FAQs for Great Migration from January to March

1. What is the estimated number of Wildebeest & Zebras involved in the Great Migration during this period? The migration is composed of around 2 million animals.

2. Are there any other notable wildlife species that can be seen apart from the migrating herds? Besides the notable Wildebeests, the Migration itself is also composed of Zebras and Thomson’s Gazelles. In addition, in the Southern Serengeti and Ndutu region itself you will be able to spot countless iconic species like giraffes, elephants, buffalos, hartebeests, impalas, hyenas, cheetahs, lions and more.

3. What is the weather like in South Serengeti and Ndutu during the Great Migration period? January and February are a part of the Green season, so the weather will be pleasant in general and some light showers might occur. However, they are relatively drier months and you can enjoy your safaris without any worry.

March, although, is a part of the Wet Season, and the conditions remain cloudy and humid. The frequency of showers really increases during this month. While most of the showers take place at night, you might have to deal with them for about a couple of hours during the day as well.

4. How is Ndutu different from South Serengeti? The main distinction between the two regions is that South Serengeti is a part of the Serengeti ecosystem, while Ndutu is a part of the adjacent Ngorongoro Conservation Area. They will be similar in terms of the landscapes and the animals that you see, but they are a part of two different areas.

5. Will I be staying in Southern Serengeti or Ndutu? Most accommodations are located in Ndutu and very few are on South Serengeti side. So you might most likely be staying in Ndutu but we can arrange your stay in Ndutu if you inform us in advance. Please note where you stay is where you do game drives. If you are staying at Ndutu, we do game drives in Ndutu and if you stay at South Serengeti, we do game drives in South Serengeti. If we cross into other area, extra park fees will be charged.

6. Can you provide more information about the accommodations available in the area during this time? Yes, there are various camps and lodges available in the area during this time to suit different budgets. In Ndutu you will find seasonal migration camps such as Tanzania bush camps Heritage Migration Camp, Ang’ata Migration Camp, and Nyikani Migration camp and many mare. On the other hand, Southern Serengeti has accommodations such as Kati Kati Migration Camp, Ndutu under canvas, Sanctuary Kichakani. There are are permanent tented lodges/lodges in Ndutu and South Serengeti like Ndutu lodge, Lake Ndutu luxury tented lodge, Lake Masek tented lodge on the Ndutu side and Sanctuary Kusini on South Serengeti side.

7. What is the recommended duration of stay to witness the Great Migration in this region? We would recommend staying at least two to three nights in Ndutu to witness the best of the migration along with the resident wildlife of Ndutu. Depending on other areas you may wish to cover, you can plan for an overall 3 to 10 night itinerary that covers great migration in Ndutu from January to March

8. Is there a specific best time within the January to March period to maximise the chances of seeing significant events during the Great Migration? Yes, the calving reaches its peak in February with about 8,000 wildebeests taking birth everyday! So if you wish to see plenty of babies around, February is the best time to visit.

9. Can you spot any other baby animals during this time? Yes, one can spot babies of animals such as zebras, gazelles, warthogs. Animals like elephants, giraffes, lions have babies round the year so if you are lucky, you might also spot them

10. Do the above tours visit only Ndutu or do we also visit other parks. Which other parks do you recommend to visit Most of the above tours visit Ngorongoro crater, Serengeti and several tours also include Tarangire, Manyara and more parks in the region. To check how we rate different parks, please check: https://monkey.travel/en/help/tanzania-park-ratings