Africa’s race for life : The Great Migration is the greatest and largest migration of herds ever witnessed on earth, this annual journey consists of about 2 million wildebeest as the key players. The journey starts in the south of Serengeti national park with a birth of half a million claves between January and March, this the favorite season for many of the seasoned Serengeti guides. The air in Serengeti national park during these months is full of new life and action.
Why do wildebeest migrate?
The annual journey of 800 kilometers trek of the wildebeests is the largest mammal migration on earth, the timing of the migration coincides with fresh greening of nutritious grasses on the short – grass plains coming to life because of the rains during the wet season. In this period, the areas are safer because predators can easily be spotted as they fall the newly born calves. These areas ideal place for calving, when the plains dry, the wildebeests are forced to move in search for greener pastures in the western corridor.
The northern extension of the Mara – Serengeti ecosystem has the highest rainfall but the grasses are least nutritious, this is the dry season retreat for the wildebeest until the south become green again. This results into a clockwise movement from South, West, North and back to the South.
The Great Migration in Brief
The Great Migration is a better representation of a true circle of life that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, the annual migration starts in Southern Serengeti when wildebeest calves are being born, the presence of the calves attracts predators like lions, leopards, hyenas and cheetahs that are constantly hunting for babies. During the calving season, thousands and thousands of calves are born within a couple weeks. The calving season is a feast for the eyes of the true wildlife enthusiasts.
In May – that is when the drought sets in, the herds move north towards the Masai Mara in Kenya chomping down the high green grass as they are quickly followed by the gazelles and zebras. The migration is not entirely a peaceful journey as it features risk that are the river crossings, the herds face about 3,000 crocodiles and a huge population of lions (Serengeti lion population is the largest in Africa) that are patiently waiting for a kill. Though there is abundance of hoofed meat in this area, life is not easy for the big cats, the birth of the calves and large herds excite the predators such as lions which collaborate to hunt down the wildebeests which is an unforgettable sight.
With the beginning of the short rains in late October, the migration makes its way back into Serengeti national park from Masai Mara national reserve. By December, the herds trek past Seronera – an area in central Serengeti where the official Serengeti Visitors’ Center is located on their way returning to their calving grounds again and the circle is complete.
The Great Migration in detail
The Great Migration is unmissable experience during your Africa safari in Serengeti national park, before you plan your safari to see the migration. Be sure to be there when it happens?, the decision to when to visit Serengeti always involves an element of risk as it hard to guarantee.
Here is the detailed Great Migration and what usually happens.
The annual migration involves over 2 million wildebeests and thousands of zebras and Thomson gazelles, Grant’s gazelles and elands migrating through Serengeti national park , the migration is the greatest wildlife spectacular of its own kind in Africa and the world as well.
Variations in the migration occurs from year to year, however the Serengeti migration follows a reasonably predictable annual cycle which is dictated by local rainfall patterns. The following is the breaks up in the following periods.
December-April
This is the calving season happening in the calving grounds in the area Southeast of Seronera – the typical Serengeti plains stretching all the way to the Ndutu area near Ngorongoro. The short rains in November and December trigger the movement of the herds, the herds stick around this area (Seronera) until the end of the long rains, end of April, early May.
This section of Serengeti national park is easily accessed and in this period the landscape becomes lush, February is the calving season in the Ndutu area and the southern plains of Serengeti national park. February is the best time to visit this area as the herds (wildebeests, zebras and other ungulates) give birth to so many calves which attract predators.
As early as March or April, the herds may move again in search for greener pastures, seeing the actual migration in this period is more difficult, however chances are that you will encounter very large herds on the move.
May-July
In this period, the wildebeests have finished feasting on the short green grasses of the southeastern Serengeti and done with giving birth to their offspring, they start getting ready for their 800 kilometers long trek.
The actual dates for starting of the migration might be any time from between late April and early June and in this time you will have a chance to one of the world’s greatest natural phenomena, you will see more than a million of animals marching in a column up to 40 kilometers long.
During the migration, the herds will move towards the Western Corridor where they will face their first major obstacle which is the crossing of the Grumeti River (Grumeti River Crossing). Many animals do not survive the crossing as they face off with the oversized population of crocodiles which is ready to feast on them, the herds may congregate on the southern bank of the river and stay there for about 2 weeks before crossing the river.
August – September
After taking over the Grumeti River obstacle, the herd moves further north and starting crossing the next big hurdle which is the Mara River in July or August. The Mara River Crossing is the most iconic stage of the migration and many of the spectacular photos of Great migration have been taken here.
After the crossing the herd flocks to the northwest plains and Masai Mara national Reserve in Kenya, August – September is considered to be a bad time to visit Serengeti national park to see the Great Migration as the herd moves in Masai Mara national reserve.
However is the best time to visit Masai Mara national reserve to witness the Great Migration, migration patterns show that about half of the herds stays on the Tanzania side in the Mara Serengeti Area. In this period the herd staying behind are considered smaller though they may count up to between 500 and thousands of wildebeests, this frequently crosses the Mara River, back and forth for no apparent reason. This period is considered to be an excellent time to stay of one of the camps in the Serengeti Mara.
October-November
Crossing the Mara River North bound means that at one point the herd needs to cross the river one more time before commencing the trek back in a southern direction which usually happens in October, but sometimes it happens earlier. In this period the herd will cross the northern plains and Lobo Area.
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 area of Serengeti is less visited which makes it a perfect area to visit if you are looking to see the migration in relative quietness.
The wildebeest then returns to the short – grass plains and calving ground around Ndutu in late November and from here, the Great Migration starts all over again.
When to visit Serengeti national park to witness the Great Migration?
Serengeti national park is an all year round wildlife destination offering unparalleled wildlife viewing, this means whatever time of the year you plan to visit the park you will have a great time.
If you are planning your Serengeti safari around the Great Migration, kindly note that chances of being at the exact spot of the Great Migration herd crossing a river (either Grumeti or Mara River) are very slim. Also the timing for movements of the herds cannot be guaranteed, however if you choose the right of Serengeti national park you will be able to witness the Great Migration.
- The Southeast and Ndutu plains from December through to May
- the Western Corridor from May to July
- The Serengeti Mara area from July through to October
- The northern Serengeti and Lobo area in October and November
