Best time to see wildebeest migration (Prime viewing months)

Many things can viewed from space, and the wildebeest migration is one of them.

Its one of the seven wonders of the world where over 1 million wildebeests alongside zebras and gazelles transverse the vast east african savannah through the mara river in search for pasture and matting grounds.

Expriencing this spectacle is a bucket list item of many tourists visiting Kenya but determining the best time to see wildebeest migration can be tricky.

It would be unfortunate to visit too early before the actual crossing of the Mara River or too late when the migration has already happened and the dust settled. 

The cycle of Wildebeest Migration

As mentioned earlier, Wildebeests tranverse across the savannah in search for green pastures, water, and matting grounds.

The cycle beggins in the heart of serengeti National park in Tanzania where they calve between December and April. At the end of the calving season, there is scarce pasture in the southern part of Serengeti forcing them to move north towards the Maasai Mara National Park where at the time there are short rain and plenty of Pature.

After some months, the dry season catches up with them at the Maasai Mara National Park forcing them to cross the Nile Crocodile infested Mara River on their way back to Serengeti where there is budding pastures and rains and the cycle continues.

The best time to see Wildebeest Migration in Kenya

Now, lets adress the elephant in room. What is the best time to see the wildebeest migration in Kenya (Massai Mara) or Serengeti in Tanzania?

If you are visiting Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya, the best time to experience the migration is during the months of July and August as they cross the Mara river from Serengeti National Park into Masaai Mara National Park.

They cross the tracherous Mara river again from late octomber and November as they migrate from the Maasai Mara National Park and back into Serengeti.

Wildebeest migration activity	Month
Crossing the Mara rive from Serengeti to Maasai Mara	Late July and August
Crossing the Mara rive from Maasai Mara to Serengeti	Late Octomber to November
Grazing in the vast Maasai Mara National Park	September and Octomber

Best time to see Wildebeest migration in Serengeti

Wildebeests spend most of their time in the serengeti National park in Tanzania where they calve before moving North towards Maasai Mara once the dry season kicks in.

From January to June the wildebeest population can be seen from different locations in the Vast serengeti national park.

By december, they are back to Serengeti and the cycle beggins agains at the Northern part of the park.

When to book your wildebeest migration viewing tour

Heards of wildebeest are availabe through the east african savana all year round. But different stages of their movement happen in seperate months.

The Mara river crossing

This happens in the months of July and August and in the months of actomber and November. Visiting the Maasai Mara National park during those months is the most ideal time to seeing the migration unfold.

Note that those months are considered high seasons therefore expect higher tour costs and large crowds of both local and international tour goers.

We should book your tour early when tour and accomodation prices are low.

Viewing Wildebeest in the wild

To catch a glimse of herds of wildebeests grazing and be predated on, its recommended to visit the Serengeti National park between December and April. During this period, there is a higher population of young wildebeasts which are an easay catch for predators.

Winding Up

Athough the wildebeest migration is an all year round phenomenon, its climax is on the months of July and August and on Octomber and November when they cross the Mara River. Those months are considered the best time to see wildebeest migration.