When Is the Best Time to See the Great Migration?

A year-round journey, not a single event

The Great Migration isn't something you either catch or miss. More than 1.5 million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra move in a broad loop through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem all year. The real question is which part of the journey you want to see.

December to March: calving in the south

The herds gather on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and the Ndutu area. At the February peak, up to 8,000 calves can be born in a day, and lions, cheetahs and hyenas arrive in large numbers.

April to May: moving north in the green season

As the southern plains dry, the herds head north and west through the central Serengeti. This is the long rains, so the parks are green and quiet and lodge prices drop, though finding the herds takes more patience.

June to July: the Western Corridor and the Grumeti

The migration reaches the western Serengeti and the Grumeti River, where crocodiles wait. The Grumeti crossings are less famous than the Mara ones but can be just as dramatic, with far fewer vehicles around.

August to October: the northern Serengeti and the Mara River

This is the migration at its most famous, with herds crossing the Mara River between Tanzania and Kenya past steep banks and hungry crocodiles. Camps in the northern Serengeti fill up early for these months.

November: heading back south

With the short rains, the herds begin moving back towards the southern plains to calve again. Their position is less predictable, but there are fewer visitors.

So when should you go?

If a river crossing is your dream, choose August to October and expect higher prices in the north. If you would like newborn calves and plenty of predator action with fewer crowds, December to February is excellent and often better value. There is no wrong time, only different chapters of the story. Tell us what you would love to see, and we will plan your safari around where the herds are likely to be.