The ancient Botswana zebra migration is back in full swing - catch it on safari now!

The Botswana zebra migration, at around a thousand kilometres, is the longest mammal migration in Africa. While the Great Wildebeest Migration of East Africa's Serengeti is world famous, the zebra migration was only recently documented. Seeing tens of thousands of striped zebras on the move is a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience. 

Zebra migration in botswana

What's the Botswana zebra migration about?

In 2008 herbivore researcher Hattie Bartlam-Brooks discovered from reading GPS collars fitted on zebra mares that they had, incredibly, started reusing old wildlife migration routes from Botswana's Okavango Delta to the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. This was remarkable because the lifespan of wild zebras is only about 25 years, and the fences that were erected to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease went up in the 1960s. The zebra migration was thus taking place not from learned behaviour, but from genetic memory alone.

"The migration wasn't thought to still occur until we recorded it in 2008,” Bartlam-Brooks said. "It had been presumed that due to a fence obstructing the route for around 40 years (it was removed in 2004) the zebra no longer migrated, but remained in the Okavango Delta all year round." Up to 30,000 animals will be on the move at any one time, making this the largest animal migration in southern Africa.

Kalahari desert safaris

Where in Botswana the zebra migration takes place

There are two main zebra migration routes. One from the Chobe River floodplains down to the Nxai Pan area (part of the greater Makgadikgadi Pan system) and one from the Okavango Delta down to the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. The zebras move from north to south in the rainy season, then back from south to north for the dry season, following the seasons and the rainfall. 

The best time to catch the Botswana zebra migration

One of the perks for travellers is that the Botswana zebra migration can be seen in the rainy off-season, from November to March. This means Botswana safari and lodge prices are lower, and there are fewer safari vehicles and other visitors around. On the Chobe-Nxai Pan zebra migration, the herds spend the dry months on the Chobe River floodplains from June until November. In early December, about 20,000 zebras travel southwards to Nxai Pan National Park as it begins to rain there. Some herds take a direct route and arrive in two to three weeks, while others stop at Seloko Plain before joining the rest a few weeks later.

Nai pan zebras botswana

The best time to see the zebra migration from Chobe River to Nxai Pan and back:

• Late November to early December: Chobe River - zebras begin migrating to Nxai Pan as the rainy season starts
• Late December to January: Nxai Pan - zebra herds arrive at Nxai Pan National Park with some zebra herds migrating via Seloko Plain
• Late February to early March: Nxai Pan then Chobe - as the dry season approaches zebras begin migrating back north from Nxai Pan to the Chobe River area

On the Okavango-Makgadikgadi migration, about 15,000 zebras take a shorter 500km route from the Moremi Game Reserve down to the Makgadikgadi area in November and December. The zebra herds disperse throughout the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park and remain there for about three months, feeding on the nutritious grass until February, before returning to the north.

​Makgadikgadi pans zebras botswana

The best time to see the zebra migration from Moremi Game Reserve to Makgadikgadi Pans and back:

• Late November to early December: Moremi Game Reserve (eastern Okavango Delta) - zebras begin migrating to Makgadikgadi Pans as the rainy season starts
• Late December to early January: Makgadikgadi Pans National Park - zebra herds arrive at Makgadikgadi Pans and disperse
• Late February to March: Makgadikgadi Pans and Boteti River - zebras begin migrating back north from Makgadikgadi Pans to the Okavango Delta

Not all the zebras choose to migrate; nearly half stay in the Moremi-Okavango Delta area. Nobody knows why this happens, but the interior of Botswana is generally arid, while the north has the more fertile deltas of the Okavango and Chobe rivers, where watering holes and rivers have water throughout the dry season. The zebras that migrate are thought to do so because they are in search of more nutritious grazing, which optimises their foals' chances of survival. 

Coincidentally, the best time for birding in Botswana is also the rainy season, with migratory birds making their way to water systems, particularly the Okavango Delta. Expect to see bird species like carmine bee-eaters, herons, swallows, marabou and a variety of ducks and geese.

Okavango delta zebra foal

The best places to see the zebra migration in Botswana

There are incredible game reserves and wildlife safaris up north, like this Budget Botswana Safari, but arguably the best place to see the zebra migration is in the south, at the salt pans. 

Since the rainy season (November to March) in Botswana is the best time to see the zebra migration, visitors will see not only zebras and their newborn foals ambling across the Nxai Pan; but also other wildlife including giraffes, bat-eared foxes, ostriches and desert elephants. At the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans – in the dry season devoid of life and water, but now bursting with vegetation – you might be lucky enough to see the zebras being stalked by lions, leopards and cheetahs. 

The zebra herds amass along the Boteti River in large, spectacular concentrations, which create a spectacle well worth photographing. When they depart in March, some zebras take a circuitous migration route back to the Chobe River that may take another three months, with some travelling for over 800km on this part of the migratory route.

The zebra migration can be seen from many different game parks across Botswana at various times of the year, so chat with a safari expert who can help you find the best itinerary for your travel plans and budget. Our in-house travel experts are also pros at designing tailor-made safaris at affordable prices, so you can even have a custom Botswana zebra migration safari created specifically for you.

Zebra migration botswana

What to bring on your Botswana zebra migration safari

Things may get muddy and the roads difficult to navigate with the rains, so it's best to travel with a guide or on an organised Botswana safari tour. This is not only for your safety; it’s to have access to the best local knowledge of the area, which increases your chances of seeing more wildlife. Visitors should bring light raincoats and some warm clothing, as downpours can leave you feeling cold when you set off on those early morning safaris. If you decide to drive your own vehicle, ensure that it is a “real” 4x4, with high ground clearance.

Zebra migration botswana safari

What the return of the zebra migration means

The revival of the Botswana zebra migration is sparking hope in conservationists that ancestral wildlife migratory routes can be recovered if given the opportunity, in Botswana and globally. It provides evidence that nature can recover if fences that obstruct animal migration routes come down. But not all fences are “bad” – and in fact, one “responsible” fence installed on the western edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park in 2004 has reduced competition from cattle in the area, which is increasing the zebra population. Biologist James Bradley says: “Shortly after the fence went up, the behaviour of the zebras changed rapidly, and they relaxed more.” 

This is a nuanced field that requires more intensive research, to balance the needs of nature and that of human populations. But the benefits of the Botswana zebra migration are not only for tourists. The migration also benefits local ecosystems, bringing huge value to the environment and has already led to an increase in dung beetles, which in turn means more meerkats.

Front row zebra migration

Book your zebra migration safari in Botswana now

The rainy season in Botswana begins to fade as March approaches and with it your chances of seeing the zebra migration this year. So the next few months (January, February and March) offer the last window of opportunity to catch this epic wildlife migration in Africa - along with excellent birding and other game viewing highlights. Don't miss out on the ancient Botswana zebra migration this year, contact African Budget Safaris and we'll get you front-row seats to the spectacle!

Find out more about wildlife migrations in Africa - The Biggest Animal Migrations in Africa: Great Migration & More - and for more about the Great Migration in Kenya and Tanzania see - The Great Migration in Africa: Need to Know & More for Your Safari

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One of the main perks for travellers is that the Botswana zebra migration can be seen in the rainy off-season, from November to March. This means Botswana safari and lodge prices are cheaper, and there are fewer safari vehicles and other visitors around.