where does the great migration start
The Great Wildebeest Migration is a natural spectacle that occurs in East Africa, primarily in the Maasai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania. The migration is a continuous, year-round movement of wildebeests, zebras, and other ungulates in search of fresh grazing lands and water. It doesn’t have a specific starting point, as it’s a circular and ongoing movement, but there are key moments and locations in the migration cycle.
The migration typically begins in the southern Serengeti around the start of the year, when the wildebeests give birth to their young calves. As the dry season progresses and the grass becomes depleted in the southern Serengeti, the herds start moving northward and eventually cross into the Maasai Mara in Kenya, typically between July and September. This is often considered the most dramatic phase of the migration when river crossings, such as the Mara River, are common, and predators like crocodiles and lions await their opportunity.
After their time in the Maasai Mara, the herds start heading back to the southern Serengeti in the late year and early months of the following year to repeat the cycle. So, while there isn’t a single “starting point” for the Great Wildebeest Migration, the cycle begins in the southern Serengeti and moves north into the Maasai Mara before returning south again. The exact timing and routes can vary somewhat from year to year due to factors like weather and the availability of food and water.
