The Great Migration Explained
Where the herds are each month and how to plan around them.
Around 1.5 million wildebeest and 300,000 zebra move in a continuous clockwise loop through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, following rainfall and new grass.
December to March: the southern short-grass plains around Ndutu, with calving peaking in February. April to June: the herds move north-west through the central Serengeti and the Grumeti.
July to October: the northern Serengeti and the Mara River crossings — the most dramatic and most heavily booked period.
November: the herds turn south again through the eastern plains. Wherever they are, we position you in camps within reach rather than promising a crossing on a fixed date.
Suggested Packages
Trips that match this journey
8 DaysLuxury MigrationThe Great River Crossing
Follow the herds as they navigate the treacherous Mara River, a spectacular display of nature's raw power.
6 DaysMigrationNdutu Calving Season
Witness half a million wildebeest calves born on the short-grass plains of Ndutu.
9 DaysMobile CampingSerengeti Under Canvas
A mobile camp that moves with the migration, always a few kilometres from the herds.
6 DaysMigrationGreat Migration Safari
Six days positioned wherever the herds are, season by season.
5 DaysMigrationCalving Season Special
Predator action and newborn wildebeest on the southern short-grass plains.
7 DaysLuxury MigrationLuxury Migration Fly-In
Fly straight to Kogatende for front-row river crossings in peak season.
8 DaysLuxury MigrationLuxury Migration Mobile Camp
A private mobile camp that shadows the migration through three seasonal locations.
Start planning your Tanzania safari
Tell us your dates and interests and our Arusha-based consultants will design a private itinerary for you.