THE GREAT MIGRATION
The migration of
herds is one of the world's most spectacular wildlife events. Often
referred to as the ‘Greatest Show on Earth', The Great Migration is a
movement of approximately 1.5 million wildebeest and zebra throughout
the Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystems. The animals move at least
50kms a day to follow the path of the rain in order to feed off the new
grass whilst also being close to a good water supply. Standing water
may be found in different areas each year, may even be spread across
different areas of the Serengeti. In the latter case, the herds may
split and later regroup.
There isn’t really a
beginning nor an end to the Great Migration, it is a circular,
never-ending pilgrimage that starts again and again. Animals will follow
the circular clockwise route year after year, back and forth from the
Serengeti National Park, in northern Tanzania, to the Masai Mara
National Reserve, in southern Kenya. The exact timing of the Great
Migration cannot be predicted, as it depends on each year's rainy season
and other variable factors.
Despite the wealth of
maps and illustrations showing the path of the migrating herds, as with
anything in Nature, the actual day to day pattern is unpredictable and
one cannot be held responsible for seasonal changes that cause the
migration to vary.
Many have studied and
planned itineraries to fit in with the moving herds for years, but
cannot hope to say exactly where they will be next year! If your wish is
to safari at the heart of The Great Migration, it is advisable to book a
mobile tented lodge/safari that will ascertain camping grounds close to
departure date.
The following is only
a General Description of the migration pattern:
From December to
mid-March the wildebeest and zebra herds congregate scattered across
around Ndutu, in the far Southern section of the Serengeti and the
northern Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania is where all the
action plays out during this time. Generally, January through to
mid-March is when things begin, with the game animals giving birth to
their young and start preparing for the northern trek. Several hundred
thousand wildebeest calves are born during this period each year, with
the largest number born within a two to three week span in February; yet
less than half will live to see their five-month birthday. Predators
like the Serengeti lions, cheetah, hyenas, jackals and other predators
are plentiful in the area at this time of year take advantage of the
abundance of slower calves, picking from the thousands of potential
victims.
From April to May,
the animals set off North into the plains of the central Serengeti as
the Southern plains have dried up at the end of the long rainy season,
and its mineral-rich pastures become increasingly worn out. The adults
and the surviving young shift their attention to the central areas of
the park, moving towards the Serengeti's western corridor. This
funnel-shaped piece of land runs from the Central Serengeti in a western
direction to the park boundary near Lake Victoria's shore. The herds
gather to form columns up to 25 miles long as they begin their trek,
following a North West direction, into the Western Corridor (near Lake
Victoria), where they'll find fresh tall grasses. Although the herds
include many different herbivores, the big numbers are made by
Wildebeest, of course, Thomson's gazelle, and Zebra: respectively, 1.3
million, 360 thousand, and 191 thousand. Integration among the
migration companions is highly accomplished. On the one hand, each
species eats a different part of the grass sward and so do not compete.
On the other, a larger number provides a greater safety for individuals,
as there are more targets for predators. Unfortunately, gazelles and
zebras aren't the wildebeest's only companions. Several gangs of
predators, which are territorial rather than migratory, hunt as the
massive herds pass through their terrain - most notably lions and hyenas
- march along closely following an irresistible and fairly
convenient-to-catch protein source. Hunting is not strictly necessary:
many animals will fall to the fatigue of the trip, making an easy lunch
for the meat-eaters. The mating season for wildebeests also occurs
between late May and early June.
Between June and
July, arriving at the corridor, the Migration splits in two; one
heads directly to the North of the Serengeti entering the private
Grumeti Reserve, with a small portion splitting off and heading
northeast, to the Lobo area. The other group goes West into the Western
Corridor before the millions of grazers are forced to cross the great
rivers that run into Lake Victoria. The migration route is cut again
and again by the rivers - Mara, Grumeti, and Mbalangeti and their
tributaries. Rivers are most feared by gnus and their co-migrants, not
only for the steep banks and harsh torrents, but also because of the
crocodile populations that lie in wait, impatient to sink their teeth on
the warm meat. There is usually an unpredictable waiting period of one
to two weeks as the animals prepare for the life-threatening crossing.
Ironically, it is usually the first animals that attempt to cross that
are taken by the Grumeti crocodiles. The resident crocodiles feast as
the long train of wildlife tries to cross unscathed.
The best time to see
this migration in action in the western and northern Serengeti is
usually in this June to August period. In August the migration
reaches the far northern Ikorongo controlled Area. There are a few
excellent camps in this area from which you can witness this natural
phenomenon.
As the plains of the
western Serengeti dry out and the grasses are depleted, the migration
must continue. Between July and mid-August, the wildebeest,
zebras and gazelles leave the Serengeti and Tanzania, cross the Mara
River and head into Kenya's Masai Mara, settling scattered around the
abundant grasslands where lush green pastures await and water is always
available.
They will remain in
the Mara until October or November, returning South across the
Tanzanian border once the Southern Serengeti’s November short rainy
season has started prompting them to begin their journey south.
Thousands of large mammals travel fast, heads down and hooves stomping,
to the Serengeti's southern plains and the Ngorongoro Highlands, back to
their breeding grounds beckon once again and the cycle begins anew in
December.
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