The Great Migration in the Serengeti is one of the most astonishing wildlife spectacles on the planet. Every year, approximately 1.5 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra, and hundreds of thousands of Thomson’s gazelle move in a vast circular route through the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. What most travelers do not realize is that the migration is not a single dramatic event that happens on one day of the year. It is a continuous year-round movement driven by rainfall, grass, and survival instinct. This month-by-month guide tells you exactly where the herds are during each part of the year so you can position your safari for maximum impact.
What Drives the Great Migration?
The wildebeest do not migrate because of tradition or instinct alone. They migrate because they are following the rain. Specifically, they follow the growth of fresh grass that sprouts after rainfall on the Serengeti’s nutrient-rich volcanic soils. Wildebeest need to consume enormous quantities of short, nutritious grass every day. When the grass in one area is exhausted, the herd moves on. This cycle of following new growth has created one of the most predictable wildlife movements on earth, at least in broad seasonal terms. The specific timing of crossings and herd movements can vary by several weeks from year to year depending on rainfall patterns, but the overall annual cycle is remarkably consistent.
January: Calving Season Begins in the South
By January, the Great Migration herds have moved south from the central Serengeti and are gathering on the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti and the Ndutu area near the boundary with the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This is where the rains have brought the most nutritious short grass, and it is here that the wildebeest choose to give birth. Calving begins in earnest in late January, with approximately 8,000 calves being born per day at the peak of the season. A wildebeest calf can stand within minutes of birth and run within hours, an evolutionary adaptation to the overwhelming pressure of predation on the open plains. Despite this, the mortality rate among newborn calves is extremely high. Lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, and jackals all converge on the calving grounds for what is effectively the most reliably intense predator-prey drama available anywhere in Africa.
Where to be: Southern Serengeti, Ndutu area. Best camps: those located around Lake Ndutu and the short grass plains.
February: Peak Calving and Maximum Predator Action
February is calving season at full intensity. The herds are concentrated, the grass is short and the visibility excellent, and the predators are at their most active and visible. This month offers some of the most visceral and emotionally charged wildlife encounters of the entire migration cycle. Cheetah mothers with cubs hunt on the open plains within metres of your vehicle. Lion prides work together to bring down wildebeest in a confusion of dust and noise. It is raw, occasionally difficult to watch, and utterly unforgettable. February also brings some of the year’s most photogenic conditions: the plains are still green from the December and January rains, the air is relatively clear, and the dramatic skies of the wet season create extraordinary light for photography.
Where to be: Southern Serengeti, Ndutu area. Visitor numbers are moderate and accommodation rates are generally lower than peak July to October season.
March: The Herds Begin Moving North
As March progresses, the long rains arrive and the herds begin their gradual northward movement. The calving season winds down and the wildebeest, now with their new cohort of young integrated into the herd, begin moving north through the central Serengeti toward the western corridor. March can be unpredictable, with some days of heavy rainfall making some roads difficult. However, the landscape is extraordinarily beautiful at this time of year: the plains are vivid green, wildflowers bloom across the grasslands, and the sky is filled with dramatic storm clouds. Visitor numbers drop and lodge rates fall, making March one of the best-value months for travelers who prioritize natural beauty and space over guaranteed predator action.
Where to be: Central Serengeti transitioning to western areas as the month progresses.
April: Long Rains and Low Season
April is the wettest month in the Serengeti. The long rains bring consistent and sometimes heavy rainfall, and some tracks become impassable. Several smaller camps close during this period. The herds continue moving north and west, becoming dispersed across the landscape as the rainfall brings fresh grass in multiple directions simultaneously. For the hardy traveler, April in the Serengeti is a genuinely extraordinary experience: the park is nearly empty, the wildlife is everywhere but dispersed, and the landscape has a lushness and drama that the dry season never matches. Rates are at their lowest of the year.
Where to be: Central and western Serengeti corridors.
May: End of the Long Rains, Western Corridor Builds
The long rains begin to ease in May and the western corridor of the Serengeti becomes increasingly active as the migration herds move west toward the Grumeti River. By late May, massive herds are assembling on the banks of the Grumeti, preparing for the first major river crossing of the annual migration cycle. The Grumeti crossings are less famous than the Mara River crossings but often more dramatic in their own way, largely because of the truly enormous Nile crocodiles that inhabit the Grumeti River. Some individual crocodiles in the Grumeti are among the largest in Africa, reaching over 5 metres in length and weighing over 700 kilograms.
Where to be: Western Serengeti corridor, particularly around the Grumeti River. Consider camps in the Grumeti Reserve for exclusive access.
June: Grumeti River Crossings and Dry Season Transition
June marks the transition from wet to dry season. The landscape is still green but the air is clear and dry. Grumeti River crossings continue in the early part of the month and peak as the herds push through. The central Serengeti is excellent for big cat sightings as the drying conditions concentrate animals near permanent water sources. Visitor numbers begin to increase from the low-season base. June offers a genuinely excellent balance of good weather, excellent wildlife, reasonable value, and manageable crowds before the peak season surge of July and August.
Where to be: Western corridor for Grumeti crossings; central Serengeti for big cat sightings.
July: Peak Season Begins, Mara River Crossings Start
July is when the great northern push begins. The wildebeest herds, now numbering in the millions, push north from the western corridor through the central Serengeti and into the northern zone near Kogatende and the Mara River. The first Mara River crossings can occur as early as late June but typically build in frequency and scale through July. The Mara River is a significant obstacle: wide, deep, fast-flowing, and patrolled by large crocodiles. When the wildebeest arrive at the bank, they often mill around for hours or even days before a critical mass reaches the water’s edge and the crossing erupts in chaos. Thousands of animals surge into the water, the crocodiles surge from below, and the noise, dust, and primal energy of the moment is overwhelming. This is why hundreds of thousands of tourists choose July and August to visit the Serengeti and Masai Mara. Book at least 12 months in advance.
Where to be: Northern Serengeti near Kogatende. July also brings peak visitor numbers and peak prices.
August: Best Month for River Crossings
August is peak migration season in every sense. The Mara River crossings happen with high frequency, the dry season means vegetation is short and wildlife easily spotted, and the Serengeti is at its busiest and most expensive. For those willing to pay the price and accept the crowds, August is genuinely spectacular. The number of crossings in a good August can exceed 30 or 40 river crossing events across the month, though no crossing is guaranteed on any given day. Patient observers who spend multiple days positioned at known crossing points increase their chances significantly. The balloon safari experience is superb in August: clear skies, excellent visibility, and the landscape covered in wildlife.
Where to be: Northern Serengeti near the Mara River, particularly around Kogatende airstrip.
September: Still Great, Fewer People
September is one of the most underrated months to visit the northern Serengeti. The herds are still in or near the Mara region, crossings continue (though often with decreasing frequency toward the end of the month), and visitor numbers begin to drop from the August peak. Accommodation rates start to ease slightly. The light in September has a particular quality that photographers love: golden and warm in the early morning and late afternoon, with clear skies and minimal haze. September is arguably the best single month to visit the northern Serengeti for travelers who want excellent migration sightings without the peak-season crush of July and August.
Where to be: Northern Serengeti continuing into October as the herds begin drifting south.
October: The Herds Turn South
By October, the wildebeest begin their southward return journey. The short rains arrive toward the end of October, freshening the landscape and prompting the herds to move. The central Serengeti is excellent in October as large columns of wildebeest pass through on their way south. October is also one of the finest months in the Serengeti for birdwatching. Millions of migratory birds from Europe and central Asia arrive to join the resident species, and the park’s species list explodes with arriving warblers, raptors, storks, and waders.
Where to be: Central and northern Serengeti, transitioning to central by late October.
November: Short Rains and Southward Movement
November is a transitional month. The short rains freshen the plains and the wildebeest continue their southward drift, passing through the central Serengeti and heading back toward the south for the next calving season. Visitor numbers are moderate. Lodge rates are competitive. The landscape is beautiful with the first green grass of the new wet season. November is an excellent month for first-time visitors who want a quieter experience with good overall wildlife and a taste of the green season without the heavy rain of April.
December: The Cycle Completes
December sees the wildebeest consolidating on the southern plains ahead of the next calving cycle in January and February. The short rains ease through the month and by Christmas the weather is often sunny and pleasant. The southern Serengeti around Ndutu and the short grass plains is the place to be as the massive herds gather. December’s holiday period brings a surge in visitor numbers and the highest lodge rates of the year outside of peak migration season. Outside of Christmas week and New Year week, early and mid December offer excellent value and spectacular wildlife as the cycle prepares to begin again.
Planning Tips for the Great Migration
The single most important planning tip is to book as early as possible for the camps that are most strategically positioned for your chosen time of year. The best northern Serengeti camps for migration viewing fill 12 to 18 months in advance during July and August. Ndutu camps fill up similarly for January and February calving season. Consider working with a specialist Tanzania safari operator who can advise on camp positioning based on real-time migration tracking data. No migration sighting is ever guaranteed, but positioning yourself in the right zone at the right time with a knowledgeable guide dramatically increases your chances of witnessing one of nature’s greatest performances.
