wildebeest-migration

Annual Wildebeest Migration

Over two million animals migrate from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania into the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The wildebeests, along with their accompanying zebras cross the Mara River where not only the crocodiles, but the carnivores – lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs lay in wait for them.

The annual Wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara – Serengeti ecosystem is one of the most
awe-inspiring natural spectacles on the planet. About 1.5 million wildebeest, along with
hundreds of thousands of other grazing animals such as zebras and gazelles, embark on a cyclical
journey that spans approximately 1,000 miles across Tanzania and Kenya. This mass movement
is driven by the perpetual search for the best grasses and water, closely following our East
African rainfall patterns.
The Mara – Serengeti ecosystem, which encompasses Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and extends to the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, provides the backdrop for this incredible great animal migration. The area is mostly rich grasslands, savannahs, riverine forests, and woodlands, which sustain the numerous species that partake in the migration.
The wildebeest make this extraordinary journey in a roughly clockwise loop.


When is the best time of year to see the Annual Wildebeest Migration in the Masai Mara?


The great migration begins typically in the plains and woodland of the Ndutu area, where the
calving season takes place from late January to March. An estimated 500,000 calves are born
during a short period of two to three weeks, taking advantage of the lush grazing available in the green season. This is an incredible place to see the vast herds from a hot air balloon from December to March, as well as the spectacle of the quintessential short-grass plains, stretching to the horizon. As the rains end in May or June, the herds start moving west and north to the fresher pastures of the western Serengeti. One of the migration’s most treacherous challenges occurs when the wildebeest must cross the Grumeti River, where crocodiles lie in wait.
By July or August, they reach the northern Serengeti, where they face yet another perilous river
crossing — this time over the Mara River and into Masai Mara Game Reserve. The dramatic
river crossings are iconic, with countless animals leaping into turbulent waters, struggling against strong currents and evading large Nile crocodiles. These crossings are a spectacle of nature that highlights not only the struggle for survival but also the incredible resilience of these creatures.
All this can be seen from the air in the early morning, our daily flights in Northern Seregeti have
produced the most incredibly consistent and awe-inspiring viewing from July to October.
Once the northern pastures have been grazed to depletion, typically around late October, the
wildebeest and accompanying species sense the weather changing and start their journey back to the south, arriving just in time for the rains to rejuvenate the southern grasslands and begin the cycle anew.


The Great Migration from the Air


The wildebeest great migration is not only a thrilling natural event and extraordinary to see from
a hot air balloon but also crucial for the Mara- Serengeti ecosystem. It influences the lives of the
other species dependent on the Serengeti’s biodiversity, including predators such as lions,
cheetahs, and hyenas, and a variety of scavengers which all benefit from the annual increase in available prey. Furthermore, the migration plays a significant role in maintaining the health of
the grasslands. The movement of such a large number of animals helps to fertilize the soil with
nutrients and seeds, enhancing the ecosystem’s productivity.

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