Over a million wildebeest, joined by hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, move in a year-round circuit between Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara. It is the largest overland animal migration on Earth, and one of the most misunderstood. Here is how it actually works, and how to time your safari for it.
A Circle, Not a Departure
The first thing to understand: the migration never “leaves”. The herds are always somewhere in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, following rain and fresh grass in a roughly clockwise loop. The question is not whether you can see the migration, but which chapter of the story your dates will show you.
The Year in Chapters
- December to March, southern Serengeti and Ndutu: the herds mass on the short-grass plains for calving. Around 8,000 calves are born daily at the February peak, and predators follow; this is the best season for big-cat action.
- April to May, central and western Serengeti: the long rains set the herds moving north-west in vast columns. Fewer visitors, green landscapes, occasionally muddy roads.
- June to July, western corridor and Grumeti: the first river drama as columns cross the Grumeti River.
- July to October, northern Serengeti and the Maasai Mara: the famous Mara River crossings, with crocodiles waiting. Crossings happen on the herds’ schedule, not yours; patience over several days gives the best odds.
- November, eastern and southern Serengeti: the short rains pull the herds south again, completing the circle.
Serengeti or Maasai Mara?
The Serengeti hosts the herds for roughly ten months of the year across an enormous wilderness; the Mara offers a compact stage where, from July to October, the density of wildlife and predators is unmatched. Our 10-day Tanzania safari and 14-day Grand Safari follow the seasonal sectors of the Serengeti, while our 10-day Kenya safari puts you in the Mara during crossing season. There is no wrong choice, only different chapters.
Practical Tips From Our Guides
- Book crossing-season camps six to twelve months ahead; the northern Serengeti and Mara fill first.
- Build in at least two or three nights near the rivers; single-day visits often miss the crossing.
- Do not ignore the calving season: it is cheaper, greener and delivers more predator sightings per hour than any other period.
- A hot-air balloon flight (roughly USD 550) is the one splurge our travellers never regret in migration season.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the Mara River crossings?
Roughly July to September, sometimes into October, in the northern Serengeti and Maasai Mara. Exact timing depends entirely on rainfall.
Can a crossing be guaranteed?
No, and distrust anyone who promises one. Staying several days near the rivers in season gives you a strong chance.
Where is the migration in December to March?
On the southern Serengeti plains around Ndutu for calving season, the best-kept secret in migration travel.
Is the migration only wildebeest?
No; some 200,000 zebras and hundreds of thousands of gazelles travel with the herds, and the predators of two countries live off the procession.
Which of your tours fits the migration best?
July to October: our Kenya safari for the Mara, or the northern-sector days of our Tanzania itineraries. December to March: the Tanzania itineraries, which then focus on the calving grounds.
Want your dates matched to the right chapter? Send them over and our guides will tell you honestly what you will and will not see.