Where and When to Visit the Mighty Wildebeest Migration

One of the most amazing wildlife events to witness in Africa is the wildebeest migration that occurs in northern Tanzania in the famous Serengeti National Park. Over two million animals make an annual 2000km migration from the southern plains of the Serengeti to the Mara River on the Tanzania and Kenya border. This migration is truly one of the wonders of the animal world.

If you are thinking about heading out to see the migration then it’s useful to have an understanding of where they are likely to be so that you can book a camp in the right section of the park.

From December to May the wildebeest are found in the southern Serengeti on their favourite feeding grounds of the short grass plains. They wouldn’t leave if they had a choice, but the water and grazing cannot support them all year around. The soil is packed with nutrients based on the build-up of volcanic ash, and this rich grazing provides the perfect nourishment for the next generation of wildebeest. The wildebeest calving season occurs within a very short period of time, around February to mid-March, where several hundred thousand wildebeest calves are born on the plains and this is where one also sees a lot of predatory action.

From May, the rains stop and soon the southern and eastern Serengeti dry out. The herds start heading off again, generally in a north westerly direction. Good concentrations of the migration can be seen in the western corridor near the Grumeti River and occasional river crossings can be witnessed here too. By July, the migration will continue to the northern Serengeti, but this is totally dependent on local weather patterns and can vary a few weeks either way. If it is a dry year then the migration heads north as quickly as possible and in a wet year there is a much more laid back pace.

The main water supply of the Mara River that runs through northern Tanzania and into the Masai Mara is a welcome sight for the migration and they will spend the remainder of the dry season not far from here. During the months from August to October the migration will go to and fro across the Mara River and therefore it is a great time of year to witness these amazing wildlife river crossings.

By October to November, after 6 months of the dry season, the wildebeest are keen and eager to make their migration south again; as soon as there is any sign of moisture in the air they head off. The central plains are then packed with trains of wildebeest on their way back home to the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti where the whole amazing process starts all over again.