Where Is the Great Migration Right Now? A Month-by-Month
This Great Migration Serengeti guide takes you through the year month by month, so you can time your Tanzania safari around what you most want to see: the rush of a Mara River crossing, the calving season with its newborns, or everyday life on the open plains.
At Kilisa Tours & Safaris we keep a close eye on the herds and plan our trips around where the migration really is, not just where it's "supposed" to be. Here's how the year goes.
How the Migration's Circular Route Works
Before the calendar, here's the big picture. The herds move in a rough clockwise loop through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, driven almost entirely by the rain and the search for fresh grazing. They start on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, push north through the central and western Serengeti, cross into Kenya's Maasai Mara around the middle of the year, and then loop back south when the short rains return. The rains shift a little every year, so exact dates vary, but the overall pattern stays much the same.
The Great Migration Month by Month
| Month | Approximate Location | What's Happening |
|---|---|---|
| January | Ndutu & Southern Serengeti / Ngorongoro Conservation Area | Herds gather on the short-grass plains before calving season |
| February | Ndutu, Salei & Kusini Plains | Peak calving season, with up to 8,000 calves born per day |
| March | Southern Serengeti | Herds stay on the plains while the calves grow stronger |
| April | South-Central Serengeti, Moru Kopjes | Herds start moving northwest as the long rains begin |
| May | Western Serengeti / Grumeti area | Long columns form, heading toward the Grumeti River |
| June | Grumeti Reserve & Western Corridor | Grumeti River crossings, with crocodiles waiting |
| July | Northern Serengeti | Herds reach the Mara River; the first crossings may start |
| August | Northern Serengeti / Maasai Mara border | Peak Mara River crossing season, the best-known migration scenes |
| September | Northern Serengeti & Maasai Mara | Herds split up, and many cross back and forth over the Mara River |
| October | Lobo Area & Eastern Serengeti | Herds start heading south again as the rains shift |
| November | Eastern & Southern Serengeti | Herds keep moving south, following the first short rains |
| December | Southern Serengeti / Ndutu | Herds arrive back on the plains, closing the loop |
Note: these are general patterns based on typical rainfall. The migration follows the rain, not a calendar, so timing can move by a few weeks either way from year to year.
The Two Big Moments Worth Planning Around
Calving Season: Late January to March
If you'd like to see newborns on the plains, this is your time. Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest calves are born within a few weeks, mostly around Ndutu. It's also one of the best times for predator action, because lions, cheetahs and hyenas go after the young calves. The southern plains are much less crowded than in crossing season, so photographers and repeat visitors love this time of year.
Our calving season safaris:
- 4-Day Calving Season Migration Safari
- 5-Day Great Wildebeest Migration Safari: Calving Season
- Calving Season Migration Safari
River Crossings: July to September
This is the migration most people picture: thousands of wildebeest jumping into the Mara River, with crocodiles waiting below. No one can promise a crossing on a particular day, because it depends on the animals as much as on the rain. Late July through September in the northern Serengeti gives you the best chance of seeing one.
Our river crossing and northern migration safaris:
- 7-Day Wildebeest Mara River Crossing Safari
- 6-Day Great Tanzania Northern Serengeti Migration
- 5-Day Tanzania Safari Migration
- Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Safari
So, When Should You Go to See the Migration?
Honestly, there's no single "best" month, only the best month for what you want to see. If you'd like newborn calves and a quieter safari, go in calving season. If you want the excitement of a river crossing, go from late July through September. And if you just want good wildlife viewing without chasing one event, almost any month works: Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area have plenty to see all year, wherever the main herds happen to be.
Our guide to the best time to go on safari helps you weigh the weather against migration timing for your dates.
Migration Safari Packages to Consider
Besides the migration safaris above, many of our regular Serengeti safaris fall in good migration months, depending on when you travel. A few popular ones:
- 3-Day Mid-Range Safari: Serengeti
- 4-Day Mid-Range Safari: Serengeti
- 3-Day Luxury Safari: Serengeti
- 4-Day Luxury Safari: Serengeti & Ngorongoro
- All luxury safaris
- All mid-range safaris
- All budget camping safaris
Would you rather have a trip built around your dates and where the herds should be? With our tailor-made tours we plan a custom trip that puts you in the right place at the right time.
Tips for Planning a Migration Safari
- Book early. Camps close to the herds fill up early, especially in crossing season, often 12 months or more ahead.
- Give yourself time. A quick one-night stop rarely works as well as two or three nights in the right area. The herds keep moving, and patience pays off.
- Be flexible with dates. The migration follows the rain, not a schedule, so a little flexibility improves your chances a lot.
- Trust experienced guides. Our professional driver-guides follow the herds closely and know where to take you for the best sightings.
- Pack the right things. Have a look at our what to take guide and safari equipment guide before you travel.
Let Us Help You Time It Right
The Great Migration is one of the biggest wildlife events on Earth, and good timing makes a real difference to what you see. At Kilisa Tours & Safaris we follow the herds all year and plan trips that put you where the action is.
Whether you'd like calving season or a river crossing, we'll help you pick the right month, the right area and the right safari for the migration you want to see.
Get in touch with us to start planning your Great Migration safari in Tanzania.
