Dec–Mar
Calving
The southern short-grass plains around Ndutu. Wildebeest give birth to their calves over a few weeks.
Serengeti ecosystem · all year
The Great Migration, month by month
Where the herds are, what is happening and where we would base you, for every month of the year.
Choose your month
Where are the herds in your month?
The guide opens on the current month in Tanzania.
JanuaryThis month
Southern Serengeti & Ndutu
The herds spread across the short-grass plains of the south, where the rains have brought fresh, mineral-rich grazing.
- Why go then
- Huge concentrations on open plains, with excellent predator action.
- The honest trade-off
- Short showers are possible.
- Also good this month
- Ngorongoro Crater is next door.
FebruaryThis month
Ndutu calving plains
Peak calving season. Thousands of wildebeest calves are born every day over a few weeks — and the predators know it.
- Why go then
- The most dramatic predator viewing of the year.
- The honest trade-off
- Ndutu camps book up early — plan 9–12 months ahead.
- Also good this month
- Tarangire on the way in.
MarchThis month
Southern plains → central
Calving tails off and the herds start gathering into larger groups, ready to move as the plains dry.
- Why go then
- Young calves, active cats, fewer vehicles than February.
- The honest trade-off
- The long rains can begin late in the month.
- Also good this month
- Zanzibar is still sunny early in the month.
AprilThis month
Central Serengeti (Seronera)
Long columns of wildebeest move north-west through the centre of the park during the long rains.
- Why go then
- Green landscapes, the best rates of the year and very few visitors.
- The honest trade-off
- Heavy rain showers; some camps close.
- Also good this month
- A good month for Ngorongoro Crater.
MayThis month
Central & western corridor
The rut begins. Males compete noisily while the herds pour into the western corridor towards the Grumeti river.
- Why go then
- Lush scenery and low-season prices.
- The honest trade-off
- Rain early in the month, drying later.
- Also good this month
- Tarangire starts to fill with elephants.
JuneThis month
Western corridor · Grumeti river
Herds gather to cross the Grumeti, where very large crocodiles wait. The dry season begins.
- Why go then
- Dry, clear weather and the first crossings of the year.
- The honest trade-off
- Grumeti crossings are less predictable than the Mara.
- Also good this month
- Peak dry season in Tarangire and the south.
JulyThis month
Western → northern Serengeti
The herds push north and the first Mara river crossings usually begin in the second half of the month.
- Why go then
- Dry, comfortable weather and the start of crossing season.
- The honest trade-off
- High season — book well ahead.
- Also good this month
- Ruaha and Nyerere are at their best too.
AugustThis month
Northern Serengeti · Mara river
Peak crossing season on the Mara. Herds mass on the banks, then plunge across past crocodiles in waves.
- Why go then
- The most famous wildlife spectacle on Earth.
- The honest trade-off
- The busiest month. We position you away from the main crossing crowds.
- Also good this month
- Zanzibar is dry and sunny.
SeptemberThis month
Northern Serengeti
Crossings continue back and forth across the Mara as herds follow scattered rain.
- Why go then
- Excellent crossings with slightly fewer visitors than August.
- The honest trade-off
- Crossings are never guaranteed on a given day.
- Also good this month
- Mahale chimps are often low on the slopes.
OctoberThis month
Northern → eastern Serengeti
The herds start drifting south through Lobo and the eastern plains as the north dries out.
- Why go then
- Late crossings, quieter camps, still dry.
- The honest trade-off
- Herd location is less predictable this month.
- Also good this month
- Mafia's whale shark season begins.
NovemberThis month
Central & eastern Serengeti
The short rains pull the herds south through Lobo and Seronera towards the southern plains.
- Why go then
- Shoulder-season rates and the park turning green again.
- The honest trade-off
- Afternoon showers are common.
- Also good this month
- Zanzibar or Pemba to finish.
DecemberThis month
South-east → Ndutu
The herds arrive back on the southern plains, ready to begin the cycle again.
- Why go then
- Festive-season safaris with herds returning to the south.
- The honest trade-off
- Holiday dates sell out early.
- Also good this month
- Bush and beach for the holidays.
The herds follow the rain, so positions shift a little every year. We check with our guides in the field before recommending a camp.
The cycle
One endless loop, four chapters.
Apr–May
The long trek
Long columns move north-west through central Serengeti during the rains. The rut begins.
Jun–Jul
Grumeti
The western corridor and the first river test — the Grumeti and its giant crocodiles.
Jul–Oct
The Mara
The northern Serengeti and the famous Mara river crossings, before the herds turn south again with the short rains.
Migration safaris
Trips timed to the herds
Tarangire → Ngorongoro → Serengeti → Arusha town
5-Day Classic Tanzania Camping Safari
Two nights in the Serengeti, the crater and Tarangire — the best value classic.
5 days 4 nights
From $1,340 pp
Arusha town → Tarangire → Lake Manyara → Ngorongoro …
7-Day Northern Circuit Safari
Our most popular trip: every northern park at an easy pace, with a rest night first.
7 days 6 nights
From $2,950 pp
Arusha town → Tarangire → Lake Natron → Serengeti …
8-Day Lake Natron & Northern Serengeti Safari
The back road to the Serengeti via flamingos, waterfalls and Ol Doinyo Lengai.
8 days 7 nights
From $3,490 pp
Arusha town → Tarangire → Ngorongoro → Serengeti
8-Day Luxury Great Migration Safari
Four nights in the Serengeti, with camps chosen to be close to the herds in your month.
8 days 7 nights
From $8,900 pp
Arusha town → Serengeti
6-Day Mara River Crossing Fly-in Safari
Fly straight to the Mara river for four days at the crossing points.
6 days 5 nights
From $7,900 pp
Arusha town → Tarangire → Ngorongoro → Serengeti
6-Day Calving Season Safari (Ndutu)
Hundreds of thousands of newborn wildebeest — and the predators they attract.
6 days 5 nights
From $3,290 pp
Good to know
Great Migration FAQs
When is the best time to see the Great Migration?
There is no bad month — only the wrong place. January to March is calving season in the southern Serengeti; June brings the Grumeti crossings in the west; July to October is crossing season on the Mara river in the north.
Are river crossings guaranteed?
No. Herds can gather on a riverbank for hours or days before crossing. Staying three or more nights near the river gives you a realistic chance.
How many animals take part?
Estimates usually put the herd at over a million wildebeest, with several hundred thousand zebra and gazelle.
Is the Migration in Tanzania or Kenya?
Both. The herds spend most of the year in Tanzania's Serengeti and cross into Kenya's Masai Mara for part of the dry season, roughly August to October.
Tell us your month
We will tell you honestly where the herds are likely to be, and which camps put you closest.