Great wildebeest migration | Travitude Safari Tours

Catch up with one of the Great wildebeest migration | Travitude Safari Tours on the world’s second longest overland migration of wildebeests and zebras. The complete wildebeests migration route is around 800 km (500 mi). South of this migration route covers the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where around half a million wildebeest are born between January and March. By March, at the beginning of the dry season, roughly 1.5 million wildebeest and 250,000 zebras start to migrate north towards Masai Mara in Kenya. Common eland, plains zebra, and Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeests. The relationship between the wildebeests and the zebras is that; zebras eat the tall grass exposing the short grass which are the wildebeests’ main focus. In April and May, the migrating herds pass through the Western Corridor. To get to the Masai Mara, the herds have to cross the Grumeti and Mara Rivers, where around 3,000 crocodiles lie in wait. For every wildebeest captured by the crocodiles, 50 drown. When the dry season ends in late October, the migrating herds start to head back south to the Serengeti. Around 250,000 wildebeests and 30,000 plains zebras die annually from drowning, predation, exhaustion, thirst, or disease. The sceneries of these migrating herds are such a great phenomenon as its one of the world’s largest migration of mammal species.

Great wildebeest migration | Travitude Safari Tours packages

The Great wildebeest migration cycle with Travitude Safari Tours

January, February & March migration pattern- Serengeti N.P

Over a million wildebeests and zebras spend the first months of the year in the great plains of the Serengeti, feeding off the short grass and preparing for migration. The majority of wildebeest calves are born here in February, with around half a million new calves in the Serengeti that month. When pastures begin depleting in the Southern plains that include the Ngorongoro crater conservancy & southern Serengeti national park, the herds begin moving west in search for new pastures. The herds move protecting their vulnerable calves from predators from like lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs that lay in waiting for prey. When short dry season sets in usually at the end of March, the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti begin to dry out and the wildebeests and zebras start to head towards the western woodlands.

April & May migration pattern- Serengeti to Masai Mara transition

April usually brings the first signs of migration, with hundreds of thousands of wildebeest beginning their arduous journey across the western corridor before heading northwards. The herds move through the Ndoha and Dutwa plains, adjacent to the Mbalagweti River. Herds begin to pile up near the Mbalagweti and Grumeti Rivers, awaiting the crossing, a dangerous obstacle for the animals to the river native Nile crocodiles that are always lying in wait for food while lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and wild dogs wait immediately at the river banks after the crossing.

June, July & August migration patterns- Masai Mara reserve

June is the start of the mating season and usually expect to see fierce fighting between competitive males/ bulls as they vie for the attention of females/ mates. By July, the herds are into the fresh grass of the Masai Mara. The dramatic river crossing is one of the most exciting events of the great wildebeests’ migration but the precise timing depends on the rains. During the course of their migration an estimated 250,000 wildebeest die – either from predator attacks, thirst, starvation or exhaustion. On reaching Masai Mara the herds spread out joining other herbivores they’ve found in the park for example elephants, giraffes, kobs, elands among others.

September & October migration pattern- Masai Mara & return to Serengeti N.P

During this time the immigrant wildebeest & zebra herds are in the Masai Mara of Kenya and go in search of fresh grass to graze. This is a wonderful time to be on safari in the Masai Mara. In October, the herds begin their long journey South back to the Serengeti following the new grass as new rains set in boosting growth of new pastures in the serengeti national park. The migrating herds once again go through the same obstacles of crocodile infested river crossings, hunting predators and the long journey.

November & December migration pattern- Serengeti N.P

The wildebeests and zebras are drawn back by the end of October to the plains of the southern Serengeti which are green and lush once more boosted by the new rains. Thereafter the wildebeests may begin to give birth and prepare to complete the migration cycle over again next year.

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Great wildebeest migration | Travitude Safari Tours