The great wildebeest’s migration is one of the most outstanding wildlife shows on earth and one of the seven natural wonders of Africa. The migration takes place between Serengeti national park in Tanzania and Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya. This involves 1.5 million wildebeests, 400000 zebras, 200,000 Thompson’s gazelles and other antelopes travelling a 1000 kilometre journey that comes with obstacles of predation, starvation, thirst, drowning and exhaustion.
Where does the Great Migration Start & End
The great wildebeest migration is a continuous annual event that sees animals move in a circular direction continually making brief stops for some weeks in some places. It’s hard to tell the beginning and end of the migration as they continue to move anti clockwise all year round but over the years, scientists and researchers have come to a conclusion and suggest the birthing season to be the start of the great wildebeest migration.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Ndutu Plains
Ngorongoro conservation area and Ndutu plains area have been considered to be areas where the migration starts from. Every year from late December to early march, wildebeests conjugate around these areas for fresh pastures and the abundance of water from the short November rains. It’s also during this time that thousands of wildebeests are born daily with almost 8000 calves born in a day.
When the calves are fully grown up. The herds move towards Serengeti national park spreading across the plains. By June the move to Grumeti sector crossing the Grumeti river. And continue their journey towards Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya. Overcoming one major obstacle that is the crocodile infested Mara river. By the end of August most of the herds are spread across the Masai Mara plains. Then start moving to the south of the reserve in October and enter Serengeti national park. At around this time, most females are expectant. Therefore move reluctantly until they reach Ngorongoro conservation area and Ndutu plains. By December which is considered to be the end of the great wildebeests migration.
There is also no exact end of the great wildebeest migration. Since it’s a continuous movement of herds in search of water and pasture. The end of the migration is estimated to be late November or early December. When they start arriving back to Tanzania from Kenya.
