Wildebeest, along with other large ungulates such as zebra and gazelle, migrate across the Serengeti and Maasai Mara ecosystems each year seeking fresh grazing and, it's now thought, better quality water.
Month by month: the Serengeti wildebeest migration
Short rains begin in early November. A little later, in late November and December, herds of wildebeest migrate to the Serengeti's short-grass plains. These are located south and east of Seronera, in the vicinity of Ndutu, and to the north of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Wildebeest and zebra can be found all over these plains, feeding on the fresh, nutritious grasses. They stay here in January, February, and March, with the majority of wildebeest calves born during a brief period in February. They gradually spread west across these plains, then begin their great migration north around April.
By May, all of the Serengeti's wildebeest seem to be migrating north in search
of fresh grazing and water. The area around Moru Kopjes and west of Seronera
becomes chaotic, with a series of moving columns containing hundreds of
thousands of animals – joined by many zebra and a scattering of Thomson's and
Grant's gazelles.
Some of the migration then goes northward of Seronera, but most of the time is westward. Wildebeest migration is frequently halted around June on the south side of the Grumeti River, which has some channels that block or slow their migration north. The wildebeest then congregate in the Western Corridor, sometimes forming large herds before crossing the river. The river here is usually a series of pools and channels, but it isn't continuous, so while they are always a feast for the Grumeti River's large crocodiles, they aren't always as spectacular as the Mara River crossings further north.The migration of wildebeests continues northwards during July and August and often extends across a broad front: the Grumeti Reserve and Ikorongo and the Serengeti National Park to the north.
The flocks spread through the northern Serengeti in September, where the Mara River poses a major hindrance to migration. The North Serengeti river blows from Kenya's neighboring Maasai Mara National Reserve. It could be very spectacular to look at the hectic herds of wild migration across the Mara River; scenes of great panic and confusion are often present. Sheep are common to cross the Mara River one day north, and then some days later back south.
By October, the wildebeest herds are migrating more consistently: they're all heading south, through western Loliondo and the Serengeti National Park's Lobo area, to the green shoots that emerge after November rains on the southern Serengeti's short-grass plains. Then the Serengeti Wildebeest Migration begins all over again.
During their migration, they are frequently threatened by the Serengeti's big cats, such as lions and cheetahs, which easily prey on wildebeest, and thus wildebeest serve as a favorite food for Serengeti lions. Mara River serves as home and resting place for crocodile, which preying on wildebeest when crossing the river. Despite the difficulties that wildebeest face during their migration, they always migrate annually without stopping, which is wonderful and attract visitors to come in Serengeti and see the wonders.
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