WILDEBEEST MIGRATION

One of the greatest animal migrations in the world is the annual wildebeest migration across Serengeti ecosystem between Tanzania and Kenya. It features more than 1.5 million wildebeests, 500,000 zebras, 200,000 Thompson’s gazelles and 18,000 elands, making the journey in search of greener pastures between Serengeti National park in Tanzania and Masai Mara wildlife reserve in Kenya and back again over the course of the year.
The migrating wildebeests are attracted to the abundance of fresh grass which changes according to the rainy seasons. This natural phenomenon is unique to Serengeti ecosystem. As the animals move in cycle to different areas, the direction, pattern and intensity of their movements is not the same, means that your safari has to be perfectly timed.
Both Serengeti and Masai Mara wildlife reserve offers a wide range of accommodations set in the rolling plains, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the wildebeest migration safari experience.
Animals trek a total of 1000 km or more and where they go is determined by the presence of fresh grass.
Over the course of the journey, the animals have got to overcome major obstacles that include crossing crocodile infested grummet and Mara Rivers on top of hungry predators which hunt and kill some. These are some of the dramatic stages of the wildebeest migration worth viewing and capturing on camera.
An estimated 250,000 wildebeest and 30,000 zebras die over the course of the cycle. Never the less, the birthing rate estimated at 8,000 calves each day occurring between January and March in the southern Serengeti plains adds more to the number of wildebeest which sustains their population and next generation.
Witnessing the wildebeest migration is one of the memorable things visitors can ever experience in Kenya or Tanzania safari.
A better way to watch wildebeest migration is to plan a safari that’s designed for the right timing and location.
Wildebeest migration is best experienced in the following months.
Between January and March wildebeests gather to give birth on the southern part of Serengeti national park and stretch to Ndutu area in Ngoro Ngoro conservation area. Pregnant wildebeest are destined for giving birth and it’s the time when you can watch wildebeest dropping their calves. Estimated at 8000 wildebeest calves are born each day. There’s always high presence of predators such as cheetah, leopard, lion and hyena that roam the area looking for easy prey. Predators undoubtedly kill some but the birthing season ultimately adds more to the number of wildebeests that will sustain their population over the course of the journey.
April to May
Post birthing, the wildebeest now in huge spectacular move towards the central Serengeti national park. This area called Seronera valley is sought after by many visitors in the camps that position themselves for viewing.
June
June is a spectacular point of the wildebeest annual life cycle. The herds move northwest of Serengeti setting to cross grummet river where crocodiles. Jumping and leaping into the river to the point of exhaustion, renders the wildebeests easy prey for cheetahs, leopards, lions and hyenas that continue to shadow the migration.
July to October
Another time of death and life, where the herds must cross the Mara River before crossing to Kenya’s Masai Mara wildlife reserve, bordering Serengeti national park in the north. Once they cross over to masai mara, the wildebeest split into small herds that circle the main bigger herd as they move around the mara triangle. From July, August, September and October this time in Masai Mara national park is the best time for seeing the wildebeest migration. Masai mara wildlife reserve has the largest population of big cats in Africa, with cheetahs, leopards and lions. During game drives, these predators are often seen providing a rewarding safari experience.
November to December
Crossing back to Serengeti national park, it marks the reverse of the long migratory cycle year after year.