The southern plain of Serengeti is the vast grassy plains stretch as far as your eyes can see. Dispersed across these plains, big herds of wildebeest and zebra are everywhere -feeding on the fresh, nutritious grasses. The area also hosts the highest concentration of predators in Africa. Lions, cheetahs, hyenas are commonly seen, this is the prime location to be when the calving season takes place, where more than 80%  females wildebeest and zebra gather to give birth simultaneously. Travelling to Serengeti during this time promises an exciting adventure full of wonder and plenty of action. The hunting of young wildebeests and zebras by big cats is part of nature, and during the few weeks of calving season, you´re sure to see some magnificent kills. Female wildebeest instinctively know to head to the short grass plains so that they can see approaching predators. There they form a barricade around birthing mothers to protect them and the young when they are the most vulnerable, during birth, ensuring the majority of the young survive.  Until late February to march the herds will remain on the plains feeding on the short grass, which is filled with valuable nutrition for lactating mothers. Gradually they stretch out west across these plains, then around April they start their Great migration towards central.

From the end of April the herds will start to move ready to be heading to the West. The area around Moru kopjes and west of Seronera is the hectic with a series of moving herds, often containing hundreds of thousands of animals –joined by many zebra, and a scattering of Thomson´s and Grant´s gazelles. By end of May until mid- June  the herds are expected to pass through the western corridor, making the Grumeti River a spectacular sighting as some migratory herds crossing alongside the aggressive and hungry Nile crocodiles. Around June the wildebeest migration is often halted on the south side of Grumeti River, has some channels which block or slow their migration towards north. The wildebeest then congregate there, in the western corridor, often building up to a high density before crossing the river. This river is normally a series of pools and channels, but it´s not continuous – and so whilst they always represent an annual feast for the Grumeti River´s large crocodiles, these aren´t usually quite as spectacular as the crossings of the Mara River, further north.

The dry season begins from end of June to mid –October herds will concentrate in the northern Serengeti, making the Mara river one of the most popular destinations to witness the migration river crossing. Watching the frantic herds of the wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River can be very spectacular; there are often scenes of great panic and confusion. It is common to see herds to cross the Mara River north on one day, and then back south a few days later. By the beginning of November the migration herds are heading back south again through eastern and few through western Serengeti depending on the rain patterns, also they will be passing through Loliondo  Game Controlled Area and lobo area as well the migratory animals are returning to find the fresh  green pastures on the short grass plain. The change in the seasonal weather pattern effects not only the location of the migration, but also the size of the migratory herds.

Although the Migration is not a continuously forward motion. They go forward, backwards, and to the sides, they move around, they split up, they join forces again, they walk in a line, they spread out, or they hang around together. You can never predict with certainty where they will be; the best you can do is suggest likely timing based on past experience. It‘s a little challenge to guarantee the migration one hundred percent due to the weather patterns. But don’t worry, because we work here we are often able to share the migration updates with our clients.