Every year around 1.5 wildebeest migrate accompanied by large number of Thomson’s gazelles, Zebras and small number of elands and it always the rich seasons for predators to choose the best fresh food. These move in an annual pattern which is fairly predictable. They migrate throughout the year, constantly seeking fresh grazing and quality water.
It is unclear how the wildebeest know which way to go, but it is generally believed that their journey is dictated primarily by their response to the weather; they follow the rains and the growth of new grass. While there is no scientific proof of it, some experts believe that animals react to lightning and thunderstorms in the distance. It has even been suggested that wildebeest can locate rain more than 50km away (Wow!).
November
As the cloud start to form the wildebeest sense the rain, it when the herd reform and starting moving south sensing the rain crossing back from Maasai Mara Kenya to Tanzania following the clouds, this is normally around November. Scattered storms cause the herds to spread over the woodland.
December
On around December the migration is drawn towards the southern part of Serengeti, whose grassland has been regenerated. As the grass grows little taller the wildebeest arrives at southern Serengeti.
January
The Southern part of Serengeti commonly known Ndutu area is the place providing the migration on January because this is where the food is, the grass has highest protein contents. The herds spread around the southern plain on the Ndutu area some are scattered around the Loliondo game-controlled Area following the storms and fresh grasses.
February
The Ndutu plains become the feeding ground for 2millions grazers, this month of February is also known as the Calving season. The wildebeest start calving, giving birth half a million calves over 3 to 4 weeks. It is rich picking for predators who have followed the herds.
March
On March is the beginning of the long rains starts with occasional storm, the wildebeests evenly scattered across the southern plains they follow the rain and new green growth, here the predators follow the migration too. The heavy rain starts, the lush grasses of Southern Plains become depleted. The Herd start heading North towards the central Serengeti. To the end of the month the herd start to appear on the Seronera Area, this is Normally around April.
May & June
As the rain subsides the western corridor provides the best source of food. The migration moves north towards the Grumeti River. Thousands of wildebeests can be seen from Kilometers and wildebeests start mating. On June majority of wildebeest continue West and North, reaching the black cotton soil of the western corridor. They start to graze on the longer grassland. Providing an annual feast for the resident crocodile.
July
As the winter closes in western Serengeti there is sense of urgency, this is normally around July. The wildebeest start heading North, once the herds reach the woodland, they start the break up. Smaller group of wildebeest make the way north. While the Thomson Gazelle are left of Serengeti woodland.
August
The migrations reach the north Serengeti National Park, With the predators following herds, the herds start to meet up as they reach the Mara River. Then head over close to Kenyan Boarder.
September
The winter is coming to the end Serengeti is starting to warm up, normally is around September. The migration enters Maasai Mara, Kenya to search for water and food. To reach there they must cross the Mara River. The lines of panic, confusion & madness can go on for hours. The residence crocodile feasts on those who cannot make it.
October
This is the dries month of Serengeti National Park. The migration is now in Maasai Mara where water is available as well as fresh grazing. The number of wildebeest remain in Tanzania depends on the grazing quality.
Then the whole Serengeti Wildebeest migration starts again….