The Great Wildebeest Migration in Tanzania

(17 Reviews)
100% Recommended

Lindsey Levak

Tuscany Travel Agent Expert

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The annual wildebeest migration from the Serengeti in Tanzania to Masai Mara has been classified among the "Seven Wonders of the World" because there is no other experience that compares in scale to the massive number of animals that constitute this migration.  It is a spectacular, beautiful, spiritual mass of movement unlike anything I have ever seen before in my life. 


I have had the ultimate pleasure of going to Tanzania to witness the awe-inspiring wildlife phenomena.  I flew into the Kilimanjaro Airport in the North of Tanzania and then had to take a domestic flight on a very small plane into the Lobo Airstrip, which is near the Serengeti Migration Camp.  It was like flying in a pack of gum you could feel every movement that the pilots and subsequently the plane made.  It was so exhilarating and I was on the edge of my seat.  


I had no idea what to expect when we landed, but the first thing that I saw on the airstrip was a giraffe calmly moving out of the way of the plane and a zebra grazing at the end of the strip where the dirt turned to grass.  It felt like a dream.  An amazing African dream that I never wanted to wake up from. 


 The primary participants in the Great Migration are the wildebeests, which number in the millions, but they are not alone. Zebras, gazelles, and other herbivores join the procession, creating a vast and diverse assemblage of wildlife. This migration is not only a remarkable event for herbivores but also attracts predators, including lions, cheetahs, and hyenas, seeking to capitalize on the abundance of prey.  This annual migration is a testament to the wonders of the natural world and draws attention to the importance of conservation efforts in preserving these extraordinary ecosystems.  


The migration primarily takes place between the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The circular route spans approximately 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) and covers diverse landscapes, including grasslands, woodlands, and river crossings.  The river crossings are particularly dangerous for the wildebeests. This is because they are being constantly stocked by lions, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas while crossing on land, then when they jump in the river the crocodiles are waiting for them and pick them off one by one in the water.  The lucky ones that do make it across are met by more of the same predators on land on the other side.  It is not an easy feat. 


Once we landed on the airstrip, a few guards were waiting outside the plane and grabbed my bag, threw it in a jeep and pointed to the front seat for me to get in.  I jumped in and we were off!  The drive to the reserve where I was staying was about 25 minutes away and I saw more animals than you could find in an entire zoo in that amount of time.  I saw baboons, zebras, giraffes, warthogs (or pumbas!), buffalo, wildebeest, gazelles, birds and so much more!  There are no words to describe this beautiful land and the animals that are meant to live there and be free in their natural habitat.  I felt as though I was the luckiest guest ever to be in their presence.  


I reached the camp and immediately wanted to go exploring.  I wasn't allowed to go without a guard since there are predators roaming around in that area.  I was, however, allowed to go on an evening game drive in the jeep and that was incredible.  It was just before dusk and the animals were restless and hungry.  I got to see lions out hunting in the grass, I got to see a cheetah that had just finished it's kill.  The warthogs were prancing around as if to celebrate the passing of the hot day to the cool evening weather.  I got to see gazelles running in every direction trying to stay out of harms way.  It looked like organized chaos that I couldn't understand, but they knew exactly what they were doing.  It was all as it was meant to be....completely untouched and unaltered by humans and infrastructure.  


The food that I ate every day was incredible.  I got to eat with the staff on the private reserve and it was so much fun and informative.  They had so much knowledge about the land, the animals and the history.  I looked forward to every meal.  


The absolute pinnacle of my trip was taking a hot air balloon ride one evening.  We lifted off and started out by following the wildebeest migration from just above the herd.  The herd itself was massive, it looked never ending to me.  We were gliding just high enough to stay with their pace.  We had a vantage point of predators on all sides and of the wildebeest's narrow vision towards their goal straight ahead of them.  It was magical and I don't think I have ever felt more alive or lucky to be there.  It was the kind of moment that cannot be described by words or pictures, it is a feeling and it was a natural high unlike any other.  


I have been lucky enough to travel the world and have had so many amazing experiences because of my travels, but I had to share this so that others can as well.

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