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. 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. Tanzania & Zanzibar Honeymoon. ... Watch Thousands of Cranes Take Flight in One of Earth's Last Great Migrations. Africa’s great wildebeest migration is an incomparable natural wonderment that captures the hearts of all who witness it. After the rain the plains grasses have higher levels of calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen, meaning the wildebeest could be following their taste. Females are heavily pregnant and this is the start of calving season, Huge herd of wildebeest congregating in Ndutu. Great Wildebeest Migration. The login page will open in a new tab. It’s the main reason why so many travellers venture to Kenya and Tanzania for a Migration safari, especially around mid-year. 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. Grumeti River Camp, Kirawira and Mbalageti Lodge area of the Western Corridor. Some believe that the wildebeest are reacting to distant lightning and thunderstorms, and simply heading in that direction. 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. Please let us know in the comments below. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. As the migration is in a circular motion around the Serengeti/Maasai ecosystem it’s essentially an ongoing event. If there is a safari you should go on, this has to be it. The Great Wildebeest Migration is without doubt one of the planet’s most incredible wildlife spectacles. View migration map and monthly prediction, Free safari planning advice from destination experts, 2nd floor Tygervalley Chambers One Nor is there a month when the lions and wildebeest call a truce. This treacherous odessey is dictated by the seasons and where the rains are, the wildebeest are not far behind. 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. 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. Best places to stay: Kusini and Ndutu Lodge. Click to read more! By following the rains, the herds must battle raging rivers and avoid lurking predators in order to […] It's the chief reason why so many travellers venture to Kenya and Tanzania for a Migration safari, especially around mid-year. 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. Great Wildebeest Migration Map. 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 Maasai Mara and the Serengeti National Park together form what no other reserve or park in Africa can! July to October every year is the season for Great Wildebeest Migration. Great wildebeest migration safari guide – 2021 – 2022 Kenya and Tanzania safaris. This probably is the largest number of wildlife sighted a wildlife safari in Tanzania or Kenya wildlife safari. If you want to find the wildebeest in January, Naabi Hill and Lobo are the places to look. Wildebeests in the millions make their annual migration through East Africa. 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. 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. 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. 7530 Cape Town 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. July is mating season proper for the herds, and a noisy time to see them as they continue to make their way northwards across the plains. Great Migration Camps Mobile follows the wildebeest migration on a micro scale, guaranteeing migration sightings and experiences. Two tips to avoid the crowds are. Our experts predict how the wildebeest migration will move based on previous years migratory patterns and real time updates received from pilots, rangers and safari guides in the Serengeti. Don’t miss out this on your Africa safari. 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. A favourite season for many of the seasoned Serengeti guides: the air during these months is … It is an annual event that involves millions of wildebeest, zebras, antelopes, and other hoofed mammals migrating from the … 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 great wildebeest migration is the greatest movement of wild mammals anywhere in Africa. 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. 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. Best places to stay: Ndutu Lodge and Kusini are the only permanent lodges on the plains of the southern Serengeti. 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. This natural occurrence keeps happening every year and wildebeests keep taking the same route. It’s also an event that is primarily driven by the weather – more specifically, rainfall. These move in an annual pattern which is fairly predictable. What is Great Wildebeest Migration? Tanzania & Kenya. What do you think of this article on the Great Wildebeest Migration – any information you’d like to see that we’re missing? Wildebeest Migration. There is fossil evidence across the Serengeti that suggests wildebeest have been roaming the East African plains for over one million years. Go to East Africa on a safari and you’ll probably be asking – “will I see the migration?” Two million animals don’t vanish. Rather than having a start or end point, the Great Migration moves rhythmically in a clockwise direction, making herd tracking unpredicatable. The end of October sees the ‘short rains’ start, and the herd starting to move southwards. 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. 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. Choose from our existing safari packages or tailor-make your own journey according to your budget. 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. More than 1.5 million wildebeest migrate in an enormous loop every year. The Great Wildebeest Migration is one of the last mass terrestrial wildlife movements left on the planet. A secluded and romantic African honeymoon adventure. Over two million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles move through the Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystems in search of green pasture, in a regular pattern. 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. With some help from Tanzania safari specialists Sababu Safaris, discover 10 incredible facts about The Great Wildebeest Migration. Known as the Great Wildebeest Migration, this phenomenal event was named one of the seven wonders of … Best places to stay: Grumeti River Camp, Faru Faru, Sasakwa, Sabora, Mbalageti Lodge and Kirawira, Singita Grumeti all offer excellent game viewing in June. Each year around millions of wildebeest make the perilous journey between the Serengeti plains in north Tanzania and Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. 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. Hence the reason it was on my travel bucket list for years. The ever-moving columns of wildebeest, joined by a host of companions, follow an age-old route in search of grazing and water. The January season is the calving season where millions of wildebeests are born. FEBRUARY: Every year half a million wildebeest are born on the Serengeti plains, and February i… 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. Tanzania, Zanzibar. Each year an estimated 140,000 tourists visit the Serengeti ecosystem to witness the migration, which is a double-edged sword. 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/. Please log in again. 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. Serengeti great Migration Safari, Wildebeest migration safari Packages and Serengeti National Park Tanzania Safaris Tours. 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