There are migrations, and then there are migrations: massive movements of wildlife across vast swaths of the planet. This is one of the latter. The Great Migration is a jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring event that plays out every year from July through October. Sub-Saharan Africa is the site. Zebra, wildebeest, Thomson’s Gazelle start out from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and (most of them anyway) end up in Kenya’s sprawling Massai Mara National Reserve.
To see this sort of thing on screen is one thing. To be there is quite another. If you’re planning on going, the Kenya Tourist Board has some suggestions as to where you might stay:
Royal Mara Safari Lodge is sited near a pair of Mara River wildebeest crossing points. The place melds a classic tent safari camp with the amenities of a lodge.
Kichwa Tembo Camp is where Robert Redford and Meryl Streep stayed while filming Out of Africa. No bare-bones affair here. The “camp” offers a swimming pool and fine-dining restaurant. It’s located in the heart of the Massai Mara.
Little Governor’s Camp is reachable by boat, just across the Mara. Then, there’s a short, guided trek through the Riverine Forest to reach the camp itself. Tents feature wooden decks, replete with large verandas – perfect for viewing the game go by.
Mara Serena Safari Lodge gives you a fifth row center seat for the Great Migration. It’s ensconced atop a bush—covered hill, with some extraordinary views of the Mara River. That view usually includes lots of hippos.
Kicheche Mara Camp lies hidden in an acacia valley, and it overlooks the Olare Orok stream. First-rate food and equally adept guides make this a destination of choice for photographers.
(Image: CanWeBowlPlease)
