The Great Migration is often called the greatest wildlife show on Earth, and for good reason. Each year, roughly 1.5 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebras, and 300,000 Thomson's gazelles undertake a circular journey spanning over 1,800 miles through Tanzania's Serengeti and Kenya's Masai Mara. This ancient migration has been ongoing for over two million years.
The migration is driven by rainfall and the search for fresh grazing. Calving season (January-March) takes place in the southern Serengeti, where approximately 500,000 wildebeest calves are born within a three-week window. This synchronized birthing is a survival strategy - predators can only eat so many, ensuring enough calves survive. It is also prime time for lion and cheetah viewing.
The Mara River crossings (July-October) are the migration's dramatic climax. Crocodiles as long as five meters lie in wait as herds gather nervously on the riverbanks. Only about 250 of the 3,000 crossings each year involve the main migration herds. The rest are smaller groups testing the waters. Remarkably, scientists have found that wildebeest can sense the presence of crocodiles through pheromones in the water.
David Ole Tipis
Travel Specialist at Ready Set Go Tours