Serengeti National Park is one of Tanzania’s most famous and iconic wildlife reserves. It covers an area of about 14,763 sq km and has over 1,500,000 ha of savannah vegetation. The park is renowned for its incredible biodiversity and stunning landscapes: The park is home to 1.5 wildebeests, 4000 lions, 1000 leopards, 600 cheetahs, 500 bird species, and other wildlife species.

Serengeti National Park was first gazette as a game reserve in 1930 and later administered as a National Park in 1940 by the Tanzania government. Serengeti is a Maasai word that means “a place where the land runs forever.”

The park is most famous for one of the most spectacular wildlife events in the world wildebeest Migration where over 1.5 wildebeests are accompanied by over 200,000 Zebras and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelles migrate across the Serengeti Masai Mara ecosystem in search for greener pastures.

What is the great wildebeest Migration?

The Great Wildebeest Migration is an ever-moving event of over 2 million wildebeests accompanied by zebras, gazelles, and other antelope species across the Serengeti Mara ecosystem in search of greener pastures and fresh drinking water covering a journey of about 800km to 1000km. This migration is the largest mammal migration in the world and one of the seven wonders of the world offering unforgettable memories for tourists on an African Safari.

In this article, we take you through one of the seven wonders of the world, the great wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park for explorers or tourists wondering where to go on Safari. With the awe-inspiring beauty of the wildebeest Migration and other wildlife experiences, Serengeti National Park becomes a great deal for your safari Holiday.

Why do Wildebeests Migrate? | Reasons for Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti.

Many travelers wishing to go on a wildebeest migration safari would be wondering why the wildebeests migrate in Serengeti National Park and this is one of the Most Frequently Asked Questions during a safari in Tanzania.

Just like the pastoralist’s movements, the wildebeest migration is due to the search for greener short pastures where they can easily spot the predators and thus a safe place for Calving. When the pastures dry, the wildebeests are forced to migrate to another place with greener pastures and the process becomes a clockwise movement.

When does Wildebeest migration take place?

The wildebeest migration is an all-year event that mostly takes place from July to October between Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The migration of the wildebeests is most times influenced by the Rainy seasons when animals are in search for greener pastures.

However, the migration also happens at different stages of the wildebeests and mostly when calving thus the wildebeest migration happens at different seasons of the year.

Where does the wildebeest Migration start from?

The wildebeest migration usually starts from the southern part of Serengeti National Park during the birth of calves. Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti National Park usually starts from the two major areas.

Central Serengeti: Central Serengeti is the most preferred part of the park by those heard of wildebeests due to the presence of abundant green pastures and plenty of water sources. Unfortunately, this part is home to a variety of predators such as lions, cheetahs, and crocodiles where the fittest only survive. When the pastures start to dwindle, the wildebeests are forced to migrate and thus find their way through the woodlands and terrain river forests in northern Serengeti where they meet the threatening Masai River and stage there.

Mara River Crossing: Upon this river infested with thousands of crocodiles, the wildebeests gather and wait to cross in large numbers to overcome the predator attacks and this becomes the survival for the fittest game.

Mara River is the best spot to witness animal kills by lions and crocodiles as the wildebeests are challenged to cross the river during the Migration which becomes a memorable experience for every traveler on an African Safari.

Where to see Wildebeest each month of the year.

For travelers planning to witness the wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park on an African Safari, below are the months in which wildebeests make movements to other places.

December to March: Also known as the Wildebeest Calving season when a large number of wildebeests are born there is much excitement for new entrants. Travelers traveling in this season stand a high chance of witnessing the wildebeests calving and mating.

April to May: During this time of the year, the calves are ready to participate in the search for fresh pasture thus the wildebeests start migrating to the western corridor of Serengeti through the Grumeti River.

June to October: Wildebeests start trekking towards the north of River Mara where they first stage at the river banks as they hydrate and quench their thirst as they wait to gather and cross in large numbers. This is because Mara River is infested with fierce crocodiles waiting to kill for their survival. Experience the adventure of a lifetime that gives you a chance to witness animal kills towards the Mara River.

November:  The wildebeests cross back towards the southern part of the park near Ngorongoro Conservation Area which makes a complete circular journey of the wildebeest Migration in Serengeti National Park.

How to experience the great wildebeest Migration

Experience the great wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park that will create beautiful unforgettable memories during your stay in Africa. This is usually experienced during Hot Air balloons or game drives. Hot Air Balloons are arguably the best option for watching the wildebeest migration as you float above the Serengeti plains which provides a wide viewing opportunity of wildlife opportunities. However, travelers can also embark on game drive safaris which provide a great touch on the ground bringing you close to wildlife in Serengeti National Park.

How to plan the great wildebeest Migration safari in Tanzania.

Wildebeest Migration is a thrilling experience that every traveler on Tanzania Safari ought not to miss. However, this experience needs a careful planning process before embarking on a wildebeest adventure safari in Serengeti National Park. Travelers can reach out to experts or reputable Tour Operators for wildebeest migration safaris that will make their adventure more magical and seamless.

Book Early

The fact that wildebeest migration is one of the seven wonders of the world, Wildebeest migration safaris should be booked in advance at least a year before. This is because during this season Tanzania, more particularly Serengeti National Park is crowded by thousands of tourists who come for this experience. Therefore, travelers are always encouraged to Book early their wildebeest migration safaris in Serengeti National Park.

How to get to Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park is located in the far remote areas of Tanzania. Getting to Serengeti National Park can be by a domestic flight or transfer by a safari vehicle.

Serengeti National Park can best be reached by a flight to one of the park’s airstrips which takes about 2 to 3 hours and arrive at the park for early sightings. However, Serengeti National Park can be accessed by road safaris in a safari vehicle starting from the beautiful Arusha town taking you for about 8 hours.

In conclusion, a safari to witness the wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park is an extraordinary adventure that brings you face-to-face with one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth. The dramatic river crossings, the vast herds of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles, and the ever-present thrill of nature’s circle of life make this an unforgettable journey for any traveler.