The Great Migration is a continuous annual cycle, moving through various regions throughout the year. There isn’t a single best time to witness this phenomenon; instead, your safari can be customized based on the specific aspect of the migration you wish to see, such as river crossings, or your preferred travel season. The migration is divided into four main seasons, each offering unique experiences.
For a detailed guide on the best times to visit, refer to the month-by-month breakdown below.
From the calving of the herds in the south to their journey north in search of lush pastures—and their return again—you will be captivated by the ever-changing, breathtaking scenes.
The herds congregate on the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti and westernmost regions of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. An estimated 500 000 calves are born during a two- to three-week window in February. This mass calving draws a staggering number of predators eager to prey on the vulnerable newborns.
As the rains come to an end and the ground dries, the herds start making their way north into the central Serengeti where the grass is still fresh and they can graze and tend their young. Moving slowly, they graze as they go, making the most of the fresh grass. Mating season begins and the male wildebeest do fierce battle for a mate. Throughout the rut, the journey continues as some herds head west into the Western Corridor and cross the Grumeti River.
The herds head towards the north of the Serengeti. The river crossings, considered by some to be the most exciting events of the Great Migration, usually start in July, but timing all depends on the rains.
The herds can be found in the Northern Serengeti as well as in Kenya’s Masai Mara. Daily river crossings can be seen at the Mara and Talek rivers – both often central to highly dramatic scenes.
Later, the herds usually cross back to the Serengeti from the Mara and head towards the now fertile southern Serengeti. The herds travel fast and cover long distances in a single day. By the beginning of December, Ndutu starts seeing the herds return to calve, and the whole process begins again.
The herds congregate on the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti and northernmost regions of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. An estimated 500 000 calves are born during a two- to three-week window in February. This mass calving draws a staggering number of predators eager to prey on the vulnerable newborns.
Learn more below about historical patterns that predict where the Great Migration is each month:
Wildebeest begin to gather in the southern plains, from Moru south to Naabi, Kusini and Ndutu. The short grasses here are rich in phosphorus and magnesium due to the volcanic ash of the calcrete layer just below the plains’ shallow soil. Pack your waterproof items, as there may be intense thunderstorms throughout the region. You may be rewarded with a few early calving sightings.
February is peak calving month, and there’s nothing quite like the sight of hundreds of thousands of newborn wildebeest taking their first steps amid stationary herds. You can spot them from the Ndutu and Kusini plains, all the way toward the Ngorongoro Highlands. This is the driest month of the rainy season, although sparse showers still occur.
Toward the end of the calving season, the herds are mostly still stationary in the Ndutu-Kusini area, with some animals permeating even further south into Maswa and east in the direction of Namiri Plains (prime predator country, so keep your camera close). The last of the wildebeest calves are born amid heavy, regional thunderstorms.
This is the last month you’ll be able to witness the massive herds (plus calves) taking it slow on the plains in the Naabi and Kusini areas. They’ll be making the most of what remains of the nutritious Digitaria, Sporobolus, Andropogon and Cynodon grasses before beginning their long and often perilous journey north.
Starting this month, the wildebeest will continually be on the move, heading north through the Moru Kopjes and toward the Western Corridor. Dramatic thunderstorms (good to photograph) persist, providing water to the medium-to-tall Pennisetum and Tussocky Themeda grasses that the herds will now be grazing on. There is slightly less nutrition in the vegetation, prompting the animals’ continued movement northward.
The Great Migration is in full swing, travelling swiftly up through the Western Corridor and Grumeti Reserve. It’s peak rutting time, as well as the beginning of the dry season, though there are still localised showers in the north. From now on, the animals’ nutrition depends largely on the growth stage of the Digitaria, Pennisetum, Eustachys and Themeda grasses anchored in nutrient-rich clay amid the woodlands.
For wildebeest, the grass really is greener on the other side — of the Mara and Sand rivers, that is. Crossings are the stuff nature documentaries are made of, and a stay at Sayari means you’re perfectly positioned to catch the action. The head of the herd will have reached the Kogatende area in the northern Serengeti, ready to cross the Mara and Sand rivers, complete with hungry crocodiles lurking in the water.
For the most part, herds will cross south to north, drawn by the more nutritious grazing on the northern side thanks to earlier showers. However, some crossings also occur in the opposite direction. For spectacular sightings of the bulk of the wildebeest herds, interspersed with dazzles of zebra and herds of antelope, head to the Lamai Wedge and Nyamalumbwa Plains.
River traffic flows in both directions between Kenya and Tanzania in September, though a southerly direction will prevail by the end of the month. This treacherous traverse is one of nature’s greatest and most tragic spectacles, and tens of thousands of animals will die in the attempt. The rains remain absent in the south, with sparse showers still occurring in the north.
The tail end of the herd crosses the river from Kenya down into Tanzania, as thunderstorms begin in the north. Meanwhile, the bulk of the animals are moving back down into the Lobo Valley region and Grumeti Reserve, tracing their epic annual circle back south toward their calving grounds.
Marching ever onward, the herds have largely left the north and are passing through the Lobo region toward the central Serengeti. Rain is still scarce here, and the nutrition inherent in the grasslands is less than ideal. Interestingly, the reason the wildebeest can still share grazing land with zebra is because the two animals consume different parts of individual blades of grass.
The Great Migration is now dispersed across the central Serengeti, from as far north as Lobo, to the southern reaches of Ndutu. The rains catch up at last with the still-moving herds, and intense thunderstorms and localised showers are experienced across the region. The animals have returned to the more nutritious Pennisetum, Sporobolus, Andropogon, Cynodon and Themeda grasses, ready to calve in the south and begin the great cycle all over again.
Find out more about the Great Migration:
The Great Migration is a continuous annual cycle, moving through various regions throughout the year. There isn’t a single best time to witness this phenomenon; instead, your safari can be customized based on the specific aspect of the migration you wish to see, such as river crossings, or your preferred travel season. The migration is divided into four main seasons, each offering unique experiences.
For a detailed guide on the best times to visit, refer to the month-by-month breakdown below.
From the calving of the herds in the south to their journey north in search of lush pastures—and their return again—you will be captivated by the ever-changing, breathtaking scenes.
The herds congregate on the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti and westernmost regions of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. An estimated 500 000 calves are born during a two- to three-week window in February. This mass calving draws a staggering number of predators eager to prey on the vulnerable newborns.
As the rains come to an end and the ground dries, the herds start making their way north into the central Serengeti where the grass is still fresh and they can graze and tend their young. Moving slowly, they graze as they go, making the most of the fresh grass. Mating season begins and the male wildebeest do fierce battle for a mate. Throughout the rut, the journey continues as some herds head west into the Western Corridor and cross the Grumeti River.
The herds head towards the north of the Serengeti. The river crossings, considered by some to be the most exciting events of the Great Migration, usually start in July, but timing all depends on the rains.
The herds can be found in the Northern Serengeti as well as in Kenya’s Masai Mara. Daily river crossings can be seen at the Mara and Talek rivers – both often central to highly dramatic scenes.
Later, the herds usually cross back to the Serengeti from the Mara and head towards the now fertile southern Serengeti. The herds travel fast and cover long distances in a single day. By the beginning of December, Ndutu starts seeing the herds return to calve, and the whole process begins again.
The herds congregate on the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti and northernmost regions of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. An estimated 500 000 calves are born during a two- to three-week window in February. This mass calving draws a staggering number of predators eager to prey on the vulnerable newborns.
Learn more below about historical patterns that predict where the Great Migration is each month:
Wildebeest begin to gather in the southern plains, from Moru south to Naabi, Kusini and Ndutu. The short grasses here are rich in phosphorus and magnesium due to the volcanic ash of the calcrete layer just below the plains’ shallow soil. Pack your waterproof items, as there may be intense thunderstorms throughout the region. You may be rewarded with a few early calving sightings.
February is peak calving month, and there’s nothing quite like the sight of hundreds of thousands of newborn wildebeest taking their first steps amid stationary herds. You can spot them from the Ndutu and Kusini plains, all the way toward the Ngorongoro Highlands. This is the driest month of the rainy season, although sparse showers still occur.
Toward the end of the calving season, the herds are mostly still stationary in the Ndutu-Kusini area, with some animals permeating even further south into Maswa and east in the direction of Namiri Plains (prime predator country, so keep your camera close). The last of the wildebeest calves are born amid heavy, regional thunderstorms.
This is the last month you’ll be able to witness the massive herds (plus calves) taking it slow on the plains in the Naabi and Kusini areas. They’ll be making the most of what remains of the nutritious Digitaria, Sporobolus, Andropogon and Cynodon grasses before beginning their long and often perilous journey north.
Starting this month, the wildebeest will continually be on the move, heading north through the Moru Kopjes and toward the Western Corridor. Dramatic thunderstorms (good to photograph) persist, providing water to the medium-to-tall Pennisetum and Tussocky Themeda grasses that the herds will now be grazing on. There is slightly less nutrition in the vegetation, prompting the animals’ continued movement northward.
The Great Migration is in full swing, travelling swiftly up through the Western Corridor and Grumeti Reserve. It’s peak rutting time, as well as the beginning of the dry season, though there are still localised showers in the north. From now on, the animals’ nutrition depends largely on the growth stage of the Digitaria, Pennisetum, Eustachys and Themeda grasses anchored in nutrient-rich clay amid the woodlands.
For wildebeest, the grass really is greener on the other side — of the Mara and Sand rivers, that is. Crossings are the stuff nature documentaries are made of, and a stay at Sayari means you’re perfectly positioned to catch the action. The head of the herd will have reached the Kogatende area in the northern Serengeti, ready to cross the Mara and Sand rivers, complete with hungry crocodiles lurking in the water.
For the most part, herds will cross south to north, drawn by the more nutritious grazing on the northern side thanks to earlier showers. However, some crossings also occur in the opposite direction. For spectacular sightings of the bulk of the wildebeest herds, interspersed with dazzles of zebra and herds of antelope, head to the Lamai Wedge and Nyamalumbwa Plains.
River traffic flows in both directions between Kenya and Tanzania in September, though a southerly direction will prevail by the end of the month. This treacherous traverse is one of nature’s greatest and most tragic spectacles, and tens of thousands of animals will die in the attempt. The rains remain absent in the south, with sparse showers still occurring in the north.
The tail end of the herd crosses the river from Kenya down into Tanzania, as thunderstorms begin in the north. Meanwhile, the bulk of the animals are moving back down into the Lobo Valley region and Grumeti Reserve, tracing their epic annual circle back south toward their calving grounds.
Marching ever onward, the herds have largely left the north and are passing through the Lobo region toward the central Serengeti. Rain is still scarce here, and the nutrition inherent in the grasslands is less than ideal. Interestingly, the reason the wildebeest can still share grazing land with zebra is because the two animals consume different parts of individual blades of grass.
The Great Migration is now dispersed across the central Serengeti, from as far north as Lobo, to the southern reaches of Ndutu. The rains catch up at last with the still-moving herds, and intense thunderstorms and localised showers are experienced across the region. The animals have returned to the more nutritious Pennisetum, Sporobolus, Andropogon, Cynodon and Themeda grasses, ready to calve in the south and begin the great cycle all over again.
Find out more about the Great Migration:
