The Great
Wildebeest Migration, also christened The Seventh Wonder of The World, offers
some of the most iconic sights and sounds in the Masai Mara – Serengeti
Ecosystem.
The Great Migration is an annual event that sees
over two million wildebeest, zebras, and different species of antelopes travel
from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the Masai Mara Game reserve in
Kenya. All in the hopes of finding greener pastures.
In 2007, the event was named one of the 8 wonders
of the world. The wildebeest migration is also the largest land migration on
earth.
What makes this migration historic isn’t only the
large number of animals traveling along the same paths at the same time. The
journey is long and treacherous. And only the fittest survive. Each day, new
babies are born, some die, and for some, life-long lessons are learnt.
Wildebeest herds crossing a river during the Great Migration
The migration animals do not follow as straight
path; the Great Migration is a cyclic and continuous process. Wildebeest are
always on the move. Even during calving season when they appear to have
settled- they still move but at a slower pace.
The journey gathers momentum as the herds approach
the two main rivers that lie directly on the migratory paths, namely, the
Grumeti River in the Serengeti and the Mara River in Masai Mara. The following
is a guide on what to expect in different months of the year.
December – March
During these months, the herds gather around the Serengeti and Ngorongoro areas
in northern Tanzania. The conditions are rather wet around the time, so the
animals spend much of their time grazing.
December to March also happens to be the calving
season. If you’re in the Serengeti during this period, you can make your way to
the Salei and Ndutu plains for better wildlife sighting opportunities.
Wildebeest are some of the most prolific animals.
And given that there’s plenty of vegetation around this time, the mothers in
these plains can give birth to about 800,000 calves in just two weeks.
December to March is also also the ideal time to
sight and photograph big cats on the prowl. However, since most big cats are
opportunistic hunters, they’ll likely settle for the newborn calves. Therefore,
you won’t likely spot high-speed chases around this time.
April – May
May is not only the month of the Kentucky Derby horse race.
From April to May, there is also another kind of race in Africa, involving
other kind of animals. They begin to move towards the northern and western
regions of the Serengeti in pursuit of greener pastures. Rainfall in the
Serengeti is sporadic and seasonal at this time.
The rains make it difficult to keep pace with the
fast-moving herds and triggers the predators to retreat into their dens.
Therefore, you can look at these months as some of the dullest periods in the
Serengeti, as far as wildebeest migration is concerned.
Wildebeest crossing the Mara River
June
The rains have started to subside. And if you were previously camp bound, this
is the time to resume your wildebeest tracking tours. The animals will be
moving more frantically, advancing north of the Serengeti to congregate.
All the animals that were previously grazing on
various regions of the park, plus the mothers who had sought perfect calving
spots, reunite with other wildebeests to form much larger herds. There are two
reasons behind the reunion. First, it’s the mating season. And secondly, the
animals’ migration instincts are stronger than ever, and they understand that
there’s safety in numbers.
Being in large numbers makes it harder for
predators to sneak up on the wildebeest. Big cat sightings and hunting are
common around this region of the Serengeti. And since mating also comes with
surges in testosterone levels, wildebeest bulls frequently lock horns around
this time, adding more color to the already spectacular scenery.
July
The migrating herds encounter their first obstacle – the Grumeti River.
Basically, the animals have three concerns to worry about. First is the sheer
depth of the water, which presents the risk of drowning. Second is the resident
Nile crocodiles that are waiting to snap their jaws on anything they can get
hold of. And lastly, predators know that sooner or later, the prey will gather
around the river to drink or attempt to cross.
In most cases, predators target the strugglers,
which include the very young, the very old, and the sickly. This is the
ultimate challenge for young calves. The herds’ instincts to cross outweigh
their anxiety, and they eventually take the plunge. As expected, there are
hundreds of casualties. Some animals fall to the Nile crocodiles while others
die in the ensuing stampede.
Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration safari with AjKenyasafaris.com
August
The action now takes place on the Kenyan side of the ecosystem, as the herds
advance towards the Lamai Wedge and the Mara Triangle. The sights of greener
pasture lying yonder fuel the animals’ drive, and they proceed further north.
Then, they get to another obstacle – the Mara River. And just like the Grumeti
River, the Mara River is a haven for hundreds of savage crocodiles, most of
which have gone without food for days.
The cycle repeats itself – the herds gather at the
river’s edge, bide their time, and instinctively make the dangerous but
necessary cross. Those that are strong and adaptable enough make it to the
other side, while it’s the end of the road for some.
September – November
The Masai Mara now teems with millions of
wildebeest. And predators are ever hot on their trails. Therefore, besides July
– August, September to November is another ideal time to plan your game drives
to the Mara. High-speed chases by lions and cheetahs are common around this
time, as are surprise attacks by leopards.
November- December
The plains of Masai Mara begin to turn yellow as the grass withers. On the
other hand, it starts to rain in the Serengeti again, though the rains are much
shorter. All the same, the animals gather and trek back to the Serengeti
plains, following nearly the same paths they used to get to the Mara.
The Lobo area, which lies within the Masai Mara –
Serengeti ecosystem, is the ideal place to catch a glimpse of this migration.
November to December is also the calving season in the Lobo area.
Herds of wildebeest grazing on lush plains
There goes our detailed guide on the paths followed
by millions of wildebeest, zebras, and other herds during the Great Migration.
We hope that you can now plan your trip to the Mara – Serengeti ecosystem from
a point of information.
About the author
Content Writer
Trevor hails from a travelling family, so travel
comes naturally to him. He knew from the age of 8 that he wanted to spend the
rest of his life as a tour guide, introducing the rest of the world to the
beauty of our planet. 21 years later, and he is still at it. Trevor is the
coolest, most approachable guy you will ever meet. He, somehow, always finds a
way to keep his audience glued to his writing, which does not come as a
surprise seeing he has the gift of gab. His niche lies mainly in the group and
African safaris. He says he could cruise the Indian Ocean all year long if she
had no bills to pay and wouldn’t mind spending all her savings on the Masai
Mara. That’s Trevor for you, one who loves and enjoys the beauty of the
world.
