Tanzania safari great wildebeest migration
Tanzania safari great wildebeest migration : The great wildebeest migration in Tanzania is among the many reasons that people engage in tours to the country.
In Tanzania, the wildebeest migration takes place annually in Serengeti national park with over 2 million wildebeests that can be seen during a safari around the endless plains of the national park.
The great wildebeest migration in Tanzania follows a clockwise direction and the wildebeests can also be seen during safaris in Masai Mara national reserve in the south western part of Kenya. Another location to see the wildebeests is around the Ndutu area between the southern plains of Serengeti national park and the Ngorongoro conservation area.
When on a safari in Tanzania, the wildebeest migration can be seen in different locations during the year as follows;
From December to March
The calving season during the wildebeest migration in Tanzania takes place at this time of the year and it is a time of the year when young ones of the wildebeests are born. This magical experience takes place in the southern part of Serengeti national park and also in the Ndutu area.
The wildebeests move again in search of greener pastures after the calving season to the central part of Serengeti national park.
April and May
Around April and May, the great wildebeest migration can be seen around the central part of Serengeti national park and during this movement; zebras and antelopes also move with the wildebeests around the savannah plains.
This is also a time of the year during the wildebeest migration that the mating season is said to take place. After grazing around the central plains of Serengeti national park, the wildebeest herds continue their movement to the western parts of the national park.
The central part of Serengeti national park also consists of vast savannah plains as well as kopjes where the wildebeests can be spotted as they graze.
June and July
The wildebeest migration in Tanzania around June and July can be seen in the western part of Serengeti national park and around the southern banks of the Grumeti river.
The Grumeti river is a river crossing point during the wildebeest migration in Tanzania. During the river crossing along the Grumeti river, crocodiles attack the wildebeests as they cross the river and head towards the northern part of Serengeti national park.
August, September and October
The wildebeest migration in Tanzania around August, September and October can be seen in the northern part of Serengeti national park where the second river crossings take place along the Mara river.
The river crossings on the Mara river attract many tourists visiting the northern part of Serengeti national park to watch as the wildebeest herds struggle to make it across the river. Predators such as lions, cheetahs, leopards can also be seen during the wildebeest migration in this part of Serengeti national park as well as other resident wildlife species.
After completing the cycle of the movement of the wildebeests, the migration starts again across the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. All through the year, the great wildebeest migration can be seen in Tanzania and each month offers an exciting experience during a safari.
How to book a wildebeest migration safari in Tanzania
When traveling to Tanzania for the great wildebeest migration, it is important to consider the month of travel and where the wildebeests currently are. This is because the wildebeests can be seen in different parts of Serengeti national park during safaris.
The place to stay during the wildebeest migration is also important since some lodges follow the movement of the wildebeests making it easier to see the herds of wildebeests as they graze around the destinations in Tanzania such as Serengeti national park.
The best time for a safari to Serengeti national park is during the dry season from June to October which is a time of the year when the wildlife species can easily be spotted when exploring the national park.
Serengeti national park which is known for the wildebeest migration and this migration can be seen in different parts of the destination such as the northern, central, southern and western parts of the national park. When booking a safari and in order for a visitor to see the migration, you can find out the part of the national park where the wildebeests currently are and book a safari in that part of the national park.
Tour packages for the wildebeest migration are of a variety as offered by different tour operators. These safaris can be group safaris and also private safaris. The group safaris have scheduled dates and are also known for being less costly as compared to private safaris.
The advantage of private safaris around Tanzania during the wildebeest migration is that the tour package if tailored to the needs and preferences of the traveler and their interests around the national park.
Apart from the wildebeest migration in Serengeti national park, a variety of wildlife species can be seen during a safari and these include the big five such as elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos and also giraffes, elands, gazelles, waterbucks, impalas, hippos, cheetahs, hyenas and many others.
A number of activities are done during tours in Serengeti national park and they include game drives done in the morning and in the afternoon, nature walks, hot air balloon safaris and also bird watching experiences.
There are different ways to access Serengeti national park during a wildebeest migration safari in Tanzania and they include driving and also by flight.
Safaris to Serengeti national park start from Arusha town and the drive to the national park takes about 7 to 8 hours.
Flights to the northern part of Tanzania can be got to Kilimanjaro international airport during safaris. Airstrips in Serengeti national park include Kogatende airstrip, Seronera airstrip, Kirawira airstrip, Fort Ikoma airstrip, Lobo airstrip among others which are found in different parts of the national park.
Visit Serengeti national park for a chance to see the wildebeest migration as you tour the northern part of Tanzania.