· Golden Memories Safaris
The Great Wildebeest Migration is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth, and the question every visitor asks is simple: where are the herds right now? The answer changes every month, because the animals follow the rain and the fresh grass in a continuous circle across the Serengeti and the Masai Mara. This guide follows the herds through the year, explains what you can see in each season, shows where to stay at each stage and gives honest advice about crossings, which are the most famous and the least predictable part of the migration.
What the Great Migration actually is
The migration is not a single event but a year round circular movement. UNESCO, which inscribed the Serengeti as a World Heritage Site in 1981, describes the largest remaining unaltered animal migration in the world, with over a million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles on a circular journey of about 1,000 kilometres across Tanzania and Kenya. National Geographic reports that the herds include as many as 1.3 to 1.5 million wildebeest, more than 200,000 zebra and several hundred thousand gazelles, followed by their predators.
The herds do not follow a calendar. They follow rainfall, and rainfall varies from year to year, so the dates below are a guide to the usual pattern, not a promise. A good guide, and a good operator in contact with others in the field, makes the difference between arriving at the right place and arriving a week late.
The migration month by month
January and February: calving on the southern plains
The Tanzania Tourism Board and National Geographic both describe the herds arriving on the southern plains around Ndutu in January, where the animals synchronise births. In February thousands of calves are born every day over several weeks. The short grass attracts predators, so lions, cheetahs and hyenas hunt actively, and sightings of kills are common. The weather is warm and mostly dry, and the plains are green after the short rains. February is widely regarded as the best month for calving, and the Ndutu and southern Serengeti area is the place to be.
March: the herds begin to spread
As the long rains approach in March, the herds begin to spread across the southern and central plains. Calving continues in the early weeks, and some herds are still near Ndutu. It is a quieter month, with fewer vehicles, and from 15 March the Serengeti park fee falls from USD 70 to USD 60 per adult per day under the official TANAPA tariff. It is a good month for travellers who want the calving atmosphere without the peak crowds and prices.
April and May: the herds move north and west
From April, the herds start moving north and west, following the rains. National Geographic notes that the animals keep travelling through May and June. During the long rains the landscape is green, the parks are quiet and prices are lowest, although some camps close and roads can be muddy. The central Serengeti around Seronera is productive for big cats. This is a good time for travellers who want to avoid crowds and are happy to see the migration on the move rather than at a dramatic landmark.
June: the western corridor
In June the herds usually move into the western corridor of the Serengeti, towards the Grumeti River. The dry season begins, the grass is shortening and the nights are cool. It is a good month for game viewing across the park, and the western corridor can be spectacular as thousands of animals funnel towards the river.
July: the Grumeti River
The Tanzania Tourism Board describes the herds reaching the first big obstacle, the Grumeti River, in July. The river crossings are dramatic, with crocodiles waiting in the water, but they are not as large as the Mara River crossings, and they are often less crowded. July is also the start of the busiest time of the year, so book lodges well in advance.
August and September: the northern Serengeti and the Mara River
Crossings of the Mara and Sand rivers take place from about July until early November, with the peak usually in August and September. The herds gather on the banks, sometimes for hours or days, and then suddenly plunge into the water. The northern Serengeti, around Kogatende, is the Tanzanian side of the Mara River, and it is far quieter than the Kenyan side. This is the most famous part of the migration, and it is also the hardest to time, because the animals cross when they decide.
October: the herds head south
In October the herds begin moving south again as the short rains arrive. Some cross back from Kenya, and the northern Serengeti remains good early in the month. The central Serengeti becomes busier with animals heading south, and it is a good month for photographers, with dramatic skies and fewer visitors than August.
November and December: central and south
Because of the abundance of food during the wet season, the herds stop in the middle of the Serengeti from November and stay until the end of the year, before moving to the southern plains for calving. The central Serengeti and the area around Seronera are productive, and the landscape is green and quiet. December can be a good month for travellers who want to be in position for calving in January.
The calving season versus the river crossings
Most travellers have to choose between two experiences, because the herds cannot be in both places at once. They are very different, and both are extraordinary.
- Calving (January to March): newborn wildebeest, close predator action, open landscapes, fewer vehicles, lower prices from March, warm weather and good chances of big cats. Best for wildlife lovers who want a rich, long lasting experience and families.
- River crossings (July to October): dramatic scenes, large herds, higher prices and more vehicles, drier weather. Best for those who want the classic image of wildebeest leaping into the water.
Many experienced guests say that calving offers more consistent wildlife action, while crossings are a matter of luck. If you can only choose one, we usually recommend the calving season for first time visitors, unless the river crossing is the main reason you are coming.
Read our month by month Tanzania guide
Where to stay during the migration
Where you sleep matters more than any other decision in a migration safari, because the herds can be a long drive from the wrong camp. Many operators use two types of camp.
- Permanent lodges and tented camps. They are reliable and comfortable, and well located in areas that are productive all year, such as Seronera in the central Serengeti. They are less likely to be directly on the herds at any given time.
- Seasonal or mobile camps. These move with the herds, so they are positioned for calving in the south in the early months, or on the northern rivers in the dry season. They are often more intimate and give the most immediate access, but they have a short season.
We choose camps according to your dates and adjust them in the weeks before you travel, based on where the herds are. If you want a fixed itinerary, we recommend building in at least two nights in each area to improve your chances.
- 5 Day Migration Safari
- 5 Day Luxury Wildebeest Migration Safari (Serengeti Focus)
- 7 Day Luxury Big Five & Wildebeest Migration Safari (From Arusha)
- 6 Day Luxury Great Migration River Crossing Safari (Northern Serengeti Focus)
How to see a river crossing
A crossing is not scheduled. The herds gather near the water, sometimes for days, and cross only when a few brave animals take the lead. Some days there are several crossings, and on others there are none. Here is how to improve your chances.
- Stay at least three nights in the northern Serengeti. A single night is rarely enough.
- Be patient. Guides often park in position for hours, and the crossing can happen in seconds.
- Arrive with a flexible plan. Packed lunches and an early start give your guide the freedom to wait.
- Respect the animals. Keep a distance from the river banks, do not block the herds, and follow your guide’s instructions.
- Choose a guide with experience and good radio contacts, because information about where the herds are is shared constantly.
Photography tips for the migration
- Bring a long lens, ideally 200 to 500 millimetres, and a wide lens for the landscapes.
- Shoot at sunrise and sunset, when the light is soft and animals are active.
- For crossings, use a fast shutter speed and burst mode, and focus on the leaders.
- Carry spare batteries and memory cards, because you will take more pictures than you expect.
- Remember that drones are not permitted in the national parks without special authorisation.
Why the migration changes from year to year
Anyone who tells you the herds will be in a particular place on a particular day is guessing. The wildebeest move in response to rainfall, because rain means fresh grass, and the timing and location of rain vary every year. A late rainy season can delay the move north, and a dry spell in the south can send the herds off earlier than usual. This is why guides and camp managers track the herds constantly, and why a flexible plan beats a fixed one.
It is also why we advise our guests to choose their dates for the season, not for a particular week. If you want calving, plan for the window from late January to the end of February. If you want crossings, plan for the stretch from late July to September, and give yourself several days in the area. Planning around a window, rather than a day, is the single best way to improve your chances.
There is more to the Serengeti than the herds
The migration draws the crowds, but the Serengeti is rewarding in every month. The Seronera valley in the central Serengeti is known for its year round concentration of predators, and lions, leopards and cheetahs are seen regularly. Rocky outcrops called kopjes are home to lions and hyraxes, and the rivers hold hippos and crocodiles. Elephants, giraffes, buffalo, topi, warthogs and an extraordinary range of birds live here all year. Even if the herds are far away, a good guide will find you remarkable sightings, which is why a safari in the green season can be as rewarding as one in the peak season.
Read how the Serengeti compares with Ngorongoro
Costs and fees during the migration
Migration months are among the most expensive of the year. The official TANAPA tariff for 2023/24 charges non resident adults USD 70 per day in the Serengeti from 16 May to 14 March, and USD 60 from 15 March to 15 May. Lodges raise their rates in July to October and at Christmas. A migration safari usually costs more than a similar safari at another time, but a good itinerary spends the money where the herds are. Our current midrange migration safari starts at USD 1,950 per person for two travellers sharing, and our luxury options are higher.
See what a Tanzania safari costs
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to see the Great Migration?
February for calving, and August or September for river crossings. The best month depends on what you want to see.
Is the migration only in the Serengeti?
No. The herds cross between the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya, but they spend most of the year in Tanzania.
Can I see the migration all year round?
Yes, in the sense that the herds are always somewhere in the Serengeti ecosystem. The famous scenes, calving and crossings, happen at particular times.
Do I need to book far ahead?
For July to October and the calving season in January and February, yes. Book six to twelve months ahead for the best camps.
Are river crossings guaranteed?
No. They depend on the weather, the herds and the animals themselves, and no operator can guarantee one. A longer stay increases the chances.
Plan your migration safari with a local team
Tell us your dates and whether you want calving or river crossings. We will choose the camps and the area to suit, and send a clear price.
Keep planning your Tanzania trip
These guides cover the next questions most travellers ask.
Serengeti or Ngorongoro: how to choose
Kenya or Tanzania safari: which is better
More guides and pages for this trip
Sources and further reading
Facts and figures in this guide come from the sources below. Fees, schedules and entry rules change, so confirm current details before you book.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre, whc.unesco.org.
- Tanzania Tourism Board, destination and Great Migration pages, tanzaniatourism.com.
- Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), Tariffs from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, tanzaniaparks.go.tz.
- National Geographic, coverage of the Great Migration and the Serengeti, nationalgeographic.com.
- TANAPA, Serengeti National Park visitor guide, tanzaniaparks.go.tz.
- Golden Memories Safaris package prices, per person for two travellers sharing, October 2026.