The Mara River is particularly known for its spectacular and sometimes dramatic scenes that take place between June and October, when millions of wildebeests go across the river trying to survive the riverstream and the attacks of crocodiles. The river is the back born of wildlife in Maasai Mara National reserve especially in the central and power sections of Maasai Mara reserve. Sightings of four of the Big Five are pretty much guaranteed. The Mara River crossing safari is mainly focusing on the great wildebeest migration. The animals follow a clockwise movement through the Serengeti following the rains for the lushest of grass. A diverse group of animals call the Maasai Mara home, including Africa's \"big five\" (the African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard, African lion and African black rhino). Safaris, Zimbabwe Full of Crocodiles and Hipos. Book the MARA RIVER SAFARI LODGE at Bali Safari & Marine Park - Stay at this 4-star business-friendly resort in Gianyar. That is where I go to avoid crowds… Check out these 2 videos of crossings… one from Grumeti and the other from the Mara River. more, This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. The Mara River, which crosses the Maasai Mara National Reserve, provides the lifeblood of the surrounding ecosystem. Everything about Mara River Tented Camp encourages us to embrace the outdoors and connect with nature. Private tourLuxury+Tented Camp, You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End), $1,327 Birds of the Masai Mara Recently, a white headed vulture was seen perched on a Ballanites tree near the main crossing on the Mara River at Paradise Plains, unfortunately this vulture species is seldom seen these days. Private tourMid-rangeLodge, You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End). This themed safari resort in Bali gives a unique holiday experience with Safari-inspired ambiance and accommodation. The crossing of the Mara River along the way is the most spectacular part of the migration. We have seen many of the world’s most intense wildlife spectacles, and watching a Wildebeest crossing of the Mara River is undoubtedly one of them. By continuing to browse through this website you agree to our use of cookies. Tours, Zambia A lorry and us wait for a herd of Maasai cattle to cross. Wildlife The river is the back born of wildlife in Maasai Mara National reserve especially in the central and power sections of Maasai Mara reserve. Discover genuine guest reviews for MARA RIVER SAFARI … The Mara river and its tributaries are characterized by rich freshwater biodiversity. to $2,920 pp (SGD), Kenya: By continuing you agree to our use of cookies. One of Tanzania's best kept secrets is the fact that nearly half of the Mara River is situated in the North Serengeti versus the Masai Mara's segment in Kenya. There are an estimated 1.5 million wildebeest cows, 300,000 Zebras, and thousands of Antelope animals crossing the Mara River at this time annually. Join Tusk Photo on one of the biggest Natural events in the world - the Wildebeest migration! The best months for the wildebeest migration are September and October. Few are stopped short by prowling and stalking predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas waiting around the upper banks of the Mara River for an easy catch on arrival. Safaris, Rwanda Staying in Mara River Safari Lodge allows a relaxed exploration of the entire Safari, with all the animals and shows to view. The five hundred kilometres is fraught with danger with many predators such as lions, cheetahs and crocodiles preying on the animals. She has the privilege of working with the world’s top wildlife photographers and photo-guides. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By October the wildebeest herds are migrating again with more accord: all are heading south, through western Loliondo and the Serengeti National Park's Lobo area, returning to the green shoots which follow the rains on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti in November. Black rhino is more elusive, but can sometimes be spotted in the Mara Triangle. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. It is definitely one of the world's most famous Safari areas and blessed with a great biodiversity and wildlife. All Rights Reserved. Tanzania Bush Mobile Camp moves seasonally between the northern and the southern plains of the Serengeti, in time with the movement of the wildebeest migration. The wildebeest herds, trailed by zebra and gazelle, cross over to the Kenyan side of the Mara, tending to move back to the Serengeti around October. Mara River: Amazing Animal Viewing! Call: +256-787-230-575 (WhatsApp) / +256-774-763-778. Tours, Malawi Easily compare offers from 3,471 specialized tour operators. Reviews, 326 Every year millions of wildebeests, zebras, impalas, and other herbivores migrate from the drier plains of the Serengeti to the lush plains of the Maasai Mara in a circular route that takes … Harriet is a zoologist with more than 20 years’ experience. Workers chased away animals. Mara River: Animals Animals Animals - See 1,944 traveler reviews, 1,820 candid photos, and great deals for Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, at Tripadvisor. Cookie settings. Safaris, DR Congo August sees the wildebeest herds crossing the crocodile-infested waters of the Mara River in the Serengeti or Masai Mara in a constant search for green grass. 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Migratory animals encounter River Mara at the mid of their migratory track. The Mara River is key to this spectacle, as it is the only source of water during the dry season and the only habitat for the Nile crocodiles that play predatory roles during the migration. Loads of hippos and crocodiles were in the river, it was thrilling, exciting and scary at the same time. There are an estimated 1.5 million wildebeest cows, 300,000 Zebras, and thousands of Antelope animals crossing the Mara River at this time annually. This year has been awesome for wildebeest crossings along the Mara River… did you know that over 70% of the Mara River is actually bordered on both sides by Tanzania? “But the river crossing sightings aren’t as good in October,” Many pods of hippos, the largest number of Nile crocodiles in Africa, and dead wildebeest floating in the waters from miss-adventures of trying to cross up river. • Luxury Mara Ngenche Safari Camp on river on river banks closed for blocking wildebeest migration. By browsing through this site you agree to our use of cookies. Kogatende is the unsung gateway to the Mara River in the northern Serengeti. Only 20% of this river is located in Kenya. Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya. The Mara River is the river of life in the Maasai Mara National Park, where you can enjoy clear scenes of many epic animals. Tours, Kenya So, one of the trips to the Transmara coincided with Paul doing some work with wildebeest on malignant catarrh, a viral disease that affected cattle, and we decided to try fishing. African wildebeests are like clueless couples that get hacked to pieces in horror movies. Wherever rains fall the change is dramatic with thousands of animals arriving almost overnight. This can create rapids in the river, which may lead to shortage of food for predators that cannot cross the river to hunt. - Hundreds of wild animals usually cross over the Mara River from Serengeti to Maasai Mara Game Reserve between every July and October - During their latest migration, the wildebeest chose a different route than the one they are used to - Hundreds of them drowned in the already swollen river following a stampede I saw more variety of animals around the Mara River than anywhere else in the game reserve. to $1,845 pp (SGD), Kenya: They live throughout sub-Saharan Africa, the Nile Basin, and Madagascar in rivers, freshwater marshes, and mangrove swamps. Crocks, wildebeests, zebras, lion's, cheetas etc.... All can be seen at the very same spots at various times of the day, This Primitive looking river is one of the main attraction in Masai Mara National Reserve. Staff are really friendly and food is pretty decent in the main restaurant. Each year, nearly 2 million animals move through Tanzania and Kenya driven by seasonal rain and drought in what is known as the Great Migration. Migratory animals encounter River Mara at the mid of their migratory track. For many herds the crossing starts off as a benign event with gentle grazing in the woodlands that surround the Northern side of the river. Make decisions like a pro by using our 59,310 reviews and 200 destination guides. The animals migrate in search of new pastures and water. The Mara River flows through Kenya and Tanzania in the continent of Africa, intersecting the migration path of wildebeest and other animals in the Serengeti-Masai Mara game reserves. Around October, the migration slowly heads back into the Serengeti again. the best time to visit is during migration end of June, July time, Great location to see families of hippos , its better to skim the river in different locations , l was able to find two crocodiles. Antelope include impala, reedbuck, Thomson's gazelle, eland and topi, while buffalo, elephant and giraffe are relaxed and easily spotted.