Wildebeest Migration in Tanzania is the movement of more than 1 million animals accompanied by thousands of zebras migrating from Serengeti National Park to Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
The best time to experience the wildebeest migration safaris in Tanzania really depends on what you want to see. Those who want to see the calving season, then December to March is the best time. If you want to see the dramatic river crossings, then June to October is the best time and if you want to see the herds on the move, then the best time is from April to May or November to December.
This migration normally happens in dry season in order to force wildebeest and zebras to move in search of fresh vegetation and water.
The best time to see the wildebeest migration is during the dry season between the months of July to October every year.
During this period in the southern parts of Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro crater the vegetation is sparse and dry, the waterways are also dry and this forces the wildebeests and zebras to migrate to the North plains (southern part of Masai-Mara National Park in Kenya) to search for fresh vegetation and water.
Among the dry months, August and September are the best months to see the wildebeest migration and also to experience river crossing. Then late October sometimes rain resumes in Tanzania and the herds will start their journey back to Serengeti plain areas.
Best time for witnessing wildebeest migration can as well be described month by month as follows:
From January to March. These months is when the calving season occurs. The herds congregate on the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti and western regions of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. An estimated number of 500000 calves are born during a 2- 3-week window in February. This mass calving draws a staggering number of predators eager to prey on the vulnerable newborns.
In January, the Southern Plains are lush with fresh, sweet grasses for the wildebeest to graze on. The areas around Ndutu and the northern Ngorongoro Conservation Area are where the herds will spend some time enjoying the abundant grazing in preparation for the birth of the new calves.
In February and mid-March, over 80% of fertile female wildebeest drop their calves within a few weeks of each other. Over 500,000 tiny wildebeest dot the plains and the predators swoop in to feast on the easy prey.
During the period of March, the wildebeest occupy the southern area of the park as they prepare to move north as the plains dry out.
From April to mid-June. As the rains come to an end and the ground dries, the herds start making their way north into the central Serengeti where the grass is still fresh and they can graze and tend their young. Moving slowly, they graze as they go. During this period is when also the mating season begins and the male wildebeest do fierce battle for a mate. The journey continues as some herds head west into the Western Corridor and cross the Grumeti River.
From mid-June to November. The herds head towards the north of the Serengeti. The river crossings, considered by some to be the most exciting events of the Great Migration usually start in July though timing all depends on the rains.
The herds can be found in the Northern Serengeti as well as in Kenya’s Masai Mara. Daily river crossings can be seen at the Mara and Talek rivers both often central to highly dramatic scenes.
The herds usually cross back to the Serengeti from the Mara and head towards the fertile southern Serengeti. The herds travel fast and cover long distances in a single day. By the beginning of December, Ndutu starts seeing the herds return to calve and the whole process begins again.
In December, the Great Migration is now dispersed across the central Serengeti from as far north as Lobo to the southern parts of Ndutu. The rains catch up at last with the still-moving herds and intense thunderstorms and localized showers are experienced across the region.
The animals return to the more nutritious Pennisetum, Sporobolus, Andropogon, Cynodon and Themeda grasses ready to calve in the south and begin the great cycle all over again. Therefore, witnessing the wildebeest migration in Tanzania is an unforgettable experience.
