Wildebeest Calving Season 2027: Masai Mara or Serengeti? When & Where to Go
If you are planning an East Africa safari in January, February or March 2027, you may be wondering whether the famous wildebeest calving season takes place in Kenya's Masai Mara or Tanzania's Serengeti.
The simple answer is that the main Great Wildebeest Migration calving season takes place in the Southern Serengeti and Ndutu region of Tanzania, rather than in the Masai Mara. The wider Great Migration, however, is a continuous annual movement through the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem, eventually bringing large herds north towards Kenya's Masai Mara later in the year.
For travellers trying to decide between a Masai Mara safari, a Serengeti calving safari, or a combined Kenya and Tanzania safari, understanding this seasonal movement can make a major difference to your safari experience.
Quick Answer: When Is the Wildebeest Calving Season?
The main wildebeest calving period normally takes place between late January and March, with February generally considered the peak month.
During this period, enormous concentrations of wildebeest gather on the nutrient-rich short-grass plains of the Southern Serengeti and Ndutu area. Large numbers of calves are born within a relatively short period, attracting predators including lions, cheetahs and hyenas.
Travellers specifically hoping to see large numbers of newborn wildebeest should therefore normally plan their safari around Ndutu and the Southern Serengeti, rather than assuming the spectacle occurs inside Kenya's Masai Mara.
Does the Wildebeest Calving Season Happen in the Masai Mara?
The main Great Migration calving season does not normally take place in the Masai Mara.
This is an important distinction because the Masai Mara is so closely associated with the Great Wildebeest Migration that many first-time safari travellers naturally assume every stage of the migration happens there.
In reality, the migration covers a vast ecosystem extending across northern Tanzania and southern Kenya.
When and where to see the wildebeest calving season in 2027. Wildebeest Calving Season...
