Serengeti Wildebeest Migration

The Serengeti is not just the cream of Africa; but it is everything that is African wild. Here are animals at any time of year; from May to October. Serengeti National Park surrounding teems with wildlife, including wildebeest, impala, warthogs, zebra topi, gazelles and hyena. Lion, leopard, cheetah and caracal can be more easily spotted in the Kopjes, granite inselbergs scattered across the landscape.

Serengeti is renowned for the phenomenal wildebeest migration that occurs every year. Over two million large mammals carve across the plains in a circular trek; their steady instinctive movements tied to the land and grass and rain. The predators follow the wildebeest and zebra closely and a Serengeti travel safari is the best to view lions, cheetahs, hyenas and leopards as well as other big cats. Tanzania Wildlife has more information

The Great Migration

The Wildebeest Migration is a dramatic story. Between the open plains of the Serengeti and the Masai Mara, thousands of wildebeest and zebras migrate to greener pastures as the seasons change and the circle of life and death continues. Predators follow the Wildebeest Migration closely, waiting for an opportunity to strike weak prey as they make their way into different territories.

Wildebeest are well known for their annual migration to new pastures in which vast numbers of wildebeest can be seen crossing rivers, such as the Mara River and dying in large numbers as they attempt to reach the other side, because many of them are eaten by crocodiles while others simply drown. The major predators that prey on Wildebeest are lions, hyenas, cheetahs and leopards. However, Wildebeests are very strong and can inflict considerable injury to even a lion. The primary defensive tactic is herding where the young animals are protected by the older larger ones while the herd runs as a group. For example, at night the animals will take turns sleeping while others stand guard against a night attack by invading predators.

Best time to go for the migration

The precise timing of the Wildebeest Migration changes annually and it is a very unpredictable and spontaneous natural event. The calving season takes place in the Serengeti between the months of January and mid-March before the Wildebeest Migration begins heading towards the western Serengeti in June. The best time to see the migration is usually between June and August when the wildebeest congregate and prepare to cross the famous Grumeti River. There are a few excellent camps in this area where you can stay to witness this natural phenomenon. If you are in the Masai Mara you can expect the wildebeest to make their arrival as early as July, but they generally arrive between August and September and remain in the Mara between October and November. Between December and January the wildebeest gradually begin their migration back towards the Serengeti

Wildlife

Serengeti is well known for its healthy stock of other resident wildlife, particularly the “Big Five”, named for the five most prized trophies taken by hunters: Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Black Rhinoceros and African Buffalo. Serengeti is believed to hold the largest population of lions in Africa, due in part to the abundance of prey species. The park also supports other wildlife including cheetah, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, eland, waterbuck, hyena, baboon, impala, African wild dog and giraffe. The park also boasts about 500 bird species, including ostrich, secretary bird, crowned crane and marabou stork.