Each year more than a million wildebeest walk a loop through the Serengeti ecosystem, joined by hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle. They follow the rain and fresh grass. The route is roughly the same every year, but the timing shifts with the weather. Here is where the herds usually are, month by month.
December to March: the southern plains and calving
The herds spread across the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and the Ndutu area. These grasses are rich in minerals, ideal for pregnant females. Calving peaks in February, when several thousand calves can be born in a single day. Predators gather close by. This is one of the best times to see lions and cheetahs hunt.
April and May: the long trek begins
Heavy rains fall and the plains turn green. The herds graze the last good grass in the south, then start moving north and west in long columns. By late May many animals pass the Moru Kopjes on their way to the western corridor. Fewer vehicles are out, and lodge rates are lower.
June: the western corridor and the rut
The dry season begins. The herds move through the western corridor toward the Grumeti River. This is the mating season, so males fight and call day and night. The first river crossings take place on the Grumeti, where large crocodiles wait.
July to September: the Mara River crossings
The lead herds reach the northern Serengeti around Kogatende in July. Here they face the Mara River. Crossings happen many times over these months, sometimes in both directions, as the herds move between Tanzania and Kenya’s Maasai Mara. No one can predict the exact day or spot. Guides watch the herds build up on the bank and wait for the first animal to jump.
October and November: heading south
The last herds cross back into Tanzania. With the short rains, they move south through the Lobo area and the central Serengeti. Game viewing stays good and the parks are quieter than in August.
How to plan your migration safari
- For calving and predators: late January to early March, based around Ndutu.
- For the Grumeti crossings: June to early July in the western corridor.
- For the Mara River crossings: July to September in the northern Serengeti.
- For quiet and value: April, May and November.
Spend at least three nights in the Serengeti. Herds move fast and a single day can miss them. Choose a mobile or seasonal camp close to the herds for your month.
Our 7-Day Great Migration Safari places your camp near the herds for your dates and ends with a full day in the Ngorongoro Crater. Add a dawn balloon flight for an aerial view of the plains.
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