How Many Days Are Enough for a Wildebeest Migration Safari?
Travelers from all over the world each year travel to East Africa to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration – a natural spectacle that sees over 1.5 million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of gazelles and Zebras. When Planning wildebeest migration safaris most travelers find it disturbing to determine how many days to spend on their safari and usually ask questions like; How Many Days Are Enough for a Wildebeest Migration Safari? How many days do I need on a wildebeest safari? How many days should I spend on a wildlife safari? With over 2 decades experience of organizing African Safaris/Wildlife Safaris/Wildebeest Migration safaris – our experts have developed this complete guide to help you determine how long to spend on your wildebeest migration safari tour.
How Many Days Are Enough for a Wildebeest Migration Safari? When planning a wildebeest migration safari tour, it is important to know that the length or duration of your safari depends on various factors, including your budget, interests, and the specific phase of the migration you wish to witness. When Planning a wildebeest migration tour, consider booking between 4 – 7 days as the best option however, there are several other options explained below. How Many Days Are Enough for a Wildebeest Migration Safari? We recommend spending between 4 to 7 days on your wildebeest migration safari. Enjoy reading through this comprehensive guide about the wildebeest migration safari packages to help you determine the ideal duration for your wildebeest migration safari.
Factors to consider when determining how long to spend on a Wildebeest Migration Safari
Time of Year & Migration Phase
Although the Great Wildebeest Migration is a year-round phenomenon, this event has different phases, each unfolding at different times of the year. Visitors that are interested in specific events and phases of the wildebeest migration like; the calving season and river crossing – you need to know when these events happen during the year. To better experience these phases of the wildebeest migration, here is a breakdown of the different durations of each phase and how long you need to have the best experience;
The Calving Season (January – March)
The wildebeest Calving season is one of the early phases of this natural migration and happens between January to March, after the mammals have returned from Kenya’s Masai Mara and have arrived at the southern Serengeti. The best place to witness the wildebeest calving on a wildebeest migration safari tour is the Ndutu region in southern Tanzania. Over 500,000 calves are born each day during this phase, replenishing the lost lives. To better experience the wildebeest calving season, we recommend spending between 4 to 6 days.
Grumeti River Crossing (May – June)
After the first phase which is the calving season, the large herds of mammal grazers start moving northwards to the central Serengeti and Western Corridor of Serengeti. The wildebeest that move to the western corridor will then gather at the banks of Grumeti before finally crossing it. The Grumeti river crossing usually happened between May and June. The To better experience this river crossing, we recommend spending at least 4 to 7 days in Serengeti. u with dramatic predator action; 4–7 days is recommended.
Mara River Crossing (July – October): How Many Days Are Enough for a Wildebeest Migration Safari?
Unlike the Grumeti river crossing which is less dramatic, the Mara river crossing is the number one highlight of the wildebeest migration. The Mara River is located in the northern part of Serengeti and southern Masai Mara National Reserve. This river is popular for its healthy population of giant Nile crocodiles and dramatic currents that are challenging for the wildebeest to cross. While planning a wildebeest migration safari, most travelers are interested in witnessing this dramatic river crossing experience. The Mara River crossing usually happens between July to October, with August and October being the peak times for witnessing this spectacle unfold. If you are interested in witnessing the dramatic River crossing, for a better experience, we recommend staying for 5 to 8 days as.
Different recommended safari durations for a wildebeest Migration Safari: How Many Days Are Enough for a Wildebeest Migration Safari?
Short Wildebeest Migration Safaris (3–4 Days)
The least you need to better experience wildebeest migration on a safari tour is between 3 to 4 days. If you have limited time for safari but wish to witness the spectacular wildebeest migration, a 3 to 4 days safari can be ideal. This short 3 Days safari tour can allow you to witness the wildebeest migration however, it is a limited time for a real wildlife adventure especially for travelers who would like to add other safari activities to the package. Although this allows you to witness the wildebeest, it is important to know that the areas where the wildebeest migration unfolds are large and require more time for a better exploration.
This short 3-4 days safari also focuses only on a single location (Serengeti or Masai Mara) since 3 or 4 days are not enough to explore both Serengeti and Masai Mara National Reserve.
Booking a standard wildebeest migration safari (5–7 Days)
Between 5 to 7 days is considered a standard duration for a wildebeest migration safari because it is generally enough time for you to explore multiple regions in both areas. This is ample time to travel across Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. We also recommend 5 to 7 days as the best duration for a wildebeest migration safari in Africa.
On this standard wildebeest migration safari, you’ll have increased chances of witnessing the wildebeest cross the crocodile-infested river since you have multiple days of adventure. It also allow you to include other activities on your safari package including; cultural visits, hot air balloon rides, and game drives to search for the African Big Five Animals.
Booking an Extended Wildebeest Migration Safari (8+ Days)
If you are looking forward to experiencing beyond the magical wildebeest migration, an extended safari is a great choice. The extended tours grant you 8 days and more to adventure the iconic wildebeest migration ecosystem and participate in various safari activities that will enhance your safari experience. Spending 8 days or more also allows you to travel between the two wildebeest migration-protected areas (Serengeti & Masai Mara) on your single visit. You’ll enjoy a number of other top safari activities besides witnessing the wildebeest migration since you’ll have enough time for adventure.
The other advantage of an extended safari is the opportunity to add other top nearby destinations on your itinerary. You’ll visit iconic destinations like the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania among others.
Embark on a memorable wildlife safari adventure with us today and witness one of the world’s most spectacular events unfold in real time. Book our well customized wildebeest migration tours today and enjoy life long memories of Africa.