When is the best time to see Tanzania’s migration?

When is the best time to see Tanzania’s migration? The Tanzania migration is the world’s most popular tourist attraction, and Tanzania is lucky to have this great safari experience, which unites and attracts people from all corners of the world to come and see this great tourist attraction. The wildebeest migration is one of the wonders of the world that has become the highlight of all the Tanzanian safaris. Many people who travel to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro stay longer to experience the safari.

The mega-herd gathers at the beginning of the year in the lush, fertile Ndutu Plains in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area southeast of the Serengeti National Park for calving season. Almost 8,000 calves are born every day by the middle of January. However, more calves also means more predators, and in January and February, Ndutu is the scene of some heart-wrenching, breathtaking predator activity. In Tanzania, this is the best time to watch wildebeest and large cats. The “long rains” at the end of March make the ground muddy. Mega-herds of wildebeest scatter, moving through the Maswa Game Reserve in the direction of the north and then dispersing to the east and west.

Tanzania is the hotspot for wildlife viewing, with more than 25% of its territory made up of national parks, game reserves, and conservation areas. With the biggest population of plains game anywhere in the world, the Serengeti National Park is without a doubt the most well-known park on earth. In quest of rich grazing pastures and life-giving water, about two million wildebeest migrate annually from Tanzania’s Serengeti to Kenya’s Masai Mara. Contrary to common opinion, the Serengeti’s annual wildebeest migration takes place all year round.

The ‘long rains’ of the year start in April, and with them, the wildebeest herds disperse over the Serengeti. By May, the trek northward with the ultimate goal of arriving at the Mara River will have started after the mega-herd splits in search of new pastures. Expect to observe enormous columns of wildebeest charging up the Serengeti, sometimes reaching lengths of up to 40 kilometers. By the end of June, roughly 25% of the wildebeest herd will be in the western Grumeti region, facing the Grumeti River, which will be their first significant roadblock.

Throughout the year, the migration moves in a clockwise direction. The herd leaves the Masai Mara and enters the Serengeti in the south during the brief wet season in November and December. The migration fills the southern Serengeti from January through March. This is also the time of year when wildebeest give birth. As the rainy season begins in April and lasts through June, the herd migrates north to the western corridor. The migration travels further north and enters the Maasai Mara between July and August, which marks the beginning of the dry season. The herd typically leaves Tanzania in September or October. As the rains of the new season begin once more, the migration proceeds south once more.

You might have noticed that the ideal time to summit Kilimanjaro isn’t also the ideal moment to view the great migration. But don’t worry, there will still be plenty of creatures to see if you go in the fall. Only half of the animal population migrates, which means that half of them are still visible. Don’t let it discourage you from visiting the Serengeti. Last but not least, it’s critical to remember that these schedules are not rigid. The wildebeest are migrating because they want to follow the rain. As a result, depending on when the rain starts and stops, their movements vary every year. Even the best planning may not result in the desired results because wildebeest are notoriously unreliable.

This season is difficult for safari visitors because of the persistent rain and the unpredictability of where the herds will move next. The rutting season, when male wildebeest clatter horns to claim the finest places around the drinking holes that attract females, can be anticipated by those who do come across a herd around June.

Which months offer the best chances to see Wildebeest river crossings?

Although crossings can start as early as June and run until October, the major bulk of the mega-herd should be in the northern Serengeti in July and August, crossing the Mara River and moving into Kenya’s Maasai Mara. Since it is the busiest time of year for tourists, reserves will seem busy, particularly in the Mara. Try the Grumeti reserves in June and July for more exclusive (but smaller and less impressive) river crossings.

Between September and October, the majority of the herd should be in Kenya’s Maasai Mara across the border. The herds are roaming between the Serengeti and the Mara, feeding and crossing rivers in this prosperous season. Thus, all these months, are best time to see Tanzania’s wildebeest migration on safaris, which are so much fun.