If the lifecycle of the wildebeest follows its usual patterns, the last herds are now slowly heading eastward through the Maasai Mara and Kogatende. They will wander around in search of fresh grass, so be prepared to see big herds of hundreds of thousands of animals filling out the vast golden fields on the Kenyan side of the park.
As the river crossings continue, there’s also plenty of predator activity. With a bit of luck, your chances of seeing lions and cheetahs in action are high. But keep in mind that only one thing is certain – you will encounter a lot of animals. Some guides will even guarantee you the ‘big five’, and the most fortunate will see them all in just one day.
September continues to maintain the dry spell that began in June within the Serengeti National Park. The weather parameters reflect a continuity from August, with little variation. The rainfall slightly rises to 34mm (1.34″), an increase from the previous month. Similar to preceding months, September offers long daylight hours and bears witness to a resilient UV index. The wildlife remains abundant and accessible due to these consistent weather conditions.
The Wildebeest Migration in September is still more active in the northern part of Serengeti and Masai Mara. The Herds are still within these areas as they keep feeding into the short grass available. However, you will notice a decrease in the number of herds since some will be moving back to Serengeti from Masai Mara.
In September, you should visit Northern Serengeti as they will all be around this part as they congregate to move south. Huge numbers can still be witnessed in this region, as well as active river crossings in Northern Serengeti.
As the month moves closer to the end, the wildebeests start moving South from both Northern Serengeti and Masai Mara. Although you can still witness them as some herds are left behind, you can as well witness wildebeest river crossings.
After August, September is arguably the next-best month to visit the Maasai Mara. Safari-goers can expect sunny, dry days with postcard-perfect sunrises and sunsets. The big crossings still take place, but the summer vacation crowds begin to thin. Some even say this month is better than August, which in recent years has become a little more unpredictable.