Pastoralists are mobile: they take their herds and flocks to find grazing, browse, water, minerals and markets. Our world map displays maps of the routes they follow and the areas they use to graze their animals at different times of the year.
- The red and orange rectangles show migration patterns. Click on the edge of a rectangle to see a pop-up map of that area. Zoom in to see maps covering smaller areas.
- The coloured dots show the approximate locations of pastoralist groups. Click on a dot to see more information on that group.
The pop-up maps are drawn from various sources, including academic papers, migration and disease monioritoring systems, public-awareness materials, project reports and dedicated mapping exercises.
To open the map, click on the image above or here.
Types of routes shown
- General migration patterns.
- Precise routes taken – often derived from GPS tracking or interviews with herders.
- Commercial routes used to take livestock to market.
- Caravan routes (where pack animals transport goods).
- Areas used for grazing at different times of the year.
Movement patterns change over time
The maps shown are recent and (as far as we know) reflect current movement patterns.
However, pastoralism evolves in response to changing economic opportunities, a changing climate, and new ways to transport and care for animals. It is now possible to use lorries to bring fodder ansd water to livestock, rather than trekking animals for days to reach the nearest water source. Many animals are now moved by lorry rather than on the hoof.
Migration routes may be blocked by violent conflict, political changes, border controls, and the expansion of cropping, mining or urban areas. Pastoralists may lose access to grazing land because of fences, the designation of wildlife conservation areas, land conversion to other uses, and the loss of vital services such as water supplies or overnight grazing areas en route.
New routes
Do you have suggestions on how to improve this map? Do you know of other maps not yet included? Please get in touch!