Surprising Facts About the Serengeti Annual Wildebeest Migration-Tanzania

The World's Most Spectacular Wildlife Event

Each year around 1.5 million wildebeest and 300,000 zebra (along with other antelope) gather up their young and start their long trek from Tanzania's Serengeti Plains, further north to Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve. They go in search of food and water. Their journey runs in a clockwise circle and the animals cover a distance of around 1800 miles.

 So without further ado, here are some surprising facts about the annual wildebeest migration:

• To the casual observer, the “wildebeest migration” is less of a migration, and more of a “wildebeest standing around in small groups” phenomenon.

Wildebeest- just hanging out, like wildebeest do.

• The annual wildebeest migration has only been annual since the 1960s.  Prior to that, the wildebeest probably didn’t need to migrate because they had enough food in the Serengeti to last them through the year.

• Wildebeest aren’t the only animals who migrate from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara during this time of year, zebras and gazelles also join in the fun.

Zebras migrate too, who knew?

• Sometimes it feels like there are more tourists than wildebeest migrating through the Serengeti to the Masai Mara.

So many safari trucks.

• Wildebeest are very stupid and will often cross a river, then realize they left a family member on the other side, and cross back.  They will also stand at the side of the river for hours, say, until they get hot or until they see a zebra crossing the river, and then make their move.

Dear wildebeest, you’re going the wrong way!

If you ever get the chance to see the migration in action, I would recommend it.  Just don’t let your memories of The Lion King and Planet Earth ruin the fun of watching thousands of animals doing illogical, silly animal things.

• It's a tough journey, and every year an estimated 250,000 wildebeest don't make it.

• One of the most spectacular sights of the migration is when the herds gather to cross the Grumeti River (Tanzania) and the Mara River (Kenya) from July through September. As the herds cross, crocodiles are lying in wait for any weak and feeble ungulates that can't cope with the strong currents or lose their mothers.