All you need to know about the Wildebeest Calving in Tanzania 2023
For many of us, the wildebeest migration conjures up images of a seemingly never-ending line of millions of wildebeest on their significant migration or the action-packed river crossings. The famed Mara crossing is, without a doubt, one of the major highlights of the yearly Great Wildebeest Migration. However, the beauty of the calving season is something that many people ignore. Witnessing the incredible spectacle of a wildebeest calving is one of Africa’s most memorable visitor experiences.
What is The Wildebeest Calving Season?
The calving season is part of the great wildebeest migration that happens every year in Kenya and Tanzania. The wildebeest migration is a year-round movement of millions of wildebeest, zebras, and even gazelles across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. The animals follow an old route searching for new grazing land and water. However, their movements can be unpredictable as they are triggered by the east African rains that have changed over the past few years.
As the year begins, life in the wildebeest herd begins every year. During this period, around 8000 thousand baby wildebeest are born each day. The calving season can be described as a genuinely intimate African experience. Watch as a pregnant wildebeest gives birth on open fields while keeping an eye out for predators and as newborn wildebeests struggle to stand and walk in their first minutes. Nothing compares to witnessing a young wildebeest bolt from its mother only a few days after birth.
Where Can You See the Wildebeest Calving Season?
After the phenomenal Mara river- crossing in Kenya, the wildebeest herd stays in Kenya only for a short while before thoughts of migration start again. The dry season begins around December, which triggers migration and animals begin moving south of the Serengeti National Park in search of short grass.
Around January, the southern plans of the Serengeti are green and ready to provide fresh grazing and vigor for the calving season. Once in the south Serengeti, the animals spread out into neighboring areas, including the Ndutu region, Lake Masek, and the Ngorongoro conservation area, where the calving occurs.
When is the best time to see the wildebeest calving season?
Timing is always crucial when planning any safari. To experience the magnificent spectacle of the calving season, one has to know the best time to be in Serengeti national park. Calving takes place in January and February each year. The wildebeest are ready to give birth once they reach the fertile Ndutu region.
Over half a million baby wildebeests will join the herd by mid-February in two or three weeks. The spectacle is marked by over 8000 wildebeest being born daily. The Calving season carries on to March when other animals join in the calving. Thousands of zebras and gazelles who always accompany the wildebeest on the migration take advantage of safety in numbers to give birth to their young ones.
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What to Expect from The Wildebeest Calving Season?
Any safari enthusiast’s bucket list should include witnessing the incredible wildebeest calving spectacle. Believe me when I say that this is among the most amazing experiences one can have on the African plains. The calving includes many unforgettable and wonderful scenes worth your time.
One is the significant and synchronized birthing by the wildebeest in 3 weeks, where more than 500,000 newborn calves join this world. It’s incredible to watch baby wildebeests learn to stand and walk just minutes after birth, and within a few days, they will be running off trying to escape the predators.
The overwhelming number of calves born during this period attracts predators. During calving season, the Southern Serengeti and Western Ngorongoro Conservation areas have the highest number of predators in Africa.
The young and Inexperienced animals act as magnets for the big cats such as lions, cheetahs, leopards, and also, hyenas, jackals, and African wild dogs. During this time, the chances of seeing a predator-prey confrontation and kill are high. However, female wildebeest instinctively do their best to protect the birthing mothers and their young ones.
The young ones are now stronger around March as the migration starts again. As the Ndutu region starts to dry, the animals have to move to look for better grazing areas and better weather.
Traveling to the Serengeti during the calving season guarantees a fantastic trip filled with awe and activity. Are you looking for a unique opportunity to witness something other than the customary river crossing during the migration? Then there’s the calving season. Engage our expertise to assist you in planning the best wildebeest calving safari of your life.
