What Is the Great Migration?
The Great Migration is the largest overland wildlife movement on Earth. Every year, approximately 1.5 million wildebeest, 400,000 zebra, and 200,000 Thomson's gazelle complete a circular journey of roughly 1,800 kilometres through Tanzania's Serengeti and Kenya's Maasai Mara ecosystem. It is driven entirely by the search for fresh grass and water — a relentless, dramatic cycle of birth, movement, and predation.
The Annual Migration Calendar
The migration is year-round — there is no start or end, only a continuous cycle. Understanding where the herds are at different times of year helps you plan the experience you're looking for:
- January–March (Ndutu, Tanzania): The calving season. Over 500,000 wildebeest calves are born in just three weeks on the southern Serengeti plains near Lake Ndutu. Predators are everywhere. This is extraordinary for wildlife photography.
- April–May (Central Serengeti): The herds move north through the long grass. The rains begin, making some areas difficult to access but dramatically beautiful.
- June–July (Northern Serengeti): The herds reach the Grumeti River — the first major crossing. Massive Nile crocodiles wait in the dark water. Dramatic and rarely photographed compared to the Mara crossings.
- July–October (Maasai Mara, Kenya): The Mara River crossings. This is the most dramatic and most sought-after event. Thousands of wildebeest leap into crocodile-infested waters in a frenzy of chaos, noise, and survival instinct.
- November–December (Southern Serengeti): The short rains return. The herds move south again, and the cycle begins anew.
The Mara River Crossings
The Mara River crossings are the spectacle that defines the Great Migration in the popular imagination. Wildebeest herds build up on the riverbank for hours — sometimes days — before one animal finally takes the plunge. Then thousands follow in a thundering, splashing mass. Crocodiles up to four metres long explode from the water. Lions and hyenas wait on the far bank.
The crossings happen unpredictably. You might wait four hours at a crossing point before it happens, or arrive to find one already in progress. This unpredictability is part of the magic — every crossing is different. Some are calm and orderly; others are pure chaos with animals turning back mid-river, creating collisions, and exhausted calves swept downstream.
Best Viewing Points in the Mara
The most famous crossings happen at a handful of well-known points along the Mara River. The Serena crossing near Serena Mara Lodge and the Lookout Hill area near Governors' Camp are consistently productive. However, the herds can cross anywhere along the 60-kilometre river, and your guide's knowledge of daily herd movements is essential. At Tazama Africa Holidays, our guides communicate daily with scouts and other vehicles to pinpoint crossing activity in real time.
Migration Safari Tips
- Stay longer: A minimum of 3 nights in the Mara gives you multiple game drives and better odds of witnessing a crossing. Our 6-day migration safari is designed specifically around this.
- Choose a private conservancy: The Mara North, Olare Motorogi, and Naboisho conservancies border the national reserve but allow off-road driving and have far fewer vehicles. The wildlife viewing quality is outstanding.
- Early starts are essential: Dawn game drives (before 6:30am) catch predators returning from night hunts and catch the herds moving before the midday heat.
- Pack a long lens: Crossings happen fast. A 400mm lens gives you frame-filling shots from the river bank without disturbing the animals.
Beyond the Mara River Crossings
The migration is far more than river crossings. The Mara ecosystem in peak season (August–September) has the highest density of predators in Africa. Lion prides are large — up to 30 individuals — and active. Cheetah mothers with cubs hunt gazelle in the open. Leopards drag kills into fig trees along the Mara River. Even if you miss a crossing, the Maasai Mara in July–October is the finest game viewing destination on the planet.
Planning Your Migration Safari
Book early — migration season fills up fast, especially August and September. The best camps in the Mara conservancies sell out 12–18 months in advance. Contact Tazama Africa Holidays for availability and to discuss which migration itinerary suits your dates and budget. We offer everything from 3-day flying packages from Nairobi to comprehensive 9-day migration safaris covering both the Serengeti and the Mara.