The Great Wildebeest Migration.
The voyage for the key players in the Great Migration, the roughly two million wildebeest, starts in the south of the Serengeti, with the birth of half a million calves between January and March. Many seasoned Serengeti guides consider these months to be their favorite since the air is brimming with activity and new life.
The 800 kilometer trek of the enormous wildebeest herd is the largest mammal migration on earth. The timing of the migration coincides with greening of nutritious grasses on the short-grass plains during the wet season. These places are safer since it’s easier to see predators, which makes them perfect for calving. But as the plains dry up, the wildebeest are compelled to go to the western corridor in search of pastures that are greener. Although the ecosystem’s northern extension receives the most rainfall, the grass there is the least nutrient-rich. For now, at least, until the south turns green once more, this is the wildebeest’s dry season refuge. A clockwise motion from the south, west, north, and back to the south is the outcome.
A better representation of the circle of life probably cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The journey starts in Southern Serengeti when wildebeest calves are being born. A visual feast for true wildlife aficionados, thousands and thousands of calves are born within a few weeks of each other as a result of predators like lions and hyenas continuously searching for prey.
The herd migrate north into the Maasai Mara in Kenya when the drought arrives in May, chewing down the tall green grass before the zebras and gazelles arrive. Risks associated with the migration include having to cross rivers in front of over 3,000 crocodiles that are waiting eagerly for a meal. Not to mention the renowned number of Serengeti lions, which is by far the biggest in Africa. These huge cats do not have an easy life in this harsh terrain, even with the abundance of hoofed meat available here. However, witnessing a lion pack working together to hunt a wildebeest is once-in-a-lifetime safari experience.
Then, with the beginning of the short rains in late October, the migration makes its way back into the Serengeti. By December, the herds have completed their circuit when they walk past Seronera, a little town in the centre of the Serengeti that is home to the official Serengeti Visitors’ Centre.
The Great Migration in detail.
When planning your Serengeti safari you probably want to include seeing the Great Migration. How then can you make sure you’ll be present when it occurs? The quick answer is no, you cannot. It’s critical to understand that there is always some danger involved when choosing whether to travel to the Serengeti. Although this is what typically occurs we have described the Great Migration in detail below keep in mind that there are no certainties.
The largest animal show of its kind in Africa, if not the entire globe, occurs every year when two million ungulates wildebeest, zebra, Grant’s gazelle, and eland migrate through Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti migration is governed by local rainfall conditions and follows a generally predictable annual cycle, but fluctuations do occur from year to year. The following time periods comprise the Great Migration cycle:
December-April.
The primary calving grounds are located southeast of Seronera; the usual Serengeti plains extend as far as the Ndutu region, which is close to Ngorongoro. The little rains in November and December are what brought them to this location. The wildebeest stick around this area until the end of the long rains, end of April, early May. The wonderful news is that this section of Serengeti National Park is easily accessible and that in this period the landscape becomes lush. The greatest time to explore the Ndutu region and the southeastern plains is usually around February, when calving season occurs. Predators are drawn to the sight because wildebeest, zebra, and other ungulates are so abundant and give birth to so many offspring. The herd may reposition itself in quest of greener pastures as early as March or April. Although it is more difficult to witness the migration in action during this time, it is likely that you may come across enormous herds of animals in motion.
May-July.
This is the period that the wildebeest, after having consumed on the short green grasses of the southeastern Serengeti and after having giving birth to their offspring, start getting ready for their 800 kilometer long trek. The actual starting date may be anytime between late April and early June. This is the time to you may have the advantages to see one of the greatest natural phenomena in the world: more than a million marching animals in a column up to 40 kilometers long. During the migration, the herd will move towards the Western Corridor, where they will face the first major obstacle: crossing the Grumeti River. Because the large crocodiles in the area are waiting to feast, many animals do not make it across the crossing. Before crossing the river, the herd may gather on the southern bank and remain there for up to two weeks.
August-September.
The herd goes further north and begins to cross the next major obstacle, the Mara River, in July or August, once they have successfully crossed the Grumeti River. Numerous famous photographs of the Great Migration were shot near the Mara River crossing. After this crossing, the herd moves on to the plains in the northwest of Kenya and the Maasai Mara National Reserve. When the herd goes into Kenya’s Maasai Mara, the months of August through September are said to be the worst for viewing the Great Migration in the Serengeti National Park. Nonetheless, migration trends indicate that roughly 50% of the herd remains in the Mara Serengeti region of Tanzania. During this time, smaller groups of wildebeest well, we say small frequently cross the Mara River back and forth for no obvious reason. Herds can consist of 500 to 2,000 individuals. This is an excellent time to stay at one of the Serengeti Mara camps for an excellent safari experience.
October-November.
Crossing the Mara River northbound means that, at one point, the herd needs to cross the river one more time before commencing the trek back in a southerly direction. Usually in October, but occasionally sooner, this takes place. The herd will go via the Lobo region and the northern plains during this time. This section of Serengeti National Park is less explored, so if you are seeking to see the migration in relative quietness, this would be the time. The wildebeest return to the short- grass plains and calving ground around Ndutu in late November. And that’s where the Great Migration begins anew.
When to go for wildebeest migration safari.
It is something of choice whether you would like to plan your Serengeti safari around the Great Migration. The Serengeti is a year-round safari destination because of its large area and unmatched wildlife watching, as we have already explained. There is extremely little chance that you will be where the Great Migration herd is exactly crossing a river (the Grumeti or Mara River). Furthermore, it is not possible to predict when the herd will migrate. Large herds of wildebeest and their entourage should be easy to locate, though, if you choose the correct area of the Serengeti: the southeast and Ndutu from December through to May, the Western Corridor from May to July, the Serengeti Mara area from July through to October, and the northern Serengeti and Lobo area in October and November.