Great Migrations: Where to Discover the World's Largest Animal Migrations

by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:00 PM ET, Sun June 11, 2023

Monarch Butterfly Migration: U.S. and Mexico

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One of the biggest migrations in North America is completed each year by some of the most beautiful butterflies we know: monarch butterflies. Now considered an endangered species, the monarch butterfly species travels from its winter home in Mexico across the United States during the warmer months. Travelers can visit the oyamel forests in the Sierra Madre Mountains during the winter to catch a glimpse of thousands of butterflies at rest, or track their migrations across North America by visiting one of their so-called "super stops," such as Iowa's Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge or Texas's Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge.

The Great Migration: Tanzania and Kenya

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One of the world's largest animal migrations happens in the Serengeti each year, with around two million wildebeest trekking nearly 500 miles. Because of the sheer size and span of trekking these incredible animals do each year, their migration has been named The Great Migration. Spanning Tanzania and Kenya, The Great Migration occurs right after the calving season, which means that travelers heading to view this migration for themselves can find the whole life cycle of the wildebeest on display, from newly born calves to the oldest elders.

Besides wildebeest, other animals also take part in a portion of their own migrations, including zebra, eland and several types of gazelle. The migration begins in May to July in Tanzania (travelers can see this begin at Serengeti National Park), then moves into Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve in August through September. By October or November, the heard is once more back in Serengeti National Park, where the cycle begins again at their calving grounds.

Humpback Whales: the Pacific Coastline

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Humpback whales make some of the largest migrations each year, with some of them swimming around 5,000 miles each year. In North America, these whales typically give feed in northern regions, including in Alaska, between June and October, then swimming down the Pacific coastline to warmer climates off the coast of Mexico, Hawaii or Japan to give birth, usually between December through April. They're often joined by other migratory whale species, making Alaska, Hawaii, the Baja Peninsula and Japan particularly wonderful places for travelers to view whales during their respective seasons. These destinations, including many others along the Pacific coastline, such as Seattle or Vancouver, offer whale watching tours for travelers.

The Snake Road, Illinois

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The beautiful Shawnee National Forest in Herod, Illinois is home to what is probably the strangest migration on this list, and also one of the easiest to view. Twice each year, thousands of snakes, reptiles and amphibians cross the LaRue Road (nicknamed the Snake Road), which is located near the LaRue Swamp. To protect these important species — there are 35 different species of snakes that call the region their home — the park closes a 2.5-mile stretch of the road to vehicular traffic, but it is possible to walk the road to view the so-called migration from afar. The migrations occur in spring from March through May, when the animals end hibernation, and then in September through October, when they leave the swamp to find safe places to hibernate for the winter ahead.

The Flamingo Migration, Tanzania

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Tanzania is home to plentiful migratory species, but birders should be aware that one of the most beautiful migrations occurs near Tanzania's scenic lakes: the flamingo migration. These aren't your average plastic lawn ornaments: think thousands upon thousands of bright pink greater and lesser flamingoes descending upon lakes such as the Ngorongoro Crater's Lake Magadi, where they'll breed and raise their young from October through December. In addition, the region offers gret opportunities to spot other birds, from the Egyptian vulture to the Gray Crowned Crane.

The Gathering, Sri Lanka

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Between July and October, travelers wanting to engage with one of the most special animal migrations in the world can head to Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka's Northern Province for what has been called "The Gathering." An estimated 300 to 700 Asian elephants gather in the grasslands during the dry season each year, and travelers can watch them frolic, play, graze and interact with one another on wildlife safaris. In addition to elephants, the park also offers the opportunity to view sloth bears, Sri Lankan leopards, several monkey species and 160 bird species. The park is also located near the country's Cultural Triangle, which makes it easy to combine attendance to The Gathering with visits to the region's historic and cultural attractions.

The Black-necked Crane Festival, Bhutan

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Chances are, only the most avid of avian lovers will be able to tell you anything about the black-necked crane, but it's one important bird, especially for the people of Bhutan, where it is considered a sacred symbol of longetivity and is thus protected. The bird is the only alpine crane species in the world, and each year around October they migrate back to Bhutan, flying across the mountains from the Tibetan Plateau. Here's it isn't just the several hundred of the rare birds that gather, but also the people of Bhutan. The Black-necked Crane Festival, according to National Geographic, is held each November at Gangtey Goemba, one of the oldest and largest Nyingmapa monasteries in the country. It's in this region of Bhutan that people welcome the cranes each autumn.

Kasanka Bat Migration, Zambia

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While the neighboring Great Migration is considered one of the largest land mammal migrations of the world and is one of the most famous animal migrations, one small species of mammals takes the cake for the world's largest mammal migration: the Kasanka Bat Migration of Kasanka National Park in Zambia. Each October, an estimated 8 to 10 million fruit bats make their great flight to the park, where they'll eat and live for the season. In addition to fruit bats, the national park is home to several rare bird and animal species, including the blue monkey, making it a great destination for animal photographers.

The Caribou Migration, the Arctic and Alaska

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Another large mammal migration happens across the frigid Arctic and Alaska: the Caribou Migration. Caribou are a naturally migratory animal, but there are some places in Alaska where travelers can see the beautiful sight for themselves. The heard of 3,000 in Denali National Park is going to be the easiest for travelers to view, though there is one that animal photographers and outdoor lovers would make the trek for: the Porcupine Caribou Herd, located in the Arctic Natural Wildlife Refuge. They number a staggering 197,000, and make their way to the coastal plain to give birth each spring, making it a great opportunity for travelers heading to the region in May or June.

Some destinations offer once-in-a-lifetime wildlife viewing experiences.

Each year animals fly, swim or walk thousands or even hundreds of thousands of miles from one part of the world to the other, astounding all who stop to watch these miracles of nature as they happen. From small orange butterflies to the world's largest mammals, the animal migrations on this list are some of the most well-known and some of the most unusual, but they are all fascinating. Travelers can watch these incredible acts of nature from a respectful distance in destinations across the world, from Bhutan to Mexico and beyond. Curious to learn where you can watch some of the world's largest animal migrations?