All you need to know about the Great Wildebeest Migration
All you need to know about the Great Wildebeest Migration
All you need to know about the Great Wildebeest Migration : The Great Wildebeest Migration is undoubtedly one of the most incredible wildlife spectacles on the plant with over 1.5 wildebeests and hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles migrating across the Mara – Serengeti Ecosystem.
These animals embark on an annual movement in search for green pastures and they move following the rains, during the movement, herds battle ranging rivers and have to avoid lurking predators such as crocodiles, lions, leopards, cheetahs so as to survive and complete this annual endless cycle that fairly occurs in a regular pattern each year.
The Great Wildebeest Migration is not a one-time event as many may assume, it is a year round spectacle and it can be seen at any time of the year. You just need to know where to go at a particular time of the year.
When it comes to nature, nothing is certain. However the best time of the year to witness the Great Migration is the end – December to March which is the calving season happening in the South Serengeti and July to October to witness the Mara river crossing in the northern Serengeti and South of Masai Mara national reserve at Mara River.
STAGES OF THE WILDEBEEST MIGRATION
The Great Wildebeest Migration happens in 5 Main stages and these are
- The Calving Season
- The North Trek
- River Crossings – Grumeti and Mara
- The Arrival of the Herds in the Masai Mara
- The Journey back South
THE GREAT MIGRATION CALENDAR
The Migration starts as the New Year dawns, in this time majority of the wildebeests have started congregating in the Ndutu plains in the South of Serengeti national park. Some herds spill over into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, but this is the time when they are concentrated in their greatest numbers.
As February begins, the birthing seasons (calving season) starts and within 3 weeks approximately 8,000 wildebeest calves are born every day giving rise to more black dots on the endless plains of Serengeti. The abundance of the newly born wildebeest calves attracts plenty of predators like cheetahs, lions, sly hyena, the calving season is a time of plenty for both the prey and predator.
JANUARY
The herds are in the short grass plains of the Southern Serengeti around Lake Ndutu, in November and December short rains usually fall in the area attracting herds from the Central Serengeti in search for green pastures which rich in phosphorus. The soil of the grasslands of the Southern plains offers nutritious grazing for the herd.
FEBRUARY
This marks the beginning of the calving season with up to 500,000 wildebeest calves being born within a period of 2-4 weeks, in this season the predators are easy to see as they are attracting to the area by the large numbers of calves.
February is a great time to visit Serengeti national park since there is a lot of action (predator – prey action).
MARCH
By March, the southern plains of Serengeti start to dry due to weeks of intensive grazing. The herds get confused and wander as far as west into the Maswa Game Reserve.
After the births of wildebeest calves, the herds slowly start to split up. Although the general direction is North, some of the herds head straight towards the Grumeti area in the west, other herds travel into and around the Seronera (central region) of Serengeti national park.
Even they split up, the herds are still high in thousands as they make their way through the center of Serengeti.
The long rainy season in Tanzania start in April and May, however it still provides excellent chance for brilliant game viewing at a lower prices since it is considered as a low season.
APRIL
In this time of the year, the plains have no sufficient food to sustain the large herds which marks the beginning of the north-west trek towards the western corridor of Serengeti national park where heavy rains set in.
It is a slow movement through scattered woodlands and long grass plains.
MAY
As the rains begin to lessen, the herds continue to enter the Western Corridor of Serengeti, other herds head north of the Seronera (Central region). But the bulk of the herds enter the Ndoha and Dutwa plains that flank the Mbalageti River.
Towards the end of this month, the migration piles up in the narrow wedge of land between the forest lined river courses of the Mbalageti and Grumeti River. However, if the rain persists throughout the month “MAY”, the wildebeests may scatter over a wide area of Central Serengeti.
As May progresses into June, the herds are still in their splinter groups. While some will head directly North from Seronera towards the Mara River, others arrive in the Grumeti region of Serengeti national park where the famous Grumeti River meanders through the beautiful riverine woodlands.
Though Grumeti river is not on the same scale as the Mara River, there are some river crossing that occur and worth witnessing.
JUNE
The rain has stopped already the wildebeest are in rutting season, the grasslands are filled with loud noise of bellows and grunts of testosterone fueled males as they chase rivals and round up females.
This results into a chaotic movement and noise as females try to maintain tact with their calves, as they herds march their way through the western corridor of Serengeti national park. The herds begin to organize into a mega herds gathering up along the southern bank of the Grumeti River.
All eyes are on the main group of the migration assembling for the Grumeti River crossings which can start early in the month , herds are witnessing splashing through a series of pools and channel rather than a continuous flowing river. As the density of the crossing intensifies during June, the large crocodiles in Grumeti River enjoy feasting on the flesh of wildebeests and zebras.
From July to early November, the Mara River is the best place to see the wildebeest migration. From June onwards, the herds start arriving in the north of Serengeti in the Kogatende region and this is where the congregation occurs, contrary to what is assumed. Mara river is not the border between Tanzania and Kenya, it is only about a quarter of the wildebeest enter the plains of Masai Mara national reserve. Most of the herds tend to stay in the Serengeti national park, however the cross over the river is multiple times as the herds search for the best grazing.
The scenes of the river crossing are worth witnessing and any wildlife documentary with huge crocodiles lurking in the shallows as well predators that is lions, leopards, African wild dogs, hyenas and cheetahs waiting to ambush the herds on the banks. During the Mara river crossing, the wildebeests, gazelles and zebras are against the odds, many of the, fall victim to the predators as well as the current of the river. Though some of the herd don’t survive, the survivors are rewarded with lush green grass to graze upon.
JULY
The wildebeests, zebras and gazelles push to the Northern Serengeti where the herds spread out on a broad front that extends from the Grumeti Game Reserve and Ikorongo Game Controlled Area to the northern reaches of the Serengeti.
Large herds of wildebeests can be found as far east as Lobo, when the Migration actually crosses into Kenya’s Masai Mara depending on the rainfall pattern and how long the northern Serengeti grasslands can sustain the herds.
In some years, it happens as early as mid-June and in other years it does not happen until August or September.
It is a common misconception that the Mara River crossing marks the transition of the Migration from Tanzania to Kenya, actually the river meanders through the north – west Serengeti before looping north into the western reaches of the Masai Mara, repeatedly throwing water obstacles in the path of the herds. This makes it easier to stake out likely crossing points on either side through July and August.
AUGUST
The Apex of the crossing happens in this month, you can expect the Migration to have reached the Masai Mara by early August and Mara River crossing often reach their frenzied climax s large herds take a leap of faith into the Mara River which is a delight of the waiting crocodiles and lions.
The riverbanks of Mara become crowded with vultures and Marabou storks feeding on the corpses of drowned wildebeests clogging up the river.
SEPTEMBER
The herds may still be scattered across the Northern Serengeti wither about to cross in the Masai Mara or content to remain in Tanzania grazing the rolling plains.
The Focus on the Migration is firmly in Kenya’s Maasai Mara national reserve where they slowly trek eastwards through the reserve.
OCTOBER
The rain showers start watering the short grass plains of the Southern Serengeti and wildebeests need to be there when fresh green shoot are above the ground, so the herds begin the long trek south. The migration gradually spills from the Masai Mara back into the North- East Serengeti and Loliondo Game Controlled Area.
Following the adrenaline fueled river crossing, the wildebeest start their journey south again.
From the start of November onward, the wildebeests head back towards the Ndutu plains marking the completion of their annual cycle.
Some of the herds split off and head into the central regions again, some stray East and some head directly south. Again the herds are in limbo but they will all congregate on the southern plains of the end of the year.
NOVEMBER
The herds begin their trek southwards following the rains, by now most, if not all of the wildebeests and zebras will have left the Mara. The herds form long columns stretching from Lobo to the Central Seronera area of the Serengeti.
DECEMBER
The herds are in the Southern Serengeti plains which are covered by fresh grass, the migration begins its annual cycle all over again.
The Great Wildebeest Migration is one of the greatest Wildlife spectacle to witness once in a lifetime. Inquire about migration safari with us.
