_Wildebeest Migration

At African Ubuntu Safaris we specialise in tours which ensure you will see the herds of the world famous wildebeest migration.   Take a look at our Kenya and Tanzania safari options, or contact us to start planning your migration safari.

Known as one of the greatest wildlife spectacles, the wildebeest migration has been referred to as the 8th wonder of the world!

With the wildebeest migration being one of nature's most amazing scenes, seeing these herds is high on the wish-list of many travellers to East Africa.  While it is not the be all and end all of a safari, and both Kenya and Tanzania have numerous other highlights and plenty of other wildlife to offer, it can never hurt to try and include the migration in your itinerary.

Although you'd think that 1.5 million wildebeest, 250 000 zebras and thousands of gazelle wouldn't be too hard to find, you'd be surprised!

The movement of these herds is dependent on rainfall and available grazing.  The animals need to eat, and it is a fair amount of grass needed to fill the bellies of 2 million beasts.

For this reason, the herds of the wildebeest migration need to move in their clockwise direction, following the seasonal rains in order to take advantage of the new growth once they have consumed all there is in their current location.   This means that their movement is somewhat predictable, but with the unpredictability of today's weather patterns, it can never be set in stone.

Having spent years helping travellers get into the ideal locations to view these herds, we have a fair knowledge of where to suggest, and will try our best to get you there.

At some times of year it is highly advisable to hedge your bets by including 2 locations within the Serengeti eco-system; either 2 locations in the Serengeti itself, or a combination of the Serengeti and the Masai Mara. 

Below is a summary of the general expected location of the herds at any given time of year:

January to March

The southern Serengeti, Ndutu, and Ngorongoro Conservation Area should be the place to be.  It is usually around this time that the herds drop their calves, and this creates heaps of predator action, and some really raw wildlife scenes.

This is probably the best time to see the herds of the wildebeest migration in one enormous group, covering these southern plains.

April to mid-June

The major rains of the year should start falling from around the end of March, and this usually signals to the herds that it is time to move a bit further north. They then begin heading north-west towards the Grumeti (western) section of the Serengeti.

The wildebeest migration should be accessed from lodges in the southern, central and western sections of the park, and it could be advisable to stay in 2 of these locations to maximise your chances.

Mid-June to July

These months can be some of the trickier times, with the herds often moving largely out of the Serengeti borders and into the neighbouring Grumeti Reserves.   Although this is good for those guests staying in the Grumeti Reserves, accommodation options here are very limited, and are of the higher priced nature.  

This is usually when the herds start moving rather rapidly towards the north, and the timing of this changes every year, but if you miss it by a few days, you may as well miss it by months, as they leave behind just dust and hoof prints.

During these months it is recommended to stay in 2 locations; one in the western corridor, along or close to the Grumeti River, and the other further north, either in the Lobo or Kogatende areas of the Serengeti.

August to mid-October

It is during these months that the famous Mara River crossings usually occur, as the herds cross back and forth over the Mara River, splitting their time between the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania.

With the sheer number of animals and the limitation of size of the Masai Mara, the migratory herds never completely leave the Serengeti National Park, and for these months they usually straddle the border, with huge numbers being in both Kenya and Tanzania.

The northern Serengeti is far less touristed than the Masai Mara, due to limited accommodation options, however, it can provide some of the best migration experiences.   For a comprehensive wildebeest migration safari we'd suggest combining the Masai Mara with the Serengeti, although generally visiting either side during these months will show you a large portion of the herds, and give you a chance of seeing a crossing.

Mid-October to December

These are another couple of months which can prove quite tricky, as the movements during this time depend largely on the rains in the southern Serengeti.  If the rains fall as planned, around the end of October or beginning of November, this can spark the rapid departure of the herds from the Masai Mara, as they somehow smell the new grazing potential back down south.

It is again advisable to look at 2 locations during this time, in order to either see the herds as they are still congregated in the north, or to catch them as they move onto the southern plains.