Wildebeest migration Cycle
The great
wildebeest migration is the mass movement of large
numbers of wildebeests, alongside large numbers of
zebra, and smaller numbers of Grant's gazelle,
Thompson's gazelle, eland and impala. This natural
phenomenon forms an annual pattern which is fairly
predictable. The migrating animals are on constant move
throughout the year, always seeking fresh grazing land.
The exact timing of the wildebeest migration is
exclusively reliant upon the rainfall patterns each
year.
Below is a
synopsis of the broad pattern.
This
migration, month by month, is shown on the map on the
left side of this page – the highlight in red represents
the main herds.
The wildebeest migration
calendar
The short
rains start approximately early in November. A little
while later, in late November and December, the herds of
the wildebeest migration arrive on the short-grass
plains of the Serengeti. These short plain grass areas
are in the south and east of the Seronera area in
central Serengeti, around Ndutu and include the north of
the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Dispersed
everywhere across these grassland plains are the herds
of wildebeest and zebras – feeding on the fresh sprouted
and nutritious lush green grass. They stay here through
January, February and March, with most
wildebeest calves being born in a short window around
February. Steadily they spread west across
these plains, then from around April they start their
great migration north.
By
May the Serengeti's wildebeests all seem to be
moving northwards, migrating to seek fresh grazing grass
and water. The area around Moru Kopjes and west of
Seronera is then hectic with a series of moving columns,
often containing hundreds of thousands of animals –
joined by many zebra, and a scattering of Thompson's and
Grant's gazelles.
Some of
the migrating herds then head north of Seronera area,
but a good number are usually further west. Around
June the wildebeest migration is frequently
halted on the south side of the Grumeti River, which has
some channels which block or slow their migration north.
The wildebeest then assemble here, in the Western
Corridor, often massing up to a high density of herds
before plunging across the river.
The river here is
usually a sequence of pools and channels, but it is not
continuous – and while they become an annual feast for
the Grumeti River's massive crocodiles, the scenery is
not usually quite as spectacular as when they are
crossing of the Mara River, further north.
The
wildebeest migration continues moving northwards during
July and August and often spreading out
across an expansive front - some heading through Grumeti
Reserve and Ikorongo area and others north through the
heart of the Serengeti National Park and eventually into
the Masai Mara Game Reserve.
During
this time, the herds spread out across the northern
Serengeti into the Masai Mara Game reserve, where the
Mara River provides the migration with its most serious
obstacle. This river flows through the northern
Serengeti from Kenya's adjacent Maasai Mara Game
Reserve. Watching the frantic herds of the wildebeest
migration crossing the Mara River can be very
spectacular; there are often scenes of great panic and
confusion as the massive predator crocodiles in the
river wait to pounce.
While in
the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya, the herds plough
through the expanse of the area – literally occupying
every space of the Masai Mara in a cyclic fashion. This
continues through the month of September
and October.
Towards
the end of October the wildebeest herds
are migrating again and in unison, all are heading back
southwards through the North East Serengeti in the
western Loliondo and Serengeti’s Lobo area, returning to
the green shoots which follow the rains on the
short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti in
November.
However, The wildebeest migration is not limited to the
confines of the Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara
National Park. Instead, the migration covers a vast area
known as the Serengeti eco-system and Masai Mara. This
eco-system includes a number of private reserves and
concession areas, including The Grumeti Game Reserve,
Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Loliondo Game
Controlled Area. These together form a huge area for the
migration.
When planning a trip to see the migration it is vitally
important to understand the best place to be based at
any point in time. The Wildebeest and Zebra basically
move in a huge anti-clockwise direction. While June
is a good time to around the Grumeti River,
July/August/September/October is better to be in the
Masai Mara.
