What is the Great migration?
This is the spectaculars sights in Africa where the millions of wildebeest, thousands of zebras, gazelles and move between Tanzania and Kenya border. The Serengeti migration is the world’s greatest migration of terrestrial mammals and this make the park to be one among the natural wonders of the world. In fact, with up to 1,000 animals per km², the great columns of wildebeest can be seen from space.
The numbers are astonishing: over 1.2 million wildebeest and 300,000 zebras along with topi and other gazelle move in a constant cycle through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem in search of nutritious grass and water. Guided by survival instinct, each wildebeest will cover 800 to 1,000km on its individual journey along age-old migration routes. Hungry predators including lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, wild dog and crocs make sure only the strongest survive in this natural spectacle also known as ‘THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH.’
The circuit takes the animals from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (exclude into the Crater) in the south of the Serengeti in Tanzania, up through the Serengeti and across into the Masai Mara in Kenya and back again. The journey is beset with danger, young calves are snatched by predators, the slow are brought down by prides of lion, brave beasts break legs on steep river slopes, crocodiles take their share of the stragglers, and the weak and exhausted drown.
There are three groups of migrant grazers with different grass-eating habits. The first group eats the top of the tallest grass, the next group will eat away some of the medium-height grass, until finally it is almost completely eaten, and the herds move on. This means each group sticks to their own kind with only a small overlap in their distributions.
It is unclear how the wildebeest know which way to go, but it is generally believed that their journey is dictated primarily by their response to the weather; they follow the rains and the growth of new grass. While there is no scientific proof of it, some experts believe that the animals react to lightning and thunderstorms in the distance. It has even been suggested that wildebeest can locate rain more than 50km away.
How the Great Migration moves throughout the year?
Whether the wildebeest are dropping calves or attempting to cross rivers while avoiding predators, the migration is constantly on the move throughout the year. See the months below.
In January, February and March
Around January each year, the great migration will be finishing a southward move, moving along the eastern edge of the Serengeti and into the Ngorongoro conservation area. Here the plains are rich in nutritious grass, providing the herds with the best conditions for raising their newborn calves. Some 400,000 calves are born here within a period of two to three weeks, or nearly 8,000 new calves every day
The abundance of vulnerable young calves means the surrounding predators also spring into action, hunting with ease due to the sheer numbers of wildebeest. It seems reasonable to call the wildebeests’ birthing season the start of the migration.
Those interested in witnessing calving and the drama of big cats on the hunt should check out with Kilibeauty Discovery for unforgettable experience.
After bearing their young in February and March, around April the wildebeest herds begin to drift northwest toward the fresher grass of the central Serengeti, drawing with them thousands of zebras and smaller groups of antelope. By May, columns of wildebeest stretch for several kilometres as the animals start to congregate by the Moru Kopjes. Mating season begins toward the end of May and male wildebeest battle head-to-head.
Gradually, the movement gathers momentum and the wildebeest start to mass in the Serengeti’s Western Corridor. The herds form in huge numbers along the pools and channels of the river, which they have to cross in order to continue on their journey. This may not be as spectacular as the famous Mara crossings, but there are still enough wildebeest to provide the Grumeti crocs with a veritable feast. Safaris at this time offer great value since there are relatively low numbers of tourists in the Serengeti, yet the wildlife viewings remain excellent
In June and July
During June, the dry season starts with large concentrations of wildebeest in the Western Serengeti and on the southern banks of the Grumeti River. Each migrating animal must face the challenge of crossing the crocodile-infested river, the first of many daunting and tense river encounters.
As June moves into July, the hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra continue to head north along the western edge of the park toward an even riskier barrier: the Mara River in the north of the Serengeti. These river crossings are arguably one of the most exciting wildlife events on Earth.
Later in July, those animals that have successfully made it across the Mara River will also be found in the Maasai Mara game reserve in Kenya.
In August, September and October
In August, the herds have faced the challenge of crossing the Mara River and are spread throughout the Masai Mara’s northern region, with many remaining in the northern Serengeti. In years when the river is in full flow, the panic and confusion at the crossings, combined with waiting predators and surging currents, can cause massive loss of life. But, even in years of relatively gently flowing water, the crocs take their toll, not to mention the lions and other large predators that patrol the banks, ready to ambush any wildebeest that make it to the other side.
In September to October.
The main chaos has ended and the migrating columns have gradually moved eastward. However, they wildebeest will face the heavy waters of the Mara River once more as they prepare to cross once again for their return journey southward.
In November and December
After the East African short rains in late October and early November, the wildebeest move down from Kenya and into the eastern limits of the Serengeti, an area known for outstanding cheetah sightings. By December, they are spread throughout the eastern and southern reaches.
In the early months of the new year, the grasses in the deep south of the Serengeti are lush with rain. This draws the herds of wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras and other plains animals. The cycle continues as the calving season starts once again.
Are you ready to plan a great migration safari?