The Great Wildebeest Migration takes place in East Africa, specifically in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem — the oldest and last of its kind remaining on the planet. Stretching from northern Tanzania to southern Kenya, it encompasses indigenous reservations and protected wildlife zones like Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and, on the Kenyan side, the Maasai Mara Reserve. Most of the Great Wildebeest Migration occurs within Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.
This ecosystem covers about 40,000 square kilometers (approximately 15,500 square miles) and is home to several million animals, including wildebeest, Thomson’s gazelles, zebras, buffalos, giraffes, elephants, hippos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and many others. This rich diversity is due to a variety of habitats, from lakes, rivers, and swamps to grasslands and forests.
The ecosystem is a living model of the complex interactions between wildlife and their environment, showcasing the life cycle in all its grandeur and harshness. Drought forces mammals to leave their habitats, storm fronts guide them toward fresh grass and water, and the lush plains provide ideal conditions for raising newborn calves. However, these vulnerable young also become prey for predators and scavengers.
The wildebeest migration is a breathtaking display of nature’s survival strategy, driven by the quest for water and fresh grazing grounds. Occurring primarily within the Serengeti ecosystem, this annual migration follows the seasonal rainfall patterns that stimulate grass growth. As the dry season takes hold and grazing resources dwindle, wildebeests migrate to regions where recent rains have created lush vegetation, ensuring a steady supply of food and water.
This cyclical journey is vital for their survival, aligning with their reproductive and calving cycles, providing essential nourishment during these critical times. Additionally, the migration helps prevent overcrowding and overgrazing in one area, allowing the ecosystems they traverse to recover and regenerate, maintaining environmental balance.
We can find the main calving grounds in the area southeast of Seronera: typical Serengeti plains stretch all the way to the Ndutu area near Ngorongoro. Triggering their move to this area are the short rains in November and December. The wildebeest stick around this area until the end of the long rains, end of April, early May. The delightful news is that this section of Serengeti National Park is easily accessible and that in this period the landscape becomes lush.
February is usually calving season in the Ndutu area and the southeastern plains: the very best time to visit this area. As wildebeest, zebra and other ungulates are so many, and give birth to so many calves, the spectacle works as a magnet for predators. As early as March or April the herd may move again in search of greener pastures. Seeing the actual migration in this period is more difficult, but chances are that you will encounter very large herds on the move.
This is the period that the wildebeest, after having feasted on the short green grasses of the southeastern Serengeti and after having giving birth to their offspring, start getting ready for their 800-kilometer-long trek. The actual starting date may be anytime between late April and early June. This is the time to you may have the privilege to see one of the greatest natural phenomena in the world: more than a million marching animals in a column up to 40 kilometers long.
During the migration, the herd will move towards the Western Corridor, where they will face the first major obstacle: crossing the Grumeti River. Many animals don’t survive the crossing as they are being awaited by the area’s population of oversized crocodiles ready to feast. The herd may congregate on the southern bank of the river and stay there for up to two weeks before crossing the river.
When the Grumeti River obstacle has been taken, the herd moves further north and starts crossing the next big hurdle, the Mara River, in July or August. The Mara River crossing is where so many iconic Great Migration photos have been taken. After this crossing the herd flocks to the northwest plains and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The August – September period is considered being a bad time to visit Serengeti National Park and see the Great Migration as the herd moves into the Masai Mara in Kenya.
However, migration patterns show that about half of the herd stays on the Tanzanian side, in the Mara Serengeti area. In this period, smaller herds of wildebeest (well consider small… herds may count up to between 500 and thousands of individuals) frequently cross the Mara River, back and forth, for no apparent reason. This is an excellent time to stay at one of the Serengeti Mara camps.
Crossing the Mara River northbound means that, at one point, the herd needs 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 little-visited, so if you are looking to see the migration in relative quietness, this would be the time. The wildebeest return to the short- grass plains and calving ground around Ndutu in late November. And from here, the Great Migration starts all over again.
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