How many wildebeests travel together?

Unpacking the Great Wildebeest Migration

Every year, one of nature’s most awe-inspiring spectacles takes place on the African plains: the Great Migration. Over a million wildebeests yes, a million thunder across the Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystems in search of greener pastures. However, how many wildebeests actually travel together at a given time?

The great wildebeest migration

The Herd Mentality: Safety in Numbers

Wildebeests are highly social animals and rarely travel alone. A typical group, called a herd, can consist of anywhere from a few dozen to several thousand individuals. These herds often merge with others during migration season, forming super herds that may number in the hundreds of thousands.

This is not just for show there is safety in numbers. Traveling in large groups, helps protect against predators like lions, hyenas, and crocodiles, especially during dangerous river crossings.

The Numbers behind the Movement

• Total migrating wildebeests: ~1.5 million
• Average herd size during migration: 500 to 10,000+
• Super herds at river crossings: Up to 100,000 or more

In addition, wildebeests do not travel alone. Zebras, gazelles, and other grazers, forming mixed-species groups that add even more complexity and beauty to the migration, often join them.

Best Time & Place to See the Great Wildebeest Migration

If seeing this incredible migration is on your bucket list (and it should be!), here is when and where to go:

• Serengeti National Park, Tanzania (Dec – July): Calving season starts in February, and the movement north begins in the following months.
• Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya (July – October): The dramatic Mara River crossings happen, here a heart, pounding, once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Why so many?

Wildebeests depend on seasonal rains to find fresh grazing grounds. Their movement patterns are deeply tied to the availability of food and water. Traveling in massive numbers increases their chances of survival not just from predators, but also from the harsh realities of drought and changing climates.

Final Thoughts

So, how many wildebeests travel together? The answer depends on when and where you catch them but rest assured, when you see wildebeests on the move, you are witnessing one of the largest and most coordinated group movements in the animal kingdom.

If you are ever lucky enough to witness the migration in person, the sheer number of wildebeests their energy, their movement, their unity will stay with you forever.