Wildebeest Migration

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TANZANIA SAFARI: SERENGETI MIGRATION SAFARI

The Serengeti Migration Safari offers a breathtaking adventure through the iconic Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. This annual spectacle is renowned as one of the greatest wildlife migrations on Earth, involving millions of wildebeest, zebras, and other herbivores. The journey spans vast landscapes, with the migration dictated by the search for greener pastures and water sources. Visitors on this safari are treated to an extraordinary display of nature’s grandeur as they witness massive herds thundering across the open plains, navigating treacherous rivers, and encountering formidable predators like lions and crocodiles. The Serengeti Migration Safari provides a unique opportunity to witness the circle of life in the animal kingdom, making it a must-see for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers alike. The pristine beauty of the Serengeti, coupled with the awe-inspiring spectacle of the migration, creates an unforgettable experience that leaves a lasting imprint on the hearts of those fortunate enough to embark on this extraordinary safari adventure.

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What you will experience on your Serengeti migration safari

Embarking on a Serengeti Migration Safari is a sensory journey that immerses you in the raw beauty of nature and the captivating rhythm of wildlife. As you traverse the vast Serengeti National Park, the air becomes charged with anticipation, and the expansive landscapes unveil the mesmerizing spectacle of the Great Migration. Witnessing millions of wildebeest and zebras traversing the open plains in search of fresh grass and water is a surreal experience that unfolds before your eyes.

The symphony of hooves, the dust clouds rising, and the distant calls of the wild create an atmosphere of primal energy. Your safari vehicle, expertly guided by knowledgeable rangers, allows you to get up close to the action, offering unparalleled opportunities for observing predator-prey dynamics. Lions stalking their prey, crocodiles lurking in river crossings, and the sheer abundance of wildlife against the backdrop of the Serengeti’s breathtaking scenery make every moment a photographic masterpiece.

The Serengeti Migration Safari is not just a trip; it’s an immersion into the wonders of the natural world, leaving you with indelible memories of a truly extraordinary adventure.

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The Great Serengeti Migration in detail

When planning your Serengeti safari you probably want to include seeing the Great Migration. So how do you ensure to be there when it happens? The long and short of it is that you can’t. It is important to realize that the decision of when to visit the Serengeti always involves an element of risk. We have detailed the Great Migration below, and this is what usually happens, but keep in mind that there are no guarantees.

The annual migration of two million ungulates, wildebeest but also enormous groups of zebra and Thomson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle and eland, through Serengeti National Park is the greatest wildlife spectacle of its type in Africa, and perhaps the world. Although variations occur from year to year, the Serengeti migration follows a reasonably predictable annual cycle, dictated by local rainfall patterns. The Great Migration cycle breaks up into the following periods:

DECEMBER – APRIL

We can find the main calving grounds in the area southeast of Seronera: typical Serengeti plains stretch all the way to the Ndutu area near Ngorongoro. Triggering their move to this area are the short rains in November and December. The wildebeest stick around this area until the end of the long rains, end of April, early May. The delightful news is that this section of Serengeti National Park is easily accessible and that in this period the landscape becomes lush.

February is usually calving season in the Ndutu area and the southeastern plains: the very best time to visit this area. As wildebeest, zebra and other ungulates are so many, and give birth to so many calves, the spectacle works as a magnet for predators. As early as March or April the herd may move again in search of greener pastures. Seeing the actual migration in this period is more difficult, but chances are that you will encounter very large herds on the move.

MAY – JULY

This is the period that the wildebeest, after having feasted on the short green grasses of the southeastern Serengeti and after having giving birth to their offspring, start getting ready for their 800-kilometer-long trek. The actual starting date may be anytime between late April and early June. This is the time to you may have the privilege to see one of the greatest natural phenomena in the world: more than a million marching animals in a column up to 40 kilometers long.

During the migration, the herd will move towards the Western Corridor, where they will face the first major obstacle: crossing the Grumeti River. Many animals don’t survive the crossing as they are being awaited by the area’s population of oversized crocodiles ready to feast. The herd may congregate on the southern bank of the river and stay there for up to two weeks before crossing the river.

AUGUST – SEPTEMBER

When the Grumeti River obstacle has been taken, the herd moves further north and starts crossing the next big hurdle, the Mara River, in July or August. The Mara River crossing is where so many iconic Great Migration photos have been taken. After this crossing the herd flocks to the northwest plains and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The August – September period is considered being a bad time to visit Serengeti National Park and see the Great Migration as the herd moves into the Masai Mara in Kenya.

However, migration patterns show that about half of the herd stays on the Tanzanian side, in the Mara Serengeti area. In this period, smaller herds of wildebeest (well consider small… herds may count up to between 500 and thousands of individuals) frequently cross the Mara River, back and forth, for no apparent reason. This is an excellent time to stay at one of the Serengeti Mara camps.

OCTOBER – NOVEMBER

Crossing the Mara River northbound means that, at one point, the herd needs to cross the river one more time before commencing the trek back in a southerly direction. This usually happens in October, but sometimes earlier. In this period the herd will cross the northern plains and Lobo area. This section of Serengeti National Park is little-visited, so if you are looking to see the migration in relative quietness, this would be the time. The wildebeest return to the short- grass plains and calving ground around Ndutu in late November. And from here, the Great Migration starts all over again.

BEST TIME TO GO

It is a matter of choice whether you would like to plan your Serengeti safari around the Great Migration. We have mentioned earlier that the Serengeti is a year-round destination as it covers a vast area and offers unparalleled wildlife viewing. Chances that you will be at the exact spot of the Great Migration herd crossing a river (either at the Grumeti or Mara River) are very slim. Also, the timing of herd movements cannot be guaranteed. However, if you choose the right part of the Serengeti: the southeast and Ndutu from December through to May, the Western Corridor from May to July, the Serengeti Mara area from July trough to October, and the northern Serengeti and Lobo area in October and November, large herds of wildebeest and their entourage should be easily located.

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