The wildebeest migration is usually driven by rainfall pattern. The wildebeest movement, which is also famously referred to as the Seven New Wonders of the World, creates a dynamic clockwise cycle of wildlife movement around the year.
There is no specific schedule for the migrations since the rains are unpredictable. Moreover, there is no specific route followed by the wildebeests. Separation into groups heading in different directions is witnessed as well.
Large populations of Wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle are involved in the migration.
The large part of the migration takes place in Tanzania around the large Serengeti ecosystem. They move around major conservation areas, which include Loliondo Controlled area, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti National park, Grumeti Controlled area, and Ikorongo Controlled area.
The climax of the wildebeest migration is the Mara “river crossings”. This occurs in late August and early November as the herd crosses river Mara from Serengeti to the Maasai Mara game reserve and again from the Mara to western Loliondo and Lobo area in Serengeti National Park.
A large number of wildebeests lose lives along the way as they are predated on mostly by lions and crocodiles.
The wildebeests are in Maasai Mara for just three months after which they migrate back to Serengeti ecosystem in Tanzania.