Photo: Agness Abubakar Saidi, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Grazers · Connochaetes taurinus

Blue wildebeest

The engine of the Great Migration.

IUCN statusLeast Concern
Best timeMigration all year; crossings about July to October
Our guides2 destinations

More than a million wildebeest move around the Serengeti and Mara in a loop that follows the rains. Calving happens over a few weeks in the southern Serengeti early in the year.

Best places to see it

Serengeti National Park

Endless plains, big cats and the Great Migration year-round in different parts of the park.

Jan to Feb, Jun to Oct 3 to 4 nights

Masai Mara

Kenya’s most famous reserve, with dense big cat populations and the migration from about July to October.

Jan to Feb, Jun to Oct 3 to 4 nights

Where to see it

  • Serengeti
  • Masai Mara

Our destination guides: Serengeti National Park · Masai Mara

Best time

Migration all year; crossings about July to October.

Tips

  • Book camps that match the herd’s usual location for your month.

Did you know?

  • Wildebeest calves can stand and run within minutes of being born.

Conservation status: Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Check iucnredlist.org for the latest assessment.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to see the blue wildebeest in Africa?

Serengeti; Masai Mara.

Is the blue wildebeest endangered?

It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Have you been to Blue wildebeest?

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