Everything You Need to Know About the Wildebeest Migration

The Wildebeest Migration, also known as the Great Wildebeest Migration, is one of the biggest draws to visiting East Africa’s Kenya and Tanzania, offering the chance to see the greatest wildlife show on earth.

But the question is, “When is the best time to see the wildebeest migration?” and where? And what can you actually expect to see? In this blog we have put together some answers to the most frequently asked questions from travelers about the migrations, plus some tips to help you plan a trip of a lifetime.

What is the Wildebeest Migration?

Each year, over 1.5 million wildebeests accompanied by over 300,000 zebras and gazelle stragglers embark on an annual trek from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park to Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve which make up the Serengeti – Mara Ecosystem in search of food and water. The Migration is followed by predators closely, waiting for an opportunity to strike weak prey as they make their way into different territories.

Their journey follows a continuous clockwise circle, covering some 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles), and is notoriously fraught with peril. About 250,000 wildebeests die en-route.

The precise timing of the migration changes annually as it is an unpredictable and spontaneous natural event dependent on the rains. By far, it is the greatest mass movement of land mammals on the entire planet and has been listed as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

What is the best time to see the wildebeest migration?

“When actually is the migration?” is a frequently asked question. The answer is, the Wildebeest Migration is a year-round event with the herds moving in a constant clockwise circle across the Serengeti – Mara Ecosystem.

In Tanzania, the calving season takes place in the southern Serengeti between January and mid-March, before the wildebeest migration begins heading towards the western Serengeti in June.

Most travelers also visit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s largest inactive, intact, and unfilled volcanic caldera. Although there are thousands of wild animals living inside the crater, they don’t actually take part in the larger migration, as the rich volcanic soils provide the nutrients they need to survive.

If you are on a Masai Mara Safari, you can expect the wildebeests to make their arrival as early as July, but they generally arrive between August and September and remain in the Mara between October and November.

Travel Tip – Note that the above is a guide only. The migration is a natural phenomenon and no year is the same as the last, so there is never any guarantees. In 2013 for example, the migration actually re-entered the Masai Mara for a second time just two months after they left due to lack of rain in the Serengeti. Travelers on safari in the Mara as late as December were lucky enough to witness the plains covered in herds of wildebeests.

So which is better—the Serengeti or the Masai Mara?

Tanzania boasts the open plains of Serengeti and delivers an epic experience of seeing the wildlife of Ngorongoro Crater on a 4×4 game drive. If you are visiting between January and mid-March, you will catch the calving season (with over 400,000 calves born during a period of three weeks).

On the other hand, Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya covers a much smaller area than the Serengeti. Some argue that the concentration of wildlife is therefore much higher once the Migration enters the Mara. “The Mara really offers the quintessential safari setting many travelers dream about for years.

But here is what to note: if you are going all the way to East Africa for a safari, you might as well visit both. Even if you are on a tight schedule, the Masai Mara and Serengeti are part of the same ecosystem, only separated by a non-existent border. Meaning you can literally be standing in the Serengeti, take a step to your right, and be in Masai Mara. It is easier than you think.

Will I see a river crossing?

Most of the travelers have the expectation of seeing river crossings with thousands and thousands of wildebeests and the odd crocodile battling it out in the ultimate nerve-wracking scene straight from National Geographic.

In reality, wildlife photographers and videographers will camp out for weeks at a river to witness just one of these crossings. So the chances of visitors seeing one of these crossings are pretty unlikely (but not out of the question, of course).

Do we adapt our itineraries to follow the migration?

In short, no. Overall, we still visit the same places and stay in the same camps or lodges year round. However, no safari is ever the same, regardless of the time of year you travel. Your driver and local guides may adjust their route depending on the weather, what is happening within the park and how long they have.

Tips for enjoying the Migration

• The sheer volume of animals taking part in the migration is hard to fathom, but it is important to that it is not one giant collective herd. The herds are separated over hundreds of kilometers, so while you will see wildebeests and zebras when you travel, there is no guarantee you will see them in huge numbers
• Have an open mind. The migration is a natural phenomenon, and no year or no safari is the same as the last. That is what makes a safari so magical; there is always a buzz in the air, a sense of childlike excitement when you head off into the unknown. It’s like nothing else.

Start planning your Wildebeest Migration to Kenya and Tanzania, talk to our Travel Consultants for a tailored package.