Well, just to prove that nature calls the shots, the wildebeest migration seems to be getting more intriguing and unpredictable by the day. The rains that promote the green flush that proves so irresistible to every gnu seem to be coming in dribs and drabs. Our guides, roaming the plains in search of the action, report that there hasn’t been much rain around Ndutu and the wildebeest seem to be moving towards the central Serengeti. However, fresh showers in the last few days might induce a change of plan…watch this space.

Just in from Nomad guide Richard Knocker out on safari "watching endless columns of wildebeest plodding across the southern plains near Ndutu kicking up huge clouds of dust as they go about their daily search for water and grazing"

Rains in the southern Serengeti have been very patchy, so the migration is currently quite spread out. We've seen some herds around Masek, some around Kusini and larger herds moving towards Hidden Valley. Generally the landscape is very arid and dry and we're all looking forward to the rains!

The bulk of the herds are spread out between Kusini and Hidden Valley, with more of them seen towards the Serengeti Side; looks like they are moving away from the NCAA plains and around Ndutu. However, rains today towards Naabi could see them changing direction again, we'll keep you posted.

There are still big herds of the migration in and around Ndutu, but because it's generally dry now they are starting to move north and west towards Kusini and Hidden Valley. This is totally normal behaviour at this time of year, in response to the local weather conditions. Nomad guide Richard Knocker, back a few days ago from safari, reports plenty of "cat action" and very good plains game generally.

There is a big concentration of about a million wildebeest around Ndutu, towards Makao, Endulen and Naibartat. Also smaller herds seen all over the plains but mostly concentrated around the Ngorongoro side. Patchy rain but seems to be drying up generally.

The migration can currently be found from Kusini down towards Ndutu and in the NCAA; herds even seen moving towards Kakesio near Maswa. There is still widespread, and heavy, rains in the central Serengeti.

Nomad guide Ken had a 'first' sighting at the weekend - he saw 4 leopard in one tree (a mother and 4 grown-up cubs)

 

UPDATE: Kennedy has just called in to say he's seen a wildebeest herd of over a million strong between Naabi, Gol Kopjes and Golini. 

Nomad guides also report seeing some smaller herds down in the central Serengeti area, groups spread out between the Moru and Maasai Kopjes. Good rains in the area means there is plenty of grazing around.

From Remtula Nassary, Nomad Tanzania guide...

I've been staying at Lamai Serengeti for the last week; we are still seeing some herds crossing the Mara river north to south (these pictures taken 2 days ago) but I think these are amongst the last of the herds now and they will start heading south. The rain up here has been quite patchy this last week, and it appears to be raining a lot further south. Still, my guests were very happy to see this particular crossing.

Thanks to Rem for the update and images

There are still big herds crossing and recrossing the Mara river in the northern Serengeti and there has been a lot of rain around Nyamalumbwa and Kogatende which provides them with good grazing. Our guides have seen rhinos with calves and quite a few cheetah chasing down young wildebeest.