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The Great Wildebeest Migration
The Great Wildebeest Migration - the annual migration of giant herds of grazers across Northern Tanzania and Kenya is a truly spectacular event. Over two million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles move through the Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystems in search of green pasture, in a regular pattern. This is surely one of the greatest wonders of the natural world.
Great Migration Safari Holidays: the basics
You can witness the Great Migration in Tanzania throughout the year, as the wildebeests migrate in a circular pattern around the Serengeti National Park, making it an ongoing event. Below, we'll explore where the wildebeests typically are at different times of the year.
The Great Wildebeest Migration rarely extends into the Masai Mara in Kenya. The herds only venture there as an extension of their grazing lands in the northern region of Tanzania if they require fresh pastures. In Kenya, you can observe the migration only for a few months of the year when they move towards the border. However, during this time, most of the herds still remain in the northern parts of the Serengeti.
The Annual Migration overview: the best times to visit The Wildebeest in Africa
July – October:
This is when the wildebeest are in the northern Serengeti plains, and you have a chance of seeing up to thousands crossing the great Mara River. As the sight of the wildebeest crossing the so dramatic, it is considered by many the most desirable time to see the migration.December – March:
Currently the wildebeest are in the southern area of the Serengeti, more specifically in Ndutu which is actually in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and it is calving season. Along with the river crossings, this is a real highlight of the wildebeest’s journey and a fabulous time to see the herds congregate on the dramatic sweeping plains of the south. February is the only time of year when you are almost guaranteed to see the big herds all together as they always come south for calving season.The rest of the year:
In November, April, May and June the migration is “in between” locations and as such these months are slightly transitional times to see the herds. November is the short rains, April and May are the long rains and as such the grass is green in these months across the Serengeti, so the wildebeest are more dispersed than in the prime time of July – October and December – March. Thus, you don’t get as many of those condensed big herds which people get excited about!Although we try to be as comprehensive as possible, something that is quite difficult to express on paper is a lot easier to explain over the phone, so please do just give us a call for a simple overview of the Migration's route.
THE WILDEBEEST MIGRATION: A GUIDE TO THE GREAT MIGRATION AFRICA
Great Migration Map - Kenya Migration and Serengeti Migration
Please refer to our migration map of the Tanzania/Kenya border and the path of the Mara River through each country. A common misconception is that the river serves as a border between the two countries, but as depicted on the map, this is not accurate! The wildebeests typically cross the river not from Tanzania into Kenya, but rather between Kogatende and the Lamai Wedge (Tanzania to Tanzania), or within Kenya from the Masai Mara into the Masai Mara (Kenya to Kenya).
Great Migration Safari Holidays: Where to Stay for The Great Migration in Tanzania
If you're looking to safari amidst the heart of the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra, the best option is to book one of the Serengeti's renowned mobile camps. These camps are set up at specific locations throughout the year and often relocate two or three times annually based on the movement of the herds.
Two mobile camps, in particular, stand out for their dedication to following the herds - Nomad Tanzania's Serengeti Safari Camp and &Beyond's Serengeti Under Canvas. These operations are truly mobile and positioned near or within the herds year-round, moving to more than two locations, unlike most other mobile camps. Additionally, camps like Alex Walker's Serian, Asilia's Olakira, Ubuntu, and Kimondo relocate twice a year, providing excellent mobile experiences from July to November and from December to March. These camps are closed for the remainder of the year.
If embarking on a mobile safari seems too adventurous, the Serengeti offers several permanent lodges that provide all the comforts you need while offering excellent locations to witness the herds during your Tanzania safari. Below is an overview of the herd movements and the best permanent lodges to stay at for each time of year.
Wildebeest facts: Why does the Great Migration occur & why do the Wildebeest Migrate?
The wildebeest migrate around the Serengeti, and into the Masai Mara for the sole purpose of following the rainfall. For their calving from December - March they always begin their cycle in the Southern Serengeti area of Ndutu and follow wherever the grass is greener... Whilst we have a good idea of where the wildebeest should be at any given time of year, it really does depend on where the rain falls. The wildebeest are notoriously unreliable, as although they generally all head from south to north Serengeti and back around again, they often zig-zag along the way, making it sometimes impossible to predict where the big herds will be at any given time.
The type of Migration the Wildebeest make; Wildebeest in Africa
The migration undertaken by the wildebeest is an annual event which sees one and a half million wildebeest accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebras and numerous other antelope species as they search for pastures greener. The animals follow a clockwise movement through the Serengeti following the rains for the lushest of grass. The five hundred kilometres is fraught with danger with many predators such as lions, cheetahs and crocodiles preying on the animals. It is a truly amazing spectacle.
Although we do our best to be as informative as possible, it really always is best to give us a call and chat to an expert who can give you the low-down on where the wildebeest are right now.
When does the Great Wildebeest Migration happen in Tanzania and when is the wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara, Kenya?
Throughout the entire year, the wildebeest herds are always in Tanzania. For a short time of the year some of the herds are in Kenya. This time period is from July – October when the wildebeest are always crossing the Mara River in Tanzania between Kogatende and the Lamai wedge (the land between the Mara River and the border to Kenya).
The herds are sometimes crossing the Mara river from one side of the Masai Mara to the other (all in Kenya).
So the famous river crossings are most likely to be seen in Tanzania. Tanzania also has far fewer tourists on any one crossing, so we would always recommend basing yourself in northern Serengeti as opposed to the Masai Mara to catch the wildebeest crossing the Mara River.