Where the wildebeest herds are through the year, and when to go for calving, river crossings or quiet green plains.
Every year about one and a half million wildebeest, together with hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle, walk a great circle through the Serengeti ecosystem following the rain and fresh grass. Lions, cheetahs, hyenas and crocodiles follow them. Nothing is guaranteed in nature, but the herds follow a pattern, and knowing it helps you choose where and when to go.
January to March: calving season in the south
The herds gather on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and Ndutu. In February around 8,000 calves are born every day. It is a wonderful time for predators — cheetahs and lions hunt in the open — and for photographers. The weather is warm with short afternoon showers.
April and May: the long rains
The herds start moving north-west through the central Serengeti. It rains most afternoons, the plains turn bright green, and many camps are quiet or closed. Prices are at their lowest, and you may have sightings all to yourself.
June: the western corridor
The migration reaches the western corridor and the Grumeti River, where the first crossings happen among huge crocodiles. The rut begins, and the plains are loud with grunting wildebeest.
July to October: the Mara River crossings
This is the famous season. The herds reach the northern Serengeti and cross the Mara River back and forth between Tanzania and Kenya. Crossings are dramatic and unpredictable — sometimes you wait hours, sometimes thousands jump at once. The weather is dry and sunny, and this is the busiest time, so book early.
November: heading south again
After the short rains begin, the herds walk quickly south through the eastern Serengeti and Loliondo. It is a good time for quieter game viewing on the way.
December: back to the southern plains
By December most of the migration is back in the south, ready for the calving season to begin again.
How to plan around the herds
- Stay at least three nights in the right part of the Serengeti for the month you travel.
- For river crossings, choose a camp in the north between July and October.
- For calving and big cats, choose Ndutu or the south between January and March.
- Remember the central Serengeti has excellent resident wildlife all year, even when the herds are elsewhere.
Our six-day Great Migration group safari changes its route with the seasons, so you are always taken to where the herds are that month.
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