The great wildebeest migration proved its capacity for constant surprises this week, when – a week after they appeared to be leaving Kenya for good – tens of thousands of wildebeest decided to remain behind in the Maasai Mara.
Throughout the Mara, the wildebeest began moving against the flow of their usual migratory patterns, with some herds heading north inside the Mara Conservancy and east at the Paradise crossing point, while others congregated to the south of the Conservancy Headquarters and up the main escarpment. At Musiara Marsh, the week brought the highest concentration of the entire migration, while – despite poor grass cover across most of the central Mara – there remained large herds around Rhino Ridge, Mara Intrepids and Explorer camps, the Burrungat Plains, and Lookout Hill.
With the dry weather earlier in the week, the main watering holes were teeming with activity, although widespread showers in the latter half of the week caused many of the herds to start drifting away from the waterpoints. Most of us are still expecting the herds to start leaving for the Serengeti soon, but we remain reluctant to make a definitive pronouncement on the subject while the wildebeest continue to exhibit such a strong mind of their own!
Once again, the only way to be completely sure of what is happening on the ground is to tune in to your ever-regular, ever-reliable Migration Update from Heritage Hotels!
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