Every year, more than a million wildebeest — joined by hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle — travel a vast loop through the Serengeti ecosystem in search of fresh grazing and water. It is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth, and it is never in the same place for long.
The secret to a remarkable migration safari is not simply choosing the right month. It is choosing the right place within that month, the right camp, and a guide who reads the land as it changes. Below is our month-by-month guide to how the year typically unfolds in Tanzania.
A journey shaped by rain
The migration follows the rain. When the rains arrive, new grass follows, and the herds move to find it. Because rainfall varies from year to year, so does the timing of the herds — sometimes by several weeks. The calendar below is a reliable guide, not a timetable, which is why flexibility and local knowledge matter so much.
January to March: calving season in the south
In the early months of the year, the herds gather on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and the neighbouring Ndutu area of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The grass here is rich in nutrients, and for a few weeks — usually peaking in February — thousands of calves are born each day.
It is a tender and dramatic time. Newborn calves are on their feet within minutes, and the predators are never far away: lion, cheetah and hyena are drawn to the plains, and sightings can be extraordinary.
Calving season is one of the most rewarding — and most underrated — times to experience the migration.
Where we like to stay: camps positioned on or near the southern plains, including seasonal and mobile camps that move to follow the herds.
April and May: the long rains
As the long rains arrive, the herds begin to drift north and west through the central Serengeti. Some camps close for this season, roads can be challenging and afternoon showers are common — but the landscape is lush and green, the light is beautiful, and you will share it with very few other travellers. For those who value privacy over predictability, this can be a magical time.
June and July: the Western Corridor
By early in the dry season, large parts of the migration move into the Western Corridor, where the Grumeti River presents the herds with their first major river crossing. The Grumeti's crocodiles are famous, and the riverine forest makes for a very different atmosphere to the open plains. As the weeks pass, columns of wildebeest begin pushing north.
July to October: the Mara River crossings
This is the season most people imagine when they think of the migration. In the northern Serengeti — around Kogatende and the Lamai Wedge — the herds gather on the banks of the Mara River and, often after hours of hesitation, plunge across. No two crossings are the same, and patience is everything.
The northern Serengeti is also remote and beautifully wild. Choosing a camp close to the river, and a guide who knows the crossing points, makes a world of difference to how much you see — and how many other vehicles you see it with.
November and December: the return south
With the short rains, the herds turn south again, moving through the eastern and central Serengeti towards the calving grounds where the cycle begins once more. It is a quieter, greener time of year, and an excellent window for travellers who want good wildlife with fewer people.
How to plan your migration safari
- Decide what you most want to see. Newborn calves and predator action, or the drama of the river crossings? The answer shapes both the month and the region.
- Book well ahead for July to October. The best-located camps in the northern Serengeti fill early.
- Allow time. We recommend at least three to four nights in one area so that you can wait for the moments that matter.
- Combine regions. Pairing the Serengeti with Tarangire or the Ngorongoro highlands adds variety and a gentler pace.
- Consider a hot-air balloon flight. Drifting over the herds at sunrise is an unforgettable way to see their scale.
Our approach
We design every migration safari around timing, location and privacy — not around a fixed itinerary. We watch the season as it develops, work with intimate camps in the right places, and choose guides who know how to find quiet corners away from the busiest viewing areas.
Because the Serengeti is iconic. Your experience doesn't have to be conventional.
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