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Thursday, January 03, 2002
Tanzania Migration Update
The season for the migration is starting now (January 2002) and we are getting ready to meet Wildland travellers who want to enjoy one of the most awesome natural spectacles on the Earth: The mass movement of more than 1 million wildebeest, zebra and Thomson's gazelle in the Serengeti.
Unusual rains at the end of August hit the Serengeti triggering the move of the herds that were in the Mara southwards, but afterwards the rain stopped and the "Vuli", the short rainy season of October November, was not generous with Northern Tanzania, offering only erratic and scattered rains. As of December, this is why the big herds have not yet reached the treeless short grass plains of the south, still remaining in central Serengeti.
But, although scattered, at least some part of the plains is always receiving rain and the wildebeest keep on the move rotating and revisiting areas every few weeks to graze the grasses when they are at the most nutritious. As always, we follow the movement of the herds and react immediately.
All our camps that were previously reserved to be set up in the Ndutu area or even in the Gol Mountains were changed to Ol Doinyo Rongai where the animals are concentrating at this moment. This is the real advantage of a mobile camp, which is always set at the best place where abundance of wildlife is secured.
Rain fell less than usual in Sinya, just across the Kenya border from Amboseli National Park, but just last week dispersed showers blessed the land again settling the dust and renewing the grass. The plains west of Milima Saba (the 7 hills) that we call Serengeti Ndogo or Little Serengeti because of its resemblance with the short grass plains of the national park, are already hosting the mini-migration of the wildebeest from Amboseli, Kenya into this private Maasai community concession area of northern Tanzania.
And they offer excellent opportunities for photographers that can take photographs of herds on the run with the background of Kilimanjaro or Longido peak. On the eastern side, the eternal image of the elephants and the peak of Kilimanjaro is always available whenever the mass of clouds disperses and the mountain shows with all its magnificence.
Our Kambi ya Tembo (Elephant Camp) in Sinya is now permanent with new tents, and improvements like solar panels for electricity in the tents, flush toilets and new decorations. We will update you soon with new pictures of the Camp.
