Wildebeest Migration
Takes place in Serengeti Tanzania and Masai Mara Kenya, where thousands of ungulates like zebras, gazelles and wildebeest engage in a year round movement from Serengeti into Masai mara and back to Serengeti following the trail of food and water.
Its called wildebeest because the largest number of the migrating animals is the beautiful and unique wildebeests.
This phenomenon is one of the natural live events that attracts visitors all over the world. Wildebeest migration has a lot of action from the calving season in Jan to the actual breathtaking event of the mara river crossing in July, visitors are treated to a spectacular game viewing experience like nowhere else in the world.
Mara River Deadly Crossing Spectacle - A too risky moment for the ungulates happens from July into October. At the height of wildebeest migration, we see thousands and thousands of wildebeest accompanied by antelopes, zebras and other ungulates move in large numbers from serengeti into Masai mara. The drama happens when they are faced with the river to cross into their promised land full of green pastures, at this point is when real drama happens.
Frail animals due to long distance movement, some of which are young and can not survive swimming across the Mara river to other side of better life conditions get trapped ; in waiting are numerous predators especially the crocodiles, and big cats (lions, Cheetahs, leopards) that are ready to take advantage of this golden opportunity of catching their prey on a silver platter. You get to witness the live hunting of prey, it is a place of survival for the fittest, a place of life and death to the dear ungulates, but again it is a place on brevity; that regardless of the high risk of life loss, the wildebeests go on anyway with the migration, because it has to happen at whatever cost. The crossing happens at the mara river a place where most animals loss their dear ones but also a place that unlocks opportunities of life with green pastures that ensures survival of the rest of the animals keeping the cycle continuous.
This action filled moment is not for the weak to watch, availing visitors with real life happenings and lessons therein.
The mara river itself is a great danger to the migrating animals, some small animals like the antelopes, and some young ones never survive the river, many are killed by the overfilled and fasting flowing waters. Sometimes it swells two times its usually level, which makes it hard for some ungulates to cross. Making Mara River crossing is a risky and deadly event.
After the surviving ungulates come to the place of green pastures in masai mara, they utilize the opportunity until when the food reduces in masai mara and have to move back to Serengeti where its now getting greener, November is a month we see the ungulates starting to return to south of serengeti. The main motivation behind the mass migrations is food and water.
When and where to Watch the Wildebeest Migration
Scenic game Viewing Points for the wildebeest migration depends on where you are whether in Serengti or Masai Mara what time of the year.
Serengeti National Park Tanzania
In serengeti the best game viewing parts for the Mara crossing phenomenon is In the Northern part of Serengeti at the Mara River area between July and October, the months in which millions of wildebeest cross the mara river into masai mara where they make home till November and December.
Central Serengeti is a remarkable place to watch the migrating animals plus many predators in the months of April, may, june, october, november and december . This is an area with the highest concentration of wildlife in the park and this region is visited year round, you can never miss a moment with wildlife in serenoro area. This area is a must visit when planning a game viewing and wildebeest migration safari.
South of Serengeti and Ngorongoro area is the best game viewing place for the initial stage of the wildebeest migration called the calving, happening in the months of Jan, Feb & March, after which the ungulates embark on their journey to the central and North of Serengeti for another phase of the wildebeest migration.
Masai Mara Game Reserve Kenya
In masai mara, the vintage point to watch the mara crossing as at Mara Triangle, which hasa Mara river flowing through this area, which is the real action point . The months of August and September are the months in which the migrating ungulates at their peak, July and October too are fine months too to witness this live event.
Besides the Mara triangle the eastern side of Masai mara also presents many opportunities of watching countless wildlife both the ungulates and big cats.
Hot Air Ballon
you can as well watch the wildebest migration from above in the hot air balloon both in masai mara and serengeti. There are hot air balloons flights in every location and season which gives an opportunity to view game from a rare angle.
Other Safari Plans
Now what’s next that you have watched the most spectacular event in the world, we recommend combining other safari destinations for a much richer experience. There is no better way to do this than to go tracking gorillas Uganda or Rwanda a totally different experience or add other activities that will suit your interests, our safari experts will be happy to help plan your entire safari for a much fulfilling experience.
Wildebeest Migration is one the rare wildlife experiences that can not leave you the same way. Contact our safari experts to plan your wildebeest migration safari in both/or Kenya and Tanzania.
