The Great Wildebeest Migration

What to Expect?

Many people believe that the Great Wildebeest Migration occurs only once a year, but in reality, it is a year-round event. Each season offers a unique wildlife experience, making it an ongoing spectacle worth witnessing at any time of the year.

Choose a month below to discover what each month offers in terms of weather, wildlife, migratory movements, predator interactions, river crossings, and the best places to stay. This will help you maximize your experience of witnessing the great wildebeest migration.

The Spectacular Show of Africa: Understanding the Epic Wildlife Migration

What is the Great Migration?

Each year, approximately two million wildebeest and 20,000 plains game embark on a remarkable journey from Tanzania’s Serengeti to Kenya’s Masai Mara in search of fertile grazing grounds and vital water sources. This epic migration is driven by the changing seasons, as the herds instinctively follow the rains.

Spanning around 3,000 kilometers, the Great Wildebeest Migration traverses a vast expanse of East Africa, creating a spectacle that seems endless in its scope. This natural phenomenon captivates adventurers, wildlife enthusiasts, and travelers seeking an unforgettable African safari experience.

Predicting the precise movements of the migration can be challenging due to its circular route and lack of a defined starting or ending point. However, Discover Africa has developed a groundbreaking tool called “Herdtracker” to aid customers in monitoring the progress of the wildebeest migration, enabling them to plan their dream safari with precision.

Five Facts about the Great Migration

1. The Serengeti National Park boasts the world’s oldest ecosystem, harboring a rich variety of flora and fauna found nowhere else on Earth.

2. Along the Mara River, crocodiles lie in wait for the migrating herds, using their formidable jaws to submerge and dismantle their prey. With astonishing agility, a crocodile can propel itself over half its length out of the water, employing its tail as a secondary weapon to seize potential victims.

3. Witnessing the Great Wildebeest Migration in Africa entails observing approximately 1.5 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebras, and numerous other species traversing the continent.

4. Zebras and wildebeests coexist harmoniously, benefiting from their complementary feeding habits, which target different parts of the same vegetation species.

5. Within the Serengeti’s diverse ecosystem, around 3,000 lions roam, trailing the migratory herds across the vast expanse of the reserve.

Where the Great Wildebeest Migration occurs

The Great Migration isn’t confined to a single yearly event; rather, it unfolds throughout the year, offering diverse wildlife encounters across different seasons. While the renowned Wildebeest migration in Africa follows a circular route between Tanzania and Kenya, encompassing key destinations like Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Loliondo Game Managed Area, and Grumeti Reserve.

The Masai Mara Game Reserve, situated adjacent to the Serengeti National Park, is integral to the Kenyan segment of this migratory journey. Each month brings its own unique advantages, whether in terms of weather conditions, wildlife sightings, migratory patterns, predator-prey dynamics, river crossings, or ideal accommodations for an immersive Great Wildebeest Migration experience. Detailed insights into these aspects are readily available through resources such as the Great Wildebeest Migration Map.

What's the top month to catch the Great Migration?

Migration in January

  • Weather: A hot and humid summer month with average temperatures ranging from 15°C (59°F) to 28°C (82.4°F).
  • Wildebeest migration movement: Between Lobo and Naabi Hill, wildebeest herds converge on the Serengeti’s eastern edge in January. The herds are on the move in search of good grasses for their young.
  • Predatory encounters: Because it is calving season, big cats visit in January.
  • Accommodation options: Depending on the conditions, it is recommended that you stay in the city centre and only travel north or south from there.

Our Recommended Migration Safaris

As the herds are always on the move, we recommend checking out our sample itineraries for guidance.

7 Days Serengeti Migration Tour

7 Days Serengeti Migration Tour

Starting from

$3716

Per person

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14 Days Ndutu Migration Calving Season and Zanzibar Island

14 Days Ndutu Migration Calving Season and Zanzibar Island

Starting from

$5675

Per person

Read More

6 Days Serengeti Wildebeest Calving Season

6 Days Serengeti Wildebeest Calving Season

Starting from

$6070

Per person

Read More

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Planning a trip to see the wildebeest migration but unsure when or where to go?

Discover the locations of the wildebeest herd throughout the year with our migration map and monthly predictions.

Our experts use historical migratory patterns and real-time updates from pilots, rangers, and safari guides in the Serengeti to predict the movements of the wildebeest migration each month.

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