The Great Migration Never Stops
The Great Migration is often talked about as a single event — the famous Mara River crossings. In reality, it is a continuous, year-round clockwise circuit covering 1,800 km across Tanzania's Serengeti and Kenya's Masai Mara. Over 1.5 million wildebeest, 400,000 zebra, and 250,000 Thomson's gazelle are always moving, always grazing, always pursued by predators. The question is not whether to see the migration — it is where to position yourself to see its most dramatic chapter.
The Migration Calendar: Where Are the Herds?
January to March — Calving Season (Southern Serengeti)
This is the most overlooked — and arguably most extraordinary — chapter of the migration. Between late January and early March, over 500,000 wildebeest calves are born on the short-grass Ndutu plains of the southern Serengeti in a concentrated window of just a few weeks. The result is an explosion of predator activity unlike anything else in the natural world. Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs converge on the plains to take advantage of the surplus of vulnerable young animals.
Where to be: Serengeti South (Ndutu area). The Ndutu plains are outside the national park's main fee zone, in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, allowing you to drive off-road for intimate predator encounters. This is one of the best-value migration experiences — far cheaper than the peak Mara River season.
April to June — The Long Rains and the Western Corridor
As the long rains arrive in April–May, the herds move northwest through the central Serengeti and into the western corridor. The Grumeti River — a smaller, croc-filled waterway — sees the year's first river crossings in May and June. Grumeti crossings are less widely known than the Mara River spectacle but can be every bit as dramatic, with smaller, more intimate herd concentrations and some of Africa's largest Nile crocodiles.
Where to be: Serengeti West (Grumeti area). June is the sweet spot — the rains have eased, the herds are massing at the Grumeti, and prices are not yet at peak levels.
July to October — The Mara River Crossings (Peak Season)
This is the chapter that fills every wildlife documentary and photography portfolio. From July onward, the massed herds push north from the Serengeti into Kenya's Masai Mara, where they must cross the Mara River — a water obstacle lined with massive Nile crocodiles. The crossings are chaotic, violent, and unforgettable. Herds of thousands plunge into the river simultaneously, crocodiles strike from below, the far bank is a scramble of animals desperate to reach safety.
Crossings are unpredictable — they can happen multiple times a day or not at all for several days. A good guide and an early start position you at the right crossing point to be there when the herd finally commits.
Where to be: Masai Mara (Mara North Conservancy or the national reserve's northern sector). August is the most reliable month for witnessing crossings. Book camps and Kenya safari packages at least 6 months ahead for July–September.
November to December — The Return South
As the short rains arrive in November, the grass in the southern Serengeti begins to green again. The herds sense the flush of new pasture and begin the return journey south. By December, the bulk of the wildebeest are back on the Serengeti plains as the calving cycle begins again. This is a quieter, lower-cost time with excellent game viewing and virtually no other tourists.
The Great Migration at a Glance
| Month | Location | Highlight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan–Feb | Serengeti South (Ndutu) | Peak calving — extraordinary predator action | Low–Med |
| Mar | Central Serengeti | Herds beginning to move north | Low |
| Apr–May | Western Serengeti | Grumeti River crossings (first of year) | Very Low |
| June | Northern Serengeti / Mara | Herds arriving in Mara ecosystem | Medium |
| Jul–Sep | Masai Mara, North Serengeti | Mara River crossings — peak spectacle | Highest |
| October | Masai Mara / Returning south | Crossings tapering, herds returning | Medium |
| Nov–Dec | Serengeti South | Return journey, calving beginning (late Dec) | Low |
Book Your Migration Safari
Tazama Africa Holidays offers migration-timed safaris for every chapter of this extraordinary annual event. Whether you want the calving season drama in January, the Grumeti crossings in June, or the peak Mara River spectacle in August, we can position you perfectly. Browse our Kenya safari packages and Tanzania safari packages, or request a custom migration itinerary.