Best Places to Stay to See the River Crossings
Best Places to Stay to See the River Crossings
The crossings of the rivers during the Great Migration are considered one of the most spectacular wildlife shows on the planet, and tourists come to them from all over the world. In July, August, September and October, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle pour across the Mara River in the quest of new grazing, risking fast-flowing waters and the mouths of lurking crocodiles. Your accommodation choice is important in order to experience this phenomenon in a comfortable and stylish way. To ensure that you are always in the right place at the right time, you should keep close to major crossing points since these occurrences are sometimes unpredictable. The top destinations to stay in for an unforgettable river crossing safari are described below.
Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Some of the most accessible and regular locations to find river crossings are found in the Masai Mara. The Talek and Mara Rivers break the reserve into two, offering many viewing spots of the herds. Being inside the reserve means you will be only minutes away from action without making long drives at dawn when the crossings usually take place.
High-end services such as Governors Camp, Angama Mara and Sala Camp offer panoramic views of the plains and close proximity to major crossing points. Mara Explorer or Mara Serena Safari Lodge are comfortable lodges without compromising on location that are available to the mid-range and budget travellers. Staying within the reserve also implies more game-viewing time and you have the chance to see early morning and late afternoon crossings where the light is ideal to take photos.
At the Border-Mara Triangle region
The less busy and well-kept area of the reserve is the Mara triangle located on the western bank of the Mara River. This place has less traffic, and that is why it is the best place to take photographs without obstructions. Crossings are frequent here in July and September, especially near the Purungat Bridge and Lookout Hill.
Fantastic scenery and access to riverbanks are offered at Mara Engai Wilderness Lodge and Little Governors camp. It is also in the Triangle that predators are hot and you may even find lions or leopards hunting immediately after the herds. Presence is a combination of elitism and action-proximity.
In Serengeti National Park, Tanzania,
The northern Serengeti in Tanzania is where to be when the migration is in the river-crossing stage. The herds come here generally in late July and loiter along till October, then go southward. Camps such as Lemala Kuria Hills, Sayari Camp and Mara river camp are strategically located within minutes of the well-known crossing places like Kogatende and Lamai.
The plus of remaining in the northern Serengeti is the wide open landscape, which provides dramatic long views of the migration. Mobile camps like Serengeti Under Canvas track the herds so that guests are never in the wrong place at the wrong time. This is perfect in case you would like to maximisesightings.
Private Conservancies – Fewer People and Niche Access
There are a number of private conservancies that border the Masai Mara, including Olare Motorogi, Naboisho and Mara North. They are a little bit farther than the main crossings of the Mara River, but they provide exclusive game drives, night safaris, and walking safaris which are not available in the national reserve while on a Kenya safari. The lodges, like Richard’s River Camp and Kicheche Mara Camp, provide a better service and fewer vehicles at sightings.
A stay in a conservancy enables a balance between the drama of the migration and other safari highlights, which may include close predator encounters and community visits. Full-day trips into the reserve to cross rivers are also organised by many conservancy lodges to create privacy and maximum action days.
How to Do to Select the Appropriate Camp or a Lodge
Nearness to Crossing Points: The nearer you are to the river, the bigger your chances of getting unpredictable crossings.
Game Drive Flexibility: Game drives which are full-day game drives and which pack breakfast and lunch allow one to spend the day at the river without having to rush back to eat.
Informed Migration Guides: Informed guides know the behaviour of the animals, and they can inform you where the crossings are and this will place you in the best position to observe the spectacle.
Seasonal Mobility: You can think of using mobile camps during the migration transition weeks, when you are on the road.
Booking the River Crossings When to Book the River Crossings
One of the busiest times of the safari in East Africa is peak migration season. Camps and lodges close to the best crossing places are booked up a year or more ahead. When you are aiming to view the crossings, you should book in advance and reserve your accommodation. It is better to travel in late July to early October, with the specific time being determined by rainfall patterns.
Conclusions:
The river crossings during the Great Migration are a lifetime experience that pays off when the right time and place are taken into consideration and a lot of patience is used. Stay strategically placed, be it a luxury tented camp high above the Mara River, a mobile camp that follows the herds or an exclusive conservancy lodge. Add in some wildlife hotspots nearby to your river-crossing safari to have a full East African experience. Given the right foundation, you will be in an ideal position to experience one of the most spectacular scenes of nature as it is played out in front of your own eyes.
