Wildebeest Migration
See the greatest wildlife show on earth.
Africa’s Great Migration is one of nature’s most spectacular shows with up to 1.5 million wildebeests and hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles moving from the southern plains of Serengeti in Tanzania up to the Masai Mara in Kenya.
The great wildebeest migration in Kenya, is also known as one of the Seven New Wonders of the World, it doesn’t have a start or end, just a dynamic annual cycle with animals constantly moving across considerable distances in search of fresh, green pastures.
The Masai Mara National Reserve is known for offering excellent wildlife viewing all year round as it has unsurpassed concentrations of wildlife. The reserve is home to the Big Five , although black rhinos are harder to spot. It is particularly famous for its populations of big cats having one of the highest concentrations of lions in the world, as well as large numbers of leopards and cheetahs.
For those looking for an opportunity to witness the great wildebeest migration , the best time to visit the Masai Mara is from the end of July to October . In June and November , some of the smaller herds that are early or late commence their crossing of the Mara river. River crossing can also be observed at the Talek and Sand rivers.
It is over this period that the wildebeest cross the Mara River to reach the lush grasses of the Masai Mara plains. The herds cross at various points of the Mara river, moving from one location to another, crossing and re-crossing the river, looking for new pastures. Crossing points form bottlenecks in which thousands of animals perish through trampling or drowning. It is thus no surprise to find hyenas, lions, leopards and even cheetahs on the river banks, capitalising on the glut of fresh meat.
The Mara river remains the most significant obstacle to the migration’s never-ending cycle, with strong currents and predatory crocodiles lying in wait. Noisy herds bunch up on the riverbank. As soon as the first wildeest has plunged into the water, the rest of the herd (which can be thousands) follows. The Mara river bears witness to some of the most spectacular crossings of the migration.
Best Time to See the Migration in Kenya?
The great wildebeest migration takes place right through the year as the wildebeest continually seek fresh grazing and water as the seasons change. It generally follows a similar path that is relatively predictable. The precise timing of the wildebeest migration is entirely dependent upon the rainfall patterns each year.
The Wildebeest Migration Cycle
Find herewith a very general breakdown of more or less where the herds are during the year, bearing in mind that the entire migration is triggered by rain, which can be early, late or “on time”.
We’ve been planning migration safaris since 2004 and have all of the experience in putting you in the best place at the time of travel for the best great migration tours and experiences!
The grass in these areas is highly nutritious, making it the ideal feeding grounds. February is the calving season, and you can witness approximately 400,000 wildebeest calves delivered throughout a few weeks.
The migration moves through the central Serengeti and towards the west during this time. This is a beautiful time to travel with very few people around at this time of the year. May is the time of the annual rut, with half a million Wildebeest mates in less than a month.
The migration moves northwest through the Serengeti, reaching the crocodile-infested Grumeti River, where the crocodiles wait for an easy meal.
Wildebeest gather at the Mara River in their tens of thousands, waiting to cross. For days, their numbers build, and anticipation grows. But often, they turn and wander away from the water’s edge for no apparent reason.
During this time, the wildebeest regularly cross the Mara River, moving between the Northern Serengeti and the Masai Mara in Kenya.
October, when the first of the short rains are falling on the Serengeti’s short grass plains, the wildebeest starts heading south again. The herds trek down through the eastern woodlands of the Serengeti, some 90% of the cows heavy with the new season’s young. The wildebeest start arriving back at the Southern Serengeti in December.
The migration is rarely precisely the same regarding timing and direction, as local conditions influence grass growth. Thus, the wildebeest may move off the open plains earlier in some years and remain in the northern woodlands for longer in others.
Masai Mara "River Crossings" Notes
- The section of the Mara River that runs through the Masai Mara is only in the Mara, allowing viewing crossing from both sides of the river.
- The Mara River crossings happen at any time during the dry season from July to October. But you can wait for hours for the wildebeest to cross, or they can happen quickly - an unforgettable experience.
- There's more Mara River frontage in Tanzania than there is in Kenya. The migration can criss-cross over the borders. People aren't allowed to cross the borders between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara!
- The migrating groups split over a wide area with several crossing points. Finding one on the brink of crossing is not a given.
- Real or imagined threats easily spook the wildebeest. They fear to cross the river, as they have an inkling that something lurks there. However, vehicles charging up to the riverfront before a crossing started is the biggest tread of crossings not happening.
- Patient waiting near a herd by the river may only produce disappointment as they turn on their heels and run away. Sometimes the herd is just not ready to cross the river, and they are milling around contentedly and only cross the next day. The loaded the noise, the bigger the change of crossing the river!
- However, when they decide to cross it looks like chaos as the herds struggle to get to the other side of the river filled with crocodiles.
- It would be best if you had an excellent professional guide who's dedicated, experienced and prepared to wait for river crossings.
The migration is rarely ever precisely the same in terms of timing and direction, as the movement of the wildebeest depends mainly on when the rain arrives, and the condition of the grass. The wildebeest might start moving away from the Mara open plains earlier in some years and remain in the northern woodlands for longer in others.
Kenya SAFARIS
Wildebeest Migration
Wildebeest Migration
Wildebeest Migration
Wildebeest Migration
Wildebeest Migration
