The Great Migration Month by Month
Track the Serengeti wildebeest herds through the year, from calving on the southern plains to Mara River crossings, so you can time your safari well.
Every year, well over a million wildebeest, along with hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle, move in a vast loop through the Serengeti ecosystem in search of fresh grass and water. The Great Migration has no start or finish line. It is a continuous cycle driven by rain.
Because rainfall changes from year to year, the herds never follow an exact timetable. The month-by-month pattern below is a reliable guide to where they usually are, but we always adjust camp choices based on recent reports from guides in the field.
Quick tips
- Choose your travel month first, then pick camps that match where the herds usually are.
- Book northern Serengeti camps for July to October well in advance.
- Consider mobile camps, which relocate to follow the herds through the year.
- Allow at least three nights in the migration area to cope with unpredictable movement.
- Remember the resident wildlife of the Serengeti is excellent even when the herds are elsewhere.
December to March: the southern plains
As the short rains, roughly November to December, green the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and the Ndutu area, the herds settle there. The grass is rich in minerals, which is ideal for pregnant females.
Calving usually peaks around late January and February, when thousands of calves can be born in a single day. Predators follow closely, so this is one of the best times of year for lion, cheetah and hyena action.
April and May: the long rains
The long rains, roughly March to May, bring the heaviest downpours of the year. As the southern plains dry and grazing runs low, the herds begin moving northwest through the central Serengeti.
This is the quietest season for visitors. Some camps close, roads can be muddy, and the herds are on the move, but the landscape is lush and lodge rates are often lower. Travelers who do not mind some rain can have a very rewarding trip.
June: the Western Corridor
By late May and June, large columns of wildebeest typically reach the Western Corridor and the Grumeti River. Crossings here are smaller than on the Mara, but the Grumeti is known for very large crocodiles. The rut, when males compete noisily for females, often happens around this time.
July to October: the northern Serengeti
From around July the herds push into the northern Serengeti and across the border into Kenya's Maasai Mara. This is the season of the famous Mara River crossings, which can happen any day from roughly July to October as groups move back and forth across the river.
The north is busier in these months, and camps book early. If crossings are your main goal, we recommend at least three nights in the northern Serengeti.
November: heading south again
When the short rains begin, the herds turn south again through the Lobo area and the eastern and central Serengeti, returning to the southern plains to start the cycle over. Movement is fast and spread out, so November safaris rely on flexible game drives and good guiding.
Whichever month you choose, think about the experience you want as well as the herds. Calving season is about predators and newborns, the north is about drama at the river, and the green season is about solitude. All three are memorable in different ways.
- Dec-Mar: southern Serengeti and Ndutu, calving
- Apr-May: moving through central Serengeti
- Jun: Western Corridor and Grumeti River
- Jul-Oct: northern Serengeti, Mara River crossings
- Nov: heading south via Lobo and central areas
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to see the Great Migration?
It depends on what you want to see. February is excellent for calving and predators, while July to October is the time for river crossings. Both offer huge herds.
Is the migration guaranteed?
The herds are always somewhere in the ecosystem, but exact locations shift with rainfall. Working with guides who track recent movements is the best way to stay close to them.
Does the migration go into Kenya?
Yes. For part of the dry season, roughly August to October, many herds cross into the Maasai Mara in Kenya, although large numbers also remain in the northern Serengeti.