Witness One of Nature’s Most Thrilling Events

Join in viewing one of the greatest spectacles of Mother Nature, the famed Wildebeest Migration! Also aptly known as the ‘Great Wildebeest Migration’, the movement of over a million wildebeest and plains game from the Serengeti into the Maasai Mara is a truly captivating event.

As the name suggests, the migration is constantly moving and evolving. Calves are being born, and weary stragglers fall victim to predators. From the Southern Serengeti in Tanzania to the renowned Maasai Mara of Kenya, and back again, there is always somewhere to see the massing of herds of zebras and wildebeest. A safari during peak migration season (from June - September) is a thrilling experience, capturing the highs and lows, and the brutalities and triumphs of nature.

So, where can we find the best sightings?

It can be hard to know where to find the best sightings, although the most famous are when the herds cross the Mara River from the very north of the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara and back again.

Where are the wildebeest in January and February?

Throughout these months, large herds roam the grassy plains of the Ndutu area, in southern Serengeti and part of the Ngorongoro Conservation area. It is here that the wildebeest begin their calving season, where up to half a million young are born, and where it is not uncommon to witness a birth, whilst people are on safari. It is also an important time for predators such as lions, hyenas, cheetahs and leopards, as they hunt amongst the huge herds. This is certainly a dramatic time of year, and one of the best to see nature in its extremes.

In March…

The calving season draws to a close, in time for the long rains at the end of the month and the wildebeest begin their journey north towards the central and western corridor of the Serengeti. As they move north, by May, the calves continue to grow, and the herd moves swiftly towards Moru Kopjes and Seronera in Central Serengeti.

As June arrives…

The wildebeest begin to reach the Grumeti River in the Western Corridor and the herds slow down and head north again toward the Mara River. As they reach the Mara River, around August, the herds have begun to split, and some remain in the northern Serengeti. The rest of the herd now face the daunting task of crossing the Mara River. It is here you can witness dramatic scenes as wildebeest and other plains game struggle for survival, evading hippos and crocodiles that lurk amidst the murky water. It is at this time, there are multiple river crossings, with survivors of the crossings heading northwards into Kenya’s Maasai Mara. Those in the Maasai Mara herds venture further into the reserve, taking advantage of the fresh grasses, with some even heading towards the private conservancies.

From mid-August…

And through October, with the herds divided, the game viewing in the Maasai Mara and the northern Serengeti is outstanding with great sightings of predators and thousands of wildebeest, gazelles, zebras and other plains game as they enjoy feasting on the grass of the northern Serengeti and the Maasai Mara.

In November…

The short rains begin, and the herds generally depart from the Maasai Mara between October and November. The grasslands by now are depleted, so the wildebeest begin to return to seek out fresh grass in the Serengeti and head from the northeast regions down the eastern side towards the southern plains surrounding Lake Ndutu, where they will arrive from December to January.

No matter what time of year you are travelling, the migration offers a glimpse into the excitement and spectacle of one of the great natural wonders of the world – the Great Wildebeest Migration.

If you are keen to see the Wildebeest Migration…

African Travel Specialists can arrange this through two exclusive Migration Safaris departing in June and September 2025, where you can witness the extraordinary sights, under the guidance of an experienced professional safari guide and Managing Director of the African Travel Specialists, Richard Ruskin.