From $7,180 PP. Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest born through this peak birthing month at rates of up to 8,000 per day. October is a relatively relaxed time, with the chaotic river crossing complete for another year, and the giant herd together enjoying the rewards of fresh grazing lands around Northern Serengeti and the Maasai. Wildebeest Migration Cycle (the great wildebeest migration) is described as the circular movement that wildebeests take across the East African plains of the savannah. 27 Willie van Schoor Avenue Whilst the straight-line distance of annual migration is around 600 km, researchers have found that individual animals cover almost 2,000 km each year, at distances of up to 40 km in a single day. Great Migration Camps Mobile follows the wildebeest migration on a micro scale, guaranteeing migration sightings and experiences. It’s generally accepted that the wildebeests’ route is driven by the weather, as they follow the rains and the growth of new grass. Serengeti great Migration Safari, Wildebeest migration safari Packages and Serengeti National Park Tanzania Safaris Tours. In calving season (Jan-Mar) around half a million wildebeest are born each year in the Serengeti. The best part of the Great Migration in Kenya occurs in July when massive herds of wildebeests are crossing the Mara River to pour across the plains. If the great migration is on your travel bucket list, then this memorable safari in Tanzania is ideal for you. With some help from Tanzania safari specialists Sababu Safaris, discover 10 incredible facts about The Great Wildebeest Migration. This natural phenomenon attracts thousands of local and international visitors. What is the Great Migration? FEBRUARY: Every year half a million wildebeest are born on the Serengeti plains, and February i… 2,000,000 untamed wildlife like wildebeests, zebras, antelopes, topis, who migrate from the Serengeti plains towards Kenya’s Masai Mara and back to the Serengeti, because they are continually searching for new food and water. Great wildebeest migration safari guide – 2021 – 2022 Kenya and Tanzania safaris. Our experienced safari experts as well as affiliate camps and guides on the ground all work together to provide you with up-to-date information on where the herds are, as well as the predators that stalk them. In addition, a number of private conservancies have been established in recent decades which border the unfenced national parks and reserves and are rewilding areas previously used as grazing land for Maasai cattle. Click to read more! These wildebeest calves are able to run within two minutes of being born. Many people think that the great wildebeest migration only happens once a year, but the migration is in fact an all-year-round event -- with each time of year offering a unique widlife experience. Once across the river the herds begin to mass again, and follow local rainfall in the Northern Serengeti and the Maasai. Just like that: the largest terrestrial mammal movement of animals on earth has begun; the great wildebeest migration. You can see the Great Migration in Tanzania year round, whilst the best months to see action in Kenya tend to be September and October. The ever-moving columns of wildebeest, joined by a host of companions, follow an age-old route in search of grazing and water. More than 1.5 million wildebeest migrate in an enormous loop every year. Best places to stay: Kusini and Ndutu Lodge. Still travelling in separate groups, the herds are found mainly around the Grumeti Reserve, west of the Serengeti. This is the stage on which the greatest wildlife show on earth and plays out, as it is by far the greatest mass movement of land mammals on the entire globe. There is a lion population of over 3,000 in the Serengeti ecosystem that follow the herds around the reserve. Best places to stay: Ndutu Lodge and Kusini are the only permanent lodges on the plains of the southern Serengeti. The herds consume an estimated 4,000 metric tons of grass each day. These grazers are followed by lions and other predators in their thousands, and waited for patiently by crocodiles in the Mara and Grometi Rivers as the herd follow their inner compass – and each other – in their never-ending circular journey. The great wildebeest migration involves an estimate of 1.5million wildebeest, 500,000 Thompson’s gazelle, 200,000 zebras and 18,000 elands. The wildebeest migrate all year, moving in a circular pattern which encompasses the greater Serengeti/Mara eco system. The wildebeest herds have no leaders, rather they have an instinctive, herd mentality. The great migration is one of the most spectacular safari events, and it takes place in the East African nations of Kenya and Tanzania. Each year an estimated 140,000 tourists visit the Serengeti ecosystem to witness the migration, which is a double-edged sword. JANUARY: It is the first rains in the southern Serengeti plains that beckon the herds to the Ndutu area. Africa’s great wildebeest migration is an incomparable natural wonderment that captures the hearts of all who witness it. The Great Migration refers to the continuous movement of vast numbers of wildebeest accompanied by large numbers of zebras and gazelles searching for food and water between Tanzania and Kenya. There are lots of resources out there on the Great Wildebeest Migration. GMC mobile camp moves location as the wildebeest move, with the ability to move camp in a day. Wildebeest typically inhabit the Serengeti plains of southeastern Africa. Huge herds totaling up to 2 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle move in an 800 km circuit clockwise through the Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystem in search of the best pastures and access to water. The great wildebeest migration is one of the wonders of the world that takes place in Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya and Serengeti National Park Tanzania. For some reason, a few animals decide to start moving. And this whole animal migration is in turn followed by safari connoisseurs, wanting to witness some of the very best wildlife action nature has to offer anywhere in the world. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. The Great Wildebeest Migration is without doubt one of the planet’s most incredible wildlife spectacles. What do you think of this article on the Great Wildebeest Migration – any information you’d like to see that we’re missing? This probably is the largest number of wildlife sighted a wildlife safari in Tanzania or Kenya wildlife safari. Densely-packed wildebeest cross the Mara River – which separates Kenya’s Maasai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti ©Frank Gabriel Below, you'll find some useful resources that detail when to go, where to stay and what to expect along this unforgettable journey. Find out where the herd will be, and what to expect each month of the year, using our migration map with monthly predictions. The login page will open in a new tab. The Great Wildebeest Migration The Great Wildebeest Migration - the annual migration of giant herds of grazers across Northern Tanzania and Kenya is a truly spectacular event. The crocodiles found in the Mara River can lunge out of the water by more than half of their own body length to catch a wildebeest in their jaws. Every year, millions of wildebeests, zebras, antelopes, gazelles, elands, and impalas move through a fairly predictable clockwise movement around the Serengeti-Masai Mara ecosystem in search for better grazing and fresh water. Best places to stay: Grumeti River Camp, Faru Faru, Sasakwa, Sabora, Mbalageti Lodge and Kirawira, Singita Grumeti all offer excellent game viewing in June. April is rainy season proper in Tanzania, with late afternoons and evenings the wettest time of day (4×4 transportation is the order of the day at this time of year). Aside from predator action (which happens year round), these aspects tend to be one: river crossings, huge herds stretching to the horizon or calving. The Maasai Mara and the Serengeti National Park together form what no other reserve or park in Africa can! Rather than having a start or end point, the Great Migration moves rhythmically in a clockwise direction, making herd tracking unpredicatable. One group makes the Grumeti crossing and header through the Singita Grumeti Reserve, whilst another group heads directly to the north of the Serengeti, passing through Seronera. The wildebeest herd moves forward to the fresh, green pastures of Kenya’s Masai Mara. Grumeti River Camp, Kirawira and Mbalageti Lodge area of the Western Corridor. The ‘short rains’ trigger a continuation of the cycle with the herds leaving Kenya, moving south to western Loliondo and the Lobo area in Serengeti National Park. Share Link. Bear in mind though that this great event is a natural phenomenon, and as such exact timings and locations are unpredictable. This treacherous odessey is dictated by the seasons and where the rains are, the wildebeest are not far behind. The Great Wildebeest Migration The Great Migration through Tanzania and Kenya each year is the largest overland wildlife migration in the world. Wildebeests were colored with the habit of staying and moving together in monumental groups. Two tips to avoid the crowds are. The wildebeest and zebra have a symbiotic relationship, in that wildebeest only feed on the shorter parts of the grass, once the grazing zebra have acted as lawnmowers, cropping the grass down and making it to the wildebeest’s liking. It is an annual event that involves millions of wildebeest, zebras, antelopes, and other hoofed mammals migrating from the … One of the most sought-after experiences for wildlife and nature enthusiasts, the Great Migration is the ever-moving circular migration of over a million animals across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Don’t miss out this on your Africa safari. 7530 Cape Town This treacherous odessey is dictated by the seasons and where the rains are, the wildebeest are not far behind. Tanzania, Zanzibar. This would make the migration an innate instinct, coded into the animals’ DNA over thousands of generations. Although there’s plenty of accommodation around the Ngorongoro crater rim that will mean a long drive to see the herds. A wildebeest calf feeds before the long journey ahead. Wildebeest in the millions make their annual migration through East Africa. The Great Wildebeest Migration is one of the last mass terrestrial wildlife movements left on the planet. They just get up and go, and the rest begins to follow. Over two million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles move through the Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystems in search of green pasture, in a regular pattern. After calves are born the herds stay put in southeast Ndutu, leaving wildebeest herds as far as the eye can see, triggering the many predators into action to get their fill. A favourite season for many of the seasoned Serengeti guides: the air during these months is … The Serengeti-Masai Mara ecosystem is a region of Eastern African equatorial savannah, situated in northern Tanzania and south-western Kenya and totalling approximately 30,00 km sq. View migration map and monthly prediction, Free safari planning advice from destination experts, 2nd floor Tygervalley Chambers One This epic journey from north to south spans almost 3000 kilometres and is virtually endless. Great Wildebeest Migration Map. This means that while tracking the herds is not an exact science, the overall migration runs through the same general pattern each year. Until now, scientists haven’t come up with a generally accepted, definitive answer, though there are some theories: There’s a case that the grazing migrators are motivated by the evolving chemistry of the grass through the year as it responds to rainfall. Each year around millions of wildebeest make the perilous journey between the Serengeti plains in north Tanzania and Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Nor is there a month when the lions and wildebeest call a truce. This great spectacle of nature is an iconic safari option for avid travellers, nature lovers and those who want a little more from their African experience. Research your lodge options and choose carefully to ensure that you’re close to the action at the right time of year. The great wildebeest migration is one of the most spectacular animal migrations in the world ranked among the seventh new wonders of the world and referred to as “The world cup of wildlife”, the great wildbeest migration is a thrilling incredible experience displaying the greatest behavior of wildlife in the world which is experienced nowhere in the world but only in Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. The Great Wildebeest Migration is an ongoing event in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park where a huge herd of 2 million big grazers (wildebeest, zebra and various antelope). Please let us know in the comments below. The Great Migration is the largest overland migration in the world (there are many longer migration undertaken in the oceans and in the air). They’re now starting to mass in the Serengeti’s Western Corridor herding along the pools and channels of the Grumeti River, with a view to crossing the crocodile infested river. The wildebeest (/ ˈ w ɪ l d ɪ b iː s t / WIL-dib-eest, / ˈ v ɪ l-/ VIL-, /-d ə b-/, plural wildebeest or wildebeests), also called the gnu (/ nj uː / NEW or / n uː / NOO), is an antelope in the genus Connochaetes.It belongs to the family Bovidae, which includes antelopes, cattle, goats, sheep, and other even-toed horned ungulates. Known as the Great Wildebeest Migration, this phenomenal event was named one of the seven wonders of … The herds are stretched now, with front-runners near Mbalageti River and the stragglers close to Lake Magadi. This is peak drama (and tourist) time, with the classic sight of densely packed wildebeest herds shoving each other down steep river banks to take on the river crossing across crocodile-infested waters. Wildebeests in the millions make their annual migration through East Africa. Best places to stay: With only a fraction of the visitor numbers that descend on the Mara, Kogatende is a good alternative to watch the herds cross the Mara River. We're offering our guests the chance to explore two world-famous destinations in under a week, Join HerdTracker on a wildebeest migration safari in the Serengeti National Park's Grumeti region, With the help of our Migration & East Africa expert, we answer 18 frequently asked questions about the migration. These move in an annual pattern which is fairly predictable. Tanzania & Kenya. Choose from our existing safari packages or tailor-make your own journey according to your budget. The Great Wildebeest Migration. The annual Great Migration of wildebeest and other herbivores across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is one of the greatest spectacles in the natural world. The herds finish their calving as the short grass plains of the southernmost Serengeti begin to dry out. The journey 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. ... Watch Thousands of Cranes Take Flight in One of Earth's Last Great Migrations. Best places to stay: Asilia’s Dunia Camp is a great option at this time, as are any of the central Serengeti hotels such as the Serena or Sopa. Go to East Africa on a safari and you’ll probably be asking – “will I see the migration?” Two million animals don’t vanish. It’s also an event that is primarily driven by the weather – more specifically, rainfall. As the migration is in a circular motion around the Serengeti/Maasai ecosystem it’s essentially an ongoing event. If you want to find the wildebeest in January, Naabi Hill and Lobo are the places to look. Whilst the majority of wildebeest in Africa are non-migratory, why does the Serengeti ecosystem see such an epic migration of 2 million animals? The rains are subsiding, and the herds spread out from the Western Corridor to the centre of the Serengeti, making their way northwards in long lines. By following the rains, the herds must battle raging rivers and avoid lurking predators in order to […] Great wildebeest migration safari guide – The Great Wildebeest Migration is one of the last mass terrestrial wildlife movements left on the planet. Hence the reason it was on my travel bucket list for years. Some believe that the wildebeest are reacting to distant lightning and thunderstorms, and simply heading in that direction. She will most likely be the first person to reply to your request. The Mara crossing is responsible for thousands of wildebeest deaths each year through crocodile predation, drowning, falling off the high banks, or being trampled or crushed by the volume of the herd. After the rain the plains grasses have higher levels of calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen, meaning the wildebeest could be following their taste. EXPERIENCE. They need a lot of area to move in. There are plenty of companies and lodges to serve these tourists at all budgets, but at peak times there are also lots of people and vehicles competing for the best views of the wildlife. Jump to a section: The Serengeti-Maasai Mara ecosystem | Great Wildebeest Migration facts | Migration by season | Map | Tips | Resources. The January season is the calving season where millions of wildebeests are born. Each year, almost two million wildebeest and 20 000 plains game migrate from Tanzania's Serengeti to the south of Kenya's Masai Mara in search of lush grazing grounds and life-giving water. read more. Witness the dramatic scenes of the Great Migration in the Serengeti. Follow us for instant access to all of our best safari & wildlife content: The Magnificent Migration: On Safari with Africa’s Last Great Herds, Safari Jackets – Everything You Need To Know, https://www.asiliaafrica.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-great-wildebeest-migration/, https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2017/02/08/how-does-the-great-wildebeest-migration-work/, https://www.discoverafrica.com/migration/, https://www.tanzaniaodyssey.com/blog/great-migration-overview/, https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/06/how-the-mass-drownings-of-wildebeest-feed-the-serengeti/530799/. It’s the main reason why so many travellers venture to Kenya and Tanzania for a Migration safari, especially around mid-year. The end of October sees the ‘short rains’ start, and the herd starting to move southwards. The weather is now hot and dry, with the last of the herds completing the Mara River crossing. Please log in again. Decide first which aspect(s) of the migration you most want to witness most. It is for this reason that our Herdtracker app was created; to help you track the wildebeests' movements and plan the safari of a lifetime. This natural occurrence keeps happening every year and wildebeests keep taking the same route. If there is a safari you should go on, this has to be it. In other words, July is the best month to track and witness this spectacular natural event in all its breathtaking glory. Rainfall drives the event, so tracking the herds is not an exact science, but the same general pattern plays out each year. At this point in the migration the herds split into smaller family groups to get their fill of food as they make for the fertile lands of the Ndutu plains where the rains will have rejuvenated the grasses since the herds were last there. There are about 2,000,000 animals in the migration about 1.5 million wildebeest, about 400,000 Gazelle (last count) about 250,000 Zebra (a lot depends on how many have been eaten) and added to this are Eland and other hoofed animals. Great Wildebeest Migration. Below we run through where the herds are usually found in each month: The rain-plump grasses in the deep south of the Serengeti National Park feed the huge milling herds, not only of wildebeest but hundreds of thousands gazelle, zebra and other antelopes. July to October every year is the season for Great Wildebeest Migration. The area comprises the adjoining Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, along with a number of bordering Tanzanian conservation areas and game reserves including the Maswa Game Reserve,  the Loliondo Game Controlled Area, the Grumeti Reserve and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The herds split into large groups rather than the dense concentrations of calving season and drift north west in the direction of Moru and the plains of the southern Serengeti. The dense herds graze on the short grass plains around Lakes Maek and Ndutu as the females give birth to their young. For most of their lives, wildebeest graze in the grassy savanna s and open woodlands of the plains, which straddle the nations of Tanzania and Kenya. Where to stay: Permanent lodges around Kogatende permanent lodges along with  Serengeti Lamai and Sayari Camp being the places to go towards the end of July. An estimated 250,000 wildebeest die each year through a combination of predation, drowning, thirst, hunger, and exhaustion. About the Author Our Marketing Manager is responsible for our online presence and bookings. It's the chief reason why so many travellers venture to Kenya and Tanzania for a Migration safari, especially around mid-year. Huge herds totaling up to 2 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle move in an 800 km circuit clockwise through the Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystem in search of the best pastures and access to water. Explore more. Each year around 1.5 million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras migrate around the Serengeti National Park in search of pastures green. Wildebeest migration is a term for circular journey of approx. The cycle is now complete, with the herds now back in the Ndutu plain in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where the area is rich in nutritious grasses again, providing the herds with the best conditions for raising their new-born calves. This means they don’t all stick together all the time, but often form splinter groups that move in different directions in search of the best grazing. A secluded and romantic African honeymoon adventure. Select a month below to find out what each month offers in terms of weather, wildlife, migratory movements, predator interactions, river crossings and where the best place to stay is, to get the most out of your trip to see the great wildebeest migration. Experience one of Africa's greatest spectacles – smell the dust and hear the noise of thousands of animals crossing the Mara River, This four-in-one calving season safari includes not only the Serengeti, but Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorogoro Crater, From Lake Manyara to the Ngorogoro Crater and the Serengeti, this Tanzania safari offers real value and shows off the burgeoning green world of Tanzania's rainy season migration, Experience the drama of the nature's greatest spectacle in the Tanzania, Experience the drama of the nature's greatest spectacle in the Serengeti National Park, Combine two prime destinations in one week of wonder. Tanzania & Zanzibar Honeymoon. This article gives you all the info you need to know before you go, and will help you plan your time watching the great migration. Here are a few very thorough articles online: And this coffee table book is really rather spectacular: The Magnificent Migration: On Safari with Africa’s Last Great Herds, The 20 best malaria-free safari destinations, The 6 greatest animal migrations in Africa. The ‘long rains’ are still happening daily, and as the calves gain strength the herds can move faster and cover more ground. South Africa, Tanzania - medium budget, maximum game viewing, Primates and wildlife of Uganda and Rwanda, Spectacular July to September Wildebeest River Crossings (10 days), Green Season Wildebeest Migration Safari (11 days), Affordable Green Season Safari in Tanzania (8 days), August Migration Safari with HerdTracker (10 days), July Wildbeest Migration Safari with HerdTracker (10 days), World Cup of Wildlife Migration Safari with HerdTracker (9 days), June to July Wildebeest Migration Safari in Tanzania with Herdtracker (9 days), Affordable Ngorongoro and Serengeti Safari (6 days), Epic Grumeti River Crossing Migration Safari (10 days). The first rains on the southern Serengeti plains see the herds congregating around the Ndutu part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with best sightings around Lobo and Naabi Hills. The Great Migration through Tanzania and Kenya each year is the largest overland wildlife migration in the world. Wildebeest Migration. There is fossil evidence across the Serengeti that suggests wildebeest have been roaming the East African plains for over one million years. The closer you can base yourself to the herds the less travel time on a daily basis, and the more time actually viewing the wildlife. The great wildebeest migration is the greatest movement of wild mammals anywhere in Africa. From £5,500 PP. The herds are now in the northern Serengeti around Kogatende and starting to take on the challenge of crossing the fast-flowing Mara River. The Wildebeest Migration, is one of the “Seven New Wonders of the World” and also known as The World Cup of Wildlife. read more, We don't call it 'medium budget, maximum game viewing' for nothing... Each year, almost two million wildebeest and 20 000 plains game migrate from Tanzania's Serengeti to the south of Kenya's Masai Mara in search of lush grazing grounds and life-giving water. And yet, one, or two, or maybe a few hundred wildebeest sense something in the air. 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