Two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle. A circuit covering over three thousand kilometres. One of the most dramatic wildlife events on earth, repeated year after year with extraordinary reliability. The Serengeti Migration is not a single event you can tick off a calendar — it is a constant, slow-moving journey driven entirely by rain and grass. Understanding how it works is the difference between watching empty plains and being at a river crossing when the first wildebeest launches itself into the Mara.
What Is the Great Migration?
The migration is a continuous, circular movement of roughly two million large herbivores — predominantly wildebeest, along with Burchell’s zebra and Thomson’s gazelle — through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. They follow the rains clockwise through Tanzania and into Kenya, returning south as the short rains arrive. There is no single starting point; the animals are always somewhere on the circuit.
Predators follow. The concentration of prey means that big cat sightings in and around the migration are some of the most reliable anywhere in Africa.
Month by Month: Where the Herds Are
January – February: The Calving Season
The herds are on the short-grass plains south of Seronera, centred on Ndutu in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Between 300,000 and 500,000 calves are born over a six-week period — about 8,000 per day at peak. The wildebeest have evolved to calve simultaneously, overwhelming predators with sheer numbers. Cheetah, lion, leopard, hyena and wild dog all converge on Ndutu during this period. Visibility on the open plains is exceptional.
Best for: Predator action, newborn calves, open-plain game viewing. Ndutu Safari Lodge and the mobile camps on the Ndutu plains are well-positioned.
March – May: The Long Rains
The herds begin moving north and west as the rains arrive. The Serengeti is green and the plains can be lush and beautiful, though some tracks become difficult. This is genuinely quiet season — fewer vehicles, lower prices, and the landscape is dramatic. Some camps close. If you are flexible and comfortable with some unpredictability, this can be a remarkable time to visit.
June: Moving Into the Western Corridor
The herds push through the Serengeti’s western corridor toward the Grumeti River. The dry season begins. Grumeti River crossings happen from late May through June — less dramatic than the Mara crossings but with massive resident crocodiles and fewer visitor vehicles. The Grumeti Reserve (north of the main park) holds some of the best camps and the most exclusive game viewing in the ecosystem.
July – October: The Mara River Crossings
This is what most people picture when they think “Great Migration.” The herds have moved into the northern Serengeti, and from July onward they make repeated crossings of the Mara River at Kogatende and Sand River. The crocodiles are enormous. The wildebeest hesitate at the bank for minutes or hours, then something triggers the first animal to jump, and a wall of bodies follows.
River crossings are not guaranteed — the herds can cross and re-cross multiple times, or sit on the bank for days without committing. What is guaranteed is that the northern Serengeti in August and September holds some of the highest concentrations of wildlife anywhere in Africa: the resident predators, the herds, and all the predators that follow the herds.
Best for: Mara River crossings, maximum wildlife density, classic safari experience. July–September is peak season; book camps at Kogatende 12–18 months ahead.
November – December: The Return South
The short rains arrive in November and the herds begin moving south again through the eastern Serengeti, heading back toward Ndutu for the calving season. The Seronera area remains productive year-round with resident lion, leopard and cheetah. December to early January can be excellent as the short rains end and the herds settle on the southern plains.
Which Month Should You Travel?
There is no wrong time to visit the Serengeti — there is always wildlife, always action, and always something to see. But if you have a specific experience in mind:
- For river crossings: July, August, or September in the northern Serengeti
- For predator action and calving: January or February at Ndutu
- For fewer visitors and green landscapes: March to May (wet season)
- For all-round game viewing: June through October (dry season)
The best approach is to tell us what matters most to you, and we’ll position you correctly. The camps you stay in and their exact locations within the park make as much difference as the month you travel.
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