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Kenya and Tanzania Tourist Information

Migration

Certainly one of nature's greatest spectacles, the great wildebeest migration around the Serengeti can be an awesome sight.

But visitors should beware ... the migration is not a constant phenomenon and timing a visit to co-incide with the surges of activity that climax with the crossing of the Grumeti River is not so easy (usually early June and mid-November).

A more reliable and equally impressive time to visit is during the calving season in February. It's certainly a favourite time of year for the lion of South Serengeti.

Africa's Serengeti Migration is known as the greatest animal show on earth. Wild animals on the move blanket the African landscape as far as the eye can see.

Why The Serengeti Migration Occurs

Animals migrate because of rain or the lack of it. When a seasonal drought dries up grass and water supplies in one area, the grazing animals move on to the next area along the Serengeti migration route where seasonal rains are falling. As the Serengeti Migration map illustrates, the migration is annual and peaks in different areas at different times.

The Major Migrating Animals

Over a million wildebeests participate in the Serengeti Migration. Hundreds of thousands of zebra and Thomson's gazelles join them. Although lions and other carnivores do not migrate with the grazing animals, they feast on them when their paths cross.

Here's a simplified explanation of how the rains drive the migration...see the graphics below

The southern plains of the Serengeti are very fertile but they need rains to ripen the grass for a massive population of grazers.
The "short" and light rains fall in November and December (sometimes as early as October) and draw the migration rapidly south from Kenya's Maasai Mara down the eastern side of Tanzania's Serengeti into these sweet short-grass plains. Predators are in constant attendance.
The wildebeest and other ungulates settle in the southern plains between about January and April - usually the best time to see the migration in Tanzania.
In April and May the "long" or heavy rains set in and the depleted southern plains are less attractive than the long grass plains up in the western corridor and the migration has started moving north (westerly) again.
Large river crossings on the Grumeti and Mara Rivers occur as the migration heads back into Kenya's Maasai Mara - the season dries out and fresh grazing and water can be found in the far north. The Mara is usually at its best in August, September and October.
Now if only the rains fell on cue!

The small maps below give a general idea on the movement of the migration, pick up a more detailed map of the Serengeti ecosystem.

	The migration started leaving Kenya's Maasai Mara in November. It moves quickly south down the Loliondo boundary. The rains have started and fresh grass covers the Serengeti plains.
	The migration is settled in the short grass lands on the southern plains. Game moves into the Ngorongoro Crater. Zebra are foaling.
	Over 2 million wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, eland and predators are in the Serengeti plains. Wildebeest are dropping foals.
	The heavy rains are approaching and the short grass plains are starting to take strain.
	The migration starts moving slowly through woodlands towards the western corridor as the long or heavy rains set in. The wild flowers come out in full bloom.
	The migration follows the Mbalageti river towards the Grumeti Controlled Area where the long grass plains and woodlands provide food.
	The rains are ending and the dry season is approaching as the migration crosses the Grumeti River - the Grumeti crocodiles enjoy their annual feast.
	The migration moves north east through the Grumeti towards the Ikorongo Controlled Area. Some migratory animals move towards the Lobo area.

Kenya

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Tanzania

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