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Driven by a primal urge to feed and breed, many of the world’s wildlife species spend much of their lives on the move.

Whether it’s wildebeest in search of greener pastures in east Africa or whales seeking out plankton blooms, these epic migrations are amongst the greatest wildlife spectacles you will ever encounter.

Experience The Great Migrations

Flamingo Migration

Flamingos at Lake NakuruFlamingos at Lake Nakuru

Although their numbers have fluctuated in recent years, you can expect to see between 20,000 and 250,000 flamingos on Lake Nakuru during the spring months, their radiant pink hues shimmering on the lake’s mirror-like surface.

The long-legged lesser pink flamingos come here each year to feed on the lake’s blue-green algae.

When: April to June

Where: Lake Nakuru, Kenya 

Bee-eater Migration

Carmine Bee-eater in flight in South LuangwaCarmine Bee-eater in flight in South Luangwa

Come the summer, Southern Carmine bee-eaters flock back to their sub-Saharan breeding grounds in their thousands and South Luangwa National Park is a stronghold for these resplendent rose-flushed winged migrants.

Outside the breeding months, Carmines are nomadic, flying between 300 and 750 miles around south-central Africa and South Africa, making it one of the greatest migrations in the avian world.

When: September & October

Where: South Luangwa, Zambia   

The Great Wildebeest Migration

The Great Migration crossing the Mara RiverThe Great Migration crossing the Mara River

A constant need to feed drives over a million of east Africa’s wildebeest – not to mention hundreds of thousands of zebra, gazelle and eland – to complete an 1800 mile circular journey of the Serengeti and Masai Mara.

While the animals are perpetually on move, the dry season is typically the best time to witness the migrating ruminants in Kenya, especially if you want to catch them heading for the mighty Mara River where hundreds of hungry crocs await their four-legged dinner!

When: July – October

Where: Masai Mara, Kenya 

Blue Whale Migration

Blue whale in Sri LankaBlue whale in Sri Lanka

The largest creature on Earth, the Blue whale, spends much of its time roaming the world’s oceans in solitude or small groups, covering thousands of miles at a time.

But there is something about the Indian Ocean warm waters off the south coast of Sri Lanka that attracts Blues in good numbers a couple of times each year.

When: March, April & November

Where: Mirissa, Sri Lanka 

Arctic Tern Migration

Arctic tern in flightArctic tern in flight

The ultimate long-distance migrants, Arctic terns make an epic annual round trip of around 40,000 miles – the longest avian migration in the world.

Flying south from their Arctic breeding grounds, the terns will spend winter off Antarctica before returning north, either via the Americas or Africa, most likely to the colony where they themselves hatched.

When & Where:

Arctic – May to August

Antarctica – December to February    

Grey Whale Migration

Friendly Grey whale in BajaFriendly Grey whale in Baja

Each year, these inquisitive cetaceans cover over 8,000 miles as they journey south from their Arctic feeding grounds to winter in Baja’s balmy lagoons.

Free of sharks and Orcas, the greys come to these mild waters to socialise, mate and nurse their calves without threat. Operators adhere to a strict code of conduct when whale watching, keeping boats at least 30 metres away, but it seems nobody told the whales!

When: February – March

Where: Baja, Mexico 

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