Wildebeest Migration in East Africa – Masai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania
Wildebeest migration in East Africa – The great migration is a mass movement of wildlife annually from Tanzania’s Serengeti national park and Kenya’s Masai mara national reserve which is triggered by the availability of water and green grass forcing the animals to cross the barrier on the border of the two East African Countries of Tanzania and Kenya
The Mara River is one of the greatest obstacles during the Great migration as the River is a hot spot for one of the World’s largest ancient Nile crocodiles but before the build-up of the mass numbers of wildlife, Predators have been seen following the wildebeest comparing all the state of events the great wildebeest migration is one of the greatest spectacles on earth.
The lead animal during the wildebeest migration is the Wildebeest, followed by Zebras, gazelles and elands
Predators that follow the migration include Lions, Cheetah, Leopard and Hyenas making Serengeti national park one of the best places to see predators during the wildebeest calving season between February and March when large numbers of wildebeest gather in the Ndutu plains to drop their calves within 3 weeks where estimated 8000 calves are born in animal packed predator presence
When and where to be during the Great wildebeest migration in East Africa
Knowing where to be during the great wildebeest migration is probably one of the greatest bets people will take as they aim to catch one of the greatest wildlife events in East Africa, but with our expertise, it’s no thought we will give you the perfect advise on when and where to be during the great wildebeest migration
When to go
The great wildebeest migration is all year event but the river crossing only happen at a specific time of the year and below is a summary of the
-July-October is the Mara river crossing
-November to January wildebeest are moving to Tanzania’s Serengeti for calving season
-February to March the calving season takes place in the Ndutu area
-April-May the wildebeest rutting season
– June-July the Grumeti river crossing takes places
Where to stay
There are very many caps in Serengeti and the Masai mara but most of the camps are small get booked out quite quickly and clients planning a safari to see the great wildebeest Migration should consider booking in Advance and our best peaks at the moment are Ndutu safari lodge for mid-range option and Singita Mara tented camp for Luxury option
How long should one stay during the Great Wildebeest Migration?
Basing on the experience of our Guides and travelers it’s recommended that you stay at least 7 nights in the Serengeti and Masai Mara, in brief, you will spend 4 nights in the Serengeti and 3 nights in the Masai Mara to increase your chances of witnessing the river crossing
Tips to Planning the Great wildebeest migration in East Africa
-Booking in Advance
The wildebeest migration is a top safari destination in East Africa and tends to attract quite a large number of travelers and accommodation can be difficult to find for last minute booking and remember you need to stay in the action-packed areas so booking 1 year in advance is recommended
-Combine Masai Mara and Serengeti
You can easily combine Masai Mara and Serengeti during your great migration safari in East Africa and this will give you one of the best chances to witness the thunder hooves
-Travel between Mid-July and Mid-August or October
The river crossing usually takes place between July and October when the wildebeest cross from Serengeti national park to Masai Mara and verse versa in October
-Combine with Gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda
Uganda and Rwanda offers perfect weather conditions for gorilla trekking between July and October and with several flights operating between Entebbe, Kigali, Kilimanjaro and Nairobi it’s easy to fly in from where to trek the gorillas
-Try moving mobile camps
Some of the best places to stay during the migration are the mobile camps from those who may want to try the real African experience and we recommend clients to try that out
-try out a private safari
Though group trips may be cheaper we highly recommend on travelling in private cars as you will have the humble time of game viewing and photographing the River crossing
-Don’t miss Zanzibar at the end
It’s very hot and dusty in the Serengeti and Masai Mara during the migration and a romantic beach escape to Zanzibar is not a bad idea and contacts our Africa experts for a tailor-made safari to see the gorillas, witness the migration in Masai Mara and Serengeti and then take a beach holiday to Zanzibar at the end
-Take full day Game drives
Full day game drives are perfect with a box of picnic and return to the lodge late in the day to relax and in that way your chances of seeing wildlife are high and in the middle of the day Usually people are back to the lodge and the park is a little quiet
-The Hot air balloon is a must
Flying over the huge herds of the wildebeest is one of the best activities to do in Masai Mara or Serengeti so while in on safari in East Africa try the hot air balloon safari
How much does a great wildebeest migration cost (estimate)
Great wildebeest migration safari may not be cheap but we are always providing competitive prices for our clients and a safari to witness the great migration may cost between 2500-3000 USD per person please contact us today for safari prices for your East African Safari
