Planning a visit to Kenya's Masai Mara? Here are leading luxury safari lodges you must consider staying on on your Visit. Read More!
Safari Updates, Visit East Africa, Wildlife safaris

Luxury Safari Lodges To Consider on Your Visit To Masai Mara

Masai Mara national reserve has some of Kenya’s leading luxury safari lodges that complement the vibrant big five and wildebeest migration safaris. Masai Mara is renown for its big five mammals that can be experienced in the Mara Triangle and and the various conservancies around the reserve. Accommodation is Key in exploring the vast lands of the Masai ecosystem and a number of luxury safari lodges have been set up over the years. These are strategically located making it easy for tourists to access Masai Mara for general activities like game drives.

Let us look at some of the most outstanding luxury safari lodges you must consider when visiting Masai Mara.

Luxury Safari Lodges in Masai Mara
A luxury Tent at Mahali Mzuri. Photo by Mahali Mzuri

Mahali Mzuri

This beautiful luxurious tented safari camp is situated in the Olare Motorogi conservancy. The camp has 12 luxury cottages that are self contained with great views of the conservancy. Mahali Mzuri was voted Number 1 hotel and number world safari lodge in 2021 in Travel+Leisure for its outstanding services and luxurious touch.

Mahali Mzuri has an infinity swimming pool where you can swim and cool down on a hot day and relax enjoying the views of the wilderness. The pool is also heated and you can still enjoy your swim on a chilly day.

While staying at the Mahali Mzuri you get to experience big cats safaris, Wildebeest migration if it is the right season, safari game drives and much more. The Olare Motorogi conservancy is famous for the big cats and many other wildlife species. Incase you are interested in visiting the Mara triangle you can still do for wildlife viewing. You can also have a community to the Masai where you would get to know more about their culture and heritage.

Ensure to make your booking to the camp in advance since it gets fully booked especially in the peak tourist season.

Angama Mara Safari Lodge

Angama Mara is one of the best luxury safari lodges in Masai Mara overlooking the reserve. It is situated on the Rift Valley escarpment over looking the Rift valley floor. The tented safari lodge has 15 luxurious self contained and fully furnished tents that offers interrupted views of the great Rift Valley.

It is among the best exclusive and Honeymoon destinations in Kenya. It has over the years been internationally recognised as among World’s best accommodation facility for its outstanding beauty and excellent services offered there. It featured in and got accolades from renown travel magazines including Travel+leisure, Conde Nest Traveler, National Geographic among others.

Angama Mara is the perfect place to explore Masai Mara starting from Big five and big cats plus the wildebeest migration experiences. The lodge has a mobile tented camp called Angama Safari Camp in the Mara Triangle that is very ideal to explore the wildebeest migration. With this you are able to keep up with the wildebeest migration including live predators hunting moments.

The lodge can easily be accessed by air to the lodge’s airfield and it would be the best means to maximise your experience at the lodge. The safari experience starts right at the lodge and at the Angama Safari Camp so if you a wildlife lover you are very much covered. Those interested in filming or photographic safaris are very much welcome here. The lodges strategic location makes it ideal for filming and a lot of scenes from Out of Africa were filmed here. You can therefore enjoy photographic safaris, family safaris, Masai cultural visits, classic game drives, ballon safaris, guided nature walks among others.

Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp

You can not list luxury safari lodges and camps in Masai Mara and fail to mention andBeyond’s Kichwa Tembo tented camp. It is located on a private concession on the Oloololo escarpment overlooking Saparingo River. The concession is home to wildlife species including big cats that are often seen while on game drives. Kichwa Tembo is one of the best places in Masai to enjoy the great wildebeest migration experience. 

It has 8 superior view tents, 20 superior tents and 12 classic tents that are well furnished and decorated with a rustic touch. They offer great uninterrupted views of the Masai Mara and one can easily spot wildlife even at the comfort of their tent. The tents are self contained and private and you get to have an exclusive access during your stay at Kichwa Tembo. 

Kichwa Tembo also has a beautiful infinity pool where you can relax enjoying the sunset and the great scenic views. While staying at Kichwa Tembo you can engage in a number of safari activities including game drives, nature walks, community visits among others.

Elewana Sand River Masai Mara

This rustic camp has 12 tented cottages and it is among the top luxury safari lodges in Kenya’s Masai Mara. Its strategic location makes it an ideal place for game drives featuring the big cats. It is very exclusive giving one an opportunity to enjoy interrupted wildlife safari experiences and services at the lodge it self.

Elewana Sand River overlooks the Sand river and often times dinner and breakfast is set at the River banks. Here one relaxes enjoying great scenic views of the River and wilderness in general. There is also a swimming pool overlooking the plains of Masai Mara where you can enjoy a swim or sunbathe.

While Elewana Sand River you can engage in a number of safari activities like game drives, nature walks, community visits among others. The lodge is very ideal for the great wildebeest migration as you can get to watch the migration from your cottage.

The lodge received a Conde Nest traveler Readers’ Choice award in 2020 and it is truly outstanding.

Mara Intrepids Tented Camp

This beautiful camp overlooks Talek River and is also strategically located in the heart Masai Mara national reserve. The camps location makes it an ideal place to enjoy and explore the great Masai mara and its wildlife species. Mara Intrepids Tented Camp is located just a few minutes drive from the Mara River where millions gather to witness the Wildebeest River crossings as the wildebeest cross over from Tanzania’s Serengeti National park. With this easy access to the Mara River, the camp is the best and ideal to book if you are much interested in the wildebeest migration.

The luxury tents at the camp are self contained with great views of the surrounding scenery. You can engage in a number of safari activities while staying at the lodge. These include safari game drives, photography safaris, ballon safaris among others. Mara Intrepids Tented Camp is also a great place to stay with your family. They organise kids activities that keep them engaged and also get an opportunity to learn and explore more of the African and Masai Mara wilderness.

They also organise bush dinners and sundowners where you can enjoy the view of the sunrise and sunset. The camps exclusive nature makes it a great option if looking for luxury Safari Lodges to stay at when in Masai Mara.

Wildebeest Migration Visit East Africa. 3 Days Masai Mara
Safari Updates, Wildlife, Wildlife safaris

The Wildebeest Migration Adventure

The great wildebeest migration is an annual animal migration between Serengeti and Masai mara ecosystems in Kenya and Tanzania. It features vast numbers of wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, and other antelope species moving over the plains of Serengeti and Masai Mara for fresh pasture. This natural phenomenon happens month per month gradually transitioning into the other as the grazers move facing deadly predators, especially the big cats.

The Wildebeest Migration Annual Road Map

In January at the beginning of the year, the migration is often in Southern Serengeti. Here they evenly spread throughout the Ndutu conservation area and part of the Ngorongoro Crater. They would have returned from Kenya’s Masai Mara around mid-October spreading throughout Northern Serengeti.

The wildebeest stay in southern Serengeti throughout the months of February and March also double as a calving period. The young ones are a great addition to the wildebeest population that eagerly awaits to take on their journey up north once again. The calves are however targeted by the predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs that often hide in the lush grasses ready to take down their prey.

In April and May, the wildebeest steadily start moving towards northern Serengeti as the wet season ends. These ushers in the dry season in June as the animals spread further west. Here they encounter River Grumeti their first major obstacle on their journey. The high water levels from the rains in the wet season discourage the wildebeest from quickly crossing over. The River banks are also graced with some of the deadliest Nile crocodiles that the wildebeest have to look out for.

In July and August at the peak of the dry season, quite a number of them would have crossed the Grumeti River. They move further north towards Masai Mara crossing the Mara River that has a number of predator crocodiles that take advantage of the wildebeest numbers. The Nile crocodiles feast big time on the herbivores that also fight hard to continue on course northwards. The wildebeest move over the Masai Mara Ecosystem till around mid-October when they start crossing back to Serengeti.

The Migration cycle then starts all over again a journey that wildlife enthusiasts often want to be part of.

The Big cats

Serengeti and Masai are among the few places in East Africa with highest concentrations of big cats. These have large prides of lions whose survival is directly linked to the wildebeest and the many herbivores that they prey on. The wildebeest migration is among the few places where you can catch live action hunting in the wild.

Apart from the lions, the wilds’ most stealth predators the leopards are also many in Serengeti and Mara ecosystem. These also take advantage of even the calving period to hunt prey for their survival. Cheetahs are also present here and use their speed advantage to race out herbivores. The big cats are often accompanied by hyenas that like to steal some of the already hunted prey.

Hyenas are also deadly predators that are evenly distributed in the region. These attack in groups to easily maximize their chances of a kill.

The wildebeest Migration Experience

The best way to enjoy the wildebeest migration is on a day game drives in the parks and the respective conservancies. Luckily the migration can be easily predicated month per month which enables travelers to plan accordingly on where to visit at a particular time. Early morning game drives are highly recommended for those who would like to catch up with the early risers.

Evening game drives are ideal for you to see the wild animals retire from a busy hunting and grazing day. You are also able to catch up with the African sunset while on evening game drives. The nocturnal wildlife then start heading out as they are most active at night including the big cats.


Hot air ballon safaris are also highly recommended as they offer a panoramic view of the wildlife. It is always refreshing to observe wildlife from an elevated point of view and in the masai mara and Serengeti it is even more spectacular. The best time for ballon safaris are early mornings and late evenings. For the early morning expeditions, you can have bush breakfast that is prepared and served in the wilderness offering you uninterrupted views of the game.

Accommodation

There are a number of accommodation facilities that are strategically located within and at the outskirts of the parks. Staying at one of these beautiful Wild places ahead of your wildebeest safari expedition is very ideal. You can start your game drives right from your lodge or tented camp and occasionally have wildlife visitors like lions and other big five mammals including elephants.

It is very important to book the appropriate accommodation depending on the wildebeest migration movements. There are temporary safari camps that move with the migration throughout the year. Before you book your tour it is better to be certain where the wildebeest are for you to book the most convenient accommodation option.

The dry season from June to September doubles as the peak tourist season a time when accommodation facilities get fully booked. Incase you plan to travel during this Time it is highly recommended for you to book your accommodation in advance. October is a transition month from the dry to wet season but still busy and features River crossings of the wildebeest from Masai Mara to Serengeti. You would still need to book your accommodation in advance a year or couple months before to avoid missing out.

During the wet season mainly in November, March, April and May, there are high chances of rainfall which makes some game drive trails impassable. This however does not prevent one from enjoying the migration especially with the calving period. A number of lodges also offer discounted rates during this time of the year and could ideal to travel if you want to save some money.

Birding

For birders, the wet season is the best time to visit as the migratory birds set in coming from as far as Europe. General wildlife viewing is also great including the big cats that are spotted hiding in the lush vegetation.

Now that we are in the middle of the peak tourist season, you can plan your safari now and visit towards the end of year or book for the next season come 2023. Visit East Africa for these and much more wildlife adventures.

Kenya Wildlife Adventures
Safari Updates, Tours & Travel, Visit East Africa, Wildlife

Kenya Wildlife Adventures To Do This July

Kenya is a renown destination for epic wildlife adventures thanks to its wildlife diversity. The country offers by far some of the most enjoyable classic African safaris experienced in over 20 national parks. Aside from the usual savanna parks and game reserves, Kenya has marine national parks along the coast. These gives one opportunity to enjoy marine wildlife adventures featuring dolphins, sea turtles among others.

Let us briefly look at the leading Kenya wildlife adventures you must not miss this July.

Wildebeest Migration Wildlife Adventures

The wildebeest migration is an annual animal mass migration over the Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystems. It involves over 1 million wildebeests, Thompson gazelles, zebras, and other major grazers. These move in search of fresh pastures and are often times guided by rains.

The great wildebeest migration is a true life cycle that involves every stage of life with births, survival, and deaths. It attracts the land’s most feared predators that readily take down their prey. They include large pride of lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and many scavengers.

Every month features a unique wildebeest migration and wildlife adventures transitioning to the other. In this month, the River crossings have started from Serengeti to Masai Mara and the wildebeest has to overcome the deadly Nile crocodiles in the Mara River. Those that make it alive sweep across the Mara ecosystem until late September when they start going back to Serengeti.

While on a visit to Kenya ensure to visit Masai Mara to be part of the great wildebeest migration. Look out for other wildlife in the park and reserves including elephants plus a number of bird species. A number of tour options to Masai Mara feature the migration. In case you have a limited time in Kenya you can opt for 3 Days Masai Mara Tour. Longer Safari options are however recommended for more chances of wildlife views.

Amboseli African elephants

Amboseli national park is among Kenya’s most famous national parks. It is the best place to see African elephants as they freely roam the open savanna of the park. Mount Kilimanjaro Africa’s highest mountain can be best seen in Amboseli national park. Wildlife safari adventures in Amboseli are a great deal with the magnificent background view of the Kilimanjaro.

Apart from elephants, you can see other wildlife species in the park like giraffes, buffaloes, zebras among others. The park is also home to over 400 bird species including flamingos that are present in the wet season. Given that the park has diverse ecosystems of grasslands, woodlands and swamp vegetation, it attracts different bird species.

The park can be visited any time of the year but the best time is in the dry season. This ranges from December to February and June to September. A visit to this park can be done in additional to a wildebeest migration safari in 6 to 7 days for better chances and maximisation of wildlife.

Nairobi City Safari escapes

Nairobi is Kenya’s capital city and it is the only city in the world in the proximity of a national park. Nairobi national park is situated just a 40 minutes drive from the city centre. This gives nature lovers an opportunity to go for short wildlife adventures with ease and convenience.

The park is home to various wildlife species including Rhinos, giraffes, lions, zebras, wildebeest and a number of antelope species. Even in a day trip to the park you will be able to enjoy game drives and later return to the city for an overnight.

Birders are also well catered for here as the park is home to over 500 bird species. Notable birds here include black-headed heron, Ostriches, blacksmith lapwing, kori bustard among others. The migratory birds also set from November to April coming from as far as Europe.

For those with little time in Kenya but would love to enjoy African Wildlife adventures this is the place to be.

Mombasa Marine Wildlife Adventures

Mombasa is Kenya’s biggest sea port and city. It is strategically borders the Indian Ocean and is a one stop centre for Marine wildlife experiences. Mombasa has beautiful white sand beaches where one can relax and enjoy the African sun with uninterrupted ocean view. Leading beaches in Mombasa include Diani beach, watamu beach, Tiwi beach, Nyali beach, Kalifi beach among others.

All the beaches have accommodation facilities where one can stay incase they are visiting for more than a day.

The key wildlife attraction in Mombasa are the aquatic wildlife that are not found in any place in Kenya. They include sea turtles, dolphins, fish species among others. Diving is a major activity done giving one an opportunity to see the aquatic wildlife and enjoy the adventures in the Indian Ocean.

A visit to Mambasa is a great supplement to the classic wildlife adventures on the mainland. It also enables one explore the ocean side and get to relax at the beach. Other activities one can engage in include beach football, volleyball, wind surfing, boat rides on the ocean.

The great rift Valley adventures.

The eastern arm of the great Rift Valley in Kenya is a wonder it self and the Rift Valley floor is home to a number of wildlife species. They are a number of Rift Valley lakes in Kenya including lake Nakuru that was gazetted into a national park. Lake Nakuru national park’s location not only offers a great Rift Valley experience but also incredible wildlife adventures.

Lake Nakuru is famous for flamingos and was one of the best places to see flamingos. Due to climate change and weather conditions, flamingos migrated but still occur in smaller numbers. Great white pelicans though occur in large numbers making the lake a birders haven. Other notable birds here include grey crowned cranes, shining sun bird, crab-plovers, Kenya rufous sparrow among others.

For those interested in the big five there are four of the big five mammals present here. These include White and black rhinos, buffaloes, leopards and lions. Other wildlife species present include giraffes, hippos, zebras, that are often sighted while on game drives in the park.

Kenya is no doubt a safari giant and a must visit for those seeking incredible wildlife adventures in East Africa. Safaris here are possible all year round though for best experiences it is often recommended to visit in the dry season when there are minimal rainfall disturbances. The dry season stretches from June to September and from December to January. 

Wildebeest Migration Safari. African Safaris
Safari Updates, Tanzania Tours, Wildlife, Wildlife safaris

Wildebeest Migration Safari Diaries

The wildebeest migration safari is an annual mass animal migration in the Masai mara and Serengeti Eco system. The migration involves a movement of millions of wildebeest, Thompson gazelles, zebras across the open plains searching for fresh pastures. The wildebeest migration safari is a wildlife wonder to look out for when visiting Kenya and Tanzania for a classic African wildlife experience.

The annual animal movement features the mating, calving and growth stages that keeps the crowds alive. A number of these are also targeted by the deadly predators the ecosystem has from Lions to the deadly crocodiles in the River Grumeti and Mara. Despite all these challenges, the births along the trail keeps the animals in the migration going year in year out.

All these happen in a particular month transcending into another. This helps travellers to know the best month or stage to catch up with the migration.

Wildebeest Migration safari Month by Month

The wildebeest migration being an annual migration gives a unique experience each month or quarter. The calving period is a great time to view the newly borns and how they adopt with the deadly open savanna’s. The River Crossings are the most anticipated as wildebeest struggle crossing the paths of the deadly crocodiles. Let is briefly look the the wildebeest migration safari activity month per month. For anyone planning a safari featuring the migration this would help to know when to visit or what to expect at a particular month.

December to February

The rains in November favours growth of pasture that the wildebeest continue to feed on as they slowly drift south of Serengeti. From mid November throughout January Southern Serengeti is the best place to catch up with the migration. More wildebeest continue calving reaching the peak in February.

A Serengeti Safari around February is humbling as you might get to see wildebeest births in the wilderness. The predators use this time attacking the young and  isolated wildebeest as the crowd slowly moves towards Central Serengeti.

March to April

These months are wet and high chances of rainfall. This however does not deter the wildebeest migration journey in Central and western Serengeti. There is often plenty of pastures to feed on and much it is a low tourist season, the migratory birds set in making a wildebeest migration safari even more enjoyable.

While in Tanzania ensure to book your accommodation strategically to catch up with the live a action wildebeest migration.

May to June

As May sets in, the wildebeest move towards Northern Serengeti always driven by the need for fresher grazing grounds. May is also a transition month from the wet to the dry season and a great time for wildlife viewing.

The wildebeest plus other major herbivores continue sweeping across the north as they prepare for their adventure in the Masai Mara. The rains in March and April increase the water levels of Grumeti River but by June it starts reducing and the wildebeest start their River crossing quest. At the Grumeti River you can spot some crocodiles but River crossings are not as enjoyable as the Mara River crossings. Nevertheless, it is always fascinating to see the bold wildebeests that take the first jump leading the whole group.  

July to September

The July to September period doubles as the peak tourist season and it is very significant time for a wildebeest migration safari. It features the migration River crossings in the Serengeti and Masai Mara Ecosystems. Two major Rivers are Grumeti and Mara. These are home to some of world’s deadliest Nile crocodiles that the Wildebeest have to overcome on their journey northwards to the great Masai Mara.

The wildebeest River crossings start in July as the wildebeest would have reached Western Serengeti. The major first River Crossing obstacle they meet is River Grumeti and tense but quite a sight to see for adventure lovers. Towards the end of July, the surviving herds of the wildebeest continue to northern Serengeti. From early to mid August, the crowds proceed through northern Serengeti into Masai Mara and cross the Mara River yet another obstacle on their journey.

In the Mara region they get to enjoy the lush grasses that act as hiding places for worlds’ fierce predators especially the lions. While in the Mara ecosystem, the wildebeest traverse the northern Mara conservancies before starting their journey back to the Serengeti. Here they once again Cross the Mara River an event that attracts a number of tourists.

For those interested in the River Crossing, the best time to catch up these in Serengeti is early July. From Mid July to September Masai Mara would be place to be.

October to November

By this time the wildebeest start slowly drifting towards northern Serengeti. Those visiting Tanzania during this time of the year the best place to catch up with the migration is the Serengeti Lobo Area. The month of October being a transition month from the dry to wet season, the rains set in especially towards the end. This gives a boost to vegetation growth enabling the wildebeest enough pastures for grazing.

The calving period also starts and with the young ones coming in it reboots and rejuvenates the wildebeest population. The lush vegetation however attracts a number of predators that sometimes target the young ones. Survival in the Serengeti is by chance but many survival despite the attacks from the predators.

Plan your visit to magical Kenya and Tanzania to be part of the never ending Wildebeest migration safari adventures. Remember these feature classic African encounters of major wildlife species including birds and predators.

There are a number of tented camps and lodges where one can stay to enjoy the wildebeest migration. Some tented camps are temporary and change to new locations depending on the movement of wildebeest. Now that the peak season has set in it is time to book your bucket list adventure to either Serengeti or Masai mara. The best time for these safaris are early mornings as you get to see the early risers some returning from hunting. 

Serengeti National Park. Tanzania Safari Tips
Tours & Travel, Wildlife

Tanzania Safari Tips With What To Know Before You Visit Tanzania

Tanzania Safari tips are very vital as the country features on top bucket lists of adventure travelers visiting East Africa. It is home to diverse wildlife species with over 20% of Africa’ largest mammal population. A Tanzania safari featuring savanna’s finest wildlife is everyones’ dream but there some information you need to know before you travel to Tanzania. Below are key Tanzania safari tips you Must take note of while preparing your visit to the country.

Visa Requirements

Tanzania has a provision for Visa on arrival as well as an eVisa system where one is required to apply in advance. There are however a number of countries with Tanzania visa exemption. To enter the country one must have valid identification like a passport or a National Identity card.

American citizens entering Tanzania must apply for a Multiple entry visa that has a 1 year Validity. This costs USD 100 per person however holders of this Visa are required to at least leave the country every 3 months.

The ordinary or single entry visa cost USD 50 per person and its validity does not exceed 90 days. Adventure lovers seeking to visit the country for a safari must ensure to apply for the correct visa. You can now apply for an online Visa before visiting Tanzania.

Wildlife

A Tanzania safari is possible because of the country’s wildlife with over 4 million wild animals. There are over 430 mammal and 1100 bird species, amphibians, and reptiles often seen on game drives in the country. Tanzania has 17 national parks covering a land area of about 16,000 square miles representing about 40% of Tanzania.

With this, Tanzania stands out as a leading wildlife destination with natural wildlife wonders like the great wildebeest migration. While on a Tanzania safari, you can engage in a number of activities to fully what the country has to offer. These include game drives, guided nature walks, balloon safaris, boat cruises, and birding expeditions among others.

The great wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park is a must-watch along with the big cats and five 5 mammals. The Ngorongoro crater is extraordinary offering great scenic views and is also home to a variety of wildlife. Giraffes, rhinos, buffaloes, wildebeests, gazelles, elands, waterbucks, and crocodiles are some of the wildlife seen on a Tanzania safari.

Accommodation

There are a number of safari lodges in Tanzania where one can stay while on a Tanzania safari. These range from Budget, deluxe and luxury facilities giving on a wide range of options to choose from.

Each national park has a number of facilities within or nearby the premises from where one can easily access the park. A number of these feature in worlds leading travel magazines as number safari lodges and Hotels. Notable safari Lodges in Tanzania include
andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, The Highlands Ngorongoro, Sanctuary Kichakani Serengeti Camp among others.

Important to note that in the peak tourist season the lodges get fully booked and its advisable to book in advance. Lodges in the low season from March to May offer discounted rates but it’s a rainy season.

Best time to Visit

Tanzania safari adventures can be enjoyed any time of the year. For best savanna wildlife experiences though it’s always better to visit in the dry season. This ranges from June to Late October and from Mid December to Early March. 

In the dry season, you get to see a variety of wildlife with minimal rainfall disturbances. The game drives trails are also dry making it easy to do game drives as opposed to the wet season when some trails are impassable. 

Kindly however note that the dry season is the peak tourist season and some camps or lodges charge highly during this time of the year. 

The wet season from November, April, May and great times to visit for those interested in birding. It’s around this time of the year that migratory birds are in the region. With the rains, the vegetation is often lush great and one doesn’t have to drive far to spot wildlife especially the grazers that naturally attract the predators. 

With the limited numbers during the wet season, safari experiences are very exclusive and intimate. Visit Tanzania today and explore the country’s rich and diverse wildlife, culture and heritage. The discussed Tanzania Safari tips are enough to guide in the tour planning process. You can contact us for more information about the different destinations in Tanzania. 

5 Things to Do on a Tanzania Safari

Tanzania is a world renown safari destination and Tanzanian safari experiences top bucket lists of adventure travellers. The country has a variety of tourist attractions and no wonder it’s among the most desirable East African safari destinations.

Much as there was a lot of travel tension and restrictions because of Corona virus, Tanzania never locked down and tourism activities have been on going in the country. The world is now slowly adjusting to the new normal and international travel resumed following standard operating procedures. All those that had postponed their safaris are looking to travelling now. Below are 5 safari activities you should do while on a Tanzanian Safari.

Wildebeest Migration Safari

This annual animal migration is a must-do while on a Tanzanian Safari. The wildebeest migration is a mass movement of wildebeest, zebras, topi, and gazelles over the open savannah plains of the Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystems.

The animals move in thousands a journey that attracts the major predators of the savannas including lions, leopards, hyenas, and wild dogs among others. The Nile crocodiles encountered while crossing River Grumeti also pose a great obstacle that the herbivores must overcome to continue with their Course.

This adventurous natural phenomenon offers the perfect opportunity for savannah wildlife viewing, photography, and encounters you might not easily find on any other safari activity. While on any visit to Tanzania, ensure to add the wildebeest migration safaris to your itinerary. Right now the migration is moving towards the eastern edge of Serengeti National Park and it would be a great opportunity to explore other major attractions in the Park.

Wildebeest Migration. Tanzanian Safari Experiences
Wildebeest River Crossing. Photo by George the Explorer

Ngorongoro Crater Visit

The Ngorongoro crater is one of the most iconic natural wonders of the world located in northern Tanzania. It’s the world’s largest inactive and unfilled caldera. Its very iconic and an attraction itself and offers great scenic views.

The crater is also a habitat for a number of wildlife species including lions, buffaloes, elephants, zebras, and rhinos among others. Game drives on the floor of the crater are very rewarding as you get to see the various wildlife species. For those interested in birding, birding safaris are very possible in the crater. Some bird species spotted here include lesser flamingos on Lake Magadi.

Tanzanian Safari experiences featuring the Ngorongoro crater are very adventurous and a must-do while on a Tanzania expedition.

Masai Community Visit

African culture is widely celebrated and while on a Tanzanian safari expedition, a visit to one of the local communities is highly recommended as it enables you enjoy one on one moments with the local people. There are a number of local communities around major protected areas and in places like Serengeti National Park, the local people are fully involved in tourism.

Many sight guides are from the local communities offering all the needed information about the geography and culture of the people. While on safari kindly ensure to add a visit to the local communities, especially the Masai. While there you can get to know about the ways of life of the people and have a bit of experiential tourism being a part of their local activities like hunting, grazing among others.

Nature Walks

Nature walks are very ideal as they offer you a chance to get close to the wildlife. Tanzania has a number of national parks and game reserves where guided nature walks are done offering perfect opportunities for sightseeing and photography.

These are best enjoyed in the morning where you can catch up with the sunrise or in the evenings. They are also highly recommended for birders and those seeking for exclusive and intimate safari experiences.

Ballon Safaris

Ballon Safaris are very enjoyable and adventurous offering great aerial and panoramic views of the beautiful landscapes. Tanzania being a renowned wildlife safari destination, is one of the best places to enjoy a balloon safari.

They also provide great opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography. Balloon safaris in Tanzania are often done in Serengeti, Selous, Ruaha, and other major national parks. Ruaha National Park and Selous game reserve (Nyerere National Park) are located in the southern part of Tanzania which is remote and the adventures here are very exclusive and remarkable.

You can read some of the safari tips you need to know about Tanzania and prepare accordingly.

Why Kenya Should Be Your Next Safari Destination

Kenya is East Africa’s wildlife safari destination and among the Must Visit places while in the region. Kenya has various wildlife species that offer classic safari experiences that one should be part of. The diverse wildlife in Kenya makes the destination magical and you can never get enough of the experiences.

Below are some of the reasons why Kenya Must be your next wildlife safari destination.

Unique Marine Wildlife

Kenya is one of the few East African countries where you can enjoy marine wildlife. The country has over Four Marine national parks with wildlife species that make tours there unique.

Malindi Marine Park is among the most visited marine parks and was established in 1986. The Marine park has wildlife species ranging from coral reefs, turtles, fish species, shorebirds, among others. While here you can engage in activities like snorkeling, deep sea fishing, Kite-surfing and diving.

Watamu Marine, Kisite mpuguti and Mombasa marine parks are other leading marine parks in Kenya. In these marine parks you can see green sea turtles, Manta Rays, Reef sharks, Octopus among others.

Fish in Mombasa Marine Park Kenya
Fish in Mombasa Marine Park Kenya. Courtesy Photo

A Safari on the Wildebeest Migration

Kenya is most famous for the wildebeest migration in Masai Mara national reserve. The Wildebeest mass migration is an annual wildlife wonder that involves game like wildebeest, zebras and antelopes looking for pasture.

This migration attracts Masai Mara’s predators from Lions, leopards, Cheetahs and hyenas that hunt the grazers on the wildebeest migration. Safaris in the wildebeest migration can be explored on game drives in the open Masai plains.

Wildebeest migration in Kenya can be best viewed from Mid-August to Late October before the animals head back to Tanzania.

Wildebeest Migration in Masai Mara Game Reserve
Wildebeest Migration Kenya. Photo by James Warwick

Africa’s Big Five and More

Kenya has many savanna national parks that are homes to Africa’s Big five Mammals. The Big Five Mammals include Lions, Leopards, Rhinos, Buffaloes and Elephants. These were named big five because of how difficult they were to be hunted by trophy hunters.

The Big Five mammals are often seen while on game drives in the different savanna national parks in Kenya. They also occur in large numbers especially buffaloes as many of the other big five populations was affected by poaching.

Kenya wildlife destinations have more than the big five with other wildlife species like Hippos, Giraffes, zebras and Antelope species. Apart from game drives, these can also be seen on guided nature walks or hot air balloon safaris.

Leopard in Masai Mara Reserve Kenya
Leopard in Masai Mara. Photo by Tui De Roy

Rich Culture and Heritage

While on a safari to Kenya, culture is one thing you should ensure to look out for. The country has some of the unique cultural encounters especially with the Masai people.

The Masai people live near Masai Mara national reserve and many are employed as guides. Guided Masai tours are very incredible as the local people are well knowledgeable about the wildlife.

While at the safari lodges and Tented camps in Masai Mara, the local Masai people make folk performances. This enables one to know more about their local culture.

Reasons Why Tanzania is East Africa’s Ultimate Safari Destination

Millions of adventure tourists visit Tanzania every year to be part of East Africa’s ultimate safari experiences. The country is blessed with diverse wildlife species topping bucket lists of many adventure lovers. Here are some of the reasons why Tanzania is East Africa’s number one safari destination.

1. Safari Destination of all Seasons

Many believe that the dry season from June to October is the only best time for a safari in Tanzania. This is totally untrue as the best time is dependent on the wildlife you would like to spot.

Tanzania can be visited anytime of the year and experience varies depending on when you choose to visit. The wildebeest migration is among the leading safari attractions in Tanzania and be best viewed from July to September.

If you are interested in viewing wildebeest river crossings, August to September are the best months for your safari. November to May are best times for those who don’t like crowds. The season is wet but characterised with wildebeest and antelope calving in southern Serengeti.

The scenery of the park is beautiful green and its usually the time for migratory birds. This is the best time for a birding safari and for predator viewing as they take advantage of the calves.

Wildebeest Migration. Tanzanian Safari Experiences
Wildebeest River Crossing. Photo by George the Explorer

2. Vast Wildlife Numbers

Tanzania is one African safari destination where you get to witness wildlife species in large numbers. Serengeti National park alone has an estimated lion population of over 3,000 lions seen in prides of up-to 20 lions. Selous Game reserve in the south has over 15,501 elephants that are usually seen on game drives in the reserve.

over 200,000 zebra, 300,000 Thompson gazelles and 1.5 million wildebeest take part in the wildebeest migration. This makes Tanzania an outstanding safari destination and best place to see wildlife in large numbers.

Most of these large wildlife populations are seen while on game drives or while on hot air balloon safaris.

3. Cradle Land for Africa’s Highest Mountain

Mount Kilimanjaro Africa’s highest mountain at an Elevation of 5,895 meters is located in northeastern Tanzania. The mountain is actually world’s highest single free-standing mountain another wonder to look out for on a Safari in Tanzania.

Those interested in Mountain climbing can take on the Kilimanjaro adventurous hike offering scenic views of the greater East Africa. Visit Kilimanjaro National park a UNESCO World heritage site with wildlife species like elephants, bush-bucks, tree hyrax among others.

A mount Kilimanjaro hike takes 5 days for experienced hikers though at-least seven to eight days are recommended. The best time for the Kilimanjaro hike is in the dry season from with minimum rainfall disturbances.

5. BigFive Safari Destination

You can experience Africa’s big five mammals in Tanzania’s National park while on a safari there. The big Five include Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, Rhinos and Leopards. Tanzania’s national parks like Serengeti has all these often seen while on game drives.

These particular animals were named the big five because they were difficult animals to be hunted by trophy hunters. Wild animal lovers on safari are usually eager to see them in the wild and Tanzania gives one that opportunity.

The Big Five can also be seen is the Ngorongoro crater a unique ecosystem and home to other wildlife species. Wildlife here is seen on game drives on the Crater floor that is flat offering endless views over the horizon.

6. Perfect Beach Holiday Destination

Tanzania having a long coastline is one East African destination for beach holidays. The coastline has beautiful white sand beaches perfect for sunbathing and beach sport like Volleyball and beach soccer.

The white sand beaches are usually great getaway destinations after a safari in the Savanna national parks. They are also great for honeymooners as here you just relax enjoying scenic views of the blue waters of the Indian ocean. Most popular Tanzania Beaches include Nungwi beach, Kendwa beach, Unguja beach all along the Zanzibar Island.

Nungwi Beach Tanzania Safari
Nungwi Beach Tanzania. Courtesy Photo

The Best of Masai Mara Game Reserve’s Wildlife Safari Experiences

Masai Mara game reserve is a popular wildlife safari destination in Kenya located in the rift valley region. The reserve has open grassland favoring a number of grazers that easily traverse the area in search for pasture.

The reserve has over 400 birds and 95 mammal species making it one of the best wildlife viewing destinations. Masai Mara has sectors or conservancies like the Mara Triangle, Lemek, Mara North, Maji Moto among others all with wildlife. A combination of all the conservancies is what forms the Masai Mara National Reserve.

Masai Mara game reserve covers a total land area of 1,510 square Kilometers traversed by the Mara and Talek River. Below are some of the best wildlife safari experiences you can enjoy while visiting Masai Mara.

The Wildebeest migration

This wildlife trek of grazers involves over 2 millions animals that move from Serengeti to Masai Mara game reserve. It is usually comprised of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles in thousands looking for fresh pastures over the Serengeti-Masai Mara ecosystems. Animals on the wildebeest migration arrive in Masai Mara game reserve around the month of July and depart in November.

The wildebeest migration is not your usual wildlife migration as it attracts the land’s leading predators to hunt prey. The major predators in Masai Mara include lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, wild dogs and the crocodiles. There are also Vultures that are usually ready to feed on the remaining carcass after the predators have left.

Masai Mara’s wildebeest migration is a natural phenomena to look out for by any one interested in wildlife adventures. It offers an insight of life in the wild as grazers look for pasture for survival while predators hunt them.

There are several births on the wildebeest migration journey a hope to life and opportunity to learn more about nature. Best time for the wildebeest migration in Kenya is July to November when the animals have crossed over from Serengeti.

While on the wildebeest migration safari in Masai Mara look out for the River crossings especially around Mara river. Here there are thousand crocodiles that wait in the shallow river waters to take down their prey

Wildebeest Migration in Masai Mara Game Reserve
Wildebeest Migration Kenya. Photo by James Warwick

Safari Game Drives

Masai Mara game reserve is one best place in East Africa for safari game drives. The reserve has over 95 mammal species often seen while on game drives. They include world’s largest mammals like elephants, hippos, giraffes, buffaloes, Rhinos, zebras and many antelope species.

The reserve has the major big cats including large prides of lions, leopards, cheetahs and spotted hyenas. These are seen on early morning game drives best to catch up with early risers and nocturnal animals especially cats.  Masai Mara big cats are very fierce that they also make successful attempts in the big mammals like elephants.

Safari game drives in Masai Mara are very rewarding and unpredictable that each encounter offers a whole new experience. These game drives can also be enjoyed in the evening which also offers chance to view the African sun set.

Masai Mara Birding Safaris

As earlier communicated, Masai Mara game reserve has over 400 bird species including the areas endemics only seen there. The reserve is therefore one of the leading birding safari destinations in Kenya and East Africa at large. Commonly seen birds in Masai Mara game reserve include crowned cranes, Marabou storks, Horn-bills, ostriches, Eagles among others.

Birding can be done alongside game drives offering chances of diverse wildlife viewing. There are however tourists interested specifically in birds which can still be done as the reserve has so many species. The best time for birding safaris in Masai Mara game reserve are in the morning and in the evening.

Balloon Safaris

Wildlife balloon safaris have over the years taken trend for adventure tourism and Masai Mara offers great opportunities for this. With the vast size of Masai Mara game reserve, balloon safaris are easily done offering great views of the wildlife.

Aerial views of the open Masai Mara plains offer opportunities for great photography and panoramic views of the reserve. While on the balloon safaris, you also get to see the beautiful landscapes enjoying the sights of nature. Ensure to book in advance to avoid missing out on this Masai Mara adventure experience.

Wildlife Safari Tales of The Serengeti Wilderness

Serengeti national park is one stop wildlife destination located in northwestern Tanzania. Serengeti is famous for the wildebeest migration an exodus of animals including hartebeest, wildebeest and antelopes  seeking for fresh pasture.

The name Serengeti was derived from a Maasai word “Seringit” meaning endless plains explaining the geographical nature of the park.

Serengeti at a Glance

The Serengeti ecosystem covers an area of 30,000 square kilometers combining Serengeti national Park and other small game reserves. With this vast size, the Serengeti plains are homes to various wildlife species with natural wonders like the wildebeest migration.

The wildebeest migration is the second largest animal migration on Earth an excellent experience for nature enthusiasts and animal lovers.

Wildlife in Serengeti

The Serengeti area boosts various wildlife species with East Africa’s big five mammals like Lions, Elephants, buffaloes, Leopards and Cheetahs. Its one of the wildlife destinations with large lion populations and best place for seeing these fierce cats. The total Lion population here is estimated at 3000 and its supported by the many herbivores the lions prey on.

Other predators in Serengeti include African Leopards, Cheetahs, spotted hyenas, wild dogs though these are a bit scarce.

Serengeti has many East Africa’s grazers including many antelope species like the topi, elands, gazelles, water-bucks, zebras and the wildebeest. Major giants include elephants, giraffes, hippos often sighted in large groups of up to 100 of them in one place.

For birders, Serengeti is a birders haven with over 1000 bird species recorded including native and migratory bird species. Often seen birds include the Fischer’s lovebird, Silver-bird, Eagles like the Verreaux’s eagle, rufous-tailed weaver among others.

Serengeti has many wildlife habitat landscapes like rivers, swamps, grasslands, kopjes, all acting as homes to the diverse wildlife species. Rivers like Grumeti are homes to large crocodile populations and hippos in the shallow waters.

Zebras and Topi in the Plains of Serengeti National Park Tanzania
Wildlife in Serengeti NP. Courtesy Photo

Tourist Activities in Serengeti

Game drives are the most common activities in Serengeti done seeking to meet the major wildlife species in the park. Early morning game drives offer nocturnal wildlife encounters especially the big cats lions lions, leopards and cheetahs.

You also get to see early risers and enjoy sounds of nature plus a morning sunrise over the Serengeti horizon. You can opt for mid morning and evening game drives that are equally rewarding.

There are air balloon safaris that give an aerial view of the park offering a wide coverage of sight seeing. This offers great views of the herds of animals even those on the wildebeest migration.

For more intimate experiences with wildlife then guided nature walks are best options in Serengeti. These are often led by local Masai warriors and trained park rangers with great knowledge about the wildlife in Serengeti.

Birding is widely done in Serengeti national park and various birds are often spotted freely flying over the Serengeti plains.

Best time to Visit

Serengeti national park can be best visited in the dry seasons with minimal disturbances of rainfall. Rainfall usually occur in the two dry seasons from March to May and from October to November.

For remarkable East African wildlife safaris visit Serengeti national park in Tanzania and have your Serengeti and African wildlife tale.