Migration in full swing up north in Kogatende; Cheetah in the dry dusty Kusini plains in the South ....... River crossings at the Sand River and a lot lot more

[madaboutcheetah]

Before I get to the photo editing over the weekend and later ..... many many Thanks to Sangeeta, Smita and the Chalo Africa team for putting together a trip for us chasing the migration up north in Kogatende.  Not only did they ensure we had a smooth trip, but, also ensured that Coastal got us checked in for our international flights on time by using their fast track service in DAR.  

 

Must say very impressed by the crew at the camps at both Asilia and Sanctuary lodges ......... Simply brilliant!!!! 

 

Thanks to our guides; Ellisante and Kivoyo from Asilia and Emmanuel from Kusini Lodge (he knows the Kusini area at the back of his fingertips - amazing!!!)

 

Camp Management was brilliant too - Thanks to Michael and Abu at Olakira; Julie at Sayari Camp and Van / Es at Kusini camp.  Top notch service and warm Tanzanian hospitality at it's best!!!

 

Here's the first batch of photos....

 

 

 

Edited June 28, 2017 by madaboutcheetah
Photo addition

[Kitsafari]

you're back! and it sounds like you caught the migration in full force? fantastic. waiting impatiently to see your photos....

 

[Game Warden]

@madaboutcheetah Less writing more photo editing...;) Great to hear all went well. Looking forward to more.

 

Matt

[michael-ibk]

Welcome back Hari, looking forward to seeing more!

[xelas]

Looks like this chocolate box will deliver only best treats! To read or to write, is the question now!

[janzin]

So that's where you've been! Looking forward to this one!

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks a lot for all your kind comments - much appreciated...

What I loved about June in Kogatende is the lack of crowds.  My first time in Kogatande and what hit me right away is the wilderness feel there (fewer roads, less man made, no cattle etc etc.,) ... When I say lack of crowds, I mean NOBODY around!!! 

 

Here goes the next bunch of images ...... Note the difference in the water levels in the Sand River after a massive rain storm at night......  Most of these images are from the Bologonja plains (so assumed that this is the wing of the migration that made it from Seronera).  Our Coastal flight from DAR/Zanzibar dropped a newly married couple off at Singita and appeared to be massive herds there too (what we saw from the air)

[SafariChick]

Great, Hari! So good to hear it was so uncrowded and also so full of wildlife! As you well know, those two do not always go hand in hand. Really look forward to seeing more!

[Atravelynn]

19 hours ago, SafariChick said:

Great, Hari! So good to hear it was so uncrowded and also so full of wildlife! As you well know, those two do not always go hand in hand. Really look forward to seeing more!

Agreed!  Lots of wildes to go with the "no people."

[Marks]

Looks fantastic. You've captured the "feeling" of the tall grass really well - especially in the first photo of zebra and wildbeest in your first post. It's like they're swimming in it! (And then, of course, the actual swimming in the photos to follow is also quite good.)

 

 

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks a lot for the continued comments and interest in this report - much appreciated!!! 

While I've been lucky to witness the Great Migration before ...... I was absolutely blown away by the mind boggling number of animals (and the fact that most of the herds from the Western Corridor weren't even part of what I witnessed).  I felt like I was witnessing it for the first time  (and I did with friends from SFO who were on their first safari in Africa).

 

 

[madaboutcheetah]

I would have never known that I'm allergy prone - but, gosh those tall red oat grasses were something else!!!! How quickly the herds flatten that tall grass???  magic! 

 

Julie and her crew at Sayari had a strong Ginger Tea solution to help deal with it ...... Amazing!  There was also one torrential storm at night that quickly got rid of all the allergens in the atmosphere ..... 

[Kitsafari]

wow the number of wildes in the photos -  it would have been incredible being there in person. 

 

i love that sharp contrast of that photo filled with numerous wildebeests, then followed by the single klipspringer (i assume that's what it is?!) on the kopfe

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks @Kitsafari- yes, it is a Kilipspringer on the kopje round the corner from Sayari camp. 

Edited June 30, 2017 by madaboutcheetah
typo

[AmyT]

We missed the beginning of the migration in the Mara by a couple of days.  Our photos look nothing like yours!!  It was a wasteland!  So glad to see your photos to fill in the gaps, and to plan for another trip.

[madaboutcheetah]

@AmyT - What were your dates in the Mara? and where was your base?  sorry you missed it by a few days...... 

[AmyT]

3 minutes ago, madaboutcheetah said:

@AmyT - What were your dates in the Mara? and where was your base?  sorry you missed it by a few days...... 

We were at Porini Lion Camp until 25 June but were in the Mara 2 different days: one for a hot air balloon ride, June 24 for breakfast at the Mara river. 

Edited June 30, 2017 by AmyT

[madaboutcheetah]

Hmmm - they were already in the SandRiver and beyond (into Kenya) by June 24th - however, they will not have made it to the Mara river as yet ......... SandRiver is a long long way from the Conservancies.

Edited June 30, 2017 by madaboutcheetah

[madaboutcheetah]

More snippets from the Great Migration.....

[SafariChick]

@madaboutcheetah These are all great - I especially love the third shot in post # 19 with the wildie caught jumping - fantastic!

[Tulips]

Wow, wow, wow!  Can I say, wow!

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks a lot @SafariChick and @Tulips

[penolva]

@madaboutcheetah Welcome home and so glad you had an amazing time. I am a bit concerned as we don't leave for 6 weeks so our first day in the Mara will be 16 August. We are staying at Brian Freeman's camp. It seems to be an early migration this year so we might be too late to see the big herds. What will be will be I guess and that is not the only reason for spending 7 days in the Mara. Your TR will keep me going until we set off ourselves. We have just over 5 weeks in Kenya in total so should see a lot in that time. Pen

[marg]

Great trip report and photos....all the result of your wonderful trip.  Thanks!

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks @marg and @penolva ........ You will have your fill of the migration in August ........ Will be at it's prime time there!  No need to worry.  Have a great time and do report back!