The Great Migration
The wildebeest migration is rated as one of the world’s most incredible wildlife spectacles, and a phenomenon that should have its place on every safari-lover’s bucket list. Every year, over 1.5 million wildebeest, zebra, and antelope migrate clockwise around the Serengeti/Masai Mara ecosystem. They travel up to 3000 kilometers each year in search of rain-ripened grass. It is a natural phenomenon like no other, a spectacle not to be missed and, most definitely, an event that belongs on your bucket list.
We were fortunate enough to witness the world’s greatest wildlife show in the Serengeti last year. Here’s a little taste of what you have to look forward to:
We were overwhelmed with disbelief as we watched 5000 wildebeest scramble down the steep cliff and launch themselves into the muddy water with absolute faith that they would make it to the other side. They swam in hoards, tenaciously fighting the current, and then climbing up the far bank to join their teammates in tangible jubilation. The noise was deafening; the panic was palpable. It was literally survival of the fittest. They just kept coming… and they just kept swimming… we couldn’t believe how many there were and how determined they were to get to the other side.
We had done it! We had witnessed the wonder of the great crossing and, my goodness, was it worth every second we had waited. From the first day of our trip there had been unspoken anticipation and excitement about whether or not we would be lucky enough to see the great migration. You can never truly know if you will be fortunate—that is nature’s unpredictability and, as a result, the prize is an even sweeter gift that no one can ever take away from you. It’s Africa at its best, it’s nature showing off, and it’s certainly something every human should witness.
Just in case you haven’t been convinced yet, click on the video below for a sneak peak of the magic that awaits:
The trouble with the wildebeest migration is that it can be so unpredictable and, if you get your timing wrong, you could miss the whole event. Therefore, it is imperative to do your homework first and to work out where and when to go before you even book your flights!
There are typical movement patterns but they can, and do, vary from month-to-month, and year-to-year, as the herds follow the rains and the new grass. Being amongst the migration is an experience like no other; it truly is something you will never forget. The herds stretch for as far as the eye can see, there’s endless mooing, and an awe-inspiring sense of knowing that this community of wildebeest works together towards the common goal of survival.
There are certain times of the year where you have a better chance of experiencing the magic of the migration. Click here for some pointers on when to go to East Africa.
We wish you all the best on your mission to see Africa’s greatest wildlife spectacle! For more information on the absolute abundance that awaits you in East Africa, click here! For more advice on booking an epic Great Migration safari, click here.
