Your Guide To The Great Migration

The Great Migration is the largest mass movement of land mammals on Earth. Over two million wildebeest, along with hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle, move in an endless cycle across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Stalked by predators like lions, cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas, the herds circle through Tanzania’s Serengeti plains and Kenya’s Maasai Mara Reserve in a clockwise pattern that’s been repeating for millennia.

The migration never stops, and each season offers something completely different. When to go is solely dependent on what you want to see.
Following instinct and the scent of moisture, the herds move from their calving grounds in the southern Serengeti to the northern plains as the dry season sets in, spending summer and early fall in the north before heading south again to repeat the cycle. Here’s what happens when:

What happens: Over two million years ago, volcanic eruptions spewed ash and debris onto the southern Serengeti plains near Ndutu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, enriching the soil. As a result, lush, nutrient-dense grasses grow here during the green season—making it the perfect feeding ground for pregnant wildebeest to graze and produce calcium-rich milk.
Over a period of just a few weeks, females give birth to more than 300,000 calves. Around 8,000 wobbly-kneed newborns take their first steps every single day, transforming the plains into nature’s largest nursery.

Why come now: Predator action is at its peak. The presence of these vulnerable calves draws lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and leopards in extraordinary numbers, creating dramatic hunting scenes. If you want to witness the raw circle of life—new beginnings and brutal endings happening side by side—this is your window.
Columns of wildebeest stretch for miles across the short-grass plains, sometimes as far as the eye can see. This is also an excellent time for bird-watching, as migratory flocks pass over the Serengeti in abundance.

Weather: Warm days with occasional afternoon showers. Short grass season offers excellent visibility for game viewing.

Best for: Photographers seeking predator action, families wanting to see baby animals, first-time safari-goers.

What happens: The herds begin moving northwest as the rains saturate the southern plains. They spread out across the central Serengeti and into the western corridor.

Why come now: This is the quietest, least expensive time to visit. Lodges drop their rates significantly, and you’ll have the Serengeti largely to yourself. The landscape is lush and brilliantly green, bird life is phenomenal, and resident wildlife (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo) is abundant and easier to spot around water sources. You might see smaller migration groups, but they’re dispersed.

Weather: Heavy rains, muddy roads. Some seasonal camps close. Not ideal for first-timers, but budget travelers and experienced safari-goers love the dramatic skies and solitude.
Best for: Budget-conscious travelers, photographers who love moody landscapes, return visitors seeking a different Serengeti experience.

What happens: The herds mass in the Western Corridor, preparing to cross the Grumeti River. This river now runs low but teems with opportunistic Nile crocodiles—some of the largest in Africa, having grown fat on years of migration crossings.
This is the prelude to the main event: hundreds of thousands of animals beginning their treacherous journey north toward the Mara River.

Why come now: Fewer tourists than peak season (August-October), but incredible wildlife drama. Grumeti crossings are less famous than the Mara River but equally thrilling and often less crowded. The herds build up along the riverbanks, and when they finally plunge in, the chaos is spectacular.

Weather: Dry season begins. Clear skies, cooler mornings and evenings, excellent game viewing conditions. Dust starts to settle on the plains.

Best for: Travelers seeking river crossings without peak-season crowds, wildlife enthusiasts who want the full migration experience at better value.

What happens: This is the moment everyone pictures when they think “Great Migration.” The herds reach the Mara River in the northern Serengeti (Kogatende area), and chaos erupts. Wildebeest mass on the banks of the Mara River in incredible numbers—sometimes hundreds of thousands at a time—before making the hardest single part of their long journey: a dramatic, life-or-death river crossing into Kenya’s Maasai Mara. The crossings are unpredictable, panic-driven, and absolutely unforgettable. One brave wildebeest triggers a stampede, and thousands plunge into crocodile-infested waters. The predators wait. Some animals make it; many don’t.

Why come now: This is peak season for good reason. The Mara River crossings are one of the natural world’s greatest spectacles—the kind of scene made famous in countless wildlife documentaries. Herds build up on the riverbanks for hours or even days, creating almost unbearable tension before the crossing begins.

Weather: Dry, dusty, and busy. Clear skies make for stunning photography. Expect higher prices and more safari vehicles, especially in September.

Best for: First-time safari-goers wanting the “classic” migration experience, photographers seeking iconic wildlife moments, travelers with flexible budgets.

What happens: The short rains begin, and the herds start their journey back south through the eastern Serengeti and Lobo area, drawn by the scent of fresh rain on the southern plains. The cycle completes, and the migration begins again.

Why come now: Fewer crowds than the peak months, and the landscape transforms as the rains bring fresh green grass. This is a transitional time—you might catch late river crossings in the north or early arrivals back in the southern plains. It’s also prime time for resident predators in the central Serengeti.

Weather: Short rains, pleasant temperatures, good game viewing between scattered showers. The Serengeti smells alive again.

Best for: Travelers seeking variety (you might see both northern and southern herds), those wanting fewer tourists, visitors combining the Serengeti with Zanzibar beach time.

The best time to see the Great Migration is the time that matches what you want to experience. You truly can’t go wrong—because the migration never stops, and the wildlife experiences are always extraordinary.
When you book with us, you are guaranteed to work with operators who track the migration in real-time, monitor herd locations daily, and adjust itineraries accordingly to ensure you’re positioned for the best possible wildlife encounters.