TAILOR MADE SAFARI

The great wildebeest migration

The Great Migration Overview

The great wildebeest migration is the most wonderful show in the world. It is the best wildlife event the nature lover can experience and it is one of the greatest wonders of the world. The spectacular view and the ground trembling feeling of the migratory animals can touch your heart. From the sky and mountain or hill areas, the migratory animals look like a never-ending group of ants. The great migration is the movement of vast numbers of the Serengeti’s wildebeest (over two million), accompanied by large numbers of zebra, and smaller numbers of Grant’s gazelle, Thomson’s gazelle, eland and impala. It is an annual migration of giant herds of grazers across Northern Tanzania and Kenya. The constant year-long migration is an iconic natural phenomenon, the timing of which depends on environmental factors, the weather and of course, the animals themselves in other words they follow the rains and then green pasture.

What is the Great Migration

The Great Migration is the biggest movement of animals on Earth. Imagine huge groups of wildebeest – up to 1,000 per square kilometer – so many that they’re visible from space!

Here are the mind-blowing numbers: Over 1.2 million wildebeest and 300,000 zebras, along with other animals, travel in a big circle through the Serengeti-Mara area. They’re on a constant journey for good grass and water. Each wildebeest walks around 800 to 1,000 kilometers, guided by its instincts and following ancient routes.

But it’s not an easy journey. Predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, wild dogs, and crocodiles ensure that only the strongest survive. This incredible event is known as ‘the greatest show on Earth.’

The route takes them from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania, up through the Serengeti, into the Masai Mara in Kenya, and back again. It’s a risky trip – predators snatch young calves, lions take down the slow ones, steep river slopes can cause broken legs, crocodiles grab some, and the weak and tired ones might drown.

6 Days: Budget Camping Group Safari

The three groups of moving grazers have different ways of eating grass: one group eats the top of the tallest grass, the next group munches on some medium-height grass, and so on until there’s almost none left. Then, the herds move to a new area. This means each group mostly sticks to their own kind, with just a little bit of overlap.

The grass on the plains is super nutritious, having the most protein in the whole Serengeti, and it’s also rich in calcium.

It’s a mystery how the wildebeest know which way to go, but many think their journey is mostly influenced by the weather. They follow the rain and the growth of new grass. While there’s no proof, some experts believe they might react to distant lightning and thunderstorms. Some even say wildebeest can sense rain from more than 50 kilometers away.

The Yearly Journey of the Great Migration

The wildebeest are always moving, whether they’re having babies or trying to cross rivers without getting caught by predators. Keep reading to find out where the Great Migration usually is at different times of the year, or click on a month below to learn about that season of the migration:

The best time to see the Great Migration each month

There isn’t just one time to watch the Great Migration; it happens all year round, repeating the same cycle. Depending on what part of the migration you want to see, like the river crossings, or when you prefer to travel, your safari can be planned to increase your chances of seeing what you want. The Great Migration can be split into these four seasons.

Alternatively, you can find out more about the best times to travel through this month-by-month breakdown of the Great Migration.

Whether the big herds are having babies in the south or moving north in search of better grass — and then coming back again — there are lots of amazing scenes happening for you to see.

 

Month by Month

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By late January and early February through March, perhaps the greatest spectacle of the Serengeti takes place with the wildebeest calving season. Approximately 8,000 young wildebeest are born every single day during the peak of the Serengeti calving season.

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Around April the wildebeest herds begin to drift northwest toward the fresher grass of the central Serengeti. In the month of May, the migrating individuals head towards the western corridors crossing the Moru Kopjes and Seronera areas for fresh grass and water. End of May, mating season begins and male wildebeest battle head-to-head.  During the journey, the herds of zebras, gazelles, buffalos and smaller groups of antelope join with the migration.

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The sky is clear, the land dries out, and the herds gain strength and power as the calves mature and are a lot more savannah-wise when it comes to evading predators. June is another major moving month as the herds aim for the western Serengeti on the other side of the Grumeti River (the first of the river crossing) which has some channels which block or slow their migration north. Before crossing the Grumeti River, the wildebeests with other animals gather in one place in the Western Corridor. The Grumeti River crossing is something of a coming of age for the calves and helps prepare them for the even more hazardous pitfalls ahead, namely the Mara River.

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In early July the herds make another push towards the dry grazing grounds of the northern Serengeti toward an even riskier barrier, moving further north to the Mara River. Here you will see the big river crossing, but it is difficult to predict when the first mega river crossing will begin. While crossing the river, the herds face crocodile attacks and thousands are dead, but still, they continue to move. It’s a sight that easily tops the bucket lists of many travelers.

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Most of the wildebeest and their migration companions will have reached the Mara by August, after they have faced the Mara River crossing challenge. Still, they are greeted with a very eager hunting party of big cats and other large predators that patrol the banks, ready to ambush any wildebeest that make it to the other side. During the crossing of Mara River many remaining in the northern Serengeti.

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Life is good for the wildebeests and their companions in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in September, where the herds enjoy relative peace and quiet on the plains. This is the perfect time of year for epic safari game drives across in the Masai Mara National Reserve. However, the wildebeest will face the heavy waters of the Mara River once more as they prepare to cross for their return journey southward Serengeti as they follow the rains.

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By October the wildebeest herds begin the long trek again with more accord; this is another prime river-crossing month, all are heading south, through western Loliondo and the Serengeti National Park’s Lobo area. Don’t get caught up in this possible early move south however as the mega herds have historically moved later and so October remains a good river-crossing month. The herds return to the green shoots which follow the rains on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti in November.

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The short rains begin around early November or early December. The animals move to eat the new grass of the southeast side of the Serengeti around Ndutu and including the north of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The wildebeests and zebras spread across these plains, feeding on the fresh, nutritious grasses ready for the calving period.

The cycle starts again…

The Great Migration seasons

You can spot the Great Migration at any time during the year. People often study past migration patterns to guess where the herds might be at a certain time. But remember, these are wild animals, and the rain they need for grass is getting harder to predict. Camps spread along the migration route, giving our guests the best chance to see the migration up close during their safari.

Where to stay for a Great Migration safari

This incredible show happens in the Greater Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem, which is in both Kenya and Tanzania. The northern part of the migration goes into Kenya’s Masai Mara and then moves south through Tanzania’s Serengeti, going as far as the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

When the Great Migration happens in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, it covers a bigger area than when it's in Kenya. Visitors can decide to stay in permanent camps or our mobile migration camps. The mobile camps move around during the year to stay near where the migration is happening.

From approximately November/December to March each year, the Great Migration makes its way southwards along the eastern edge of the park before settling in the south for calving season.

Eastern Serengeti, Tanzania: Just like the south, the rains bring new life to the Eastern (Namiri) Plains of the Serengeti, and the dry savannah is transformed into a carpet of fresh, green grass drawing the great herds of wildebeest. The plains become the centre stage for explosive action as big cats feast on the hundreds of thousands of wildebeest that stretch as far as the eye can see. Namiri Plains lies on the eastern edge of the Serengeti in prime position to watch the action unfold.

Southern Serengeti, Tanzania: The vast grassland plains of the Southern Serengeti are the favoured birthing grounds of the migrating wildebeest. With the new addition of vulnerable calves, predators such as lion, leopard, and cheetah are not far behind to prey on the numerous newborns.

The herds and calves move as far south as the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (but not within the Crater itself) to graze on the lush new grass of the plains. 

After calving season, the wildebeest start their journey northward towards the central Serengeti and also westward, gradually heading towards the Masai Mara.

Western Serengeti, Tanzania: The Western Corridor of the Serengeti is a narrow strip of lush grassland that almost reaches Lake Victoria. During this part of the migration, the wildebeest move slowly through this region, grazing and taking care of their newborns. There are two rivers in this area — the Grumeti and the Mbalageti — that the wildebeest will cross on their way northward to the Masai Mara.

Central Serengeti, Tanzania: The golden grass plains of the Central Serengeti witness the Great Migration twice a year as the herds journey across the savannah in search of fresh grass. In May/June and November/December, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, along with zebra, topi, and gazelle, pass through the region.

In the second half of the year, one of the most anticipated wildlife experiences occurs: river crossings.

Northern Serengeti, Tanzania: From mid-June to November, the massive herds of wildebeest assemble on the banks of the Mara River in the Northern Serengeti. They get ready to face the crocodile-infested waters and hungry predators on the other side. It's a dramatic, thrilling, and chaotic spectacle as millions of wildebeest thunder across, turning the northern Serengeti into a vibrant hub of activity.

FAQs about Serengeti Migrations

When is the best time to witness the Great Migration in the Serengeti?

The prime time is from November to March when the herds are calving in the south and from June to November for thrilling river crossings in the north

What makes the river crossings in the Northern Serengeti so special?

The river crossings are a dramatic spectacle where millions of wildebeest brave crocodile-infested waters, creating thrilling and chaotic game viewing experiences.

How does Serengeti Camping Safari ensure guests have a close view of the migration action?

Our migration camps, strategically placed along the route, provide guests with proximity to both predators and prey during various stages of the migration.

What is the significance of the Eastern Serengeti during the migration?

The Eastern (Namiri) Plains transform into a vibrant landscape with fresh, green grass, attracting the great herds and creating a stage for big cat action.

Are river crossings the only highlight of the migration?

No, the migration offers various highlights, including calving in the Southern Serengeti, predator interactions, and the journey through the Central Serengeti grass plains.