The Great Wildebeest Migration, often referred to as “The Greatest movement of wild animals in the world”, this is one of the most sought-after experiences for wildlife and nature enthusiasts. The great migration is an ever-moving circular migration of over a million animals across the Serengeti – Mara ecosystem – the oldest ecosystems in the world.
The Great Wildebeest Migration happens in a region of about 1,000 square kilometers in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and cross over into Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve and later turn back to do it all over again every years.
“What makes a million wildebeest get up and move at once? What is the sense that triggers them to muster the energy to embark on a 1000 kilometer trek, these are some of the questions asked by travelers who in turn visit the Serengeti and Masai Mara looking for answers and also witness Africa’s greatest wildlife- The Great Wildebeest Migration show which is also the largest mass movement of mammals on the planet.
Millions of wildebeests together with thousands of zebras and gazelles (Grants and Thomson) are joined by a host of companions (predators such as lions, leopards, African wild dogs and cheetahs), they follow an age – old route in search of green grazing pasture and water.
After calving in the Southern part of Tanzania’s Serengeti near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Ndutu Area, the animals journey through the Serengeti up and around in a clockwise direction towards the Masai Mara in Kenya, before returning once again near the end of the year. The journey is filled with high drama, as thousands of animals are taken by predators and thousands more are born, replenishing the numbers and sustaining the circle of life.
In the content below, are more details about The Great Wildebeest Migration. Learn more about what is The Great Wildebeest Migration, how the migration moves at different times throughout the year and some of the frequently asked questions about the Great Migration among others.
What is the Great Migration?
The Great Wildebeest Migration is the largest herd movement of animals on the planet, with up to 1,000 animals per square kilometers, the great columns of the wildebeests can be seen from space.
The numbers of the animals taking part in the Great Migration are astonishing, over 1.2 million wildebeests and 300,000 zebras along with topis and other gazelles move in a constant cycle through the Serengeti – Mara ecosystem in search of nutritious grass and water.
Under the guidance of survival instinct, each wildebeest will cover approximately 800 to 1,000 kilometers on its individual journey along age-old migration routes. The journey is filled with hungry predators including lions, leopards, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, wild dogs and crocodiles which make sure only the strongest survive.
The circuit takes the animals from Ndutu Area – Ngorongoro Conservation Area (not in the crater itself) in the south of Serengeti in Tanzania, up through the Serengeti and across into the Masai Mara in Kenya and back again. The journey is filled with danger, young calves are snatched by predators, the slow are brought down by prides of lion, brave beasts break legs on steep river slopes, crocodiles take their share of the stranglers and the weak and exhausted drown.
The animals taking part in the The Great Wildebeest Migration are categorized in three groups and have different grass-eating habits.
- One group eats the top of the tallest grass
- The next group eats away some of the medium – height grass
- The almost completely eaten is eaten by the last group and they move on to the next place.
This means that each group sticks to their own kind with only a small overlap in their distributions, the grasses of the plains have the highest protein content in the whole of the Serengeti, they are also high in calcium.
It is still unclear how the wildebeests know which way to go, but it is generally believed that their journey is dictated primarily by their response to the weather, they follow the rains and the growth of new grass. Though there is no scientific proof of it, some experts believe that the animals react to lightning and thunderstorms in the distance. It has even been suggested that wildebeest can locate rain more than 50 km away.
How The Great Wildebeest Migration Moves Throughout the Year
The migration is constantly on the move throughout the year, as detailed below
The Great Wildebeest Migration in January, February and March
Each year around January, the migration will be finishing its southward trek moving along the eastern edge of the Serengeti and into the Ngorongoro Conservation. Here the plains are rich in nutritious grass providing the herds with the best conditions for raising their newly born calves.
Although there is no real beginning or end to the migratory circuit, other than birth and death. It is reasonable enough to call the wildebeests’ birthing season the start of the migration. Around late January or February, the herds occupy the short – grass plains that spread over the lower northern slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater highlands and around Olduvai Gorge.
Within a period of two to three weeks, over 400,000 calves are born here that is nearly 8,000 new calves every day.
The abundance of vulnerable young calves means the surrounding predators also spring into action, hunting with ease due to the sheer numbers of wildebeest. Those interested in witnessing calving and the drama of big cats on the hunt, staying at migration camps in the Ndutu region provides you direct access.
The Great Wildebeest Migration in April and May
After giving birth to their young in February and March, around April the wildebeest herds begin to drift northwest toward the fresher grass of the central Serengeti together thousands of zebras and gazelles. By May, columns of wildebeest stretch for several kilometers as the animals start to congregate by the Moru Kopjes.
Mating Season begins toward the end of May and male wildebeests battle head to head. Throughout “the rut”, the journey continues at a slow pace with the wildebeests, zebras and gazelles grazing as they go along.
Gradually, the movement picks up momentum and the wildebeest start to mass in the Serengeti’s Western Corridor, the herds form in huge numbers along the pools and channels of the Grumeti River which they have to cross in order to continue on their journey. This may not be as mid-blowing as the famous Mara Crossings, but there is still enough drama to capture as the wildebeest provide the crocodiles in the river with a veritable feast.
The Great Wildebeest Migration in June and July
June marks the start of the dry season with large concentrations of wildebeests in the western Serengeti and on the southern banks of the Grumeti River, each of the migration animal must face the challenge of crossing the crocodile infested Grumeti river which is the first of many daunting and tense river encounters.
As June moves into July, hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebras continue to head north along the western edge of Serengeti National Park toward – Mara River and even riskier barrier. The Mara River situated in the north of Serengeti, its crossing as well as Grumeti Crossing are arguably one of the most exciting wildlife events on Earth.
Usually the herds begin at the onset of the high season in July but timing all depends on nature.
The Great Migration in August, September and October
By August, the herds have already faced the challenge of crossing the Mara River and are spread throughout the Masai Mara’s northern region with many of them remaining in the Northern Serengeti. As the river flows in full flow, the panic and confusion at the crossings – combined with waiting predators and surging currents can cause loss of life to many wildebeests, zebras and gazelles as they attempt to cross.
The crocodiles also take their toll on the crossing animals, also large predators like lions, cheetahs, African wild dogs and leopards patrol the banks ready to Ambush any wildebeest that make it to the other side. There is no single crossing at some spots, there are just a few individuals, while others see a mass of animals moving without break for hours.
By September to October, the main chaos has ended and the migrating columns have gradually moved eastward. However, the wildebeests will face the heavy waters of the Mara River once more as they prepare to cross once again for their return journey southward.
The Great Migration in November and December
After the short rains in late October and early November, the wildebeests move down from Kenya’s Masai Mara into the eastern limits of Serengeti past Namiri Plains, an area known for outstanding cheetah sightings.
By December, they are spread throughout the eastern and southern reaches of Serengeti.
In the early months of the New Year, the grasses in the deep south of the Serengeti are lush with rain, this draws the herds of wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and other plains animals. The cycle continues as the calving seasons starts once again.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE WILDEBEESTS
- Wildebeests are also commonly referred to as gnus
- Both male and female wildebeests have horns, but those of a mature male are larger and thicker
- Wildebeest calves are able to walk as soon as they are born and can run with the herd when they are just a few days old
Frequently asked questions about the Great Migration
- What is the Great Wildebeest Migration?
The Great Wildebeest Migration refers to the largest animal migration in the world.
Every year, more than 2 million wildebeests and thousands of zebras and gazelles migration across the Serengeti Mara ecosystem made up of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Masai Mara in Kenya in a clockwise direction.
On the way, they have to cross the crocodiles infested rivers of Grumeti and Mara, they are hunted by predators and face natural disasters such as drought and flooding in their daily struggle to survive.
What is the best time to see the Great Wildebeest Migration?
The Great Migration can be seen year round, the first few months of the year offer exceptional predator encounters in Tanzania’s Serengeti as this is the calving season for the wildebeest and newborns make for easier targets.
By July, the herds are heading north into the Central Serengeti where the wildebeest make their first river crossing and take their chances against the waiting crocodiles. In August, the herds cross over into Maasai Mara in Kenya and towards the end of the year the herds move southwards back into the Serengeti where the animals brace themselves for the next calving season and attacks from predators.
Do wildebeest migrate?
The wildebeest along with zebras and gazelles migrate throughout East Africa every years, these animals migrate in spectacular herds comprising of millions of animals altogether across Kenya and Tanzania.
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