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The Great Migration, month by month

By A2Z Africa editors · Updated · About A2Z Africa

More than a million wildebeest, with hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle, circle the Serengeti and Masai Mara following the rains. The pattern below is typical, but the herds follow the grass, not the calendar.

Month by month (typical)

  • December to March: southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Ndutu). Calving peaks around February, with lots of predator action.
  • April and May: herds move northwest through the central Serengeti. Long rains; some camps close and prices drop.
  • June: Western Corridor; Grumeti River crossings are possible.
  • July to October: northern Serengeti and the Masai Mara. The famous Mara River crossings.
  • November: the short rains start and herds move back south through the eastern and central Serengeti.

How to choose your camp

Choose a camp, not just a park. Seasonal and mobile camps move to follow the herds. Ask your operator where the herds were in the same month over the last few years.

Avoiding the crowds

  • Stay in a private conservancy next to the Mara for limited vehicles.
  • The northern Serengeti is often quieter than the Mara at crossing points.
  • Calving season in February is spectacular and less crowded than August.

Good to know

River crossings are unpredictable. Herds may gather for hours and then turn back. Build in at least three nights near the river.

See Serengeti · Masai Mara · wildebeest

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to see the Great Migration?

For river crossings, roughly July to October in the northern Serengeti and Masai Mara. For calving, around January to March in the southern Serengeti.

Is the migration better in Kenya or Tanzania?

Tanzania hosts the herds for most of the year. Kenya’s Masai Mara has them for about three to four months, with excellent private conservancies.

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