Migration Report from the Masaai Mara

Once the "migration season" comes to a close, and the wildebeest herds start moving south from the Maasai Mara, they don't decisively disappear but follow the rain south and then north again, criss-crossing back and forth across the Mara River – it is not a single mass movement, but more a chaotic gathering, which  mean river crossings can occur daily from July all the way through late October. It is quite common to see the herds cross the river to the south one day, only for them to re-live the drama crossing to the north the next day. At Elewana Sand River in Kenya's Masaai Mara guests have even witnessed crossings from the comfort of camp, as shown in this video.

The herds are now making their journey back to the southern Serengeti for the calving season that takes place from January through February, when thousands of wildebeest are born on the vast plains in the south ready to repeat the long march north back to the Mara.

This year, a melanistic zebra foal named Tira has been the center of attention near Governor's Il Moran Camp; she appears to have a rare genetic mutation known as 'pseudomelanism' which has produced an abnormality in her stripe pattern. We look forward to the possibility of seeing her next year.