The Great Migration is an annual migration of roughly two million wildebeests accompanied by ten thousands of Thomson and Grant’s gazelles and zebras, this journey starts in the south of the Serengeti with the birth of half a million calves between January and March.
The Great Migration is the biggest wildlife event in the world and Africa as well taking place in the Mara – Serengeti ecosystem.
As a tourist wishing to witness this amazing and spectacular migration, here are the details to The Great Migration
Why do wildebeests migrate?
Wildebeests trek for approximately 800 kilometers on an annual basis and this trek is the largest mammal migration on earth, the timing for this migration coincides with greening of nutritious grass on the short – grass plains during the wet season. In this period, the areas are considered to be safer because the predators can easily be spotted making it ideal place for the calving, however when the plains dry, the wildebeests are forced to move in search for greener pastures in the western corridor of Serengeti national park.
The northern extension of the ecosystem receives the highest rainfall but the grasses are least nutritious and this is the dry season retreat for the wildebeest at least until the south becomes green again. This results in a clockwise movement from the south, west and north and back to the south.
The Great Migration in brief
Great migration is a true representation of the circle of life, the Great migration journey starts in Southern Serengeti when the wildebeest calves are born in what is referred to as calving season. The presence of the calves attracts predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas that are constantly hunting for babies (thousands of babies are born within a couple of weeks which is a feast for the eyes of the true wildlife enthusiasts).
When the drought comes in May, the herds move north towards the Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya. Chomping down the high green grass, the herds are quickly followed by the gazelles and zebras, the journey comprises of risks including the deadly river crossings where the herds faceoff with about 3000 crocodiles patiently waiting to kill them. The herds are also killed by predators such as lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas and African wild dogs.
As a tourists, you will enjoy unforgettable sights as lions collaborate to hunt down wildebeests, zebras and gazelles (Serengeti national park has the largest population of lions in Africa). In late October, the short rains begin and the migration makes its way way back into Serengeti and by December, the herds trek past Seronera – a region in Serengeti as they return to their calving grounds again. This marks the completion of migration circle.
The Great Migration in detail
When planning a Great Migration safari, the first thing every tourist is interested is being their when it happens, here is the detailed Great migration.
The annual migration involves over 2 million wildebeests and thousands of zebras and Thomson’s gazelles, Grant’s gazelles and elands through Serengeti national park and Masai Mara national reserve. Mara – Serengeti Ecosystem are the greatest wildlife destination in the world and Africa as well, though the Great migration happens in different periods of the year, it is an annual movement.
The Great Migration follows a reasonably predictable annual cycle which is dictated by local rainfall patterns, the Great Migration cycle breaks up into the following periods of the year.
December – April
This period is a calving season for the Great Migration and it happens in the area south east of Seronera – the typical Serengeti plains stretching all the way to the Ndutu area near Ngorongoro. The movement of the herds is triggered by the short rains in November and December, the wildebeests stay in this area until the end of the long rains, end of April and early May.
The good news about this section of Serengeti national park is that, it is easily accessible and in this period the landscape becomes lush,
- February is usually calving season in the Ndutu area and the southeastern plains – this is the best time to visit this area
In the calving season, wildebeests, zebras and elands give birth to many calves, this attracts many predators to the area
- As early as March or April, the herds may move again in search of greener pastures, in the period seeing the actual migration is more difficult but chances are that you will encounter very large herds while on a move.
May – July
In this periods, the wildebeests after having feasted on the short green grasses of the southern Serengeti and after giving birth to their offspring, they start getting ready for their 800 kilo0meters long trek. This actually starts anytime between late April and early June, this the time when many visitors have a privilege of witnessing one of the greatest natural phenomena in the world with more than a million marching animals in a coumn up to 40 kilometers long.
During the migration, the herds move towards the Western Corridor where they face their first major obstacle – crossing the Grumeti River. Many herds do not survive the crossing as they are being awaited by a huge population o oversized crocodiles ready to feast of them, the herds may congregate on the southern bank of the river and may stay there for up to 2 weeks before crossing the river.
August – September
When the herds have overtaken the Grumeti River obstacle, they move further north and starts crossing the next big hurdle that is Mara River. The iconic Mara River crossing happens in July or August, after the Mara River crossing the herds flocks to the northwest plains and Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya.
- August to September is considered to be the best time to visit Masai Mara national reserve the witness the Great Migration, however some of the herds stay on the Tanzanian side of Serengeti national park.
- In this period, smaller herds of wildebeests of about 500 and thousands of individuals frequently cross the Mara River, back and forth for no apparent reason.
October-November
Mara River crossing northbound means that at one point, the herds need to cross the river one more time before commencing the trek back in a southerly direction, this usually happens in October but sometimes earlier.
In this period the herd will cross the northern plains and Lobo area, this section of Serengeti national park is less visited so if you are looking for quietness during your safari, this would be the best time.
The wildebeest herds return to the short – grass plains and calving ground around Ndutu in late November, and from here The Great Migration start all over again.
When to visit?
Planning a Great Migration safari can be difficult sometimes most especially to new time tourists, as a tourist it is ultimately your choice to plan your African safari around The Great Migration and this brings up the question of the best time to visit so as to witness the Great Migration.
Serengeti national park is a year round destination as it covers a vast area and offers unparalleled wildlife viewings, though timings of herd movements cannot be guaranteed. If you are in a right location you can witness the migration. In Serengeti national park you can witness The fascinating Great Migration herd crossing river at either MARA RIVER or Grumeti River, here is when to see the migration in Serengeti national park
- The South East and Ndutu – from December through to May
- The western corridor from May to July
- The Serengeti Mara area – from July to October
- Northern Serengeti and Lobo area in October and November
In Masai Mara national reserve, the Great Migration can be witnessed from July October
