Serengeti wildlife migration is a spectacular natural event where massive herds of wildebeests and other herbivores migrate into Kenya from Tanzania yearly. The Mara River crossing is the highlight. Here, herds can be witnessed bravely crossing the 395-kilometer-(246-mile)-long river while facing great danger posed by predators and the deep raging waters. This article highlights ten mind-blowing facts about the Great Migration:
1. The Largest Land Migration on Earth
The Serengeti Migration is arguably the largest overland migration in the world. It entails millions of herbivores on the move with up to 1,000 animals per km², according to Asilia Africa.
2. The Serengeti Wildlife Migration Isn’t Just about Wildebeests
Wildebeests are not the only animals that participate in the Great Migration. Several other herbivorous also undertake the journey, including:
- Zebras
- Gazelles(Thomson’s and Grant’s)
- Impala
- Elands
- Antelopes(Topi)
However, it’s normally called the “Wildebeest Migration” because the wildebeests herds form the backbone of the migration, with around 1.5 million wildebeests.
3. Natural Instinct and Intelligence
The animals have brains like human beings, and they know where to be at what particular time. They will migrate to Kenya for mating purposes and in search of greener pastures between the months of July and October.
At this time, there is sufficient pasture and water on the Kenyan side of the ecosystem for the herbivorous to feed and drink.
They will then return to the Tanzanian side of it between the months of December and February to give birth and prepare their calves for the upcoming migration starting in July. The calving season takes place between March and May. They repeat this cycle every year.
4. A Long Distance Migratory Affair
The animals travel around a staggering 1,000 to 1,500 kilometers (approximately 620 to 930 miles) each year as they move between the Serengeti Ecosystem in Tanzania and the Maasai Mara in Kenya.
Surprisingly, a distance of 1,000–1,500 kilometers( 620 to 930 miles) is roughly equivalent to traveling between London and cities such as:
- Rome, Italy (around 1,450 km)
- Madrid, Spain (around 1,450 km)
- Berlin, Germany (around 1,000 km)
N/B: It takes these animals approximately 2-3 months to cover this distance.
5. The Serengeti Wildlife Migration Is A Perilous Affair
The Great Migration not only attracts tourists but it also invites hungry predators and scavengers. These killers include lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, and crocodiles who lie in wait, ready to ambush the herds as they traverse the dangerous plains and river crossings.
In fact, experts estimate that approximately 250,000 wildebeests die each year during this journey. This number comprises mostly of the vulnerable herds(the old and sick ones or the calves).
6. The Herds Are Normally Organized In Groups
During the Great Migration, wildebeests do follow their instincts and also their leaders. The herd is typically guided by the strongest and most experienced individuals, often older, more mature wildebeests, relying on their natural instincts and the need for food and water. There are lead herds, usually made up of experienced wildebeests who have participated in the migration before, that often take the lead.
Then there are vulnerable herds, made up of younger, inexperienced wildebeests, older or weaker individuals, or those that are wounded. These herds tend to stay in the middle of the overall group during the migration. Finally, there are protective herds, consisting of stronger but less experienced wildebeests, which follow behind and watch over the entire group.
The protective herds sometimes stand against predators, attempting to rescue any wildebeest that has been attacked. Check out this video showing several instances where these herbivores have stood their ground and taken down predators that tried to prey on them or their counterparts.
The well-organized-and-coordinated movement makes the Great Migration one of the most spectacular wildlife events in the world.
8. Revenues from the Serengeti Wildlife Migration Surpasses Kenya’s Annual Tourism Budget By More Than 50%
Did you know that Kenya’s annual tourism budget allocation is approximately 60 million USD?
Yet the Business Daily magazine reports that around 300,000 tourists visit the Maasai Mara each year to witness the Great Migration.
These visitors often pump approximately $100 into the Kenyan economy annually, surpassing the government’s annual tourism budget allocation by more than 50%.
As such, the Serengeti Wildlife Migration can be considered a lifeblood for the Kenyan government.
As a show of gratitude to the visitors who promote and sustain the tourism sector, the government offers tourists visas on arrival. Tourists from many countries can travel into Kenya and receive their entry visas once they land at the airport.
Go to this official government tourists visa page to check if you are eligible for a tourist visa upon entry.
9. The Great Migration Is Visible High Up Beyond the Earth
Did you know that the Serengeti wildebeest migration is so colossal that it can be seen from space?
Yes, the massive herds moving across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem create movement patterns visible many kilometers or miles away from the earth. Many satellite images have captured these migrations, depicting the herbivores moving across the vast plains of Serengeti Tanzania into the Maasai Mara, Kenya. Even their lasting trails, especially around the Mara crossing, can be seen from high up above.
10. You’ll Not Witness The Great Migration Anywhere Else
The Serengeti Wildlife Migration primarily occurs in Kenya and Tanzania, within the Serengeti-Maasai Mara ecosystem.
There’s no denying the fact that similar migratory events do occur in other parts of the world e.g. in South Africa, North America and in the Arctic.
However, the real wildebeest migration is famously associated with the Maasai Mara and Serengeti ecosystems within East Africa.
Final Thoughts
Serengeti Wildlife Migration is one of nature’s spectacles. It showcases the perilous journey of millions of wildebeests and other herbivores as they traverse the vast plains of Serengeti and Maasai Mara for survival and continuation. This unbelievable phenomenon is marked by realities that will totally blow your mind as a wildlife enthusiast. From the vast distance traveled to the incredible resilience of the animals, the facts of the Great Migration are awe-inspiring.
Would you like to witness the wildebeest migration in 2025 first-hand? If so, go to this page and engage WildAfrica.Pro. Alternatively, reach out to us through the following contact details:
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