Annual Wildebeest Migration in Maasai mara National Reserve ; The great migration of wildebeest  is the most ultimate Kenya safari adventure which is annual event that usually happens every year starts from July to October meaning they are the best months ever for the tourists on safari to Maasai Mara National Reserve Kenya .During that period of the year it can be a great rewardable time of watching millions of wildebeest migrating from Serengeti National park known as world’s top visited safari destination  located in Tanzania northwards and they do migrate into  the  Maasai Mara Reserve in Kenya. However, this great wildebeest is annual sheer event that boasts as one of the world’s most spectacular and memorable display of wildlife behaviors.

More so, this migration adventure takes place every year with the animal primal instincts guiding them towards greener pastures which follows the climatic rain fall patterns over the Serengeti-Maasai Mara eco system. Therefore, travelers who plans to reach out in order to enjoy this great annual wildebeest migration event we advise you to start planning your travel Mid July as it can be a fantastic time when the migration typically starts proper with the larger herds of wildebeest start to cross through Mara River into Maasai Mara from Serengeti National Park.  The migration takes place until the end of August before declining into mid-September.

Annual Wildebeest Migration in Maasai mara National Reserve
Annual Wildebeest Migration in Maasai mara National Reserve

Every year the number of tourists increases like the past migration have watches up to two million wildebeest close to a million Zebras and large number of others animals undertake the long trek can take many weeks. Although they face some challenges especially when they are crossing the crocodile infested Mara and Talek Rivers meaning along the way many cannot survive the giant Nile crocodiles lying in wait for their prey.

Since the wildebeest migration event in Maasai Mara attracts a lot of tourists to come be part of the event and has impacted a lot Kenya’s Tourism Hub to the level of being international destination because of this annual wildebeest event. Of which travelers planning a  Kenya Kenya  often ask questions related to the migration and we are listing the most common below for the sake of brevity.

What time of the year is the Wildebeest Migration Event?

However, the migration into Maasai Mara typically starts in July and ends late September. These dates are not predictable till the first large wildebeest herds gathers at the northern edge of Serengeti as they are near the Maasai Mara National Reserve. They are initially known to gather at a spot of the day on end without crossing over to Mara, so when the final leg of their movement starts is difficult to predict.

So What is the best time to visit Masai Mara –Adventure the Migration?  Based on year of experience would choose mid-July to late August as the best time to observe the migration event, this is a gradual annual event that takes place over several weeks at different locations along the Serengeti Masai Mara border.

Where do the wildebeest Migration to and from?

The movement of the wildebeest from Serengeti into Maasai Mara and is dictated by nature features such as climate, pasture and mating and calving seasons.  You should also put in mind that the wildebeest are migrating through the year in a generally clockwise direction covering vast areas that access into southern, Central and Western Serengeti before the year long trek brings Maasai Mara around July to August. Their movement back to Serengeti used to happens around late October this is less spectacular and more like slow dispersal.

Annual Wildebeest Migration in Maasai mara National Reserve
Maasai mara

How do you see the Wildebeest Migration?

You can still explore the migration during a Kenya safari game drive in the guide where the park guide will direct you to several core point of viewing the wildebeest cross the rivers. We recommend you to always use comfortable vehicles driver by experienced guided. It may be necessary access and point of view during a day long outing in the reserve as some of the lodge and camps, game drive can be up to an hour drive from the remarkable vantage points.  Most of the tourists who come to see the migration consider seeing the river crossing the highlight of their tour. Therefore, you can spend enough time at the main crossing points that tend to vary slightly every year while staying within a generally similar of the reserve.

Best time to visit Wildebeest Migration on Kenya Safari.

 Therefore, the great migration only happens once in years but the migration is in year round phenomenon event thus offering different unique wildlife experience at various times of the year. So the crossing usually occurs at Mara River around late July to August with parts of September and again on their return they use south around the last two week of October through early November.  Thus, the best times to have incredible adventure of the annual wildebeest migration in Maasai Mara.