The annual migration of wildebeest across northern Tanzania is a spectacular event and one of the greatest wonders of the natural world.
Every year, one and a half million wildebeest and zebra move through the Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystems in search of water and lush green pasture. It’s an amazing spectacle for those lucky enough to witness it, especially from the extraordinary aerial view of a Balloon Safari.
Why do wildebeest migrate?
Every year, the wildebeest migrate around Tanzania and Kenya to follow the rainfall. They take advantage of the seasonal conditions in search of plentiful and favoured grazing opportunities.
The animals tend to follow a clockwise movement through the Serengeti, following the rains for greener grasslands. The five hundred kilometre trip is incredibly dangerous and packed with drama – with predators such as lions, hyena, leopards and crocodiles taking their chance to prey on the migrating wildlife.
It’s no easy feat, but it’s vital for the wildebeest’s survival and the preservation of the circle of life.
Where do the wildebeest go?
The great migration undertaken by the wildebeest is an annual event which sees the wildebeest accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebras, gazelles, and other antelope species as they search for fresh food.
This remarkable journey takes the wildlife from the short-grass plains of southern Serengeti to the Masai Mara in Kenya, and back again, in an annual cycle that takes in central and western Serengeti on the way.
The migration is somewhat predictable, as the wildebeest generally all head in the same direction. However, sometimes they can be known to delay or zig-zag along the way, so we never know exactly where the big herds will be.