The Wildebeest Migration is one of the world’s greatest natural spectacles and the perfect way to experience Africa. This huge annual wildlife event is best known for dramatic river crossings, but there’s much more to this great show. This article will help you understand the wildebeest migration Kenya in a little more detail and ensure you see the best of this incredible phenomenon when planning your expeditions Maasai safaris.
Over a million wildebeest and zebra spend the first months of the year in the short grass plains of southern Serengeti grazing, getting fatter and preparing for the migration. Around the end of March the short rains begin and the herds start to head north across the Ndutu plains towards the western woodlands, concentrating in areas such as Moru Kopjes and west of Seronera.
In May the herds start moving more north in search of fresh grazing. By June the herds are in the central and northern reaches of the Serengeti with huge columns gathering on the rocky plains near the Mara River. Here the herds will spend days circling the river’s edge until they choose a safe crossing point. This is a fantastic time to witness the herds in all their glory, but it’s important to remember that the number of crossings can vary depending on the rainfall.
Once the herds have crossed the Mara River into Kenya they move into the Masai Mara National Reserve. The herds often stay in the area for a month or more, though they can be seen moving in and out of the Masai Mara as conditions change in the Serengeti. This is a superb time to observe herds in the stunning landscape of the Masai Mara, which has been described as ‘the eighth wonder of the world’.
The herds typically spend the last months of the year in the amboseli safari from nairobi and then cross back into Kenya at the border between Kogatende and the Lamai Wedge which borders the Masai Mara. This is a fantastic time to witness herds in the vast expanse of the Mara Triangle, which covers an area of 390,000 square kilometers that includes both the Masai Mara and the southern part of the Serengeti National Park. The herds tend to split into a number of herds as they move, and this means you can often observe different herds crossing over the Mara River in both directions on the same day. This is one of the most exciting aspects of this famous spectacle, and it’s well worth the extra effort when visiting Kenya in order to witness this remarkable event.
The great wildebeest migration is one of the best natural spectacles on earth that can be witnessed by tourists. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness the natural beauty of the wildebeests and other herds as they fight for their survival. The spectacular river crossing of the herds of wildebeest is a sight to behold and is one of the most famous safari experiences in the world.
