Wildebeest Migration in East Africa

Nowhere else sums up the East African dream like Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and its cross-border neighbor, Masai Mara of Kenya. Covering approximately 14,700 km² and 1,510 km² respectively of utter wilderness, these two gems stand out as the best destinations to experience the annual wildebeest migration. A wildlife spectacle during over 1.5M wildebeests, 300,000 zebras and 350,000 thomson gazelles cross the sweeping plains of Serengeti to Mara or vice versa depending on the time of the year.

Beyond this captivating stampede, both parks have so much more for you. Brace yourself for thousands of grazers like six-tonne elephants and buffalos. The cherry on the cake is an endless procession of big carnivores such as lions, leopards, cheetahs. Wherever they go, small carnivores such as spotted hyena, black-backed and golden jackal are never far away.

Of the big 5, it is only the rhinos that are difficult. If you have a soft spot for animals in the antelope family such as the topi, kongoni, impala, eland and dik-diks, our driver guides will locate for you favourite hangouts of Masai giraffes—upon who they rely on for alerts of intruding predators.

Serengeti and Mara’s birdlife is equally tremendous. Expect to find over 500 recorded species of birds that do well in eco-systems that are 5,000 ft. above sea level, just like the two parks. While the grey-breasted spurfowl is a common sighting in the Seronera area, the fischer’s lovebird and rufous-tailed weaver have a preference for the woodland areas. Usambiro barbet and the grey-crested are some of the special endemics you can’t leave Masai Mara & Serengeti without seeing. In overall, the months from November to April stand out as the best season to encounter migratory species.

The above diversity is the reason why both destinations attract masses of tourists too, catering for all budgets. For this reason, it is better to steer clear of the high season if you don’t like crowds.

Wildebeest Migration

The most obvious attraction of both parks is the chaotic migration of thousands upon thousands of wildebeest and zebra as they follow the scent of greener pastures. During this temporary relocation, the wildebeest swarm like ants across the savanna. On reaching river crossings, they become nervous after sensing crocodiles hiding in the shadows and waiting patiently to grab both the bold and the vulnerable. Taking advantage of the season, the predators’ especially big cats especially prides of lions also go on a hunt of a lifetime. Watching them lick their bloodstained faces after the kill is such an unforgettable experience. You should be here!

Scenery

In terms of scenery, just like Serengeti, Masai Mara’s huge skies and vast rolling plains have majesty. Its name comes from the word ‘Mara’ which means spotted. This is in reference to the shadow patterns of the clouds chasing over the open savanna, as well as the occasional stands of whistling acacia trees. The most pristine part here is the Mara Triangle, a haven with balanites woodlands and flat-topped inselbergs overlooking Serengeti.

Because there aren’t many trees in sight, predators are assured of superb visibility of prey in the plains. In turn, this provides a superb game viewing experience. Generally, it is good all year but more magnificent between June and September, a time when the great wildebeest migration herds are in the north.

Activities

Walking safaris and fly-camping are allowed in both parks. In the interest of conservation, a certain amount of respectful off-road driving and vehicle numbers around any given sighting are strictly limited. That’s partly why these conservancies have been repeatedly declared to offer the best safari experience in Africa.

Hot air balloon safaris provide the best way to see the wildebeest migration. It might be difficult waking up at 4am but the promise of the flight more than makes up for it. As you float above the earth into spacious basket, you will see long thin trails of countless animals plodding patiently across the golden savannah grasslands for as far you can see.

Lion Adventure

For many, Masai Mara has always been a land of the lion. Its magic never fails, a reason it why Disney chose it as the setting for filming African Cats, as well as BBC’s Big Cat Diaries. You’ll find a score of prides from the Siria escarpment down to the Ngama Hills, and all the way towards Sala’s Camp on the Sand River.  Due to its close proximity to Tanzania, this part experiences the first arrivals of from Serengeti during what has become the greatest wildlife show on earth, the wildebeest migration. To catch the drama while it is at its best spectacle, schedule your Masai Mara visit for June to October.

Similarly, Serengeti is highly associated with lions. In most of our trips, we have encountered four or five prides each with 20 or more individuals. If it is your lucky day, you could chance on some mating. As you indulge in the park’s serenity during game drives, you are likely to come across cheetahs as they patrol open grasslands. On the other hand, the best place to encounter leopards is the shady forests due to the predator’s shy and elusive nature. In the case of Mara, the area around Talek river is their favourite hunting arena.

Accessibility

Although most visitors prefer to access the Masai Mara via flights, the eastern hemisphere of the reserve which is closer to Nairobi, is more accessible roads. This is the more touristy side, while the west is less crowded.

Best time to visit/which of the two parks to visit

If we had to choose between taking you on a tour of Masai Mara or Serengeti, then it would simply come down to the time of year. From late October down to early June, close to two million wildebeest and thousands of other animals prefer to dwell in Serengeti due to plenty of food. This soon runs out by June, prompting those animals to migrate north to the Masai Mara.