Moru Kopjes

A Transition Zone

At an elevation of 5,368 feet, Moru acts as a plains-woodland transition zone. To the south and east, the infinite Serengeti plains stretch toward the horizon; to the north and west, the grasslands give way to shady, tree-studded woodlands. This unique soil composition allows for a “parkland” feel, characterized by long grasses and iconic, ornate Candelabra (Euphorbia) trees that stretch their arms to the heavens from amidst the gigantic granite boulders.

Just to the northeast lies Lake Magadi (the Swahili word for “soda”). This shallow, saline lake is a glittering depression where minerals build up, leaving a white encrustation of salts as the water evaporates. It serves as a vital water catchment area for the Mbalageti River, which flows northwest from these hills.

“The kopjes extended for miles, dotted with candelabra Euphorbia trees that stood above the surrounding vegetation… golden grasslands rippled in the wind like the waves of the sea, and the sky always seemed grander there than anywhere else. Of all the scenic wonders of the Serengeti, I thought Moru the most beautiful.” — Kay Turner, Serengeti Home

The Grand Theatre

Moru sits directly on the main migration route, making it a “grand theatre” during the Northward (May–June) and Southward (Nov–Dec) movements.

• The Migration Stall: Because Moru offers water, shade, and rich grazing, the wildebeest herds often “stall” here, choking the area black with life. The air vibrates with the pounding of hooves and the chaotic “chortles” of zebras.
• The Rut: In May, Moru becomes the stage for the wildebeest rut—a synchronized mating pandemonium. Half a million bulls clash horns and establish frantic, mobile territories in a quest to retain cows before the herd moves northwest.
• Resident Giants: The area is celebrated for its climbing elephants, who often attain the very crests of the steep kopjes. You will also find large numbers of buffalo, giraffe, waterbuck, and topi.
• Predators: Resident lion prides and leopards utilize the granite outcrops as scouting posts. Along the shores of Lake Magadi, lions hide in the swamp grasses to ambush animals coming to drink.
• Soda Lake Specialists: Lake Magadi attracts both greater and lesser flamingos, who sift the alkaline waters for algae. Comical-looking bat-eared foxes are also frequently seen nearby, using their “radar ears” to hunt for insects in the receding shoreline.

“The Moru Kopjes rise like monuments in a parkland… one day at noon, from this elephant crest, a leopard could be seen on the stone face of the kopjes to the south, crossing the skeletal shadows of a huge candelabra euphorbia.” — Peter Matthiessen, The Tree Where Man Was Born