Serengeti wildebeest migration tour
Serengeti wildebeest migration tour : The wildebeest migration is the largest movement of wildlife in the world and it can be seen during a safari in Tanzania.
Serengeti national park is the destination where the wildebeest migration can be seen at its best through the year. During the wildebeest migration tours carried out in Serengeti national park, the herds of wildebeests can be seen as they move around the savannah plains.
Wildebeest migration tours are organized across the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem for a chance to see the wildebeest migration which can also be seen in other destinations apart from Serengeti national park. Safaris are also done in Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya for a tour in search of the wildebeests.
Over 2 million wildebeests can be seen during the wildebeest migration and zebras and gazelles can also be seen during this migration. Predators like lions and leopards are also spotted in the nearby plains as they hunt the wildebeests.
Where to see the wildebeest migration during the year
The wildebeest migration takes place during different months of the year across different locations. Although the movement of the wildebeests is unpredictable and can change due to a number of factors, their movement follows a clockwise direction thus Serengeti wildebeest migration tour . For an experience of seeing the wildebeests during a tour, check out the month by month movement of wildebeests below;
January and March
During the months of January, February and March, the calving season is taking place. The calving season takes place in the southern part of Serengeti national park and also around the Ndutu area.
Over 8,000 calves are born during this time of the year and predators can also be seen around the plains where the wildebeests are grazing. When on a safari following the wildebeest migration around January and March, there are various camps to stay at which follow the movement of the wildebeests.
April and May
The wildebeest migration around April and May can be seen around the central part of Serengeti national park. Rain is also received during this time of the year and the wildebeest calves are much stronger.
In the central part of Serengeti national park, the wildebeest herds can be seen around the Moru kopjes and Simba kopjes which are rock outcrops found in the national park. Lions can also be seen around the kopjes during safaris around Serengeti national park.
Around April and May due to the rains, there are few tourists visiting Serengeti national park and the lodges also offer discounted rates for lodges and safaris are also affordable.
June, July and August
Around June, the wildebeests move towards the Grumeti river which is a crossing point during the wildebeest migration. Safaris at this time can be carried in the western part of Serengeti national park.
The wildebeests continue their movement to the northern part of Serengeti national park where the second river crossing takes place along the Mara river. The river crossings along the Mara river is very exciting and Nile crocodiles can be seen as they try to feast on the wildebeests crossing the river into Kenya.
This time of the year is a peak season and booking safaris in advance is recommended for a chance to see the wildebeest migration and the river crossings. Lodges also tend to be fully booked during the months of June to August as many tourists are interested in seeing this migration as they visit Tanzania.
September and October
The wildebeest migration in September and October can be seen in Masai Mara national reserve in the south western part of Kenya. Safaris at this time of the year for a chance to see the migration is best done on the Kenya side thus Serengeti wildebeest migration tour .
Masai Mara reserve in Kenya also offers amazing wildlife viewing through the year and is a destination where the big five such as elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos can be seen during a tour.
November and December
Around November and December, the wildebeest herds can be spotted around the northern plains of Serengeti national park.
Rains are also received around November and during this month, the wildebeests move from Masai Mara reserve in Kenya to the north eastern parts of Serengeti national park.
Park entrance fees of Serengeti national park
Visiting Serengeti national park for the wildebeest migration is an exciting experience and some of the requirements for a safari to the national park include paying park entrance fees. The entrance fee for Serengeti national park is as follows excluding 18% tax;
Nonresidents visiting Serengeti national park for safaris or wildebeest migration tours are charged entrance fee of 70 USD in the peak season and 60 USD in the low season for adults above the age of 16 years while children aged between 5 and 15 years are charged park entrance fee of 20 USD.
Residents or expatriates visiting Serengeti national park to see the wildebeest migration are charged park entrance fee of 35 USD in the peak season and 30 USD in the low season for adults above the age of 16 years and children aged between 5 and 15 years are charged 10 USD.
East Africans and Tanzanians are charged park entrance fee of 10,000 Tanzania shillings for adults above the age of 16 years while children aged between 5 and 15 years are charged 2,000 Tanzania shillings.
During wildebeest migration tours in Serengeti national park, children below the age of 5 years are not charged park entrance fees.
Other activities carried out in Serengeti national park during safaris include game drives done in the morning, afternoon or evening, nature walks and hot air balloon safaris among others.
How to get to Serengeti national park
There are different ways to get to Serengeti national park during wildebeest migration tours and they include driving from Arusha town which takes about 7 hours and another way to get to the national park is by flight to the different airstrips in Serengeti like Seronera, Kogatende, lobo, Grumeti, Fort Ikoma among others.
Visit Tanzania and enjoy a safari around Serengeti national park as you see the wildebeest migration.
