The Great Wildebeest Migration follows a continuous cycle through the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem. Its exact timing and location vary each year according to rainfall, fresh grazing, and water availability, but the following provides a reliable general guide.
The short rains usually begin in early November. By late November and December, the herds move south towards the eastern and southern short-grass plains. Large numbers gather around Ndutu, the southern Serengeti and the northern part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, feeding on the fresh, mineral-rich grass.
Throughout January, February and March, the herds remain widely dispersed across the southern plains. February is usually the peak of the calving season, when most wildebeest calves are born within a remarkable two- to three-week period. The newborn calves also attract lions, cheetahs, hyenas and other predators.
During April, the herds begin their journey north as the southern plains gradually dry. They travel through Moru Kopjes and the Seronera region, often forming long columns of wildebeest accompanied by zebras and gazelles.
By May, much of the migration moves through the central and western Serengeti toward the Western Corridor. The plains west of Seronera can become filled with vast moving herds searching for fresh grazing and reliable water.
In June, the herds often gather in the Western Corridor before crossing the Grumeti River. The river’s pools and channels can slow their progress, causing large numbers of animals to congregate along its banks. Although dramatic, these crossings are generally less extensive than the famous Mara River crossings farther north.
During July and August, the migration continues north. Some herds travel through the Grumeti and Ikorongo reserves, while others move through Serengeti National Park towards Kogatende, the Mara River and Kenya’s Maasai Mara.
In September, the herds are typically spread across the northern Serengeti and the Maasai Mara. The Mara River presents one of the migration’s greatest obstacles, producing dramatic crossings as the animals move repeatedly between Tanzania and Kenya in search of grazing.
By October, the herds gradually begin moving south through the Loliondo region and the central and eastern Serengeti. Their route depends heavily on where the first short rains fall.
As fresh grass returns in November and December, the herds reach the eastern and southern short-grass plains, eventually gathering around the southern Serengeti and Ndutu to begin another calving season.
The cycle then begins again.
