Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Tanzania Safari
Planning your Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Tanzania
When planning our clients African Safari Packages from Australia we are often asked lots of questions about the Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Tanzania including “where is the best place to view, when is the best time of year and what is exactly is the Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Tanzania?” So what is all the talk about the world’s greatest migration of mammals?
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- Great Serengeti Migration – Tanzania Safari
Officially listed as one of Africa’s natural wonders
It’s now officially listed as one of the seven natural wonders of Africa along with the Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, The Nile River, The Red Sea Reef, Sahara Desert and Okavango Delta and a great inclusion on an Africa Safari Package. The great Serengeti Wildebeest Migration is the movement of massive numbers of the Serengeti’s western white bearded Wildebeest in convoy with vast numbers of Grants Zebras and less numbers of Impala, Thomson’s Gazelle and Eland.
Where does the migration start and end?
The Great Migration led by the Wildebeest follows a fairly regular route starting from February in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Southern Serengeti regions. From there they typically move in a clockwise direction through the Serengeti Plains, across to graze in the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya and then back to the South Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater by mid-November.
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- Great Serengeti Migration – Tanzania Safari
Like all animals they are continually seeking fresh grazing areas and good quality water supplies so the exact route and timing is governed by the rainfall distribution each year in preparation of the annual breeding and birthing of their calves during February and March.
And so the migration begins…….
February/March – The wildebeest and their calves start the annual migration in February and March from the Ngorongoro Crater Area and Southern Serengeti and progressively move to the plains in the west.
April/May – The rains have ceased and some of the herds head north towards the Grumeti River, others continue to the Western Corridor and some towards the Lobo region.
June/July/August/September –The wildebeest commence the hazardous and most sought after sight the Grumeti River crossings into neighbouring Kenya’s Masai Mara National Park. Here they graze, make the carnivores extremely happy along with travellers on an African Safari Package from Australia.
October – leaving the Masai Mara National Park Kenya the wildebeest herds are migrating again heading south through western Loliondo and the Serengeti National Park’s Lobo area.
November – return to the Southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Areas seeking green shoots post the light rains of November.
December/January – Busy time feeding and mating on the lush green areas of the Southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Areas.
And then the migration begins again attracting up to 2 million wildebeest annually
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- Great Serengeti Migration – Tanzania Safari
Tips on planning your Serengeti Wildebeest Migration:
If seeing a river crossing on your African Safari Package from Australia is your goal take into account they are wild animals and a crossing is never guaranteed and patience is the key.
- The timing and route is weather and wildlife governed though generally the most consistent regions to experience the massive herds of the migration is the Grumeti River North Serengeti Tanzania region and Masai Mara National Park Kenya region.
- Mobile tented safari camps follow the migration and delivers travellers an exclusive and ultimate African Safari experience maximising the Great Serengeti Migration experience.
- It is peak season in Tanzania and Kenya from June to end of October and the Tanzania and Kenya Circuit Tours offer milder dryer weather, high demand for viewing the migration and the northern hemisphere peak holiday season.
- There are many camps for travellers to stay on route though the migration now attracts more than 90,000 visitors annually and demand is very high for the small number of tents and rooms available. We recommend you book your African Safari Packages from Australia in advance; one year in advance is not too early.
- The migration attracts great sightings of the carnivores in the Northern Serengeti, Grumeti River region and Masai Mara National Park Kenya.
- A private tailor African Safari Package from Australia is highly recommended giving you flexibility to sit and view the sightings
And in the words of the distinguished British broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough
“The power of the sun drives the seasons, transforming our planet. Vast movements of ocean and air currents bring dramatic change throughout the year. And in a few special places, these seasonal changes create some of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth”
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- Great Serengeti Migration – Kenya Safari
Viewing the Great Serengeti Wildebeests Migration across the plains of Tanzania to Kenya is truly a magnificent lifetime opportunity and the perfect inclusion on your African Safari Package from Australia.
Sincerely written by Wendy Buckley, travel advisor specialising in African Safari Packages and MD of Africa Safari Experts. For more information and to make an enquiry contact wendy@africasafariexperts.com.au or phone +61414 557667.
