Short movies about the migration, spoken in Swiss German

http://ksuter.wordpress.com/ 2010/08/13/feriengruss-aus- kenia-gnus-im-raderwerk-der- politik/

click on the picture in the newly opened website to watch

We have many years experience with the migration and take you to the right place at the right time.
The movements of the large herds depend on the rains so each year has a different pattern.

We  tailor-made your safari around the migration depending on the time you wish to travel.

Approximate movements of the migration:

From around the 2nd week wildebeests give birth in Ndutu and Ngorongoro area. Females synchronise the birth date in a way that almost all calves are born within 3 weeks. This reduces the risk of the individual animal to be taken by predators and the herds can move on again sooner.

From March until June the journey takes wildebeests and zebras north. They have to pass predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs and spotted hyenas and Grumeti River with its huge hungry crocodiles. The giants tear a wildebeest into pieces within minutes.

Sandriver is the boundary between Serengeti and Masai Mara over many kilometers. Some of the animals will now move further North into Talek area and from there to the Musiara swamps, while others cross the Mara River at different places.

They move like pearls on a necklace from pasture to pasture and wherever the big herds are you just see black. It is hard to catch it in a picture – you have to see it!

From beginning July until end of October, sometimes even up to November depending on rains wildebeest and zebras can be watched crossing the Mara River.

All 3 main participants in the great migration want to cross over for greener pastures. North of Serena lodge where the banks are not that steep even the small Thomson Gazelles reach the other side. They avoid more difficult places.

Very careful and alert the first animals, either zebras or wildebeests approach the water. If there is anything disturbing them they climb up and move away. Sometimes you really need to be patient until they start crossing. Once some start crossing all want to follow. The mass pushes some to steeper areas which forces them to use their acrobatic skills to land uninjured. It happens sometimes an animal breaks limps or even the spine. Those remain behind until a predator or scavenger passes by.

Foto Charly Grimm

Wet bodies make the soil very slippery. Sometimes it can cost lifes when they step on each other. Foto Charly Grimm

The wildebeests came first in a straight line but were drifted downstream by the strong current. The bow became bigger and the distance to the hippos became smaller. Disturbed by the noise from the territory intruders the hippos started moving towards the wildebeests.

The wildebeests tried to change the direction and avoid the hippos, but the current was very strong and the hippos came....

One hippo caught a wildebeest and threw it away. This made the following wildebeests to stop, but the will to cross was tüoo strong and they came again, a bit further up stream

Dead wildebeests get carried downstream by the current. Crocodiles and vultures enjoy plenty of food. Every few years the river banks get very steep by high water levels and these difficult situations can cost many lives.

From mid October until November the big herds start moving south back into Serengeti. Many have to cross the Mara River again and proceed through the mostly dry Sandriver.

From November until February the big number of animals migrates to the South of Serengeti. Once more they have to cross the Grumeti River. In February the circle of live starts afresh.