What is The Great Wildebeest Migration?

The annual migration of massive herds of grazers across Northern Tanzania and Kenya, known as the Great Wildebeest Migration, is a truly stunning occurrence. Over two million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles migrate in a predictable rhythm through the Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystems in search of lush pasture. This is without a doubt one of the world’s greatest natural wonders.

How can one see the great Migration?

The Great Migration is visible all year in Tanzania; the animals travel in a round fashion around the Serengeti National Park, therefore it is a year-round event. The Great Wildebeest Migration rarely visits Kenya’s Masai Mara; the herds only go there as an extension of their grazing fields in Tanzania’s northernmost region if they are in need of fresh pastures. The migration is only visible in Kenya for a few months of the year, when the herds are on their way to the border, and even then, most of the herds are still meandering around the Serengeti’s northern regions.

Why do the Wildebeest migrate and why does the Great Migration happen?

The main goal of the wildebeest migration over the Serengeti and into the Masai Mara is to follow the rain. From December through March, they always start their calving cycle in Ndutu’s Southern Serengeti area and follow where the grass is greener… While we have a fair understanding of where the wildebeest should be at any particular time of year, where the rain falls is a big factor. The wildebeest are famously unreliable because, while they all migrate from the south to the north Serengeti and back, they frequently zigzag along the way, making it difficult to forecast where the large herds will be at any particular time.

When is the best time to visit for the Great Wildebeest Migration?
The wildebeest herds are always in Tanzania throughout the year. Some of the herds visit Kenya for a brief period each year. The wildebeest are always crossing the Mara River in Tanzania between Kogatende and the Lamai wedge between July and October (the land between the Mara River and the border to Kenya). The herds cross the Mara river from one side of the Masai Mara to the other on occasion (all in Kenya). As a result, Tanzania is the most likely place to view the famed river crossings.

Where to stay for The Great Migration:
The best way to experience the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra is to schedule a safari at one of the Serengeti’s iconic mobile camps. The mobile camps are put up at certain sites throughout the year, and they frequently move two or three times a year, depending on where the herds are at the time.
These are the two genuinely movable activities that will be found close to or among the herds at any time of the year as they move between more than two locations (which is the standard route of most of the other mobile camps).

On your Tanzania safari, the Serengeti features a number of permanent lodges that will provide you with all of the creature amenities you require as well as a good location to view the herds. Here’s a downloadable Itinerary to get a feel of what your trip would look like.