of different creatures and wildlife are involved in the cycle. Wildebeest may be the star of the show, but other wildlife animals like zebras, Thomson’s gazelles and eland get on this migratory journey too and because of them the size of migration really gets gigantic with so many animals on the run.
These nomadic herbivores attract predators like lions, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs and crocodiles. It’s also not uncommon to come across giraffes, elephants, buffalo, rhinos and hippos while on a migration safari too and such a scenario really makes Wildebeest Migration a serious affair.
When Does The Migration Start And End?
The migration is not something that starts and ends; it is actually a constant process that works exactly like the water cycle concerning summer, rainy and winter season.
For people who are visiting the Serengeti Park to watch migration during Tanzania Safari Tours will get better times and locations throughout the year to see these herds in great volumes. Enormous wildebeest herds generally enter the Mara anytime from late July onwards and arrive back home to Serengeti towards the end of October and November.
How Rapidly Do The Herds Move From One Place To Another?
The great migration takes place all through the entire year. The pace of the migration is determined by the change of seasons because these wildlife herds follow the rain and new grass for grazing.
Thus, there is no definite record about the pace of the herds while moving from Serengeti National Park till Maasai Mara Reserve. But one thing can be said for sure and that is the entire migration cycle takes place in a clockwise direction.
Where Would The Migration Be Every Month Of The Year?
There are several safari herd tracking apps that will certainly help you & show you where the migration is in real-time and there are even some interactive Wildebeest Migration maps that predict possible forecasts of where the migration might be at a given point of time.
Thus with the help of modern technology and internet, Safari trekkers can precisely track out where the migration will be present each month of the year and in that way, visitors will never miss out the action.
Is It Better To Join A Group Safari Or To Go On A Personalized & Private Safari?
It is up to the visitor to decide what he/she wants. Anyway, a group or scheduled safari is fine when the herds are on the southern plains because the route only goes as far as the central Serengeti and sometimes up to Lobo or the Grumeti River in order to see crossings in the Serengeti the customer has to fly there through a hot air balloon or go on a private safari.
A private safari gives a personal & exclusive experience while a group safari tenders the opportunity to share their personal experiences with other travellers. Also, a private safari is more flexible in nature and may cater to individual needs while a group safari is pre-planned and caters according to the needs and requirements of the majority of the group.
What Else Can A Migration Safari Be Combined With?
There are a number of great activities which can be enjoyed to compliment a migration safari. Serengeti Balloon Safari over the Serengeti planes or a Zanzibar Beach Holiday, Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and many more recommended options for your coveted Tanzania Safari Tours.
There are also some wonderful parks to blend your migration safari with such as Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater and all of them are great wildlife destinations. Some adventurers can also add non-migration areas to the checklist of activities during migration safari within the Serengeti or greater Maasai Mara.
Are Mobile And Tented Camps Safe & Secured For Staying At When Going To See The Migration?
When staying at mobile and tented camps organised by safari tour operators, campers should rest assured that they are completely safe. Even though these are just bush camps, they are operated & managed with the help of good quality staff & facilities. To date, there have been no reported accidents of guests being harmed by wildlife when staying in this form of accommodation.
Keep in mind that wildlife only observes shapes such as opposed to things. That’s why people are safe in a vehicle because the animal sees only the vehicle’s structure and not a group of individuals inside it. However, the moment an individual remove himself from the bigger vehicle shape then he is noticed as an individual and animal’s behaviour will change towards you. Therefore tents are just as safe as lodges.
Are There Any Scenic Flights That Operates Over The Migration?
Absolutely yes, you can take a scenic flight by hot-air balloon to see migratory herds from above. It is always advised to book in advance, which we will be great for you and once you have your travel dates, you can fly into the air to make your dream come true. There are times of the year where the hot air balloons will be closer to where the migration is.
It is also recommended to go for balloon safari in the Mara from August to the end of September, the central Serengeti in June and again during December and January. The western Serengeti corridor can be enjoyed from a hot air balloon during late June and July when spotting and tracking the herds from above will be very easy.
What Kind Of Vaccinations Are Needed For A Safari In East Africa?
Normally, it is recommended to take malaria prophylactics vaccine and get vaccinated against yellow fever while travelling to East Africa such as Tanzania.
Apart from that, please also consult with your family or personal doctor about the info regarding the diseases in East Africa and the vaccinations to prevent it.
Which One Is Much Better To Visit The Masai Mara Or The Serengeti First?
It is generally regarded that wildlife adventurers must visit the Serengeti side before crossing to the other side. This is true during the commencement of the river crossing season in late July to end of August.
Individuals can swap those two around during the end of the season when the herds start crossing back to October till the end of November. The reason for this is so that individuals can move with the herds as opposed to moving in the opposite direction.
Which One Is More Reasonably Priced Great Migration Package?
It will be advised to visit the Serengeti for The Serengeti Wildebeest Migration safari during the green season between January to late March.
This is also known as the calving season and packages are far less expensive during this period. Thus planning the tours wisely can save a lot of money while looking for the packages.
Does A Migration Safari Promise Migration Sightings?
Yes, you will see migratory herds when booking a migration safari. The time of year people choose to go on safari will affect the numbers of plains game in the herds though.
Working with the travel guides & experts and use the safari tracker apps to locate the exact place of herds located in the area.
How Time-Consuming Before A Migration Safari Is It Best To Book?
It is suggested to book at least 8 to 12 months in advance. There are a limited number of lodges, so as soon as you start planning the more packages & housing options will be available for the customer at an affordable cost.
Thus, making the right moves at right time will help each and every safari enthusiast to witness the greatest wildlife event of all times.
Thus, all those people coming to view the Serengeti Wildebeest Migration will not be disappointed, if they follow the above-mentioned facts about watching the event. To know more about this great migration, please visit us @ silverskytravel.co.tz and book with us, if you are interested.
