The start of the year falls in the middle of the ‘green season’, right between the ‘short’ and ‘long’ rains. The plains form a beautiful palette of green, the air is clear from dust, and the wildlife is relatively easy to spot. As the grass turns green, it also attracts the wildebeest moving in from the north into the southern Serengeti, Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Salei Plains. Some afternoon showers can be expected, but they only last for a short period and usually don’t affect your game drives.
Temperatures reach an average high of 28°C (82°F) and a low of 15°C (59°F). January is a warm month, and other wildlife is easier to spot since the vegetation is less lush. Animals tend to gather around rivers and water holes.
The Wildebeest Migration in January can be spotted in the Ndutu Conservation Area and Serengeti South. It is believed this is where a wildebeest life starts, where the calving and birthing of wildebeest calves happen.
The Calving Season starts from January till the end of March. It’s recorded that more than 8000+ calves are born daily between January and March. In January, the calving season can be noted towards the end of the month.
The wildebeests will be arriving in Ndutu and South Serengeti ready to start their biological obligation which is to give birth to young calves. They look for better places to settle, with lots of water and food.
The Wildebeests Arrive from a long Journey to the South of Serengeti, all ready for another season of biting known as Wildebeest Calving Season
At this time of the year, the female wildebeest are in their final month of pregnancy. As soon as the rain starts to fall, the wildebeest’s top priority is to seek new-growth grasses as sustenance for their newborn youngsters.
Tourists abound over the Christmas and New Year holidays, especially in the Ngorongoro area. But with good planning, the big lodges and crowds around the crater’s rim can easily be avoided.