When to see the Great Migration in Tanzania
More than a million wildebeest move through the Serengeti every year. Where they are depends on the month, so timing shapes your safari.
The Great Migration is not a single event but a year-round journey. Huge herds of wildebeest, joined by zebras and gazelles, follow the rains and fresh grass in a long loop through the Serengeti ecosystem.
December to March: calving season
The herds gather on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti. Calving usually peaks in February, when thousands of young are born within a few weeks and predators are never far away.
April to July: moving north and west
As the long rains arrive in April and May, the herds begin moving. By June and July many are in the western corridor, where they cross the Grumeti River.
Wildebeest grazing on the open plains.
July to October: the river crossings
The migration reaches the northern Serengeti. This is the season of the famous Mara River crossings, when the herds plunge through the water in front of waiting crocodiles.
In November the short rains begin and the herds start the long walk back south, ready to begin the cycle again.
Nature keeps its own calendar, so exact timing changes from year to year.
When you plan with us, we will match your travel dates to the areas where the herds are most likely to be, and choose camps that keep you close to the action.