Best Travel Times

Ned

What is the best time of year to see the migrating animals and the most wildlife on the Tanzania/Kenya tour? Are the migrations specific to one particular area at any time of year? Thanks. Ned

Tauck_Tim

Hi Ned,

There is no precise beginning or ending to the migration, as the beginning and ending depends on the arrival of annual rainfall in Kenya and Tanzania,which is what prompts the hers to move. Also, the herds are constantly in motion, even after arriving in Kenya or Tanzania, and are always in search of richer grass and more water.

There is, however, a general migration path:

• In November and December, the “short rains” (daily, brief, intermittent rainfall), in Tanzania call the migration southward into the Serengeti Plains.
• In December to March, after the rains, the plains of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater are full of enormous herds of wildebeest, gazelle, and zebra, grazing on rain ripened grass. Late January through March is also the “calving” season when over 500,000 baby wildebeest, gazelle and zebra are born; attracting the attention of predators like lions, cheetahs and hyenas.
• During the months of April and May, the plains become depleted and the herds begin to migrate north and west, from the short grass in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro area to the long grass plains in the Western Serengeti.
• By June, massive herds have amassed along the Mara River (the same river on which the Mara Safari Club is located) searching for a crossing to enter the vast Masai Mara plains and the new fresh grass the rains have fed. From June to October, it is not unusual to witness tens of thousand of animals crossing a narrow shallow opening in the river. Also, during this period the herds are in constant motion throughout the Masai Mara area, and North-Western Serengeti area where the Kirawira Lodge is located.

Generally speaking, the migration is constant. Depending heavily on when the heavy rains fall, the most active times will likely be in April, May, some of June, and October and November. However, these months are also likely to be rainy, and the roads will therefore be less comfortable.

At the end of the day, it's important to remember that because most of the Serengeti is affected by the migration, and our tour covers both Kenya and Tanzania, we usually see at least some of the migration on almost every tour.

Hope this helps,
Tim