The journey for the key players in the Great Migration, the roughly two million wildebeest, starts in the south of the Serengeti, with the birth of half a million calves between January and March. A favourite season for many of the seasoned Serengeti guides: the air during these months is full of new life and action. 

Why do wildebeest migrate?

The 800 kilometer trek of the immense wildebeest herd is the largest mammal migration on earth. The timing of the migration coincides with greening of nutritious grasses on the short-grass plains during the wet season. These areas are safer because predators can be easily spotted making it an ideal place for calving. However, the plains dry and the wildebeest are forced to move in search of greener pastures in the western corridor. The northern extension of the ecosystem has the highest rainfall, but the grasses are least nutritious. This is the dry season retreat for the wildebeest, at least until the south becomes green again. The result is a clockwise movement from the south, west, north, and back to the south.

The Great Migration in short

A better representation of the circle of life probably cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The journey starts in Southern Serengeti when wildebeest calves are being born. Predators like lions and hyenas are constantly hunting for babies, and thousands and thousands of calves are born within a couple weeks of each other – a feast for the eyes of true wildlife enthusiasts.

When the drought comes in May, the herd moves north, towards the Masai Mara in Kenya, chomping down the high green grass, quickly followed by the gazelles and zebras. The migration is not without risk: crossing rivers means facing about 3,000 crocodiles, patiently waiting for a kill. Not to mention the famous Serengeti lion population: by far the largest in Africa. Despite the abundance of hoofed meat in this area, life is not easy for these big cats in this unforgiving landscape. But seeing a group of lions collaborating to hunt down a wildebeest is an unforgettable sight.

Then, with the beginning of the short rains in late October, the migration makes its way back into the Serengeti. By December, the herds trek past Seronera - a small settlement in central Serengeti where the official Serengeti Visitors’ Centre is located - to return to their calving grounds again, and the circle is complete.

The Great Migration in detail

When planning your Serengeti safari you probably want to include seeing the Great Migration. So how do you ensure to be there when it happens? The long and short of it is that you can’t. It is important to realize that the decision of when to visit the Serengeti always involves an element of risk. We have detailed the Great Migration below, and this is what usually happens, but keep in mind that there are no guarantees.

The annual migration of two million ungulates, wildebeest but also enormous groups of zebra and Thomson's gazelle, Grant's gazelle and eland, through Serengeti National Park is the greatest wildlife spectacle of its type in Africa, and perhaps the world. Although variations occur from year to year, the Serengeti migration follows a reasonably predictable annual cycle, dictated by local rainfall patterns. The Great Migration cycle breaks up into the following periods:

December-April

We can find the main calving grounds in the area southeast of Seronera: typical Serengeti plains stretch all the way to the Ndutu area near Ngorongoro. Triggering their move to this area are the short rains in November and December. The wildebeest stick around this area until the end of the long rains, end of April, early May. The delightful news is that this section of Serengeti National Park is easily accessible and that in this period the landscape becomes lush. February is usually calving season in the Ndutu area and the southeastern plains: the very best time to visit this area. As wildebeest, zebra and other ungulates are so many, and give birth to so many calves, the spectacle works as a magnet for predators. As early as March or April the herd may move again in search of greener pastures. Seeing the actual migration in this period is more difficult, but chances are that you will encounter very large herds on the move.

May-July

This is the period that the wildebeest, after having feasted on the short green grasses of the southeastern Serengeti and after having giving birth to their offspring, start getting ready for their 800 kilometer long trek. The actual starting date may be anytime between late April and early June. This is the time to you may have the privilege to see one of the greatest natural phenomena in the world: more than a million marching animals in a column up to 40 kilometers long. During the migration, the herd will move towards the Western Corridor, where they will face the first major obstacle: crossing the Grumeti River. Many animals don’t survive the crossing as they are being awaited by the area’s population of oversized crocodiles ready to feast. The herd may congregate on the southern bank of the river and stay there for up to two weeks before crossing the river.

August-September

When the Grumeti River obstacle has been taken, the herd moves further north and starts crossing the next big hurdle, the Mara River, in July or August. The Mara River crossing is where so many iconic Great Migration photos have been taken. After this crossing the herd flocks to the northwest plains and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The August – September period is considered being a bad time to visit Serengeti National Park and see the Great Migration as the herd moves into the Masai Mara in Kenya. However, migration patterns show that about half of the herd stays on the Tanzanian side, in the Mara Serengeti area. In this period, smaller herds of wildebeest (well consider small… herds may count up to between 500 and thousands of individuals) frequently cross the Mara River, back and forth, for no apparent reason. This is an excellent time to stay at one of the Serengeti Mara camps.

October-November

Crossing the Mara River northbound means that, at one point, the herd needs to cross the river one more time before commencing the trek back in a southerly direction. This usually happens in October, but sometimes earlier. In this period the herd will cross the northern plains and Lobo area. This section of Serengeti National Park is little-visited, so if you are looking to see the migration in relative quietness, this would be the time. The wildebeest return to the short- grass plains and calving ground around Ndutu in late November. And from here, the Great Migration starts all over again.

The Holy Family continued northwards along the Nile Delta till they reached the town of Sebennytos (Samannud), which is situated along the Damietta branch of the Nile. A local tradition in Samannud relates that the present Church of Apa Nub was built on the ruins of an ancient church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, which, in turn, was built on the site where the Holy Family stayed. Having crossed the Damietta branch of the Nile, the Holy Family traveled westwards. On the way, Jesus put His foot upon a stone, and the mark of the sole of His foot remained upon the stone, and the place became known as Bikha Isous, that is to say the footprint of Jesus. Bikha Isous might be the town of Sakha, about two kilometers south of Kafr El-Shaikh. After Bikha Isous, the Holy Family traveled westwards and crossed the Rosetta branch of the Nile. Continuing their journey, they saw, from a far, the Desert of Scetis (the Wadi an-Natrun), and Jesus blessed it.

1- Papyrus

2- Brass and Copperware

The souqs are full of stalls piled high with items made locally, from brass candlesticks and coffee sets to huge wagon wheel-sized copper trays and crescent moons for the tops of minarets. 

3- Sheesha Pipes

Every Egyptian coffeehouse is filled with men smoking sheesha pipes, the Middle Eastern water pipe. You’ll find them in any souq, but the greatest selection is found in Cairo’s Khan al-Khalili.

4- Egyptian Cotton

Cotton as a crop was introduced into Egypt in the 19th century and almost ever since Egypt has been renowned for the quality of its cotton goods, especially sheets and towels. Much of the best cotton is exported and what you find locally is often inferior. However, certain shops in malls and hotels sell top-quality goods.

Egyptians buy large quantities of gold and silver as traditionally many feel it’s safer than putting their money in the banks. Precious metals are sold by the gram in the souqs; with jewelry, a percentage is then added to the price for the workmanship. A favorite Egypt souvenir is a cartouche with hieroglyphs.

6- Carpets and Rugs

Unlike Turkey, Morocco or Iran, Egypt is not a major carpetmaking nation and the work is generally inferior to that in those countries. Rugs and tapestries are woven from coarse wool or camel hair, typically in beige and brown. Colorful picture rugs depicting rural scenes are produced at the Ramses Wissa Wassef Art Centre.

7- Spices

Spices are widely sold in the souqs. They are fresher and of better quality than the packaged variety sold in the West, especially cinnamon, cumin, and dukkah, which is a blend of spices.

8- Inlay Work

Among the most attractive items produced in Egypt are wooden boxes inlaid with slivers of bone, ivory or mother-of-pearl. Hardwood backgammon boards are also often inlaid in this way.

9- Cartouche

One of the most common souvenirs acquired in Egypt are the cartouches, some hanging adornments of gold or silver in which names are sculpted, in general, of between 4 and 6 letters. The engraving is done in hieroglyphics and must be ordered one day in advance.

10- Egyptian Galabeya

The Galabeya is a traditional dress in Egypt, consisting of a loose weave for men and women. Although you may not find many who wear them in the capital of Cairo, it is possible to locate people in rural areas who still wear them. Jalabeya designs and styles differ in each region of Egypt: some are colorful and others are black with embroidery. Jalabeyas for men are generally more basic, being made of very light or very dark fabrics, with little embellishment.

11- Belly Dancer Costume

Belly dance, of Egyptian origin, is an expressive Arabic dance that includes certain movements and specific music. There are belly dance costumes of different styles and colors, and they are designed with bright and shiny embroidery. They are very common among tourists as souvenirs; however, they are not designed to be worn outdoors.

Henna is an age-old shrub that has elegantly worked its way into history and literature, much like the vines it’s used to paint. As an art, it’s brought alive through the opinions of Pharaohs and written into the memoirs of Galileo’s company, featured in anything from the works John Baptist Porta to Scheherazade’s hazy and dreamlike danse macabre to gloried Indian ceremonials. Truly, there are very few cloisters of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and South Eastern cultures that don’t feature henna as a recurring art.

Between 2006 and 2009, the tower underwent an £E15 million restoration project that included a new installation of light decoration. It was stated that the project used the LED lamp for its efficiency on energy consumption.