Serengeti Wildebeest Migration in October At this point, the migration is quite scattered. Some wildebeest begin the long trek to the south back into the Serengeti, but some remain in the Maasai Mara for the whole month. The southern region of the Maasai Mara is still filled with lots of game.
By this time, almost all of the big tourist crowds have left, so it’s one of the best months for a safari. Expect many animals, and fairly easy sightings — and you don’t have to compete with throngs of other vehicles and people.
The best place to be is in the southern and central regions of the Mara, as most of the wildebeest have left the northern parts. The animals will move slowly in their search for water and green grass. Another good area is the northeast Serengeti and Loliondo Game Reserve, where the animals are returning after their foray into Kenya.
The movement starts in early October and down to the eastern side of Serengeti throughout October, to catch up with the short rains that the Central and Eastern Serengeti sides experience.
After the East African short rains in late October and early November, the wildebeest move down from Kenya and into the eastern limits of the Serengeti past Namiri Plains, an area known for outstanding cheetah sightings.
To enjoy wildebeest sightings in October, it is recommended to visit the Eastern and Central parts of the Serengeti, as there are many huge herds.
Although it’s also easy to see Mara river crossings in northern Serengeti, since some herds are left behind, bigger herds are always ahead leading the herds towards the south.
It’s easy to spot the great Serengeti wildebeest migration in October in the East and Central Parts of Serengeti, but some crossings can be witnessed easily.
October means the end of the dry season, but there is still a lot of activity in the Mara – even some occasional river crossings. As the rainfall slowly begins to soak into the fields, the savannah goes from golden to green. It’s not until the end of October or the beginning of November that the actual rains begin to fall. The days are still very warm with pleasant nights.