See Kenya’s Loita Migration; Serengeti’s ‘Little Brother’
See Kenya’s Loita Migration; Serengeti’s ‘Little Brother’: Just off the beaten path from Kenya’s famous Great Migration, there’s a more personal wildlife experience—the annual Loita Migration of wildebeest in the expansive Masai Mara National Reserve. Every year, about 100,000 wildebeest set off on a tough but predictable journey across the Mara grasslands, following a seasonal pattern that helps keep the local ecology thriving.
So, the migration kicks off in November, right when those first scattered rains start to breathe new life into the Loita Plains. So, you know, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest come together in these big herds to munch on the lush green grasses.
Wildebeests crossing a river during their migration
When June rolls around and the dry season kicks in, you can see the bustling herds making their way into Masai Mara in search of greener pastures. As the migration happens, you can see newborn calves picking up those age-old paths from their moms.
The herds make their way across rivers filled with crocodiles, pushing through until they finally arrive at the wide-open grasslands and woodlands of Masai Mara during the height of the dry season in August. Shortly after they get there, the paradise turns into a fight for survival as the land starts to dry up.
Come October, the first showers roll across the plains, marking the herds’ journey back to their wet season spots in Loita to wrap up the migration cycle.
The Loita Migration is pretty unique compared to the bigger Great Migration that heads into Tanzania. It sticks to Kenya, following a local, circular route that’s really important for keeping the Mara’s ecosystems healthy. The hooves and dung from these migrating herds spread nutrients around and help grass grow, which in turn supports the variety of wildlife that thrives in this area.
For visitors, seeing this close-up migration offers a chance to experience the true vibes of the Mara, far from the busy tourist spots. People can enjoy some peaceful moments as Africa’s beauty reveals itself – new calves finding their balance, crocodiles showing off their teeth, giraffes moving elegantly by.
Every migration story has its own unique details, but they’re all important for keeping the Mara’s legacy alive.
We chatted with a few experienced safari guides and camp operation managers who are right there in Kenya, keeping an eye on this migration. Check out their thoughts right here:
Meet Patrick Reynolds, the Operations Manager over at the Governors’ Camp.
“It’s a bit of a bummer, but the Loita Migration has been pretty quiet lately. The resident wildebeest haven’t made their way into the Loita Hills for the last decade, mainly because of human settlement.”
The wildebeest have started to settle in the northeast conservancies, like the Mara North conservancy, Olare Orok conservancy, Lemek conservancy, and Naboisho conservancy.
Let me introduce you to Empak Meshack Sayialel, a Safari Guide over at Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps.
“The Loita wildebeest are still out and about, and they’ve welcomed their newborns in the Olare Orok conservancy.” But, quite a few are actually further east in the Naboisho and Olare conservancies.
Check out our Herdtracker observations!
Over time, we think the grazing pressures in the area around the Loita Hills will push the Loita migration into the great Masai Mara sooner than we anticipated. This could really affect how long the Great Migration, moving from the Serengeti in Tanzania, can hang out in the Masai Mara before they run out of grazing land.
We’re keeping track of the yearly movements and watching for any significant changes in the arrival dates of migrations from both countries.
The wildebeest from the Serengeti usually keep on moving through the Mara ecosystem until around early to mid-October. The Loita migration kicks off at the Loita Plains, which are located to the North East of Naboisho. This event sees around 200,000 wildebeest making their way into the Mara from their dry homeland in May.
They’ll be grazing in Naboisho and the nearby areas until the next big rains come to the Loita Plains, usually sticking around until March of the next year. Visiting Mara Naboisho Conservancy in May and June is fantastic, thanks to the earlier Serengeti migration. It’s definitely one of the best times of the year to go!
The grass is looking nice and green, and there are plenty of game around. This is a budget-friendly choice for a migration safari. You get to enjoy low-season prices and fewer tourists, plus the bonus of great game viewing that comes with high season.
Even though the Loita migration doesn’t cross the Mara River to head south into the northern Serengeti, it still offers an amazing migration experience with fantastic wildlife interactions. Check out those private conservancies where you can go for walks, take night drives, and enjoy some off-road adventures!
If you want to check out more of our Loita migration safaris in Kenya, just take a look here. You can also visit our website for info on the Serengeti and Masai Mara migrations to help you plan your safari perfectly.
