If you’re a safari enthusiast, then witnessing the Great Migration in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park is an experience that belongs on your bucket list. This awe-inspiring wildlife spectacle is one of the world’s most dramatic, making it a must-do addition to any Tanzania holiday itinerary.
The Serengeti National Park, meaning “the place where the land runs on forever” in the Maasai language, is a magnificent wilderness area situated in the heart of the vast Serengeti ecosystem, which also includes the Ngorongoro Crater. It is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders. The unspoiled beauty of the Serengeti ecosystem attracts a diverse array of wildlife and offers extraordinary experiences for travellers from across the globe.
The vast plains of the Serengeti play host to one of nature’s most spectacular and awe-inspiring phenomena, the Great Migration. This annual event features the mesmerising movement of over two million majestic wildebeest, zebras and gazelles as they journey for nearly 3 000 km between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya in search of greener pastures.
This breathtaking sight of a never-ending stream of animals crossing rivers, plains, and hills is an all-year-round occurrence, and the animals follow a massive circular path within the Serengeti ecosystem.
To help plan an unforgettable trip to Tanzania for the Great Migration, JENMAN African Safaris has created a comprehensive guide to ensure front-row seats to this unparalleled wildlife phenomenon.
January to March: The animals start to gather in the Serengeti before beginning their hazardous journey. There is an abundance of nutrient-rich grass which makes conditions perfect for up to 8,000 zebras, wildebeest and gazelles calves to be born each day. This in turn attracts an abundance of predators such as lions, cheetahs and hyenas.
April to June: The heavens open up as the rainy season begins and this is a sign for the herds to get going across the Serengeti plains towards the Masai Mara in Kenya. Animal lines stretch for as far as the eye can see and the mating season also gets underway.
July to September: It is time for the dangerous crossings over the crocodile-infested Grumeti and Mara Rivers, and then back again. It is a sight to behold as the wildebeest and zebra rely on guts and determination to put life and limb at risk.
October to December: The herds mill around the Masai Mara and when the short rains start, it is a sign to return to the Serengeti.
JENMAN African Safaris offer a handful of expertly planned safari packages and guided group tours to experience the Great Migration and that also include other unbelievable excursions in East Africa.
Follow the Great Migration with mobile camps
We follow the herds of the Great Migration with our mobile camp! Set against the backdrop of the great wildebeest migration, our completely mobile, self-sufficient and environmentally-friendly camp can travel anywhere in the Serengeti depending on the time of year and the stage and location of the migration, giving you a front row seat to one of Mother Nature’s greatest events.
You will follow the wildebeest migration on a micro scale, guaranteeing migration sightings and experiences. The wildebeest migrate all year, moving in a circular pattern which encompasses the greater Serengeti and Mara eco system. The mobile camp will move location as the wildebeest move, with the ability to set up camp in a day. Like the wildebeest we stay in tune with the natural environment, weather conditions and where the herds are gathered.
Tailor-made for you and your travel companions
When you travel with young children, older parents of even people with health conditions you can customise your private safaris to accommodate everyone’s needs. We can upgrade your accommodations to private villas that include swimming pools, handicap accessibility, gardens and whatever else your group might need. Our villas are serviced by a team of dedicated staff that include chefs, housekeepers, butlers and nannies.