Mara River
Mara River
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Calabash Adventures
Arusha, Tanzania320 contributions
Nov 2019
Mara river the place where always something happens. The Action home, Animals are tested here. The largest Nile crocodile, the cross-border wildlife Safari.
Written 16 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mainemn
Standish, ME23 contributions
Sept 2019
Our guide parked on a hill by the Mara as we watched a line of wildebeest a mile long that kept coming along the hillside on the other side. When about three or four thousand had gathered in a herd across the river, the brave ones would come down to the river looking for a safe crossing. Knowing their were crocodiles in the river just waiting for them to try. The trees around us filled with Vultures waiting for scraps.
Well eventually they started to cross, and then all at once the herd funneled across. No more than three wide across the river, jumping off the bank and swimming for their lives.
The crocs pulled a couple under but with that many thousands made it safely. We drove through most of them along our safari the next day. Just amazing to witness.
Loved Africa!,
Well eventually they started to cross, and then all at once the herd funneled across. No more than three wide across the river, jumping off the bank and swimming for their lives.
The crocs pulled a couple under but with that many thousands made it safely. We drove through most of them along our safari the next day. Just amazing to witness.
Loved Africa!,
Written 15 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cloust
Orange county114 contributions
Jul 2019 • Solo
While you can read about the migration and even view videos and photos of it, it's something you have to see to believe. I would like to give a few tips regarding the migration.
1. Give yourself at least 3 nights. I say this because there may be no crossing on the day you are there. If you have 3 nights then you can give yourself at least one of those days to experience a crossing.
2. Patience is needed. Just because the wildebeest gather does not mean they will cross. You may find yourself sitting for a while to see if they do.
3. Even if a herd is gathered at the riverbank they might not cross. The animals are inexplicable, often seen changing their minds and leaving the river.
4. There are various points at the Mara where they may cross. There is no one particular place.
5. Give yourself all day. There should be no rush in trying to view a crossing. The guides are in radio contact with each other so they communicate their findings.
6. There are an endless number of various herds in the area. Just remember to hold on if the guide gets a call. Depending on where you are should this happen, there is a mad rush to get to to the crossing point in time.
7. As a part of planning use the website Herd tracker which lets you know there the herds are a given point in time.
1. Give yourself at least 3 nights. I say this because there may be no crossing on the day you are there. If you have 3 nights then you can give yourself at least one of those days to experience a crossing.
2. Patience is needed. Just because the wildebeest gather does not mean they will cross. You may find yourself sitting for a while to see if they do.
3. Even if a herd is gathered at the riverbank they might not cross. The animals are inexplicable, often seen changing their minds and leaving the river.
4. There are various points at the Mara where they may cross. There is no one particular place.
5. Give yourself all day. There should be no rush in trying to view a crossing. The guides are in radio contact with each other so they communicate their findings.
6. There are an endless number of various herds in the area. Just remember to hold on if the guide gets a call. Depending on where you are should this happen, there is a mad rush to get to to the crossing point in time.
7. As a part of planning use the website Herd tracker which lets you know there the herds are a given point in time.
Written 29 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ed50_13
Johnstown, Colorado342 contributions
Nov 2019
Sat and watched as the wildebeest and zebras came to the Mara River for water. Thousands upon thousands. The zebras acting as sentries while the wildebeest made a mad dash for the river. Young and old all together back and forth. It was a spectacular site to see and unforgettable!
Written 12 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fearlessbob
Oakville, Canada395 contributions
Oct 2019
Greener area of the Serengeti. During the Great migration period here, we observed two different herds of wildebeest with accompanying zebras come to the far edge of the river, thinking they were going to cross but eventually opted against it. Then finally we saw a herd of about 300 wildebeests coming from the far edge in the savannah at a gallop, like a freight train, cross the Mara river, not even blinking or slowing down as they approached the river. We caught up with them on the near side of the river and followed them for a couple of kms. What a show!
Written 19 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
niagarariverfatman
North Tonawanda, NY412 contributions
Oct 2019
We were very lucky to see a wildebeest crossing during our trip in early October. The crossing were beginning to slow down as most of the animals had already move south. but on our last day a large herd of wildebeest gather and made the crossing and we there to see it (thanks to our excellent guide from Asilia). what an amazing thing to witness
Written 16 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathryn Y
Newcastle, Australia29 contributions
Sept 2019
Crocs everywhere in the Mara River waiting to catch a zebra or Wilderbeast crossing. Watching the Wilderbeast swimming across was amazing.
Written 7 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
whenzuc
Long Island, NY921 contributions
Sept 2019 • Couples
Well we stayed at LeMala Kuria Hills for 2 nights and spent our entire last day at the river. We watched the wildebeest in 2 different locations drop down and then back up for a few hours and then we went back for lunch. We returned for the entire afternoon and watched as the wildebeest continued to move to another river location to cross. We gave up at 5:30 pm but saw thousands of wildebeest running towards the river. That in itself was so exciting to watch. The only thing we missed the entire safari was the river crossing. But the wildebeest running was enough of a memory to last forever.
Written 5 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
boudin
San Antonio, TX273 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
In July, the Wildebeests and Zebra have made their way north through the Serengeti Plain to the Mara River. On the other side, in Kenya, there's new grass and water but first they have to cross the river and the massive Nile crocodiles are waiting for them. There's no guarantee when the Wildebeests will cross but eventually they must. When we were there in late July, we saw 4 crossings in 4 days. During one of the crossings, over 400,000 Wildebeests and a lesser number of Zebra jumped into the river and started swimming. Almost all of them made it but there were a few who struggled in the water and the crocodiles were quick to take them down. I've never seen anything like this, not by a long shot.
Written 2 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martin W
9 contributions
Sept 2018 • Couples
In late September, the Mara was low and there were no migrating animals at the famous crossing. The rain pattern had shifted a bit and the huge herds were stationary. We had a 4.5 hour drive each way that provided wonderful viewing of the Wildebeest and Zebraherds, thousands of Impala and Thompson’s Gazelles, lots of elephant, Cape Buffalo and plenty of Giraffe.
The downside was the nine hours spent on the punishing bush roads of Africa. A sore butt was a small price to pay for an amazing day.
The downside was the nine hours spent on the punishing bush roads of Africa. A sore butt was a small price to pay for an amazing day.
Written 2 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What date did the wildebeest cross the river in 2017 and 2018?
Written 5 September 2018
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