SERENGETI GREAT MIGRATION
The Great Wildebeest Migration 2022 – 2023
Serengeti great migration wildebeest migration is a wildlife spectacle with over 2 million migratory animals moving clockwise through the Serengeti, Masai mara, northern Ngorongoro, Maswa game reserve & Loliondo controlled area, these animals are on a cause of survival and thus by moving towards the favorable ecosystem at a given time/season
The wildebeest migration by numbers
There is no exact number of migratory animals but it is estimated over 1.4 million wildebeest, over 350000 Zebra, over 300000 gazelles (Thomson & grant gazelles), over 6000 elands
Why the Serengeti migration occurs, why wildebeest migrate?
the wildebeest migrate around the Serengeti, masai mara, ngorongoro, maswa & loliondo area down to needs, the migration is fundamental to their survival, consuming over 4000 tons per day these animals need to move & feed mainly they move to greener pastures by following the wildebeests whose sense of smell & instinct on determining where it is raining
so these animals move to a favorable ecosystem for their survival
- Green pastures & water, these animals move to allocate green pastures & water which they like to feed on
Mineral enriched plains & short grass, - on the calving season, these animals move to the mineral enriched plains in south Serengeti & northern Ngorongoro, in these plains, they get minerals essential for their bones & bodies while they give birth & nurture their newborns
- on calving season these short grass & plains are strategic for them to spot predators
- western & northern corridor when it gets dry, as these areas in Serengeti, unlike the plains, have trees, bushes which are less affected when it is dry
why the migration animals move together?
Great wildebeest migration animals namely wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, elands move together as they have a common goal which is greener pastures & water but apart from this goal these animals have a strategic alliance
For example; the wildebeest have a great sense of smell and sense/instincts on following the rains this aide’s other animals as they follow the wildebeest to green pastures however zebras & others have better vision hence alert herds on dangers posed by predators
Best time to visit & see the Serengeti wildebeest migration 2021 -2022
The great wildebeest migration happens year in & year out. it is a great experience to witness such a spectacle however there are moments or highlights that travelers, stakeholders argue as the best time to see these migratory animals
These moments are categorized below as highlights of the great wildebeest migration
Highlights of the Serengeti wildebeest migration 2021 -2022
calving season (December to March); this is the period when the migratory animal’s wildebeest, zebras will be giving birth & nurturing their newborns this takes place in southern Serengeti & northern Ngorongoro in an area called “Ndutu” this area being mineral-enriched, plain & with short grass is the perfect place for migratory animals to calve thousands of newborns being reproduced daily and predators preying and very close, it is a perfect time to witness a live hunt
why the migration animals move together?
Great wildebeest migration animals namely wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, elands move together as they have a common goal which is greener pastures & water but apart from this goal these animals have a strategic alliance
For example; the wildebeest have a great sense of smell and sense/instincts on following the rains this aide’s other animals as they follow the wildebeest to green pastures however zebras & others have better vision hence alert herds on dangers posed by predators
Best time to visit and see the Serengeti wildebeest migration 2021 -2022
The great wildebeest migration happens year in & year out. it is a great experience to witness such a spectacle however there are moments or highlights that travelers, stakeholders argue as the best time to see these migratory animals
These moments are categorized below as highlights of the great wildebeest migration
Highlights of the Serengeti wildebeest migration 2021 -2022
- Calving season (December to March); this is the period when the migratory animal’s wildebeest, zebras will be giving birth & nurturing their newborns this takes place in southern Serengeti & northern Ngorongoro in an area called “Ndutu” this area being mineral-enriched, plain & with short grass is the perfect place for migratory animals to calve thousands of newborns being reproduced daily and predators preying and very close, it is a perfect time to witness a live hunt
Note: February is more precise for calving
- Mara River crossing (July – October); this is the time the great Serengeti wildebeest migration will be expected to be crossing Mara river if you ever watched national geographic and see thousands of wildebeest crossing a river and crocodiles feasting on them, this is what usually happens from the read above you now understand the crossing is down to need and their survival so despite the threat posed by crocodiles thousands of wildebeest will be set to cross mara river for green pastures and water in Masai mara
Why is mara river crossing better then grumeti river crossing?
On the cycle of the great wildebeest migration, these animals cross Grumeti river & mara river while on both rivers they face of the crocodile’s mara river crossing is said to be a better view than the Grumeti river crossing this is down to following reasons
- Unlike the Grumeti river, the Mara river is not surrounded with trees so you get a better view of the crossing and action
- The Mara river has more crocodiles and hippos in comparison to the Grumeti river
- The Mara river has a small descend and ascends into and out from river hence better view and more action
- Mara river surroundings suit best lions to prey on the migration just after the crossing so better action
Note: August is more precise for the mara river crossing
- Grumeti river crossing (June – July); at this time, it is expected the great Serengeti wildebeest migration will be crossing Grumeti river(west Serengeti), this river situated in western Serengeti where vegetation shifts from plains to little forests and bushes where the migration passes through when it starts to get dry
Some notes on the Mara “river crossings”
Highlights of the Serengeti wildebeest migration 2021 -2022
- The Mara River crossings(north Serengeti) happen at any time during the dry season. But they’re elusive, they happen quickly. They’re unforgettable experiences.
- The areas that the migration wildebeest covers are vast, even when crossed in a 4WD car. That’s in both the Serengeti and the Mara.
- Note that there’s more Mara River frontage in Tanzania than there is in Kenya. The migration can criss-cross across the border. People can’t!
- The migrating groups may be split over a wide area. Finding one on the brink of crossing is not a given.
- The wildebeest are easily spooked by real or imagined threats. They fear to cross the river, as they have an inkling that something lurks there.
- Patient waiting near a herd by the river may only produce a puff of dust as they turn on their heels and run away. Or maybe the herd is just not ready to cross the river and they are milling around contentedly.
- However, if everything is right. Then there is utter and extraordinary chaos as the herds struggle to get to the other side of a major river filled with crocodiles.
