Guide to Great Wildebeest Migration 2024
Guide to Great Wildebeest Migration 2024 : Witnessing the Great Wildebeest Migration in Tanzania is a thrilling experience that everyone will undoubtedly look forward to. The Great Wildebeest Migration, a year-round natural wonder and one of the most breathtaking spectacles on Earth, is a highly sought-after experience for travellers. But did you realise that all of this occurs in specific locations during specific months? Because the Serengeti is so large, in order to see the World Wonder, you must be aware of the locations of the migrating herds. Fortunately for you, this is a roadmap of where to go and when:
January- February
The southern Serengeti’s short grass plains, the Ndutu region, and the northern portion of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are all popular with the herds. By the end of January, the calving season has begun, and the mother hooves are ready to give birth. During this season, over 8,000 new born wildebeests are born each day. When these baby hooves first emerge into the world and begin to run on their weak legs, get ready to be amazed.
Predators are, of course, always looking for prey. Hungry predators plot a vicious attack as adult wildebeests surround their young, vulnerable moms. Throughout these months, there will be a lot of action and drama to watch.
March
The last groups of calves are giving birth, and the hooves are getting ready to head north. Anticipate that the herds will be distributed throughout the southern Serengeti plains, grazing on the remnant grasses. Occasionally, rain also begins in the end of March.
April and May
In Tanzania, April and May are regarded as the wettest months of the year. Expect lush, verdant greenery as a result of the prolonged rainfall. During these months, the wildebeest herds may be observed in the area near Central Seronera. Many zebras and gazelles accompany the herds as they cross the land and rivers heading north towards the western region.
June
The recognisable river crossings start in June. Around the Western Corridor, the herds can be seen. When they get to the south side of the Grumeti River, they form a pile to cross the numerous channels and pools. As the Grumeti River is shallow and doesn’t flow continuously, you can see some activity while Nile crocodiles are waiting to pounce. However, this phenomenon is only a “practice” for the hooves, as they are aware that what’s about to occur further north will be their greatest achievement to date.
July- September
These are the months when the extremely bloody Mara River crossing takes place. Struggling to survive, millions of wildebeests and thousands of zebras, gazelles, and kudus race across the predator-infested Mara River in an attempt to cross and enter the Masai Mara National Reserve. This amazing event is known as the “World Cup of Wildlife” and often lasts until October.
October
As they cross the river, many of migrating hooves perish from weariness, famine, or predators. In Masai Mara National Reserve, survivors feast on the new grasses to commemorate their victory. Other ungulates that remained in the Serengeti region graze on the northern Serengeti’s grasses. The migratory herds return to the southern Serengeti National Park at the end of October, when the brief rainy season has brought with it an abundance of water and hunt for food.
November
The majority of the Mara’s surviving herds begin their southward migration, going through western Loliondo and the Lobo region of the Serengeti National Park.
December
The herds congregate in the southern and north-eastern Serengeti districts, where they graze on the verdant grasslands. The wildebeests are aware that the calving season is approaching and that the migration cycle is going to resume at this point.
Why is the Great Migration 2024 fascinating?
The world’s largest inland animal movement is known as The Great movement, also known as the Serengeti Migration or the Migration of Wildebeests. Thousands of zebras, Thomson’s gazelles, impalas, kudus, and over two million wildebeests trample across the Serengeti National Park habitat in this incredible show of wildlife movement. Predators, including lions, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, and others, are craftily following the moving herds in hopes of snagging a meal. Huge Nile crocodiles and very territorial hippos can be found on the waterways.
Experiencing this experience even once in your life is like being a witness to one of nature’s most amazing happenings. The action, drama, and amazement combine to produce a once-in-a-lifetime Tanzania safari experience that is unmatched by anything else. Furthermore, this experience is exclusive to this location.
How it Happens
Serengeti National Park: Beginning in January, the migratory hooves go clockwise over the Serengeti National park grasslands. The herds begin to cross the Mara River between July and October in search of grass in the nearby Masai Mara National Reserve. Around November, when the rains summon them, they return to the Serengeti National Park.
Masai Mara National Reserve: From July to October, migratory hooves begin to appear in Masai Mara National Reserve. Up until November, when they return to the Serengeti National Park, they graze on the Reserve’s new grasses.
The Great Migration, one of the most sought-after wildlife and nature experiences, is the perpetual movement of over a million animals in a clockwise manner across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Columns of wildebeest, accompanied by an array of companions, follow an ancient route in search of water and grazing areas. Following their calving in the southern Tanzanian Serengeti near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the animals travel through the Serengeti up and around towards the Masai Mara in Kenya, before making a second trip there towards the end of the year. The journey is always fraught with drama, as thousands of animals are killed by predators and thousands more are born, restoring the numbers and maintaining the cycle of life.
A special method of witnessing the Great Wildebeest Migration 2024
It’s one thing to witness the migration. Another is to observe it from the side of the court. The following locations are the best places to be if you want to see wildlife at its best:
A semi-permanent or nomadic camp that tracks the migration patterns of the Great Migration 2024
Central Camp: Throughout April and May, migratory herds pass through this permanent tented camp in the centre of Seronera. The camp is ideally situated to witness the highlights of the migration, as it is close to both the Western Corridor and the Southern Serengeti.
Seronera Luxury: The opulent Seronera Luxury Camp is located in Makoma Hills, Seronera, and provides greater seclusion while maintaining unobstructed views of the Serengeti plains.
