THE GREAT WILDEBEEST MIGRATION. One of the “Seven Wonders of the Natural World” is the Great Wildebeest movement, which is the world’s biggest animal movement. It’s a natural show to see millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles running across the Serengeti’s endless fields all year long in search of new grass to eat and better water. For many tourists, the most exciting part is crossing the Grumeti and Mara Rivers.

So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that this once-in-a-lifetime event is one of the main reasons people visit Tanzania every year. If you also want to see the wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park, you should know where the groups are.

That’s why we need to tell you

The Great Wildebeest Migration happens every month and in different places. This article tells you when and where to watch it, as well as some tips for having the best experience.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE GREAT WILDEBEEST MIGRATION

Every year, almost two million wildebeest cross the plains of Tanzania as part of the Great Wildebeest movement, which is the biggest animal movement in the world.

Even though it’s called for wildebeests, which make up most of the animals, the migrating herds also have zebras, topis, gazelles, and other animals.
The migration usually starts in December and goes through November, but the exact start date relies on when Tanzania’s rainy season starts.

It takes the herds about a thousand kilometers to make their annual journey.
Animals that hunt wildebeests kill up to 250,000 of them each year.
When wildebeests migrate, they group together into packs of hundreds of thousands of animals.

WHAT TIME AND PLACE DOES THE GREAT WILDEBEEST MOVE TAKE PLACE?

Here’s the catch: the exact time of the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti varies on how much rain falls each year. This makes it hard to guess where and when the movement will start. This is something that not even wildebeests know!

Because of changes in the environment, the rainy seasons don’t happen every year and are hard to plan for. This is also why the movement has been off lately.

But thanks to our Tanzania Zanzibar Safari guides’ years of knowledge, we can make a pretty good guess. One of the main reasons our Tanzania tours are so popular with people who want to see this amazing show for themselves.

IN-DEPTH BREAKDOWN BY MONTH

From December to April

In late November or early December, the migration usually starts in the Ndutu area in the southern parts of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. This is where the migrating herds come.

Animals in the Serengeti can go wherever they want. Seeing almost two million wildebeests and zebras spread out across Tanzania’s fields and eating fresh, healthy grass is truly amazing.

Every February, about 500,000 calves are born on the southern plains. This is the start of birth season. At this point, you can also see a lot of animals that hunt for food.

In April, the groups move to the middle and western parts of the Serengeti in search of new, long grass. It starts to rain, and it’s time to mate.

From May to June

Wildebeest and zebra groups move further north in May and June to get ready for the dangerous Grumeti River crossing, which is full of huge crocodiles.

It’s scary to see thousands of these beautiful animals fight against nature and other animals that want to eat them. Sadly, not all animals make it through the trip.

The survivors keep going on their trip. Some herds choose to go through the Grumeti Game Reserve and the Ikorongo Game Reserve, while others choose to go through the Serengeti National Park.

July through September

The horses are near the Mara River from July to September. They have to cross it to get to Kenya. At this time of year, the sights are both beautiful and exciting. Crocodiles and fast-moving water make this crossing very dangerous for the herds.

When the animals are on the move, the Mara River crossing is the biggest problem. Hundreds of thousands of animals try to get through the fast-moving water, causing a spectacular and often scary show of panic and confusion.

It’s interesting that almost two-thirds of the movement in the last two years didn’t cross the Mara River because there was still enough fresh grass in the northern Serengeti.

From October to December

In October and November, the wildebeest migration leaves the northern Serengeti and goes through the central Seronera area on its way back to the southern part, also known as Northutu. There, the herds stay until late November or early December. Then the cycle starts all over again the next year.

In what area of the world is it best to see the great migration of wild animals?

Like the best time, the best place to see the wildebeest migration relies on what you want to see. From December to April, for example, the best time to look for a place to stay is in the Southern and Central Serengeti.

During this time, herds move across the fields of the Southern Serengeti and stay there until it’s time to give birth and breed. People from all over the world love to visit during calving season to see the dance of life and death as animals try to catch young calves and eat them.

But if you want to see the big river crossings, you can do so in the northern parts of Serengeti and in Kenya’s Masai Mara.

In Tanzania, there are a number of tented camps in prime spots where you can see the Great Wildebeest Migration in all its glory.

HOW CAN YOU SEE THE GREAT WILDEBEEST MOVEMENT?

Seeing the Great Wildebeest Migration is like being in a dream. But if you want to get the most out of this magical trip, you should go to Tanzania with a reliable and experienced safari guide.

There is someone in Tanzania who can help you with that. Every one of our trips is a completely different experience that you can fully tailor to your tastes. It’s our hope that this adventure will be one you’ll never forget, giving you an experience that you will remember forever.

HOW DO YOU PLAN THE GREAT WILDEBEEST MARCH SAFARI?

Now you know when, where, and who to see the Great Wildebeest Migration in Tanzania (hint: we will be there). The only question left is how.

To be honest, we won’t lie: making plans for a wildebeest migration trip can take a while, and you shouldn’t take it lightly. Before you leave for Tanzania, there are a few things you should do. Once you get here, we can make this trip even more magical.

Here are some ideas for planning a tour to see the wildebeest migration.

Get your book early

Making plans and reservations for a trip shouldn’t be done with little notice. This rule is important for all safaris, but it’s especially important from June to October, when a lot of wildebeest flock to the area.

A lot of tourists come to Tanzania at this time to see the migration, so camps and hotels fill up quickly. So, if you want to see the river bridges, you should plan your trip at least a year ahead of time.

Know When to Leave

During the busy season, there are plenty of tourists in Tanzania, especially in the Serengeti National Park, where most of the migration takes place. To avoid the crowds, you might want to think about going at a different time of the year. That way, you can enjoy the migration on your own terms, without having to fight with other tourists for the best spots.

If you plan your migration safari through Tanzania Zanzibar Safari, one of the best things about it is that our camps are a little farther from the action. This means that you can enjoy your trip in a calmer setting, so you can really get into the experience.

Spread out your experiences.

Seeing the Great Wildebeest Migration is amazing on its own, but there are many other things you can do on tour to make it even better. Every Tanzania Zanzibar Safari tour comes with a list of extra activities you can book to make your trip even more unique.

Read our full guide on how to plan your first trip for more tips on how to plan your next one. It will help you get a better idea of the most important things you need to think about when planning your Tanzanian tour.