Stages of the Great Wildebeest Migration

Serengeti to Maasai Mara: Stages of the Great Migration.

Stages of the Great Wildebeest Migration: The Great Wildebeest Migration, also known as the Great Migration, is one of the most captivating and spectacular wildlife events in the world, involving over 1.5 million wildebeests and thousands of zebras and Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles on their annual journey through Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

It is the largest mammal migration in the world and is recognised as one of the “Seven Natural Wonders of Africa”. Thundering along the vast, open plains of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, leaping across the treacherous, crocodile-infested waters, over 1.5 million hoofed animals embark on a constant journey guided by survival instinct in search of water and green pasture.

What is the Great Wildebeest Migration?

The Great Wildebeest Migration on a Kenyan safari is an impressive natural event where over 2 million wildebeest, over 400,000 plains zebras, 12,000 elands and over 300,000 Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles trek through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem made up of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

These migrating herds follow the rains, trekking over 800 km in a circular motion through the savannah plains in search of greener and more mineral-rich pastures. The Great Wildebeest Migration cycle starts around December to March after the birth of calves in the Ndutu Plains. When the dry season arrives between April and May, the herds set off north from the Serengeti and eventually return in October to complete their annual journey.

Here are the stages of the Great Wildebeest Migration

The Calving Season

The calving season of the Great Wildebeest Migration marks the start of the Great Wildebeest Migration, with over 500,000 wildebeest born over a span of just a few weeks; over 9,000 calves can be born in a single day.

At the beginning of the year, the bulk of the wildebeest participating in the Great Wildebeest Migration begin to gather in the southern Serengeti National Park in the Ndutu Plains, with some animals spreading to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area during what is termed the calving season. The highest concentration of migratory herds, including Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, zebras and wildebeest, occurs during the calving season.

The birthing season begins in February and lasts for approximately three weeks, during which time roughly 8,000 wildebeest calves are born, increasing the overall population of the Serengeti National Park’s boundless plains. Because of the many newborn calves, predators: lions, leopards, cheetahs and sly hyenas are drawn to the area.

The Great Wildebeest Migration’s calving season is the best time to observe prey and predator behaviour.

In Limbo

Immediately after the birth of the wildebeest calves, the following period is known as the “limbo stage”. During the Great Wildebeest Migration, the limbo stage is when the migratory herds gradually begin to split apart and move in various directions, with the north being the main direction. Some of the herds break off to form splinter herds; however, they are also still in limbo. Others proceed into and through the Seronera region of the Serengeti National Park, and still others directly head into the Grumeti area in the west.

Despite the herds splitting apart, thousands of the migrating herds make their way to the heart of Serengeti National Park because of its ideal position.

The Grumeti

From May to June, the Grumeti Stage of the Great Wildebeest Migration occurs. During this time, some of the migrating herds leave the Seronera region of Serengeti National Park and head straight north towards the Mara River. New herds join in, entering the Grumeti area of the park, which is traversed by the Grumeti River that flows through riverine forests.

Even while they do not happen at the same magnitude as the Mara River crossing, wildebeests and other migrating herds do make tiny river crossings at the Grumeti River, which are always exciting to see.

The prime time to witness the Grumeti stage of the Great Wildebeest Migration is in June.

Mara River Crossing

The Mara River crossings are the grandest and most sought-after events of the Great Wildebeest Migration, occurring at the Mara River between early July and early November. The Mara River is the finest place to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration, which is situated in the southern part of the Maasai Mara National Reserve and the northern part of the Serengeti National Park.

About the middle of June, the migrating herds begin to arrive in the Mara River watershed. It is in this area that the second-highest concentration of the migrating herds, which includes Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, zebras and wildebeests, occurs.

Unlike the popular belief, only 25% of the wildebeest cross the Mara River into the Masai Mara during this stage. This is because some of them stay in the Serengeti National Park but repeatedly cross the river in search of green pasture and water. The Mara River crossing is the most dangerous and well-documented stage of the Great Wildebeest Migration. Thousands of wildebeests attempt to cross the crocodile-infested waters of the river, only to be attacked by massive crocodiles and then ambushed by the waiting lions, leopards and cheetahs perched on the riverbanks.

In this nerve-racking predator–prey action, thousands of wildebeest and other migrating herds fall victim to the predators, and those who survive are seen grazing in the plains of Masai Mara National Reserve.

The Journey South

The Journey South is the last stage of the Great Wildebeest Migration; the path follows the crossing of the Mara River. Once crossed and safe from the predators, the wildebeests start their journey southward, beginning in November, completing the annual cycle of the Great Wildebeest Migration. Some split herds move towards the central areas of Serengeti, while others stay in the east and move straight south throughout their southward migration.

At this time of the year, the migratory herds are once more in a state of flux, but by the end of the year, they all gather on the southern plains.

In conclusion: Following the stages of the Great Wildebeest Migration, this phenomenal event can be seen in the Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve, and witnessing it in real time is a bucket list experience for many wildlife enthusiasts.