THE GREAT MIGRATION

What’s the Great Migration? 

The Serengeti wildebeest migration is one of the most spectacular events to see in Tanzania. This is the periodic regular movement of more than a million of wildebeests accompanied by some 250,000 zebras, 200,000 gazelles and some 12,000 elands seeking for fresh food and water. Also predators including leopards, cheetah, hyena, lions and crocs make sure only the strongest will survive in this natural spectacle. The position of the migration depends on the periodic rains and relatively predictable on where to find the herds.  

A SHORT SUMMARY OF THE GREAT MIGRATION:

The short rains begin in the months of November and December where the herds move to the short grass plains in Serengeti. This is far south of Serengeti and Ndutu which is part of Ngorongoro Conservation Area. They stay at these areas through January, February and March where they give birth of than 500000 new born calves by January and February. These areas are safer because predators can be spotted making it an ideal place for calving. Predators are after the new borns during this time and you may witness stalking and hunting during this period of time. After the plains dry, the wildebeest are forced to move in search of fresh grass in the western corridor. After bearing their young ones, around April the wildebeest herds begin to drift northwest towards the central Serengeti, drawing with them thousands of zebra and  lower groups of antelope.

During May, they spread out heading to the western part of Serengeti National Park. In June, they spread out heading further west to the Grumeti river which is a channel of pools where they congregate and blocked on their trip towards the northern part. This is where the crocodiles of the Grumeti River get their feast. Each migrating animal must face the challenge of crossing the crocodile- infested river. As June moves into July, the hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra accompanied by antelopes continue to head north along the western edge of the Serengeti toward the Mara River in the north of the Serengeti. These river crossings are arguably one of the most famous wildlife events on Earth. 

During late July and August, the migration  moves  far north of Serengeti National Park known as Kogatende passing through the central part of Serengeti and Grumeti reserve. Arriving on the north Serengeti, this is where the spectacular crossing happens at the mara river which goes through until September. The migration arrives at the Mara River in groups of thousands where they gather and cross. A huge number of adults and calves are lost to crocodile and predators attacks, drowned or crushed by the herd and many of the young ones are separated from their mothers.

During October, the herds move on the far north to the Masai Mara reserve.  During November, the herds move towards the south following the short grass plains through eastern part of Serengeti and this is where the migration pattern begin.