The Great Migration is the largest overland movement of wildlife on Earth: well over a million wildebeest, joined by hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle, travelling in a vast loop through Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara. It never really starts or stops. The herds are always somewhere, following the rain and the fresh grass it brings. Here’s where to look, month by month.
One important caveat
The migration follows the rains, not the calendar. A late or early wet season can shift the herds by weeks, and they often split into several groups. The pattern below is the typical one. We check recent movements with guides on the ground before recommending camps.
Month by month
- December to March – southern Serengeti and Ndutu: after the short rains, the herds settle on the rich short-grass plains in the south of the Serengeti and around Ndutu, in the neighbouring Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
- Late January to February – calving season: most calves are born within a few weeks, often hundreds of thousands in a short burst. Predators gather too, so this is a superb time for lion, cheetah and hyena action.
- April and May – on the move: the long rains arrive and the herds start drifting north-west through the central Serengeti. It’s the green season, with fewer visitors and some camps closed.
- May and June – the Western Corridor: the herds push west towards the Grumeti River. This is also the rutting season, when males compete noisily for females.
- June and July – Grumeti crossings: the first river crossings, with large crocodiles waiting in the Grumeti’s pools.
- July to October – northern Serengeti and the Maasai Mara: the herds reach the far north of the Serengeti and cross back and forth over the Mara River into Kenya. This is the season of the famous river crossings.
- November – heading south: the short rains begin and the herds stream back south through the eastern Serengeti towards the calving plains, and the cycle begins again.
The river crossings
The Mara River crossings are the migration’s most dramatic moments. Herds build up on the bank, sometimes for hours or days, before one animal finally commits and the rest pour down after it. Crocodiles, strong currents and steep exit banks make every crossing dangerous.
Crossings can’t be predicted to the day. Patience is everything: a good guide will position you well, switch off the engine and wait. Staying at least three nights in the north gives you a far better chance than a quick visit. Guides also keep vehicles back from the banks so the animals aren’t pushed away from their chosen crossing point.
Calving season: the quieter drama
Many of our guides rate calving season as the best time of all. Wildebeest calves can stand and run within minutes of birth, and the open southern plains give sweeping views of the herds and the predators that follow them. It’s also a lovely, green time of year, and generally less busy than the northern crossings.
Serengeti or Maasai Mara?
The herds spend most of the year in Tanzania, so the Serengeti gives you options in every month. The Mara is at its best from about July to October. If you’re torn between the two, read our guide Maasai Mara vs Serengeti.
Where to stay
Your camp should move with the season. In the central Serengeti, Seronera Wildlife Lodge and Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge are well placed for the herds passing through in April to June and November, while the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti overlooks a busy waterhole. In the Western Corridor, Singita Sasakwa Lodge in the private Grumeti Reserve is ideal for June and July. For the Mara crossings, Governors’ Camp sits right on the Mara River and Angama Mara looks down over the Mara Triangle from the escarpment.
Practical tips
- Book early for July to October and for calving season. The best-placed camps fill a year or more ahead.
- Consider mobile camps. Some tented camps move with the herds, keeping you close to the action.
- Fly between areas. The Serengeti is huge. Light aircraft save a day of driving between the south and the north.
- Bring a long lens and a beanbag for crossings, and binoculars for scanning the herds.
Explore our Serengeti National Park and Maasai Mara pages, then tell us when you’d like to travel. We’ll match your dates to the right part of the ecosystem and the right camp.
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