Where do Wildebeest Migrate?
The migration of wildebeest is among the most spectacular natural phenomena on the planet, with a million or more animals circulating in a vast elliptical loop across East Africa. Sometimes referred to as the Great Migration, this journey is not a migration in a straight line but cyclic in nature, driven by rains, grass development and the season.
To figure out where the wildebeests migrate, you have to look at the different aspects of their journey. For example, which areas do they cross? When do they move? Why is each place vital for their existence?
The migratory journey of the wildebeest is confined within the greater Serengeti Mara ecosystem. This is an extensive transboundary area which stretches across the northern part of Tanzania and the southwestern part of Kenya. The ecosystem consists of grasslands, forests, rivers, and savannahs, which together provide shelter and grazing food to one of the largest remaining migratory wildlife populations in the world.
In the middle of this ecosystem is the Serengeti National Park, which is the home of wildebeest for most of the year. It is from here that the wildebeest herds move through to the north into the Maasai Mara National Reserve before finally returning to the south
Southern Serengeti: The calving ground
The migration starts in the southern Serengeti and the neighbouring Ngorongoro Conservation Area at the onset of the short rains, usually from December to March. It lies on open, treeless plains with rich volcanic soils. The resulting soils produce grasses that are short and highly nutritious, attractive for grazing.
This is where wildebeest give birth. In just a few days, untold thousands of calves are born, making it one of the most amazing wildlife shows on the planet. There are no trees but open plains with good visibility, so a mother can see when a predator is approaching, and with plenty of fresh grass for milk production and growing calves.
Central Serengeti: Transition and Movement
When the rains start to fade in April and May, the grass in the southern plains becomes dry. At this time, the wildebeest start their journey northwest towards the central Serengeti. This area has more stable water sources and varied habitats, such as savannah woodlands and riverine areas.
The central Serengeti is a transitional area where the herds come together and then gradually scatter. The excitement of the movement here is not as great as the river crossings in the north, but it is a very important phase of the journey, which prepares the animals for the difficulties they will face. There are always predators in this area, and the constant movement of wildebeest helps them to escape the pressure of overgrazing and also the threat of lions and hyenas.
Western Corridor: The Grumeti Region
In late May and June, many herds move into the western Serengeti corridor, heading for the Grumeti River. Tillage in this area is followed by grazing due to the fact that this is a rich area due to the rains filling it. Yet, it also creates the first big challenge of the migration, the river crossings.
The Grumeti River is much smaller than the Mara River but no less fearsome. Wildebeest must battle steep banks, powerful currents and predators, such as crocodiles, lions, hyenas, and more. These crossings put the herds to the test, and they signal the start of the most dangerous period in the migration.
Not all wildebeest cross at the same time or in the same place, and some herds remain in the central Serengeti in response to rainfall patterns. It is this adaptability that has kept the migration going strong.
Northern Serengeti: Ready for the Big Crossing
With the dry season setting in from July, wildebeest increasingly move northward into the northern Serengeti. The grasses are scarce and the waterholes few; the herds are forced on the move. This part of the world has rolling hills, woodlands and seasonal rivers seeping out toward the Kenyan border.
There, wildebeest congregate by the millions as they are ready to cross the most iconic obstacle of the migration, the Mara River. This phase can last weeks, as herds are reluctant to leave the riverbanks, wary of perceived threats before crossing.
Maasai Mara: Dry-Season Refuge
The wildebeest enter Kenya when they cross from Tanzania into the Maasai Mara sometime between July and October. The Mara receives a fairly predictable rainfall, keeping the grass green in the dry season, which makes the Maur a second dry season refuge when the Serengeti plains dry up.
The river crossings into the Maasai Mara are migration’s most dramatic moments. At the Mara River, wildebeest brave strong currents, as well as large Nile crocodiles. They die by the thousands every year, but the crossing can’t be avoided; to stay behind would be to starve.
The Return Journey: Heading South
With late rains starting in November, the grass in the southern Serengeti begins to grow again. This marks the wildebeest’s turn to head back south. The herds then move again through the northern Serengeti, a central region, and finally, they reach the southern plains yet again. This southward movement is more rapid and less concentrated than the northern movement.
The river levels are lower and crossings less dramatic, but the journey remains long and gruelling. All of this is necessary to get the majority of the wildebeest back to the calving grounds by December and close the yearly cycle.
Wildebeest move in a great circle around the Serengeti, Mara system across the southern Serengeti plains, the central and western corridors, the northern woodlands, and the Maasai Mara plains. Each site is important, providing food, water, a safe place to give birth or a haven in tough times.
Such migration is more than movement; it drives one of Africa’s most complex and sustainable ecosystems. Understanding where wildebeest migrate enables us to not only understand the magnitude of their journey, but also the fragile interconnections of land, climate and wildlife that allow this natural spectacle to exist.
