The best places to stay in East Africa during a great wildebeest migration safari : The largest mountain on the continent, Mount Kilimanjaro, the most stunning beaches in the world, the Ngorongoro crater, gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and cultural experiences with the Maasai tribes are just a few of the many attractions East Africa has to offer tourists. However, in my opinion, the great wildebeest migration is the most magical, amazing, and unforgettable safari experience of all safaris in East Africa. Discovering it will make your safari journey unforgettable and once in a lifetime. It is one of the best safari experiences not only in East Africa but in the entire world. When planning a vacation to East Africa and wanting it to be wonderful, the great wildebeest migration safari in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park should without a doubt be at the top of your bucket list.
One of the most thrilling wildlife spectacles on Earth, the Great Wildebeest Migration, involves almost two million animals traveling 3,000 kilometers across East Africa. Massive herds of wildebeest and zebra travel from the Serengeti plains into the Maasai Mara National Reserve, joined by tens of thousands of zebra, eland, and Thompson’s gazelle. Opportunistic predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs are hard on their heels, hoping to profit from this bonanza.
The Great Wildebeest Migration delivers stunning wildlife scenes, like newborn calves taking their first steps and animals being pulled into rivers by crocodiles, in addition to the sheer quantity of animals on the move. It certainly is a photographer’s paradise, supported by the breathtaking landscapes of Tanzania and Kenya.
The timing of the migration is determined by nature, as the herds travel in accordance with the rains. It includes a variety of private wildlife reserves and conservancies along the Tanzania/Kenya border, in addition to the Serengeti and Maasai Mara. While this makes it challenging to be in the right spot at the right time, the migration is a yearly occurrence, so action is constantly happening somewhere.
WHEN TO SEE THE GREAT WILDEBEEST MIGRATION
The Southern Serengeti’s lush plains are where the wildebeest congregate in January and February to give birth to their young. The best time to visit the area is from January to March if you want to witness carnivores such as lions, cheetahs, and others preying on the young. Additionally, now is a great time to see animals in rut, as males compete for females amid intense sexual activity.
The herds start heading north from the Southern Serengeti and the western highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area around April. They pass through the renowned lion habitat of the Simba Kopjes. They migrate across the stony kopjes of the Western Corridor after passing through the Moru Kopjes and Seronera in Central Serengeti.
The herds began to gather on the banks of the Grumeti River in May as they got ready to cross this body of water that is home to crocodiles. From this point, some of the animals will travel north through the Grumeti Reserve and the Ikorongo Controlled Area, while others will travel east into the Northern Serengeti’s open woods.
When the herds move from the Serengeti into Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, July through September is the best time to witness the fabled Mara River crossing. If they make it to the Maasai Mara safely, they will graze there for the entire month of October before heading back south, arriving in the Seronera region in November and the Southern Serengeti plains in December,The best places to stay in East Africa during a great wildebeest migration safari.
It’s critical to remember that this is merely a guide for organizing your migration safari in East Africa because the herds can disperse widely and occasionally miss the scheduled arrival at the river crossings. Occasionally (depending on rainfall), they’ll linger a little longer in one spot or even turn around.
BEST ACCOMMODATION TO EXPERIENCE THE MIGRATION’S CALVING AND RUTTING SEASON (DECEMBER TO MARCH)
Four Seasons Serengeti
The Four Seasons Safari Lodge is a family-friendly choice with expansive views across the broad savannah of the wildlife-rich Seronera area, making it perfect for first-timers due to its resort-like atmosphere. Daily game drives are available to see all the action in the area. It also has an on-site fitness center, a dazzling pool, and a full-service spa where you can unwind during the sweltering summer months.
One Nature Nyaruswiga Camp
One Nature is located in Central Serengeti. The magnificent camp of Nyaruswiga is tucked away in a valley that the yearly migration travels through. Elegant wood-burning stoves and tasteful furniture can be found in its luxury tented suites, and the camp’s plunge pool and Jacuzzi encourage you to unwind at the end of the day.
Mwiba Lodge
Mwiba Lodge, located in the center of the Southern Serengeti and surrounded by enormous boulders on the Arugusinyai River, is the ideal place to observe the herds raising their young. There are just eight suites that have been specifically created to blend in with the surroundings. Daily wildlife drives, safari walks, and family-friendly bush excursions are all available for guests to experience.
BEST ACCOMMODATION TO SEE THE GRUMETI RIVER CROSSING (MAY TO JULY).
Singita Faru-Faru Lodge
Singita Faru-Faru Lodge, located in a private wildlife reserve with a view of the Grumeti River, gives you a front-row seat for your East African migratory safari. It has nine traditionally styled suites with panoramic glass windows, a fitness center, and a spa where you can unwind when you’re not out on the open road in search of wildlife or exploring the nearby communities, The best places to stay in East Africa during a great wildebeest migration safari
Andbeyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp
The Andbeyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp, which is located on a branch of the Grumeti River, is a great vantage point from which to observe the herds as they try the perilous river crossing. Additionally, it is one of the few places in Tanzania where you can observe black and white colobus monkeys, and it is just next to a hippo pool where you may view these creatures lazing around at twilight.
BEST ACCOMMODATION TO SEE THE MARA RIVER CROSSING (JULY TO SEPTEMBER).
Sayari Tented Camp
This notable camp, located in the isolated Northern Serengeti, provides simple access to the Mara River crossing for migration. The opulent tented apartments are surrounded by wild rock formations and Turner Hill’s volcanic top, and elephant sightings may frequently be had in the rim-flow pool.
Lamai Serengeti Camp
The Lamai Serengeti Camp is tucked amongst the rocky outcrops of Kogakuria Kopje and offers breathtaking views from its organically styled accommodations. It is situated along the path of the migration through the Northern Serengeti, and daily game drives provide easy access to all the excitement on the Mara River’s banks, The best places to stay in East Africa during a great wildebeest migration safari.
Serengeti Bushtops
This luxurious tented camp, which enjoys a picturesque location next to the Mara River, is in an ideal location to experience the thrilling river crossing. It consists of 14 exquisite tents with private hot tubs and round-the-clock butler service, gourmet food, and top-notch wines served al fresco.
BEST ACCOMMODATION FOR YEAR-ROUND MIGRATION ACTION.
Roving Bushtops Tented Camp
The Roving Bushtops Tented Camp is a distinctive mobile camp that travels between the Seronera region of Central Serengeti and Kusini in the Deep South. It has just six opulently built tents and 24-hour butler service. Its base in Seronera is strategically located to observe the herds as they move from Kusini, where the wildebeest give birth to their young, to the north in June/July and back south in October/November.
Serengeti under Canvas
Serengeti under Canvas is a mobile camp that relocates five times a year to follow the Great Wildebeest Migration and has just nine opulent tents. You’ll get a private butler service, sumptuous mattresses, and chandeliers while being right in the middle of the action.
