WILDLIFE

Wildebeest Migration - (Made Simple)

The following is a month by month guide of the location of Wildebeest from Tanzania and Kenya (This was taken from Sept 2008 - March 2009). This will give you the best information for you to then decide when you would like to go on safari to witness the East Africa's Wildebeest migration.

 The endless plains of East Africa are the setting for the world's greatest wildlife spectacle - the 1.5 million animal ungulate (wildebeest) migration. From the vast Serengeti plains to the hills of Kenya's Masai Mara over 1.4 million Wildebeest and 200,000 Zebra and Gazelle, relentlessly tracked by Africa's great predators, migrate in a clockwise fashion over 1,800 miles each year in search of rain ripened grass. There is no real beginning or end to a Wildebeest journey. It's life is an endless pilgrimage, or a constant search for food and water. The only beginning is at the moment of birth. An estimated 400,000 Wildebeest calves are born during a six week period early each year - usually between late January and mid-March.

 Sept. 2008: The Wildebeest herds are in the Nortern areas of Tanzania's Serengeti National Park and in Kenya's Masai Mara Reserve, Wildebeest have been crossing the Mara River daily.

 Nov. 2008: October continued a trend of cool mornings and warm days in Kenya's Masai Mara. The migrating herds of Wildebeest and Zebra have grazed the Mara grasses right down. The northern and central areas of the Serengeti have received some very heavy rain showers and the herds have followed their noses in search of lush, green grass. The end of the month was marked by large river crossings as Wildebeest and Zebra left the Mara on their long trek down south. The herds now stretch from Lobo through the Tagora plains area to central Seronera area and down to Naabi Hill. It is common to receive patches of wet weather in the Serengeti towards the end of the dry season (in October), so the rain may just be this and not an early onset of the short rains. If this is the case, it will dry out rapidly and the Wildebeest will head back north until they feel the real rains start.

 January 2009: The mega herd spent the holidays on the Ndutu plain however, due to lack of rain, have travelled north and west to the longer grass plains around Kusini and Naabi Hill on the border between the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. When the rains return the nutrient rich short grass will green up rapidly and the herds will return southeast to the Ngorongoro Conservation area for calving.

 March 2009: As of late February the lack of good rains has forced the migration to move towards the Maswa Game Reserve border. With the coming of the long rains we expect the herds to return to the Ndutu area and complete calving.

 Dec, Jan, Feb, March 2009: The Serengeti National Park / Ngorongoro Conservation Area is arguably the most impressive wildlife sanctuary in the world. During the months Dec through March the seemingly unending plains of the southern Serengeti and the Conservation Area are inhabited by enormous herds of Wildebeest and Zebra. The great herds graze on rain ripened grass. In the calving season (late January through mid-march when over 80% of the Wildebeest give birth over a period of a few weeks) the herds concentrate at the Ndutu and Salei plains (Southern Serengeti/Ngorongoro Conservation Area) attracting the attention of predators like lion, cheetah and hyena.

 April, May: During the months April & May the depleted plains are unable to sustain the endless herds. The migration sweeping west and north, moves from the short grass plains of the Southern Serengeti/Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the long grass plains and woodland of the Serengeti's western corridor, almost to Lake Victoria. This period is during the long rains and is considered off season for wildlife viewing in East Africa as roads are often impassable.

 June: By the end of May the Wildebeest have exhausted the Western Corridor's best pastures and the herds must move further north. This is a transitional period between the rains and the dry season.

 July, August, Sept, Oct: By July the countless herds have amassed along the swollen Mara River - a final barrier from the short sweet grasses of the Masai Mara. Sometimes the crossing place they have chosen is shallow allowing the majority of animals to pass safely. In other areas the waters boil with drowning Wildebeest and slashing Crocodiles. Please note that the vast majority of travelers do not witness the Wildebeest crossing the Mara as the timing and duration varies widely each year - in years of little rain very few Wildebeest cross the Mara River into Kenya.

 Between July and October the Wildebeest reside in the Mara.

 November: The arrival of the short rains call the migration southward.

 As November ends the migration is making its way back to the Southern Serengeti and early in the year they once again give birth.

NOTE: The migration is a natural event and the timing varies month by month, year by year.

 The migration is a highly complex natural phenomenon, the timing varies widely from year to year. Some years the migration starts in July, other years in August or September. In years with no rains in the Mara, and hence no new grass, the Wildebeest will stay in Tanzania.