TANZANIA SERENGETI MIGRATION
The Great Wildebeest Migration - the annual migration of giant herds of grazers across Northern Tanzania and Kenya is a truly spectacular event. Over two million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles move through the Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystems in search of green pasture, in a regular pattern. This is surely one of the greatest wonders of the natural world.
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. A favourite season for many of the seasoned Serengeti guides: the air during these months is full of new life and action. Read all about Africa's biggest wildlife event on this page.
How the migration really works!
The theory is simple. Seasonal rains and the availability of grazing determines the “clockwise” movement of the migration. The larger eco-system includes Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Masai Mara. A few physical barriers like the Simiti and Lobo hills, the Grumeti and Mara rivers hinder and alter this “circular” path. Well in reality it’s not quite that simple!
Here’re some notes gleaned from Richard Knocker. One of the original Nomad Guides in East Africa.
The annual Great Wildebeest Migration dates & seasons
December to March, April to May ,June and July ,August through to October
December To March
The short rains begin around early November. A little after this, in late November and December, the herds of the wildebeest migration arrive on the short-grass plains of the Serengeti. These are south and east of Seronera, around Ndutu and include the north of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Dispersed across these plains, wildebeest and zebra are everywhere – feeding on the fresh, nutritious grasses. They stay here through January, February and March, with most wildebeest calves born in a short window around February. Gradually they spread west across these plains, then around April they start their great migration north.
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April to May
April is the wettest month of the year, and even though there’s rain almost every day of the month, it rarely rains all day. April is slightly cooler than March, but it’s still warm during the day, with average highs of 28C.
While calving season has ended, the herds of wildebeest are still in the Southern Serengeti and Ndutu Region, sustained by the lush grass on the plains. However, the herds have also started moving northwards, so you can catch them on the move in the Seronera/Central Serengeti region too.
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June and July
Firstly, where are the herds? June is a major moving month, and because of that the location of the mega-herds can be quite tricky to predict. The Serengeti’s Western Corridor is a great place to focus as over 50% of the herds head out to this area in late April and May. They will often stay there for the next few weeks, well into June. The remainder of the migration heads directly north and enters the northern Lobo and Kogatende areas of the Serengeti from approximately the 15th June onward.
Due to how widely the herds can be spread in June it is a month in which I would often recommend that clients split their time between the western corridor and the heart of the park as well as Lobo farther north. By splitting your time between two areas, you will cover the entire area the migration can be found… and therefore increase your chances of hitting the mega-herds.
At the end of June the first crossings usually happen on the Mara River, but I’d urge clients to be cautious relying on the northern Serengeti in June – the grass can be long and the herds unpredictable. The mega herds are usually a long way behind, moving into the northern Serengeti in July.
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