Where Is The Wildebeest Migration In March?
After a long period of grazing in the Ndutu region, the once green grass is now over-grazed, with little left for the enlarged herd. The time to move on has come.
Wildebeest with newborn calf on the Ndutu Plains
Where is the wildebeest migration in March?
By this point, the green plains are littered with white patches of bones and carcasses, and vultures and other scavengers are feasting on the leftovers. The wildebeest and Thomson’s gazelle continue to give birth until mid-March. They still occupy the Ndutu and Kusini Maswa region, but due to the lack of food, they gradually start preparing for the next phase of the migration. Because of the newborn calves, they move slowly and predictably.
Is March a good time to see the great migration?
At the same time, the long rains are starting to build up, so expect some afternoon showers. You’ll hear rumblings of thunderstorms to the north and west, and soon the herds will be following their noses in search of rain and fresh grass.
The predators are still very busy. Lions, leopards and cheetahs continue to revel in the easy prey. This also makes Ndutu unique because it’s one of the few wildernesses where lions and cheetahs can cohabit in peace, as there is more than enough food for all predators for a substantial part of the year.
The mystique of Ndutu
Offering some of the world’s best wildlife viewing during the green season, Ndutu is situated at the centre of the southern plains, in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Blanketed with a forest of acacia trees, this is where the wildebeest give birth, and during the calving season in February to March, the fields are dotted with millions of youngsters.
Ndutu is also one of the best places to see the six different species of cat; lion, leopard, cheetah, serval, caracal and wild cat. During the calving season, it’s also the top destination if you want to see cheetahs in action hunting the newborn. Year-round, the wet marshes provide for a huge amount of resident animals and wetland birdlife.
Since the 1960s, Ndutu had been a destination for many distinguished authors, filmmakers, and wildlife biologists. Researchers Jane Goodall and Hugo van Lawick used Ndutu as a base for much of their research.
About the authors
Hans Cosmas Ngoteya
Hans Cosmas Ngoteya is a conservationist from Tanzania, a National Geographic Explorer, and co-founder of numerous conservation organisations including Ngoteya Wild, Landscape and Conservation Mentors Organization and Tanzania Wildlife Media Association.
Heather Richardson
Heather is an award-winning journalist and editor based in Cape Town, South Africa. She writes for the BBC, Sunday Times, National Geographic, Lonely Planet, Departures Magazine, among others.
Anthony Ham
Anthony is a renowned travel journalist and guidebook author and is one of the world's leading authorities on Africa safari, wildlife and conservation. He has been travelling to Africa for more than two decades to research Africa safari guidebooks for Lonely Planet. He is widely published in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, The Monthly, Virginia Quarterly Review (VQR), National Geographic Traveler, BBC Wildlife, Lonely Planet Traveller, Africa Geographic, The Independent, Travel Africa, among many others.
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