When you hear the words “great migration”, what immediately pops into your head? Is it the thundering stampede of the wildebeest traversing from the Masai Mara to the Serengeti or perhaps the scattering of tiny claws as vivid red crabs scuttle through the streets of Christmas Island. Either way, every year as animals are in search of warmer climates, we are presented with some of the most impressive wildlife migrations and I bet you didn’t know about all of these!
1. Monarch Butterfly Migration, Anguangeo and Valle De Bravo, Michoacan, Mexico
Every year, in late summer and early autumn, millions of monarch butterflies from the Eastern United States and Southern Canada begin a journey of 3200km to the Transvolcanic Mountain Range, located west of Mexico City. The Monarchs gather there to over-winter in huge colonies of tens of millions of butterflies, literally hanging from fir trees in clusters so thick they look like bundles of dead leaves. The butterflies arrive in November and remain largely inactive until undertaking the return trip north in mid-March. How they find their way is a mystery because the monarchs that leave Mexico in spring are at least three generations removed from those that will make the journey back in the Autumn.
2. Sandhill Crane Migration, Nebraska Platte River, USA
Nebraska’s Platte River, which bisects the state from east to west, is a major flyway for all sorts of migrating birdsâ??but none moreso in more dazzling numbers than the stately, red-browed sandhill crane. During just over a month (March to early April), some 500,000 of these birds converge to roost and feed along the Platte, darkening the sky with their mighty two metre wingspans and filling the air with a riot of calls.
3. Straw Coloured Fruit Bat Migration, Kasanka National Park, Zambia
Five million Straw Coloured Fruit Bats migrate over a five hour time period. That is five times as many mammals as the Serengeti wildebeest migration and happens in Zambia only 5 hours drive from Lusaka and the Copperbelt. During November and December each year five million straw-coloured fruit bats take up residence in one hectare of Kasanka National Parkâ??s mushitu swamp forest. Enticed by the abundance of such delicacies as musuku, mufinsa and the other wild fruits in the area, colonies of bats start arriving in late October. By day the bat colony roosts in the trees of the mushitu forest, packing themselves around branches and trunks which often break under the sheer weight of bat! Daily life is not easy for the bats as many predators including raptors turn to a diet of bats for the two months that the colony is in residence. Fish eagles, martial eagles, vultures and numerous other raptors have been seen to take the bats in flight and from the roost. Crocodiles, pythons and nile monitors clean up any bats found on the ground.
4. Pink Flamingo Migration, Lake Nakuru and Lake Bogoria, Kenya
Truly a spectacular sight, the lake is almost unrecognisable at times as it is “painted pink” with the bodies of pink flamingos. Lake Nakuru and Lake Bogoria are two of the Rift Valley’s many soda lakes. The lake’s abundance of algae attracts the vast quantity of flamingos that famously line the shore. As the lake dries out, bird droppings stick around longer creating a more algae on the lake. The more algae, the more food and therefore more flamingos. That is why it is best to visit in the height of the dry season (April to June) if you want to see the million flamingo phenomenon. *Note due to heavy tourism, many of the flamingos now migrate to Lake Bogoria solely.
5. Red Crab Migration, Christmas Island, Australia
At the beginning of the wet season (usually October / November), up to 40 million adult Red Crabs suddenly begin a spectacular migration from the forest to the coast, to breed and release eggs into the sea. The rains provide moist overcast conditions for crabs to make their long and difficult journey to the sea. The main migration commences on the plateau and can last up to 18 days. Masses of crabs gather into broad “streams” as they move toward the coast, climbing down high inland cliff faces, and over or around all obstacles in their way, following routes used year after year for both downward and return migrations. Movement peaks in the early morning and late afternoons when it is cooler and there is more shade.
6. Green Sea Turtle Migration, Tortuguero National Park , Costa Rica
Thousands of endangered green sea turtles enact an extraordinary annual migration ritual in June/Julyâ??by returning to the same remote stretch of Costa Rica’s northeastern coast where they were born in order to lay eggs of their own. On the beaches of Tortuguero National Park, dozens of turtles haul themselves ashore each night to laboriously dig nests in the sand and deposit their precious eggs, before slipping exhausted back into the sea.
7. Humpback Whale Migration, Vava’u, Tonga
The humpback whales migrate each year from their feeding grounds in the Antarctic to the warm, sheltered waters of Vava’u to mate and calf. A journey of over 10,000 kilometres. The waters around Vava’u have made this place a favourite nursery for the migrating Humpback Whales and every July through to late October. You can even swim with the migrating whales in the waters here.
Looking for more Animal Encounters non your travels? Download the Crooked Compass Travel App for further inspiration.
Stay up to date with the latest travel trends and new destinations opening up. To be the first to go, you need to be the first to know.
This category of tours involves light trekking, walking, cycling, rafting or kayaking for a few hours each day with a small amount of inclines and declines. You will require a reasonable level of fitness and good health to participate. It is important to note that due to the nature of some of our trips, they may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and can involve long travelling days on various modes of transport.
Suggested preparation : At least 3 months prior to departure, it is recommended that you undertake aerobic exercise (this may include jogging, cycling or fast walking) for 30 minutes, three times a week. It is also advised to walk on variable terrain and in variable weather conditions. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week is recommended and for adventures which involve paddling and kayaking, it is important to gain confidence and rhythm rather than speed prior to departure.
This category of tours involve trekking, kayaking and cycling for period of 6 to 8 hours a day at a fairly consistent pace. Ideal for people looking to slightly increase the heart rate. For our moderately rated tours, you must have a good level of fitness and also be in good health. It is also important to be prepared for variable weather conditions. Altitude may also come into play. This category of tours may involve visiting remote areas where facilities can be quite basic. Accommodation may also involve camping, homestays or basic accommodation where facilities may not be considered of western standards. To enjoy this style of travel, it is suggested for travellers to have a reasonable level of fitness and health, a positive attitude, as well as a fairly active lifestyle. An open mind is also required.
Suggested preparation: At least 3 months prior to departure, it is recommended that you undertake 45mins – 1 hour of aerobic exercise, three to four times a week. Some potential exercises that could be beneficial include hill walking with a backpack on over variable terrain and weather conditions, as well as running and cycling dependent on the activity you plan on undertaking.
This category of tours involves trekking, kayaking, cycling or other adventure activities in remote areas for up to 8 to 10 hours a day. It is important to note that with the remoteness of some regions comes a variety of other challenges such as variable weather conditions, accommodation as well as facilities. You must have an excellent level of fitness and good health to be able to partake in this category of tour. You must have confidence in your own ability and be in good physical condition. Includes extended periods of endurance.
Suggested preparation: At least 3 to 4 months of strenuous exercise, four times a week. When preparing for treks it would be beneficial to participate in hill walks with a weighted day pack (approximately 5-8 kg) once a week for aerobic fitness and strengthening of leg muscles. It is also important to do this on variable terrain to prepare for challenging adventures. When preparing for cycling adventures, regular bike riding (at least 4 to 5 times a week for 1-4 hours is essential). It is also important to cycle on uneven surfaces or even participate in other aerobic exercises such as running or swimming to build up strength and stamina. Altitude may also be a factor in these tours.
This category of tour often involves extreme trekking, cycling or other extreme adventure activities. It is important to expect remote and poorly defined tracks and to be prepared for variable weather conditions for 10 to 12 hours per day (may sometimes be more depending on weather and altitude). These adventures are suitable for travellers who have prior experience in strenuous travel and activities, are extremely fit and have excellent health. It is also important to note that some of the terrain on these adventures will involve trekking in snow, at high attitude levels and may require technical equipment.
Suggested preparation: It is important to note that physical fitness should be an ongoing activity, commencing around 5-6 months prior to departure, or even before if you have no prior fitness. Exercise should focus on building maximum endurance and stamina. Four to five hard sessions of 40-60 mins per week should be completed and can include exercises such as going to the gym, running, swimming or cycling to focus on building aerobic stamina. It could also be beneficial to prepare by hiking on rough terrain, in extreme weather conditions or partake in altitude training.
Back to Our Blog
