The Great Migration is a remarkable event in East Africa. Millions of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles move in a large loop through Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara. Following the rains, they travel thousands of miles yearly to find fresh grass and water.
This journey, driven by the need to survive, involves crossing dangerous rivers and avoiding predators. Migration is crucial for the region’s ecosystem, showcasing the resilience of animals and their interconnectedness with nature.
What Is It?
The Great Migration is a great travel event that includes:
- Wildebeests
- Zebras
- Gazelles
- Antelopes
- Topi
From Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park to Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve, it occurs in East Africa during the dry season. That’s when the wildebeest migration tracker shows animals move towards water sources for sustenance. Every single wildebeest goes about 800 to 1000 kilometers (500-620 miles) on this journey. They’re pushed by their instinct to survive while dealing with predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs.
Next, we have the challenge of crossing rivers. In these areas, it’s common for crocodiles to wait and attack. Every year, around 250,000 wildebeest and 30,000 zebras die of diseases or hunger, as well as from being hunted by other animals like lions. The young calves are also part of this group, making them easy prey for predators.
Rainfall sparks wildebeests’ movement, yet the method by which they understand which direction to follow remains puzzling. Certain specialists propose they react to faraway weather trends.
The migration spans about 1,200 miles. It’s a cyclical process that changes with the seasons in Tanzania and Kenya. This journey includes mating, calving, and other herd behaviors that occur at different times of the year based on yearly rainfall patterns, displaying a delicate balance of nature within the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.
How It Happens Throughout the Year?
January Through March
Each January, the animals complete their southward journey, entering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where the grass is nutritious and ideal for raising newborn calves. Although the migration is a continuous loop, the birthing season in late January or February can be seen as its start.
During this time, the herds settle on the short-grass plains of the Ngorongoro Crater highlands and Olduvai Gorge. About 400,000 calves are born within two to three weeks, attracting numerous predators. Those interested in witnessing this event and predator activity can visit Asilia’s southern Serengeti camps: Olakira, Kimondo, and Ubuntu.
April and May
After the young are born in April, the herds move northwest towards the central Serengeti, searching for fresh grass. By May, long columns of wildebeests, zebras, and antelopes gather near the Moru Kopjes. Mating season begins in late May, with male wildebeest battling each other. The herds graze leisurely as they move.
The migration picks up pace, and the wildebeest gather in the Western Corridor of the Serengeti, where they must cross the Grumeti River. This crossing provides a feast for crocodiles. May is a low tourist season, offering plentiful wildlife viewing at Ubuntu Migration Camp with fewer visitors.
June and July
The dry season starts in June, and many wildebeest gather in the Western Serengeti and along the Grumeti River. They face the challenge of crossing the crocodile-infested river. By July, the animals continue north towards the Mara River, encountering one of the most thrilling wildlife events.
The river crossings usually start in July. The herds reach the Northern Serengeti, which is accessible from Asilia’s mobile migration camps and Sayari Camp. Later in July, those that cross the Mara River can be seen in the Masai Mara, where guests of Rekero Camp can watch crossings from the camp’s main deck.
August Through October
By August, the animals had crossed the Mara River and spread throughout the northern Masai Mara and Serengeti. River crossings can be deadly, with predators and strong currents causing significant losses. By September and October, the chaos subsides, and the herds move eastward, preparing for another crossing of the Mara River as they start their journey back south.
November and December
After the short rains in late October and early November, the herds move from Kenya back into the Serengeti’s eastern areas, including the Namiri Plains, known for cheetah sightings. By December, the herds spread across the eastern and southern Serengeti. Early in the new year, the grasses in the southern Serengeti are lush from the rains, drawing the wildebeest, zebras, and other plains animals. The cycle continues as the calving season begins again.
Summary
The Great Migration is a fascinating annual event in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. It begins with the birth of calves from January to March, attracting predators to the lush grasslands. April to May sees the animals moving northwest for fresh grazing, while June to July showcases the thrilling Mara River crossings. August to October brings the herds spreading across the plains. Finally, from November to December, they return south for another calving season, completing the life cycle in this iconic African landscape.