Tanzania Wildebeest Migration

The great wildebeest migration or Serengeti migration of Tanzania is a dramatic journey of millions of antelopes together.

Tanzania is a country that resides near to the equator hence it meets two prime seasons; rainy season and dry season.

The dry season continues through June to October and the rainy season continues through March to May. The duration between December to February is considered as the hot dry season.

During the dry season, plain games find it hard to find food and water as the water sources dry out and vegetation gets thinner.

Every year during this dry season around 1.5 million wildebeest followed by 200,000 zebra, 350,000 gazelles, and 12,000 eland start running ironically.  

The journey starts from the world-famous Serengeti national park and they run across the plains of Serengeti and continue their journey towards Masai Mara in Kenya. The leaders of the journey are the wildebeests hence mostly it is called great wildebeest migration.

They march towards Masai Mara Reserve in search of Greenfield and water. However, this iconic journey has made Tanzania world-famous.

The migration is the only migration that occurs in Tanzania in which such a large number of animals participate.

The journey starts around May last or the beginning of June. These large herds of antelopes suddenly start their journey in large numbers.

During January and February the herds of these wildebeest, zebra, and other plain games stop at central Serengeti. It is the calving season of the plain games.

The calving season is one of the most prime time of witnessing the migration as travelers can witness some hunting sessions. During the calving season, lions and other predators became more active. It is a great opportunity for them to attack the newborn calves.

Further, the herds move towards Mara River, where they jump in mass amount. To fight with Nile Crocodiles of Mara River their number is their strength.

Crossing all the hurdles they finally reach the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya. However, around 250,000 wildebeest and other antelopes die due to thirst, hunger, over exhaustion& predation.