Tanzania wildlife migration : The great wildebeest migration is the world’s largest migration and it is among the highlights which can be seen during tours to Tanzania. Over 2 million wildebeests can be seen during the migration which takes place in Tanzania and it can be seen during tours to Serengeti national park which is among the popular wildlife viewing destinations in Tanzania.
The nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers enjoy seeing the wildebeest migration as they visit Tanzania. The wildebeest migration takes place across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem throughout the year. The wildebeests during the migration in Tanzania move in search of pasture and water and they follow different routes in Serengeti national park as well as around the Ngorongoro conservation area. The wildebeests are also said to follow the rains during their migration.
The calving season is among the highlights of the wildebeest migration and it takes place in the southern part of Serengeti national park. Calving also takes place around the Ndutu area which is shared with the Ngorongoro conservation area. Over 8,000 wildebeests can be seen during the calving season which is also a good time to see predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs among others during a Tanzania safari.
The calving season in Tanzania takes place around December, January, and February and also in March. This time of the year is good for exploring the southern part of Serengeti national park where the wildebeest migration can be seen and also for safaris in Ngorongoro conservation area.
The migration can also be seen in the central part of Serengeti national park which is also referred to as the Seronera area and the wildebeests can be seen around May and April. In the central part of Serengeti national park, there are also various wildlife species which can be seen during safaris and this part of the national park has numerous wildlife species such as the big five like elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos. The airstrip to use when visiting the central part of Serengeti national park by flight is Seronera airstrip.
When visiting Serengeti national park around June, July and August, you can see the wildebeest migration around the northern part of the national park where the river crossings along the Mara river take place during the year. During this time of the year you can watch as the wildebeest herds cross the river to the Kenyan side of the river. Game drives can be organised around the northern part of Serengeti national park where many other wildlife species can also be spotted during a safari. To get to this side of Serengeti national park by flights, you can book flights to Kogatende airstrip.
Another part of Serengeti national park which can be visited for a chance to see the wildebeest migration is the western part where the river crossings take place along the Grumeti river. This river crossing can be seen around June. The crossings along the Grumeti river in Serengeti national park is not as popular as the Mara river crossings but is an exciting experience to watch during safaris.
The wildebeests follow a clockwise movement during the wildebeest migration in Tanzania. When booking a migration safari to Tanzania, it is recommended that you book in advance as the lodges tend to get fully booked as many tourists are interested in seeing the wildebeest migration.
The high season during migration safaris in Tanzania is during the months around June to October and also around December. The dry season from June to October is also the best time to see wildlife species around different wildlife safari destinations in Tanzania and it is also the high season when many tourists visit Tanzania.
Tanzania also experiences the rainy season around March to May when the long rainy season takes place and there is also a shorter rain season in Tanzania which takes place around November and December. The time of the year when rain is received around Tanzania is also considered a low season since few tourists visit the national parks and other destinations around the country.
During a migration safari around Tanzania, some of the activities which you can engage in as you look out for the wildebeest herds include game drives in the morning or afternoon, hot air balloon safaris, guided nature walks among others.
On horseback you can also explore Serengeti national park and this activity is organised by some companies and it is an exciting experience of looking out for the wildlife species around the park and it can take a period of up to about 8 days.
Hot air balloon safaris during the wildebeest migration in Tanzania as you can enjoy the aerial views of the savannah plains below where the wildebeest herds graze and also cross the rivers such as the Mara river. This activity is carried out in the central, southern and northern parts of Serengeti national park throughout the year.
Guided nature walks during the wildebeest migration in Tanzania bring you closer to the nature in the park and you can also spot the wildebeests from a safe close distance during a guided safari around the savannah plains.
Game drives around Serengeti national park bring you closer to the herds as they move around the vast savannah plains of the destination in search of water and pasture. 4×4 safari vehicles are used during these game drives which can be done throughout the year in different parts of the national park.
