The Great Migration is the single most spectacular wildlife event on the planet. Over two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle move in a continuous loop across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem — driven by rainfall and the search for fresh grazing. It is an ancient, relentless cycle that has played out for hundreds of thousands of years. Witnessing it in person is something that stays with you forever.
The Annual Cycle
The Migration is not a single event — it is a year-round journey. The herds move in a roughly clockwise pattern across the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya, following the rains and the grass.
January to March — Southern Serengeti: The calving season. Over half a million wildebeest calves are born on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Newborn calves attract predators in numbers. The Ndutu area is the epicentre.
April to June — Central and Western Serengeti: As the southern plains dry out, the herds move northwest. By May and June, they reach the western Serengeti and the Grumeti River — the first major water crossing with huge Nile crocodiles lying in wait.
July to October — Northern Serengeti and Masai Mara: This is what most people picture — the dramatic Mara River crossings. Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest gather on the banks before plunging into the crocodile-filled river in a chaotic, thundering mass. The crossings are unpredictable, but when they happen, they are unforgettable. By August and September, large numbers have crossed into the Masai Mara.
November to December — Eastern Serengeti: The short rains begin and the herds start moving south again, completing the circuit and heading back to the calving grounds.
Where to Stay
For the river crossings — July to October — the best positions are mobile camps in the northern Serengeti near the Mara River, or lodges in the Masai Mara on the Kenyan side. The Mara is smaller and animal density is often higher, making crossings slightly easier to witness. For the calving season — January to March — the Ndutu area in the southern Serengeti is where you want to be.
How to Plan
The Great Migration is one of those experiences where expert planning makes a genuine difference. Timing your trip to the right area, choosing camps that can reposition based on herd movements, and building in enough days to account for unpredictability — these are all things we can help with.
We often recommend combining a Migration safari with a few days in one of the South African reserves — the Sabi Sands or Tswalu — to give you both the epic scale of East Africa and the intimate experience of a South African private reserve.
The Migration deserves proper planning. Contact us and we will make sure you are in the right place at the right time.