Everything you need to know about the Great migration in Africa

Have you heard about the herd? 

Although the migrations occur in a cycle between Tanzania and Kenya, most of the Great migration in Africa takes place in Tanzania which covers Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Loliondo Game Controlled Area, and Grumeti Reserve.

In Kenya the migration stretches to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, bordering Serengeti National Park in the north.
The Serengeti National Park is a popular spot for travellers because of its impressive wildlife and unique migration patterns. Here’s a visual representation of what you might expect to see on a trip to Tanzania during the Great migration in Africa.
The Serengeti National Park eco-system is the oldest on the planet. It boasts a diversity of plants and animals that are unavailable anywhere else on the globe.
– The great migration in Africa is some 1,8M animals strong.
– The 2011 entire population of Manhattan.
– The almost 2800 km African migration is the equivalent distance: From Hamburg to Athens
– A herd of 1,8M will drink enough water every day to fill 28 Olympic size swimming pools or around 50 thousand litres of water

– 1,3M Wildebeest, 360K Gazelle, 190K Zebra
– 80% of the females give birth in the same 2 to 3 week period.
– The migration never ends.
– Herds are closely followed by predators.
– Zebra and Wildebeest prefer different parts of the same grass, so they can graze in the same area peacefully.

– Serengeti National Park – Jan to mid-March
– Southern Serengeti – April
– Northern Serengeti – May
– Masai Mara – June and July
– Mara River and Grasslands – July to October

The herd faces feared river crossing infested with crocodiles. Once across herd graze in grasslands only being disturbed by tireless predators, until the rains in late October turn them back to start the cycle all over again.

The Great migration in Africa is one of the “Seven New Wonders of the World”

With help of G Adventures