Giant tortoises are known as the “slow and steady migrators.” They don’t cover a great distance. In fact, they only migrate a little less than four miles over a migration period of two to three weeks, but they migrate, nonetheless. Their journey begins in the highlands of Santa Cruz Islands. When the rainy season starts in December, they slowly make their way to the lowlands until about June or July, then return back to the highlands. 

Zebra Migration, Botswana 

Botswana is home to the longest terrestrial migration in Africa. Each year 25,000 zebra make their annual journey through Botswana’s Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan National Parks from the Okavango Delta, covering a distance of over 300 miles round trip. Travel to Botswana, specifically Jack’s Camp during the green season, to watch the migration under the shade of trees with a picnic lunch, or perhaps spot it right outside your veranda. 

Southern Right Whales, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand 

Southern right whales migrate between Antarctica in the summer and north to places like Australia and South Africa to breed and give birth. In Argentina, the best place to see them is along Peninsula Valdes in September, though they can be seen from June to December. And on the other side of the world in September, Hermanus, South Africa plays host to the southern right whales as they return to the bay for calving and mating season. You know it’s a pretty big deal there too – there’s an annual three-day Whale Festival to celebrate the best land-best whale watching in the world. 

Cape Fur Seals, Namibia 

Each November and December, hundreds of thousands of Cape fur seals travel to the Skeleton Coast to mate, give birth, and hunt for fish. The colony at Cape Cross Seal Reserve has seen as many as 210,000 seals at once, stretched out in the sand singing a chorus of grunts and bleats. Though the marshes and surf are heavy, they are no match for these agile underwater navigators. Some 6,200 square miles of coast has been designated the Skeleton Coast National Park, and the best way to see it and the Cape fur seal colonies is via a flying safari. 

Salmon Run, Pacific Northwest USA and Canada

The salmon run in the Pacific Northwest is iconic. Each fall millions of salmon return from the ocean to the freshwater streams of the Pacific Northwest and Canada, swimming upstream and leaping waterfalls to return to their spawning grounds.

Monarch Butterflies, North America and Mexico 

The ‘Other’ Wildebeest Migration, Zambia

You’ve certainly heard about the wildebeest migration in Kenya and Tanzania, but did you know, there’s another wildebeest migration that happens in Zambia? It’s second only to the migration between the Masai Mara and the Serengeti. Each year, 45,000 wildebeest head to the Liuwa Plains from Angola between September and November in search of fresh grazing grounds. This migration is a lot more intimate and off-the-beaten path than its well-known counterpart.

Caribou Migration, Alaska and Northern Canada

Each year, vast herds of caribou (herds can number over 200,000 thousand) journey across the Arctic tundra each spring and fall in one of the longest land migrations Earth. They travel hundreds of miles between their winter forests and summer calving grounds, facing predators along the way. 

The Sardine Run, South Africa and Mozambique

The yearly sardine run off the coast of South Africa and Mozambique is one of the world’s most spectacular marine events. From late my to mid July, billions of sardines move from Southern Africa along the coast through the Eastern Cape and up into KwaZulu-Natal. The run can also extend up to Mozambique. The shoals can extend for miles, attracting thousands of predators. Several vantage points along the coast and from the ocean offer a chance to witness dramatic scenes play out.

Talk to your Designer to see how to plan your journey around some of these interesting animal migrations around the world. Stay up to date on all our online content by following us on Facebook and Instagram.