Should I visit Serengeti or Masai Mara for wildebeest migration? (Masai Mara vs. Serengeti)

Both Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve are renowned wildlife viewing safari destinations, teeming with large numbers of wildlife all year – making them prime location for African wildlife Safari holidays.  Serengeti and Masai Mara are neighbors separated by an International boundary which is usually crossed by wildlife – especially the wildebeest during the great migration. The area covered by the Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve creates one of Africa’s largest ecosystems (the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem) renowned for hosting one of the largest terrestrial mammal migrations on Earth, the Great Wildebeest Migration. When planning safaris, most travelers ask; Should I visit Serengeti or Masai Mara for wildebeest migration? Serengeti or Masai Mara which is better?

This complete guide is designed with all the necessary information you need in order to decide where to go between Serengeti and Masai Mara. If you are looking forward to visiting Africa for a holiday tour or vacation but still finding it difficult to choose between Serengeti and Masai Mara, this complete guide will help you to better understand each of these destinations allowing you to choose the one that best suites your interests. Should I visit Serengeti or Masai Mara for wildebeest migration? Depending on what you are interested in seeing, both Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve are good wildlife viewing safari destinations in Africa.

What is the best place to witness the Great wildebeest migration Masai Mara or Serengeti?

Both Serengeti and Masai Mara host the spectacular wildebeest migration, and each year-round, travelers from all over the world come to witness it unfold. Over 2 million wildebeests and hundreds of thousands of gazelles and zebras move across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem in a clockwise direction, following the rainfall patterns that facilitate the growth of nutritious pastures necessary for their survival.

Although it is unclear how the wildebeest know which direction to take, it is believed that they are driven by natural instinct. The migration follows an old age route and can be predicted in accordance with the rainfall patterns in this region. Both Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve offer incredible wildebeest viewing opportunities however, depending on what phase of the migration you are interested in witnessing, one destination may have an advantage over the other.

Generally, the larger part of the wildebeest migration happens in Serengeti National Park, starting with the calving season that takes place in the southern part of the park in Ndutu, near Ngorongoro. The wildebeest then move towards central Serengeti and the western corridor between April and June and by the end of June, they cross the Grumeti River and continue with their journey. Between July and October is the most popular period for wildebeest migration safari, this time see the large herds take on the dramatic Mara River from where they cross over to Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve. The Mara River crossing can be witnessed on both sides (Serengeti &Masai Mara).

The herds will spend about a month in Masai Mara and by mid December, they will journey back southwards to Serengeti National Park where the circle repeats again. Should I visit Serengeti or Masai Mara for wildebeest migration? For those so passionate about witnessing this migration, Serengeti is the best destination since the larger part of the migration happens here.

What is the best time to see the wildebeest migration in Serengeti and Masai Mara? Serengeti vs Masai Mara

The best time for witnessing the wildebeest migration in Serengeti is from June to October when the wildebeest take on the challenging Mara River. Although this is the popular time for wildebeest migration safaris, you can also witness the wildebeest in Serengeti during other months, from November to July. For those interested in witnessing the popular wildebeest calving season, the best time to visit Serengeti National Park is between January to March.

For those planning to visit Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya for wildebeest viewing, the best time to visit is between August and September. At this time of the year, the migrating herds start arriving in the Reserve after crossing the deadly Mara River.

The African Big Five in Serengeti and Masai Mara

Both Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve are great destinations for viewing the African Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant). One of the most sought after by most safari wildlife enthusiasts are the African Big Five. The term African Big Five is a tern coined by the early big game hunters, referring to the most dangerous animals to hunt on foot. The African Big Five are also the most iconic African wildlife species and a must see during a wildlife viewing safari in Africa.

Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park is a better destination for spotting all the big five than Masai Mara National Reserve since it has a high concentration of these species. The Seronera Valley located within the central Serengeti is the best place to spot the leopards and other members of the African Big Five. While in Serengeti, you can as well combine your safari with a visit to the iconic Ngorongoro Crater, one of the most wildlife-concentrated areas. It is also important to know that rhinos are scarce and hard to see although they can be spotted in both Serengeti and Masai Mara. When it comes to the African Big Five, Serengeti beats Masai Mara hands down.

Safari prices for Serengeti and Masai Mara: Serengeti or Masai Mara which one is expensive?

There is not big difference when it comes to safari prices for Serengeti and Masai Mara as the two destinations have almost the same prices. The final price of a safari is usually influenced by several factors like the level of comfort and time of travel. We offer affordable safaris to both Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve.

Serengeti National Park is however more expensive compared to Masai Mara when it comes to safari prices. One of the reasons as to why Serengeti is expensive is because of the large size of the national park and the presence of few budget-friendly accommodation facilities. When compiling the final cost of a safari to Serengeti and Masai Mara, there are several factors that  you must consider and these include accommodation, transport, season of travel, group size you are traveling with, the number of days spent on the safari and many more others. Read more about safari prices here.

Explore Serengeti and Masai Mara and get a chance to witness the spectacular wildebeest migration unfold, witness the African Big Five, and the spectacular sceneries.