Little-Known Wildlife Migration Routes
While the Great Wildebeest Migration in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is the most famous, Africa is home to several other fascinating, lesser-known, or regional migrations and concentrations of wildlife. In Tanzania, some of these include:
- Tarangire’s Dry Season Migration/Concentration:
- What it is: During the dry season (June-October), the Tarangire River becomes the only reliable water source in the region. This draws tens of thousands of elephants, wildebeest, zebra, and other ungulates from the surrounding Maasai steppe into Tarangire National Park. It’s not a continuous circular migration like the Serengeti, but a dramatic concentration of animals around the river.
- Why it’s less known: It’s overshadowed by the Serengeti’s fame, but offers spectacular elephant viewing and high predator densities due to the influx of prey.
- Best Time: July to October.
- Flamingo Migration at Lake Natron:
- What it is: Lake Natron, a highly alkaline soda lake near the Kenyan border (and active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai), is the primary breeding ground for East Africa’s lesser flamingos. Millions of these birds gather here to nest and feed on the algae that thrives in the lake’s extreme conditions. Their movements are tied to water levels and food availability.
- Why it’s less known: It’s a niche destination and requires a more adventurous spirit to reach, often involving rough roads and a focus on birdlife rather than traditional “Big Five” viewing.
- Best Time: August to October for the highest concentrations of flamingos, but varies.
- Elephant Movements in Ruaha:
- What it is: Ruaha National Park is home to Tanzania’s largest elephant population. While not a classic “migration,” these elephants undertake significant seasonal movements within the vast park, concentrating along the Great Ruaha River and its tributaries during the dry season.
- Why it’s less known: The focus is often on the dramatic landscapes and predators, but the sheer number of elephants, particularly during the dry season, is a spectacle.
- Best Time: July to October.
- Humpback Whale Migration (Coastline):
- What it is: Not a land migration, but an incredible marine migration. From August to October, humpback whales migrate from the cold waters of Antarctica to the warm, shallow waters off the East African coast (including Zanzibar, Mafia Island, and Pemba) to calve and breed.
- Why it’s less known: Many people don’t associate Tanzania with marine safaris, but it offers fantastic whale-watching opportunities.
- Best Time: August to October.
These “lesser-known” movements offer unique photographic opportunities and a different perspective on wildlife behavior.