Best Place In East Africa For Wildebeest Migration In East Africa
Best Place In East Africa For Wildebeest Migration In East Africa
The Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve are world-renowned destinations for the great wildebeest migration. The great wildebeest migration is a series of events happening in different locations so you can choose which is the best for you on safari.
A huge number of wildebeest, gazelles, Impalas, and zebras congregate annually to take a certain return voyage searching for greener pastures. This season is fiesta time for predators like hyenas, lions, cheetahs, and jackals as they grab the weak and wearied migrants. This safari event is one of the eight wonders of the world.
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One wonders what triggers these animals to abandon Serengeti National park to follow the course till Masai Mara National reserve every year and then back. They follow instincts, quest for survival and struggle to make it through the journey. Not even animal returns home as many die along the way from natural causes and
This great animals trek is puzzling because you are not sure the exact time when it is to start or end. Majority say it’s the rain patterns that fuel it.
Some times when the rains come early, the animal instincts tell them to start moving at that time. This trek is unpredictable but assumptions of its flow as per the observers are reported on different news platforms for interested people to know.
Since this is a long return journey from Serengeti National Park up to Masai Mara National Reserve, various events make the voyage interesting according to the events in that location. Its quite hard to identify which of the two places is best for viewing the great wildebeest migration because of the above.
The great wildebeest migration season has two seasons that is the peak season June to September and low season March to May. All have events that are special during this course. You just need to select which one suits your interest as described below.
Calving Season In Serengeti National Park Tanzania ( Januray to March)
After the return of ungulates from Masai Mara National Park to Serengeti National park that is between November to December, expectant mothers are many so calving seasons begins. The birth of over 1 million additional angulates puts pressure on the available pasture as infants mature over time.
Many herd members are lost along the way because of different factors and so the need for a new generation arises to replace the lost comrades. A great number of infants born are conceived in Masai Mara National reserve where the zebras, gazelles, wildebeest, impalas spend the last months of the year. Majority of wild animals cross into Kenya from late July to October before returning to Serengeti National Park in around November through December.
The months of January to March see birth of infants especially in Ndutu region Tanzania. Over a million additional calves for wildebeest, zebras, Impalas, gazelles are additions to already huge crowds.
As time progresses, more feeding pressure is put on then scarce pasture which prompts some wild animals to search for greener pastures in later months especially when the rains start.
April through Mid-June In Serengeti National Park
The new additions to the already huge crowd of ungulates creates food scarcity in Southern Serengeti National Park. By April to May infants have matured to consume huge amounts of grass. In case the rains start falling in other places as predicted, some of the zebras start moving northwards.
There pace is literally slow because of the still weak limbs of the calves. The huge crowd of wildebeests, gazellles, impalas, zebras makes a stopover at Seronera area in central Serengeti National Park
By this time, Tanzania is experiencing its low tourism season. The Serengeti National Park receives fewer visitors and less vehicle traffic so you may have the pack to yourself and a limited number of other tourists apart from the national Park staff. Accommodation facilities may offer discounted prices during this season because business is low.
Look over in the flat plains of Serengeti National Park for young-adult wildebeest that are learning to follow and are being initiated into there circle of life by mature ungulates.
Mid-June to July season Of Great Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti National Park
As the great migration gains momentum, the heaviest more impalas, Zebras, gazelles, wildebeests, kobs plus many more are expected to feed towards the western corridor of Serengeti National Park. The pasture along the Grumeti River is juicy for the crowd of wildebeest and other herbivores to munch on.
At this point, predators like lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, jackals, Nile crocodiles make choices on what meal they wish to eat for the day.
August to September Season Of the Great wildebeest Migration In Serengeti National Park
This great wildebeest migration hits its peak point in the August and September as huge crowds cross over from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania into Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
In Kenya this is the most active time for great wildebeest migration in Masai Mara National Park. A lot of drama is witnessed in the river like predators being rejected by there prey. It is the last toll between life and death of the already exhausted ungulates.
Expect to meet huge crowds of tourists on both banks of Mara River waiting to catch those special moments of wildebeests in action. Having a camera with a good lens helps you zoom every detail of the great wildebeest migration even amongst the huge crowd of vehicles.
October to November season Of The great Wildebeest Migration
During these months, the biggest number of impalas, wildebeest, zebras and other ungulates have crossed into Masai Mara National Reserve. At this time, you get to witness just a few wildebeest crossing from Northern Serengeti National Park into Masai Mara National Reserve In Kenya.
Some may also be confused and returning into Tanzania even the stars of the show, the predators are less visible. Generally, the Serengeti National Park loses ownership of the great wildebeest migration for some time.
From Masai Mara National Reserve In Kenya, you can watch huge herds impalas, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, antelopes and others.
November to December time Of The Great Wildebeest Migration in Masai Mara
The focus of the great wildebeest migration is put on Masai Mara National reserve in Kenya. A number of predators follow there prey to keep feasting. As the numbers of mature wildebeests, gazelles, impalas increase, grass in the Masai Mara is overwhelmed.
In November to December the migrant ungulates may start there journey back to Northern Serengeti National Park. The grass here may have rejuvenated after a long time of wild animal departure.
At this moment, the focus of the great wildebeest migration is put on Masai Mara National Reserve. As festive season breaks in most of the tourists are interested in visiting Masai Mara National Reserve because majority of the wild animals are still occupying its plains.
When all wildebeests, zebras, impalas, gazelles have crossed into Serengeti National Park which is normally from January through March all factors kept constant , calving may take course. Skimming predators like lions, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals warm up for another feast.
The hungry predator focus on the still wobbly calves as soon as they are born. This is another party after party for the never satisfied scavengers. To defend there new generation, the wildebeest normally move with the new infants and mothers amidst the crowd. The mother ungulates will try to fight carnivores to save there infants at all costs.
Why Book Safari with Great Wildebeest Migration In East Africa
- During Calving season In Serengeti National Park
This generally flat plain land of Serengeti National park is beautifully covered by green vegetation resulting from regular rains that fall during departure season of wildebeests. Anyone interested in green natural location for a photoshoot can use this chance.
As a new generation of calves is born, they look amazing to watch as they adopt quickly to the life of the jungle. A part from hiding in the grass from predators, the herd is ready to protect the new generation by letting them move in the middle.
February comes with many sessions of calving moments having been conceived during the great wildebeest migration. The animals are generally calmer and slow in moving because of the still staggering infants. Even there next move is more predictable during this time.
For those having a tight budget, this low season in East Africa tourism calendar is a chance for discounted services like accommodation, domestic flights, driver guide fees and others. Since there fewer tourists visiting, opportunities of receiving discounted prices even with luxury facility in the park on a modest safari package may be available.
You may also have the park to yourself because there are less crowds of tourists vehicles. You can capture all special moments although there are less chances of predator- prey drama.
Its also birding season in Serengeti National Park or Masai Mara National Reserve. The birds are seen in huge numbers trying to prepare for breeding season by constructing nests. Serengeti National Park hosts over 500 bird species plus foreign migrants. More than 470 bird species including 57 raptors are residents of Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
- During Great Wildebeest Migration in East Africa
Most tourists enjoy doing the East Africa Safaris during the tine of June to September. This is considered peak season of the tourism calendar. You can take stunning and unique wildlife photographs and filming for production stations. This time the movement of wildebeest is at its peak and more special animal drams is seen.
Chances of seeing carnivores in action are high during great Wildebeest migration season. Majority of this happens in a snap of time.
There are many chances of capturing special moments like the prey defending its self from the snappy predator or the raptors being overwhelmed by tactics of prey. The zebras love moving in a line to confuse there possible prey.
- During Low Tourism Season Of Safari In East Africa
Whether in Masai Mara National Reserve or Serengeti National Park, the low season of safari is chance for having a more personal encounter with wildebeests, gazelles, impalas and others. From February to May there is less destruction from vehicles in the park, the great migration is in low gears and scanty animal population is seen in the pack
Ungulates have plenty of vegetation to feed and plain have green grass cover everywhere. For a more detailed wildlife photo location with natural background, this is the best time to visit either Serengeti National Park or Masai Mara National Reserve.
The service facilities in Serengeti National park or Masai Mara National Reserve are cost effective. Some lodges undergo renovation in order to prepare for the peak seasons so they reduce there price to attract some customers during this.
What To Pack For Great Wildebeest Migration In East Africa
- Safari attires in colors like Khaki or tan
- Warm wear for very cold early mornings
- Safari hat with a wider brim in case you are to drive in an open safari vehicle
- Sunscreen shields your skin from the scotching sunrays, especially during the whole day game viewing moments.
- Sunglasses to protect your eyes from strong sunrays
- Toiletries in case the lodge doesn’t provide or are not favorable for your skin
- Safari boots and flip flops to wear during the game drives
- A light bag to carry with your safari gear.
- A camera with a good lens to capture all the special moments of the great wildebeest migration in Africa.
- A torch to use for lighting when power runs out. Majority of the lodges use solar power.
- Snacks to munch on during the game drives
- Some hard cash to use for personal transactions like buying souvenirs. Credit cards are not commonly used in Africa because of the lengthy procedure of getting money off them.
- Insect repellant to keep away stinging insects that may buzz in the park.
- A duffel bag to pack your belongings, especially when traveling from far and you need to connect with different destinations. Even those booked on domestic flights have a certain amount of weight allowance.
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