Wildebeest Migration

Take one part horse, one part bull and add a sprinkling of moose and you have the wildebeest, which looks like an evolutionary grab-bag. However, this antelope species is one of the most successful animals in Africa with healthy populations throughout the continent making for spectacular wildebeest migrations accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebra.

Their greatest concentration is in the Serengeti ecosystem that straddles the Kenya / Tanzania border. Here, in the vast rolling grasslands where the Masai make their home, the wildebeest has found its ideal habitat.

The Setting (See Migration Map here)
The wildebeest is a grazer and its home range provides adequate rains, a year round supply of water and good soil for grass growth—a winning combination in Africa. With these perfect conditions, the wildebeest has long been a populous species across much of the region with awe inspiring migrations taking place throughout the year in different places and in different months.

The most famous of these wildebeest migrations occurs in the Serengeti where herds up to two million strong wander between the southernmost parts of the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and the Masai Mara to the north. This migration follows a vague pattern, which tends to be affected by rainfall and the availability of food.

Just after Christmas, huge herds congregate on the short grass plains in the south to give birth. Then, in one of the most amazing sights in the natural world, the wildebeest migrate north via the western edge of the ecosystem towards Lake Victoria. Operating by ancient GPS, they may travel 40 miles in a particular direction on one day then do the same in the opposite direction on the next. This is often the case during the rainy season when dazzling thunderstorms may be localized but very heavy.

Time of Year
The best months for visitors to see the great wildebeest migration herds are during the birthing from January to March and from July to October. Fortunately, these times of year occur during the dry seasons in East Africa, making them climatically ideal for tourism. July and August also coincide with school holidays and many families choose to bring their children to Africa to witness the mass migration. The herds are accessible from a number of premier safari camps during these periods.

Southern Serengeti
If you’re visiting the southern Serengeti, there are several very good semi-mobile tented camps such as Olakira, Dunia Camp and Serengeti Safari Camp all of which are small, authentic, traditional in style and very comfortable. This area works well when combined with camps in Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater.

Northern Serengeti
The northern area of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park is particularly good for viewing the wildebeest migration between July and October, with camps like Sayari and Serengeti Safari Camp providing superb tented accommodation and excellent guides. At this time of year, this region is ideally combined with Tarangire National Park (also in Tanzania) where elephant, eland, buffalo and other plains species migrate.

Kenya
The Masai Mara is the perfect place to view an unmatched concentration of wildlife. The wildebeest migration crosses the Mara River into this small corner of Kenya between June and August. Thundering hooves, great clouds of dust and hundreds of thousands of animals make for a breathtaking experience.

This time of year is also ideal for the famous wildebeest river crossings when the gargantuan ancient crocodiles that live in the rivers wait for the unwary wildebeest to enter the water. Camps such as Sala’s and Rekero overlook the rivers allowing guests to wonder at the action from the comfort of the camp. Other terrific camps in the area include Serian, Offbeat Mara, Kicheche and Kicheche Bush Camp, all of which offer authentic tented accommodation in superb locations.

A trip to see the wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara can be combined with visits to many amazing lodges in other parts of Kenya. There, guests can enjoy countless adventure activities including riding safaris, fishing, birding, Kilimanjaro or simply relaxing in the pristine wilderness.

Read more about Kenya and the Masai Mara >>

Read more about Tanzania and the Serengeti