The Great Migration is an iconic natural phenomenon, an eternal annual cycle from place to place, year in and year out.
Each year, over two million wildebeest, zebra, and other herbivores trek from the southern Serengeti to the lush green grasses of the Masai Mara. With 1.5 million wildebeest, 400,000 zebra, 12,000 eland, and 300,000 Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles trekking from southern Serengeti to the Masai Mara, the 'great' in 'Great Migration' may be a bit of an understatement.
The constant year-long migration is an iconic natural phenomenon, the timing of which depends on environmental factors, the weather and of course, the animals themselves. In short, the biggest mammal trek in the world follows the rains.
Although you can travel to the Masai Mara year-round for excellent wildlife viewing, many travelers plan their trip around the Great Migration. However, depending on either the aspect of the Great Migration you want to witness (such as river crossings), or the time of year that you prefer to travel, your safari can be tailored to give you the best chance of seeing what you desire.
Here’s a detailed guide to help you plan your visit:
Read also: Planning Your Ethiopia Trip
Understanding the Migration Cycle
The Great Migration as it is known is the movement of a million plus wildebeest from Serengeti in Tanzania northwards into the adjoining Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya. It is one of the world's most spectacular and thrilling display of wildlife behaviour.
The migration takes place every year with the animals primal instincts guiding them towards greener pastures following the climatic rain fall patterns over the Serengeti-Maasai Mara eco system.
There is no single time of year to see the Great Migration since it is an eternal annual cycle from place to place, year in and year out. You can see the Great Migration at any time of year. It is possible to look at historic migration patterns to predict where the herds will be at a particular time, but ultimately these are wild animals and the annual rainfall they rely on to stimulate grass growth is becoming more unpredictable.
Here is a breakdown of the migration pattern throughout the year:
December/January
The herds congregate on the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti and westernmost regions of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Southern Plains are lush with fresh, sweet grasses for the wildebeest to graze on. Wildebeest begin to gather in the southern plains, from Moru south to Naabi, Kusini and Ndutu. The short grasses here are rich in phosphorus and magnesium due to the volcanic ash of the calcrete layer just below the plains’ shallow soil.
Read also: Ethiopian Cuisine: Philadelphia Guide
February
An estimated 500,000 calves are born during a two- to three-week window in February. Pack your waterproof items, as there may be intense thunderstorms throughout the region. February is peak calving month, and there’s nothing quite like the sight of hundreds of thousands of newborn wildebeest taking their first steps amid stationary herds.
You can spot them from the Ndutu and Kusini plains, all the way toward the Ngorongoro Highlands. Toward the end of the calving season, the herds are mostly still stationary in the Ndutu-Kusini area, with some animals permeating even further south into Maswa and east in the direction of Namiri Plains (prime predator country, so keep your camera close).
March
This is the last month you’ll be able to witness the massive herds (plus calves) taking it slow on the plains in the Naabi and Kusini areas. Starting this month, the wildebeest will continually be on the move, heading north through the Moru Kopjes and toward the Western Corridor. Dramatic thunderstorms (good to photograph) persist, providing water to the medium-to-tall Pennisetum and Tussocky Themeda grasses that the herds will now be grazing on. The Great Migration is now dispersed across the central Serengeti, from as far north as Lobo, to the southern reaches of Ndutu.
April
The wildebeest begin their long trek north, through the central area of the park. The rains catch up at last with the still-moving herds, and intense thunderstorms and localised showers are experienced across the region. The herds head towards the north of the Serengeti. The herds travel fast and cover long distances in a single day.
June
June marks the end of rainy season, traditionally this is the Grumeti River crossing period, but this is mainly dependent on water level of the Grumeti River ( here you may spot Nile Crocodiles). This crossing is not quite as spectacular as the crossings of the Mara River. The Great Migration is in full swing, travelling swiftly up through the Western Corridor and Grumeti Reserve. It’s peak rutting time, as well as the beginning of the dry season, though there are still localised showers in the north.
Read also: Best Beaches in Ghana
July
The migration gathers momentum and huge herds of wildebeest can be seen spread out across the Western corridor as they continue the journey north. This is when the big event occurs, the start of major Mara River crossing.
August
As the dry season approaches, the wildebeest face the second challenge of their trek: the Great Mara River. In August, the survivors herd continues moving northwards, into the northern Serengeti and begin crossing into Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve. The herds can be found in the Northern Serengeti as well as in Kenya’s Masai Mara.
For wildebeest, the grass really is greener on the other side - of the Mara and Sand rivers, that is. Crossings are the stuff nature documentaries are made of. This treacherous traverse is one of nature’s greatest and most tragic spectacles, and tens of thousands of animals will die in the attempt.
The herd breaks into smaller groups- almost half of the animals remains in the northern Serengeti, the rest of the wildebeest will have crossed the Mara River, and the majority of the herds will be in the Greater Masai Mara area, eating the lush green grass resources before venturing north towards the private conservancies (Mara North, Olare Orok).This is usually the most preferred moments of the migration, watching the frantic herds of the wildebeests crossing the Mara River.
September
River traffic flows in both directions between Kenya and Tanzania in September, though a southerly direction will prevail by the end of the month.
October
Later, the herds usually cross back to the Serengeti from the Mara and head towards the now fertile southern Serengeti.
November
The tail end of the herd crosses the river from Kenya down into Tanzania, as thunderstorms begin in the north.
Best Time to Visit: July to October
In general, the best time to see the Great Migration in the Masai Mara is from July to October. The usually reaches the Masai Mara in July or August and remains in Kenya throughout September. It starts moving back to Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park around October.
For the 2021 and 2022 seasons we recommend planning your travel for mid July as this is when the migration typically starts proper with the larger herds of wildebeest starting the move into Masai Mara. The migration takes place till end of August, before declining into mid September.
Based on decades of experience, we would choose mid July to late August as the best time to see the migration, keeping in mind it is a gradual event that takes places over several weeks at different locations along the Serengeti Masai Mara border. If we were to narrow it down further to what month is the best to see the migration we would probably pick August.
During the months July to October, the Mara is the scene of the epic annual trek of 1,5 million wildebeest from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara region. During this time of year the savannah is awash with wildebeest, zebras and other herbivores. It’s also the time of year known for the dramatic Mara and Talek River crossings.
As the herds of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles enter the Masai Mara they are met by more than their fair share of lethal predators. Aside from the threat of the big cats, the lemming-like herds are also faced with over 3000 crocodiles lurking in the murky waters of the Mara River during their river crossing. Watching the herds blindly jump from riverbank ledges and into the river waters is spectacular to say the least.
Eventually the massive herds are rewarded with spoils of the wide open Masai Mara plains. For a short while, life is good. Showtime...
It is important to note that weather can be unpredictable and late rains or early rains can result in a delayed or early migration pattern. The good news is that the Masai Mara has plenty of wildlife to enjoy all year round.
Keep in mind though, mother nature is her own boss. We will provide you with a very probable outline of when to expect those special moments during the Great Migration, but obviously there is no way to know for certain that the herds will cross a river during a particular period of time.
Great Migration/ Battle for Survival/ Wildebeest Crossing River Crocodile - Serengeti National Park
Avoiding the Crowds
The months that are most frequently mentioned as the best time of year to visit the Great Migration, July to October, are also the busiest months in the Masai Mara. It is safe to say that you won’t have the herds to yourself during these months. You can expect more safari travelers within the Masai Mara National Reserve proper and may have to queue up during safari game drives.
The Masai Mara National Reserve, and the popular areas in it, can become rather crowded this time of year. You may even end up tail to tail in a safari vehicle queue at some point or another. If you get in enough traffic jams on your commute to work and want to avoid them on holiday, you can either travel to the Masai Mara during another time of year or perhaps opt to stay at one of the more exclusive and less crowded Masai Mara conservancies.
For a quieter stay in this period we recommend staying in one of the Masai Mara conservancies.
Alternative Viewing Times
Many people think that the Great Migration only happens once in a year, but the migration is in fact an all year round phenomenon event - offering different unique and exciting wildlife experience at various times of the year.
The River crossing is one of the most requested event of the migration and usually coincide with the peak safari season, therefore the assumption that this is the only time of the year that the wildebeest are on the move or can be seen. This crossing usually occurs at Mara River around late July to August with parts of September and again on their return south, around the last two weeks of October through early November.
However, if you can’t (or don’t want to) visit Kenya during migration season the Masai Mara has plenty to offer visitors aside from the Great Migration. In essence, there’s no wrong season to visit the Masai Mara.
The Calving Season (January - March)
After a bountiful rainy season and an abundance of food and water, the Masai Mara baby boom kicks in. When the plains are brimming with life and young wildebeest, zebra and other herbivore calves are seen dashing through the plains, along come the big cats. It’s the circle of life. The months January through March are known as the ‘Lion season’.
With the disappearance of the rains, the grasses become less plentiful and wildlife becomes easier to spot.
Depending on the rains, the herds can be seen south of Serengeti National Park between Ndutu plains and Ngorongoro plains. Hence, the best place to be during these four months is the far south of Serengeti. Around February, it is the calving season and there are high chances of witnessing a wildebeest birth. The herds move swiftly, in search of favorable grasslands to provide sustenance for the arrival of their young.
The predator interaction is also most likely, as the lions and leopards are moving to this region to prey on the young and vulnerable calves.
The Green Season (March - May)
The months March through May mark the arrival of the 'heavy rains' in the Masai Mara. The spring rains resemble a paint brush, bringing the dry African savannah to life and painting the landscape in new shades of green, gold and other vibrant hues. The dusty savannah makes way for swaying grasses and the vast plains are a maternity ward for young impalas, antelopes and other herbivores. The new arrivals attract predators in all shapes and sizes, so don’t be surprised if you see a few high-speed chases on the plains this time of year.
The green season is also the best time of year for bird watching. Colourful swarms of migrant birds take to the savannah in thousands, flocking to the newly awakened blooming trees brought to life by the rains.
This rainy season is also accompanied by lower accommodation rates at safari lodges and tented camps. Since most choose to visit the Masai Mara during the Great Migration, Masai Mara lodges and camps lower their prices significantly during this time of year.
June
These three months are pretty hot and dry. Since water is more scarce this time of year, just head for a waterhole for excellent wildlife viewing. Don’t forget to look towards the skies as well, it’s also bird migration season.
October - December
The last two months of the year ring in the ‘short rains’ or less intrusive of the two rainy seasons. Expect overcast, cloudy skies and rain showers in the afternoons.
Practical Tips for Planning Your Trip
Travelers planning a safari to Kenya often have many questions related to the migration and we are listing the most common below for the sake of brevity.
What Time of the Year is the Wildebeest Migration?
Though the migration into Masai Mara typically starts in July and ends late September, the exact dates around this period are not predictable until the first large wildebeest herds actually gather at the northern edge of Serengeti as they near the Mara. These initial herds are sometimes known to gather at a spot for days on end without crossing over to the Mara, so when exactly the final leg of the movement starts is difficult to predict.
Where do the wildebeest migrate to and from?
The movement of the wildebeest is from Serengeti into Masai Mara and is dictated by factos such as the climate, pasture and mating and calving seasons. Keep in mind the wildebeest are migrating through the year in a generally clockwise direction covering vast areas reaching into Southern, Central and Western Serengeti before the year long trek brings them to Masai Mara around July to August. Their journey back to Serengeti happens around late October though this is less spectacular and more like a slow dispersal.
How do you see the Wildebeest Migration?
You can see the migration during a safari gamedrive in the Masai Mara Game reserve which is conducted in specialized vehicles driver by experienced Driver-Guides. As there are several core points where the wildebeest cross the rivers, it may be neccesary to access and station oneself at these points during a day-long outing in the reserve as some of the lodges and camps can be upto an hour's drive from the ideal vantage points. Most tourists who come specially to see the migration consider seeing the river crossings a highlight of their tour and therefore want to spend enough time at these crossing points, which by the way tend to vary slightly every year while staying within a generally simialar sub locality of the reserve.
Ethical Considerations
The months that are most frequently mentioned as the best time of year to visit the Great Migration, July to October, are also the busiest months in the Masai Mara. It is safe to say that you won’t have the herds to yourself during these months. You can expect more safari travelers within the Masai Mara National Reserve proper and may have to queue up during safari game drives.
Every year, travelers flock to Kenya in July and August, hoping to witness the Great Migration when over 1.5 million wildebeest, 250,000 zebras, 300,000 Thomson’s gazelles and other antelope species migrate between the southern Serengeti and Maasai Mara, chasing fresh grazing land.
Popular articles:
tags: #Kenya
