Wildebeest Migration Safari
13 Day Safari Guided by Wildlife Conservationist, Hanne Lindeman
Departs from Nairobi September 14, 2012
Designed to track the progress of the wildebeest migration in Tanzania, this safari will be guided by Hanne Lindeman - a biologist, wildlife conservation specialist and ‘migration expert'.
Setting out from Kenya, this exceptionally panoramic tour offers the visitor both the thrill of a meru-style tented camp and the comfort of traditional safari lodges.
Travelling by road, this tour will allow visitors to experience a gentler, slower part of the migration, dubbed the ‘Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth'.
This road tour starts and ends in Nairobi (2 nights), showcases Amboseli National Park (1 night) with Mount Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater (1 night) before visiting the Serengeti National Park (3 nights) and the Masai Mara (4 nights) and enjoying 1 night with the pink flamingoes at Lake Nakuru.
The Migration:
The Wildebeest spend most of the year grazing in the expansive Serengeti plains. The migration year begins on a quiet note, with vast herds spread over Tanzania's Ngorongoro area and parts of southern Serengeti around Lake Ndutu. The animals usually move to this region in December after the short rains subside. At that time, the grass throughout the plains has had months to regenerate. Most of the cows are then noticeably expectant. The wildebeest happily settle here, until the onset of the long rains around March or April.
In February the Serengeti becomes an extensive maternity unit with over 400,000 calves being born every year at this time. With the cows' continued good diet and state of rest, the calves usually arrive strong and lively. Within a short 3 hours of birth, they are up and running, wasting no time to practice for the long and hard journeys ahead.
By around mid March, hordes of gazelles begin to stream into the area. The grass begins to dwindle, putting pressure on lactating mothers to seek better and more nutritious grass elsewhere. They slowly begin to herd together and move northwest in columns towards the Serengeti plains, past the Naabi Hills. They trek steadily at a slow pace; by now only a few hundred thousands are on the move. The little ones are a few weeks old, and some even only a few days into the world. But they are strong enough; they tag along their mothers into the new, mineral-rich territory. The animals munch on the wholesome grass as they move along towards the west.
About the Guide:
Hanne Lindeman is a wildlife biologist who has worked in African wildlife conservation and tourism for the past 30 years. Committed to the fact that ‘wildlife should benefit the local people', Hanne has 12 years experience in wildlife management and conservation in South Africa and is the advisor to an ongoing rhino monitoring program. Offering an unusually extensive knowledge of Africa's wildlife, natural reserves, culture and people, Hanne also excels both in sharing her knowledge and making the entire safari experience come alive for the members of her group.
TOUR COST:US$5,995 per person sharing twin
Single Supplement: US$1095
Type of Safari: fully escorted & guided migration safari
Accommodation: meru-style tented camp and traditional safari lodges
Includes:
• 12 nights accommodation in double rooms with private facilities
• Meals: 11 Dinners, 12 Lunches, 12 Breakfasts
• Transportation in air-conditioned vehicles and open game drive vehicles
• Services by highly qualified professional local guides
• All touring and game drives as mentioned
• Park and conservation fees
Excludes: international flights; airport taxes; passport and travel visa fees; medical or travel insurance; drinks; gratuities and personal expenses.
Please Note: Travel Visas are required by most passport holders.
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