Where Does the Great Migration Start?
Great Migration..
The Great Migration is also known as the Wildebeest Migration or the Serengeti Migration. These terms highlight the central role of the wildebeest and the iconic Serengeti ecosystem where much of the migration takes place. Some also refer to it as the Seventh Natural Wonder of the World due to its scale, drama, and ecological importance.
The Migration is one of nature’s greatest paradoxes: timing is absolutely vital, but there is no way to predict the timing of the animals’ movements. We know that the wildebeest (and a smattering of zebra and antelope) will cross the Mara River, but nobody knows exactly when. We also know that rain will trigger the wildebeest to move onto fresh grazing, but nobody knows exactly when the rain will fall.
How Does the Great Migration Work?
The Great Migration is a continuous, year-round cycle where over two million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles move across the Serengeti in Tanzania and into the Maasai Mara in Kenya, following the rains in search of fresh grass and water. The journey begins in the southern Serengeti between January and March, during the calving season, when around 500,000 wildebeest are born within a few weeks. This attracts large numbers of predators like lions and hyenas, making it one of the most dramatic wildlife spectacles in Africa. As the dry season approaches in April, the herds gradually head northwest through the central and western Serengeti, facing natural obstacles and predator threats along the way.
By June and July, the animals reach the Grumeti River, where they face dangerous crossings, and soon after, they arrive at the Mara River, one of the most iconic and perilous moments of the migration. The crossing into Kenya’s Maasai Mara typically occurs between July and September, drawing global attention. After grazing in Kenya, the herds begin their return south in October, completing the loop as they make their way back to the southern Serengeti by December, just in time for another calving season. This incredible cycle of movement, survival, and renewal is guided entirely by nature and is considered one of the greatest wildlife events on Earth.
Can the Migration River Crossings be Predicted?
No, not even the wildebeest know when they’re going to cross! Some arrive at the water and swim over immediately, Some arrive and spend days hanging around grazing, Some arrive and turn back to where they came from. We wish we could predict the crossings, but no-one can. This is why it is best to have as much time on safari as possible if you hope to see a river crossing.
Where Does the Great Migration Start?
The Great Migration typically starts in the southern plains of the Serengeti in Tanzania, particularly around the Ndutu region in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This area becomes the calving ground from January to March, when over half a million wildebeest calves are born within just a few weeks. The nutrient-rich grasses of the southern Serengeti provide the perfect environment for newborns to grow quickly and for the herds to regain strength before beginning their long journey. This stage of the migration is also a prime time for predators, making it an action-packed period of life and death drama in the wild.
As the short rains end and the grass begins to dry out, usually around April, the herds begin moving northwest through the central Serengeti, heading toward the western corridor and eventually the Grumeti River. This marks the next leg of their epic loop across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Although the migration is a continuous cycle, this movement from the southern Serengeti plains is considered the beginning of the visible migration pattern that travelers come to witness.
Why Do Wildebeest Migrate?
It is generally believed that the Great Migration in Africa is dictated primarily by the wildebeest’s response to the weather. They move after the rains and the growth of new grass, essentially following a natural instinct to find food to stay alive. Some experts believe that the wildebeest are triggered by distant lightning and thunderstorms, but there is no scientific proof of it.
What Happens?, When?
With climate change, the long and short rainy seasons in Tanzania and Kenya are no longer as regular or predictable as they once were. The rains can be late or early, which will throw the whole wildebeest calendar out of synch. This is, once again, why it’s important to plan for as much time on safari as possible. You cannot fly in for two nights, see a river crossing and fly out again, nature simply doesn’t work that way.
This is a very general guideline for where the herds are during the year, bearing in mind that the entire Gnu Migration is triggered by rain, which can be early, late or on time:
