# How Fast Is A Wildebeest?

> Wildebeest top speed is up to about 80 km/h (50 mph) in short bursts. Sprint vs endurance and what limits pace.

- **Species:** Wildebeest (*Connochaetes taurinus*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Herbivore — short grasses and fresh shoots
- **Habitat:** Savannas and grasslands of East and southern Africa
- **Lifespan:** 15–20 years in the wild
- **Top speed:** Up to 80 km/h (50 mph) in short bursts
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/wildebeest/how-fast-is-a-wildebeest/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/wildebeest/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The wildebeest, or blue wildebeest, is a large grazing antelope of the savannas and grasslands of East and southern Africa. Also called the gnu, it weighs 120 to 290 kg and can gallop at up to 80 km/h (50 mph) in short bursts. Wildebeest are famous for the annual Serengeti migration, live 15 to 20 years, and are listed as Least Concern.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need the full biology — use the [Wildebeest profile](https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/wildebeest/) instead.

## The great migration

Wildebeest are best known for one of the largest overland migrations on Earth, in which more than a million animals travel a roughly circular route between Tanzania's Serengeti and Kenya's Maasai Mara. The herds follow seasonal rains in search of fresh grass, covering hundreds of kilometres each year. River crossings, especially of the crocodile-filled Mara, are the most dangerous stage of the journey. Zebra and other grazers often travel alongside them, forming vast mixed herds.

## Help protect the Wildebeest

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/wildebeest/how-fast-is-a-wildebeest/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.