Wildlife & parks
The Great Migration month by month: where to find the herds
Exotic Legacy Safaris and Tours · · 1 min read
More than a million wildebeest, with hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle, move in a great loop through the Serengeti and Maasai Mara every year. This is where they usually are in each month.
The Great Migration is not a single event but a year-round journey driven by rain and fresh grass. The herds follow a roughly clockwise loop between the southern Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara. Timings change every year with the rains, so think of this as a guide rather than a timetable.
December – March: the southern plains and calving
After the short rains, the herds spread across the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and the Ndutu area of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Most calves are born over a few weeks, usually in February. Lion, cheetah and hyena are very active. Where to stay: Ndutu and the southern Serengeti.
April – May: moving north-west
As the long rains arrive, the herds begin to move through the central Serengeti towards the west. This is green season: quiet, beautiful and good value. Where to stay: central Serengeti (Seronera).
June – July: the Western Corridor and the Grumeti River
The herds gather in the Western Corridor, and the rut (mating season) begins. They cross the Grumeti River, where some of Africa’s largest crocodiles wait. Where to stay: Western Corridor, Grumeti.
July – October: the Mara River
The herds reach the northern Serengeti and the Mara River. River crossings are dramatic and unpredictable: thousands of animals may gather on the bank for hours before the first one jumps. Many herds cross into the Maasai Mara and back again. Where to stay: northern Serengeti (Kogatende, Lamai).
November: heading south
With the short rains, the herds move south through the eastern side of the park and the Lobo area, back towards the southern plains.
How we plan a migration safari
Because the herds move, we choose your Serengeti lodge or camp according to your travel dates and stay in touch with guides in the field during the season. Our calving safari and Mara River safari are built around the two most spectacular moments.
Get the next article by email
Practical advice from our team in Arusha. One email a month at most.
