The Great Serengeti Migration is the year-round loop that wildebeest, zebra and gazelle walk through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, following rain and fresh grass. It runs clockwise through Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania and north into Kenya's Maasai Mara. The herds are always somewhere. The planning question is where they are in the month you can travel.
How many animals? The figure most guides quote is about 1.3 million wildebeest, and a 2023 aerial survey by the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) came out at roughly that number. Wikipedia's Serengeti article uses higher figures: 1.7 million wildebeest, about 260,000 zebra and around 470,000 gazelle. A 2025 study led by Oxford researchers, which counted wildebeest on satellite images from August 2022 and August 2023, found fewer than 600,000 in the dry-season range. The authors say this should not be read as proof of a decline. The two methods count different areas at different times, and nobody has reconciled them yet. "Over a million" is a fair summary of the long-standing estimates, with that open question attached.
Below is a month-by-month guide to where the herds usually are, what is happening, and where to base yourself. After that come the parts that decide whether you actually see it: calving, the river crossings, rain, camps and how long to stay.
When is the wildebeest migration? Month by month
Every month has migration activity. What changes is the location and what the herds are doing. The table shows the typical pattern drawn from long-running safari operators. Read it as likely, not guaranteed. Rain can move the whole calendar by weeks in either direction.
| Month | Where the herds usually are | What's happening | Best base area |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Southern Serengeti short-grass plains, Ndutu (Ngorongoro Conservation Area) | Herds spread out grazing; early calves appear | Ndutu / southern Serengeti |
| February | Ndutu and the southern plains | Peak calving; most calves born in a short window of about 2-3 weeks; heavy predator activity | Ndutu / southern Serengeti |
| March | Southern plains, drifting west | Calves growing; herds start to shift as the grass is used up | Ndutu / southern Serengeti |
| April | Moving north through Moru Kopjes and Seronera | Herds on the move in long columns; green season | Central Serengeti (Seronera) |
| May | West of Seronera, heading into the Western Corridor | Columns of hundreds of thousands; rains ending; the rut begins | Central Serengeti / Western Corridor |
| June | Western Corridor, often held up on the south bank of the Grumeti River | Grumeti River crossings; dry season starts | Western Corridor (Grumeti) |
| July | Spread across a broad front: Grumeti, Ikorongo and central Serengeti, pushing north | Leading herds reach the northern Serengeti; first Mara River crossings in some years | Western Corridor early in the month; northern Serengeti (Kogatende) later |
| August | Northern Serengeti and the Maasai Mara (Kenya) | Mara River crossings, often in both directions | Northern Serengeti (Kogatende / Mara River) |
| September | Northern Serengeti and the Maasai Mara | Crossings continue; late in the month herds begin heading south | Northern Serengeti (Kogatende / Mara River) |
| October | Moving south through western Loliondo and the Lobo area | Herds drift toward central and eastern Serengeti; some late crossings | Northern Serengeti early; Lobo / northern-central later |
| November | Eastern side of the Serengeti, heading for the short-grass plains | Short rains begin; herds return south | Central Serengeti (Seronera) / eastern plains |
| December | Southern plains, Ndutu and the north of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area | Herds settle on the fresh grass; pregnant cows feeding up | Ndutu / southern Serengeti |
Calving season at Ndutu (January to March)
From about December the herds settle on the short-grass plains around Ndutu, an area inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area on the southern edge of the Serengeti. The grass there comes up fast after the short rains and gives nursing mothers the nutrition they need.
Calving is tightly synchronised. Wikipedia's Serengeti article puts it at roughly 500,000 calves born in 2 to 3 weeks around February, and research summarised on its blue wildebeest page says 80-90% of calves arrive within a three-week window. Cows usually give birth in the middle of the herd, often around midday, so the calf is on its feet before night.
That flood of newborns brings in the predators. Lion, cheetah and hyena hunt the plains heavily in these weeks, and the open ground makes them easier to watch than in the wooded north. For many guests this is the better trip: lots of animals in one area, plenty of predator action, and you are not waiting at a riverbank for hours.
Practical points for this season:
- It is the short-rain-to-long-rain gap, so expect some showers. Pack a light rain jacket.
- Late January to late February is the most reliable window for calving. Early December and late March are more of a gamble.
- Ndutu is close to the Ngorongoro Crater, so the two pair naturally.
Our 8-Day Calving Season Safari is built around this window, with Tarangire, the Ndutu plains and the Ngorongoro Crater. The 7-Day Royal Migration Safari below also lists January and February among its months.
The river crossings: Grumeti and Mara
Grumeti River (around June to early July)
As the long rains end around May, the herds turn northwest. By June they often bunch up in the Western Corridor on the south bank of the Grumeti River. The Grumeti is usually a series of pools and channels rather than one continuous flow, so crossings here are smaller and less dramatic than on the Mara. The crocodiles in those pools are large, though, and the Western Corridor sees fewer vehicles than the north.
The 8-Day Circle of Life Safari spends two days in the Western Corridor and suits a May to July trip.
Mara River (around July to October)
The Mara River in the far north is the big one, and it is the picture most people have in mind. Herds mass on the steep banks, sometimes for hours or days, before one animal goes in and thousands follow. The crocodiles wait in the river and predators work the far bank.
Two things surprise first-time visitors:
- Crossings go both ways. It is common for herds to cross north one day and back south a few days later, so August and September can bring several crossings at the same points.
- Nobody can schedule one. You might see three crossings in a morning or none in two days. More nights near the river means better odds.
Most operators treat late July to September as the peak, with October still productive in many years. On the Tanzanian side the base is the Kogatende area of the northern Serengeti. Packages for this window: the 8-Day Magnificent Crossing Safari (two days at Kogatende, entering via Lake Natron), the 7-Day Royal Migration Safari (fly-in to the north to save the long drive) and the 7-Day Great Migration Safari, which targets June to October.
How rain drives timing, and why dates shift every year
The migration does not run on a calendar. It runs on grass, and grass runs on rain. The herds move to where new grass is growing and water is available, then move on when it is grazed down or dries out.
- Short rains (from around November) green the southern plains and pull the herds south for calving.
- The end of the long rains (around May) dries the south and pushes them northwest toward the Western Corridor.
- The dry season (June to October) leaves permanent water in the north, around the Mara River, which is why the herds end up there.
If the short rains arrive late, the herds reach Ndutu late. If the south dries early, they leave early. A wet patch in the north can hold them there longer. That is why last year's dates are a guide, not a promise, and why a fixed "migration week" does not exist. Build your plans on probability: pick the month when the herds are most likely in one area, and base yourself in the middle of that area rather than at its edge.
Where to stay by season
This is about areas, not specific lodges. The right camp depends on budget and style, and we can match one to your dates. What matters most is being in the right part of a park that covers roughly 30,000 square kilometres once you include the wider protected area.
- December to March: Ndutu and the southern Serengeti plains. Several seasonal camps set up here only for these months.
- April to May: Central Serengeti around Seronera. It is central, so you can reach the herds as they pass through, and it has resident predators year-round.
- June to early July: the Western Corridor near the Grumeti River.
- Mid-July to October: the northern Serengeti, around Kogatende and the Mara River.
- November: central and eastern Serengeti as the herds head back south.
Seronera is the safe fallback in any month. It is rarely the best spot for the herds, but it is never far from them, and its resident lion and leopard keep game drives busy.
Mobile camps
Mobile or seasonal camps are tented camps that pack up and move to follow the herds. Some move several times a year. Others move once or twice, usually between Ndutu for calving and the north for the crossings. Published schedules from operators such as Lemala and Olaado show the same basic pattern: Ndutu from about December to March and the northern Serengeti from about June or July to October. Exact dates differ by camp and year.
Why choose one:
- You wake up close to the herds, so you spend less time driving to them.
- Camps are small, so evenings are quiet.
- You get a real bush feel without giving up proper beds and meals.
The trade-off is that in transition months (roughly May to early July) some mobile camps sit between herd locations, or are closed while they move. Check where a camp will actually be on your dates before you book it.
How many days do you need?
For the migration itself, plan at least three full days in the right part of the Serengeti. Two nights at the river is a minimum for a reasonable chance at a Mara crossing; three is better. For calving, two to three days at Ndutu usually gives you births, young calves and predator activity.
A typical structure:
- 7 days: arrival in Arusha, three days in the Serengeti migration area, a day in the Ngorongoro Crater, departure.
- 8-9 days: adds Tarangire or Lake Manyara, or a second Serengeti area (for example, north for crossings and central for resident predators).
- 10 days or more: room for a slower pace, a Zanzibar beach extension, or both calving and crossing areas in a shoulder month.
Flying into the Serengeti saves most of a day of driving each way. That is worth it for the far north, where the road from Arusha is long.
Combining the migration with Ngorongoro and Tarangire
Most northern-circuit trips pass the Ngorongoro Crater on the way to or from the Serengeti. Around 25,000 large animals live in the crater, and its 260-square-kilometre floor holds game all year. It pairs especially well with calving season, because Ndutu is next door.
Tarangire National Park is strongest in the dry season (roughly June to November), when the Tarangire River becomes the main water source and thousands of animals, especially elephants, gather along it. That lines up with the Mara crossing months. A crossing trip that starts in Tarangire and ends in the crater gives you three very different landscapes in one week.
What drives the cost of a migration safari
We do not quote a single price here, because migration trips vary a lot. These are the things that move the number:
- Season and area. Camp rates usually change through the year, and the area you need in your month decides which camps are in range.
- Park and conservation fees. Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area both charge entry fees set by the park authorities, and those fees change from time to time. Our overview of Tanzania's national parks covers the parks and how fees work. Confirm current fees before you budget.
- Flying versus driving. Internal flights cost more but save long road days, especially to Kogatende.
- Accommodation style. Mobile tented camps, permanent lodges and mid-range tented camps sit at very different price points.
- Private or shared vehicle, and group size. A private vehicle shared by two costs more per person than one shared by four or six.
- Trip length. Each extra night inside a park adds fees as well as accommodation.
For current prices on any of our migration safaris, or for a custom quote, send us your dates.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see the wildebeest migration?
It depends on what you want to see. For calving and predator action, go from late January to February at Ndutu. For Mara River crossings, go from late July to September in the northern Serengeti. For the Grumeti crossings and fewer vehicles, go in June in the Western Corridor.
How many wildebeest are in the Great Migration?
The long-standing estimate is about 1.3 million wildebeest, which TAWIRI's 2023 aerial survey roughly matched, with zebra and gazelle on top. A 2025 satellite study counted fewer than 600,000 in the dry-season range. Its authors say more surveys are needed before calling it a decline.
Is the migration in Tanzania or Kenya?
Both, but most of the loop is in Tanzania. The herds spend roughly December to July in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. From about August to October they move between the northern Serengeti and Kenya's Maasai Mara.
Can I guarantee seeing a river crossing?
No. Herds can mass on the bank and then turn away, and timing shifts with rain. You improve your odds by staying several nights near the Mara River in peak months and by having a guide who can reach the active crossing points quickly.
Where are the wildebeest in December?
Usually arriving on the southern plains around Ndutu and the north of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, after moving south through the eastern Serengeti in November.
Is calving season or crossing season better?
Calving gives you more animals in one open area and more predator sightings. Crossings give you the famous river scenes, but with more waiting and more vehicles. First-time visitors who want lots of wildlife often prefer calving. Photographers chasing the river action pick the crossings.
Do I need to go to the Masai Mara to see the migration?
No. You can see crossings from the Tanzanian side at Kogatende, and the calving and Grumeti stages happen only in Tanzania.
Ready to plan around a specific month? Tell us your dates and what you most want to see, and we will match you to the right area. You can also build a tailor-made migration safari from scratch.
