Great Animal Migrations: Where and When to Witness Them

Every year without fail, millions of animals around the globe set out on epic journeys in search of food, shelter, and mating opportunities. These journeys are often thousands of miles long, and take place over land, sea or air. They provide us with a window into the unflagging spirit that drives species towards survival, as they perform amazing feats of endurance.

If you ever get the chance to witness a part of one of these migrations, seize it! Below we list details of four of the most amazing animal migrations (by land, sea and air!) along with where to watch, when to go and what tour will get you up close.

Where to See Animal Migrations

Monarch Butterfly Migration

Imagine completing a journey that your great-grandparents had started? This is what happens twice a year with Monarch Butterflies, who fly 4800 km (3000 miles) from Canada to the forests near central Mexico’s Sierra Madre mountains in the fall, then back in spring. Butterflies are born and die along this route, and by the time they reach their destination, they’ve cycled through 3 generations. You can witness thousands of these distinctive orange and black butterflies at their winter home by taking a tour to El Rosario sanctuary in Mexico.

Humpback Whale Migration

Humpback whales are some of the largest animals on the planet, and their migrations cover a mindblowing 8000 km distance, twice a year. They aren’t the fastest swimmers, but will go for days at a time without rest, or food, living mostly off their fat stores. Like the monarchs, they migrate from cold to warm and back again every year, choosing to give birth in warmer waters away from predators, and to seek out abundant stores of fish in the colder waters in the north. Humpback whales are active whales and amazing to watch, with their playful breaches and tail slaps. They can be found in every ocean, so you have lots of opportunities to view them as they move from place to place.

Some of the best places to spot humpbacks (with links to whale watching tours!) include: the Azores and Vancouver Island in March/April; Iceland and New Zealand in June/July; Tonga and the eastern coast of South Africa from August to October; and the islands of Hawaii from December to March.

Wildebeest Migration

The award for most dramatic migration has to go to the massive herds of wildebeest traveling in eastern Africa, which create one of the most incredible spectacles nature has to offer. The wildebeest migration isn’t just wildebeest - it’s made up of about 1.5 million wildebeest (a gnarly type of gnu), zebras, impalas and gazelles - and the predators (lions, hyenas and crocodiles) hunting those who fall behind the pack. The herds travel hundreds of miles through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem of Tanzania and Kenya.

Wildebeest migrations don’t follow a clearly set route, or a set schedule, although they are loosely predictable. The herds are always searching for fresh grass which grows from seasonal rains, and the rainfall patterns can change from year to year. Generally, the best times to witness the migration are from December to March and May through November. ToursByLocals has many excellent guides offering safari tours to witness this migration - here’s one example: 4-day Wildebeest Migration.

Salmon Migration

At first, fish might not seem like the most exciting sort of migration to witness. But salmon, who live in the cold waters of both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, are some of the most inspiring athletes of the animal world. Born in rivers, they build up their size and strength in the ocean, before returning four years later to their place of birth to spawn...and die. In an almost impossible feat of endurance, salmon swim up to 400 kilometers upriver, battling rapids and leaping up waterfalls, avoiding predators like bears and eagles that congregate along the banks in hopes of catching a meal.

The west coast of British Columbia, Canada is a great place to witness the annual salmon run, which takes place in October and November. Special spots with great access to view the salmon include Goldstream Park near Victoria, Stamp River near Port Alberni, Campbell River on Vancouver Island, and the Capilano River Hatchery in North Vancouver.