The Great Migration
Where the herds are, month by month.
Well over a million wildebeest, with zebra and gazelle, move in a great loop around the Serengeti every year, following the rain and the grass. This is where they usually are, and where we base you.
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January
Southern plains (Ndutu)
On the southern short-grass plains around Ndutu. The first calves are born late in the month.
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February
Southern plains (Ndutu)
Calving peaks: hundreds of thousands of calves in a few weeks, with lion, cheetah and hyena close by.
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March
Southern plains (Ndutu)
Calves grow strong on the southern plains. The herds begin to gather as the long rains approach.
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April
Southern plains (Ndutu) → Central Serengeti
The long rains. Herds start moving north-west through the centre. Green, quiet and cheaper.
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May
Central Serengeti → Western corridor
Long columns of wildebeest move towards the western corridor. The rut begins.
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June
Western corridor
In the western corridor, where the herds cross the Grumeti River.
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July
Western corridor → Northern Serengeti
Moving north. The first Mara River crossings can start late in the month.
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August
Northern Serengeti
The Mara River crossings in the far north, the most dramatic weeks of the year.
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September
Northern Serengeti
Crossings continue as the herds move between Tanzania and Kenya’s Masai Mara.
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October
Northern Serengeti
Crossings back and forth; late in the month the herds begin to turn south.
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November
Northern Serengeti → Central Serengeti
The short rains start and the herds stream south through the eastern and central Serengeti.
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December
Central Serengeti → Southern plains (Ndutu)
The herds arrive back on the green southern plains, ready to calve.
The herds follow the rain, so timings shift by a few weeks from year to year. We check with guides in the park before we confirm your camps.
Calving season
January to March
The herds gather on the short-grass plains around Ndutu to give birth. Predators follow. The easiest season to reach by road.
Great Migration safari, 7 daysRiver crossings
July to October
The herds cross the Mara River in the far north. Dramatic, busy, and a long way from Arusha, so we fly you back.
Plan a crossing safariWhen is the best time to see the Great Migration?
It depends on what you want to see. For calving and predator action, late January to March on the southern plains. For the Mara River crossings, July to October in the northern Serengeti.
Is a river crossing guaranteed?
No. Crossings happen when the herds decide, and nobody can promise one on a given day. We plan several days near the river to give you the best chance.
Can I see the migration on a short safari?
In the calving season the herds are about two hours from the Ngorongoro highlands, so even a four- or five-day safari can reach them. The northern crossings need more time or a flight.
Where are the herds in April and May?
Moving north-west through the central Serengeti during the long rains. It is green, quiet and lower in price, and some seasonal camps close.
Which month are you travelling?
Tell us your dates and we tell you where the herds should be, and the camps closest to them. A real person replies within 2 hours.