Great Migration

The Great Migration as it is known is the movement of a million plus wildebeest from Serengeti in Tanzania northwards into the adjoining Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya. It is one of the world's most spectacular and thrilling displays of wildlife behavior. The migration takes place every year with the animal’s primal instincts guiding them towards greener pastures following the climatic rain fall patterns over the Serengeti-Maasai Mara eco system.

Although numbers vary every year, past migrations have seen up to 1.5 million wildebeest, close to a million Zebra and large numbers of others animals undertake the long trek that lasts many weeks. Their journey is especially fraught with danger as they cross the crocodile infested Mara and Talek rivers along the way, during which many cannot escape the giant Nile crocodiles lying in wait for their prey.

What time of the Year is the Wildebeest Migration?

Though the migration into Masai Mara typically starts in July and ends late September, the exact dates around this period are not predictable until the first large wildebeest herds actually gather at the northern edge of Serengeti as they near the Mara. These initial herds are sometimes known to gather at a spot for days on end without crossing over to the Mara, so when exactly the final leg of the movement starts is difficult to predict.

So what is the best time to visit Masai Mara to see the Migration?

Mid July to late August is the best time to see the migration, keeping in mind it is a gradual event that takes places over several weeks at different locations along the Serengeti Masai Mara border. If we were to narrow it down further to what month is the best to see the migration, August is the best month.

Where do the wildebeest migrate to and from?

The movement of the wildebeest is from Serengeti into Masai Mara and is dictated by factor s such as the climate, pasture and mating and calving seasons. Keep in mind the wildebeest are migrating through the year in a generally clockwise direction covering vast areas reaching into Southern, Central and Western Serengeti before the year long trek brings them to Masai Mara around July to August. Their journey back to Serengeti happens around late October though this is less spectacular and more like a slow dispersal.

How do you see the Wildebeest Migration?

You can see the migration during a safari game drive in the Masai Mara Game reserve which is conducted in specialized vehicles driver by experienced Driver-Guides. As there are several core points where the wildebeest cross the rivers, it may be necessary to access and station oneself at these points during a day-long outing in the reserve as some of the lodges and camps can be up to an hour's drive from the ideal vantage points. Most tourists who come specially to see the migration consider seeing the river crossings a highlight of their tour and therefore want to spend enough time at these crossing points, which by the way tend to vary slightly every year while staying within a generally similar sub locality of the reserve.

Many people think that the Great Migration only happens once in a year, but the migration is in fact an all year round phenomenon event - offering different unique and exciting wildlife experience at various times of the year. The River crossing is one of the most requested events of the migration and usually coincide with the peak safari season, therefore the assumption that this is the only time of the year that the wildebeest are on the move or can be seen.