The Serengeti Migration: By the numbers

Every year, the great beasts of the Serengeti migrate from spot to spot, following the rainfall. Millions of animals traverse the Serengeti — within and without Tanzania's Serengeti National Park — seeking food and water, and safety from the many predators that stalk them as they move. Here, some fast — and fascinating — facts about the spectacular migration:

1981: Year in which the Serengeti National Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2,900: Number of kilometres travelled specifically by wildebeest during the great migration.

270: Maximum weight, in kilograms, of an adult wildebeest.

500,000: Number of Thompson's gazelle who travel during the great migration, alongside 1.5 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra, and 18,000 eland (a type of antelope).

250,000: Number of wildebeest who die during the migration, either from thirst or hunger, or predation.

50%: Amount of its bodyweight a crocodile can thrust out of the water in order to latch onto prey — such as migrating animals — as it drinks from the water's edge.

8,000: Estimated number of wildebeest born each day during the month of February.

Getting there

Want to see the great migration for yourself? G Adventures can get you there. Check out our Serengeti Migration Safari tour here.