6 Must-See Wildlife Migrations

Humans are not the only beings on the planet that like to travel; animals trek the world too.  And their migrations make for some of the most fascinating nature shows this beautiful world has to offer. 

No two journeys are alike since some exist below the surface and some on land, but if you do encounter these wild adventures, their magnetic movements will guarantee a lifetime of profound memories. So take a trip to the wild side and explore the way these migratory animals travel for food, to nurture their babies or simply need an escape for the winter.

Kenya: Great Wildebeest Migration

It is beast vs. beast in this amazing race to find water and food during the Great Wildebeest Migration. And by the starved look in their eyes and the rumble of their feet treading across Africa’s landscape and swimming across vast waterscapes, this herd is on the loose.

Charging their way through Masa Mara, Serengeti and other parts of Africa, this migratory show that features more than one million wildebeests is an extraordinary adventure for lovers of nature from July to October.  It is also a survival of the fittest for these wildebeest as they not only brave the wet and dry seasons of this endless journey, but have to keep a watchful eye for predators like crocodiles, lions and hyenas hoping for a midnight snack.

There are several ways to get up close to this natural wonder — whether it is on land or way up in the sky. From safari operators to hot air balloon trips and jeep excursions, the Great Wildebeest Migration is an amazing spectacle you will never forget.

Antarctica: Emperor Penguin Migration

You’ll have to brave cold conditions to get a front row seat of this trek, but getting a little frostbite might just be worth witnessing  the emperor penguin waddle across the ice.

This remarkable journey may be shorter than many migrations across the globe, but it is definitely one interesting show. The penguins migrate up to 100 miles to breed around March. Once they reach their new home for about a year, the females lay their eggs and then leave them under the protection of the males while they head to the sea for food.

About four months later the eggs will begin to hatch, and once the females return with full stomaches, the males then head to the ocean to feast. But before they return females take one last dip before they begin their parenting roles of alternating feeding trips to the ocean and caring for their young ones.

Hawaii: Humpback Whales Migration

Not only do humans enjoy Hawaii’s idyllic weather, but so do humpback whales.  That’s why the sea giants have made Hawaii’s warm blue depths their winter home.  Traveling thousands of miles to escape the Gulf of Alaska’s frigid waters in December to May, no other sea animal puts on a performance like the humpback whale in the gray Pacific. 

Along with acrobatically rising out of the water for air and splashing, their harmonious song resonating below the surface is just as elegant as the movements of the animals. And if they’re not splashing and spouting huge amounts of the Pacific into the air, they are adorably caring for their calves. 

The whales typically bless the entire island of Hawaii with their presence, but to fully capture their beauty, whale watching on the shores of the Auau Channel (between Molokai, Lanai and West Maui) may be your best bet.  However, if you’re on land a pair of binoculars will come in handy.

North Carolina: Bottlenose Dolphins

Whether on TV or entertaining a crowd with their tricks and flips dolphins have always captured our hearts.  And the same can be said when they are left free to roam the ocean.

The bottlenose dolphin never ceases to amaze its spectators — especially in the months of May to September when North Carolina’s Outer Banks are buzzing with activity. Not just by tourists who enjoy basking in the state’s idyllic luxuries, but by these friendly marine animals that grace the Atlantic with their presence to birth their babies. Dolphin-watching from boats is a popular pastime of the islands, and from the shore seeing their fins sliver along the sea is always an exciting sight.

Botswana: Makgadikgadi Zebra Migration

Imagine streaks of black and white decorating Africa’s untamed pastures. This remarkable sight is the Makgadikgadi Zebra Migration, which is one of the longest recorded treks of the zebra. Their pilgrimage is driven by hunger as well as thirst, and marked by the loud tramping of their hooves onto the ground.

The striped coats of zebras are always a breathtaking sight, but when a sea of black and white untamed creatures is just feet away, this once-in-a-lifetime experience will never escape your mind.  With over 300 miles to cover, this spellbinding spectacle will leave you breathless.

Alaska: Northern Elephant Seals

When it comes to making that yearly roundtrip journey, northern elephant seals take first in the mammals category.  That’s because they have not one but two migration periods and can travel an astounding 13,000 miles.The northern elephant seal’s migrations might just be one of earth’s most exquisite natural displays that have also become a preserved journey because of the very few species of the seal left.  Nevertheless, their extraordinary strides for food frequently go unnoticed by many people because their tracks often disappear beneath the Pacific Ocean. 

But in between diving a few thousand feet and swimming for about an hour at a time, when they do finally pop their heads out of the water the males can be seen hunting in the cold Gulf of Alaska while females venture a bit further.  After they have sampled the seafood of the ocean, they return to the seaside cliffs of California and Mexico to breed and begin their journey to the north once again in December.