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If you have ever typed “where are the wildebeest right now” into a search bar, you are already halfway to planning a smarter Serengeti safari. The Great Migration is not a single event you either catch or miss on a fixed date — it is a year-round, rain-driven loop across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, and knowing roughly where the herds should be during your travel month changes everything: which park you base yourself in, which camp makes sense, and what kind of drama you can realistically expect to see.
Not Sure Which Month Is Right for You?
Tell us your travel dates and we will tell you exactly where the herds should be that week, and which camps make sense at that price point.
Ask Zege on WhatsAppA Journey With No Beginning or End
Roughly one and a half million wildebeest, alongside hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle, move in a broad clockwise loop across the Serengeti and into Kenya’s Masai Mara and back again, chasing fresh grass wherever the rain has just fallen. There is no starting line and no finish — a wildebeest’s migration begins the moment it is born and continues for the rest of its life. That single fact is the reason “when is the migration” is the wrong question. The right question is “where are they this month, and what does that mean for my trip.”
Around 1.3 to 1.5 million wildebeest move through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem every year, together with close to 200,000 zebra and several hundred thousand gazelle, all following the rains rather than a calendar.
Month-by-Month: Where the Herds Are
December – March: Southern Serengeti and Ndutu. The herds gather on the short-grass plains around Ndutu, inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, for calving season. Up to 8,000 calves can be born in a single day during the peak weeks, and the concentration of vulnerable newborns pulls in lion, hyena, and cheetah for some of the most intense predator action of the year.
April – June: Central and Western Serengeti. As the long rains ease, the herds push north through the Seronera Valley in long, dust-raising columns. By June the leading edge reaches the Western Corridor, where the Grumeti River presents the first serious water crossing of the year — dramatic, and far less crowded than what comes later.
July – October: Northern Serengeti and the Mara River. This is the season most people picture when they imagine the migration: herds massing on the riverbank, hesitating, and then surging across the Mara River while crocodiles wait below. It is genuinely spectacular, and it is also when the northern Serengeti sees its highest visitor numbers and its highest camp rates.
November: The Herds Turn South. As the short rains begin, the herds start their journey back toward the southern plains. Camps empty out, prices drop, and the wildlife has not gone anywhere — it has simply stopped performing for an audience.
Because the migration follows rainfall rather than a calendar, the same month can look different from one year to the next — which is exactly why a route built around this year’s rain, not last year’s photographs, matters.
How to Time Your Trip
| Season | What You’ll See | Crowds | Price Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec – Mar | Calving season, newborn calves, intense predator action | Moderate | Moderate to High |
| Apr – Jun | Green season, Grumeti crossings, dramatic skies | Low | Lowest of the year |
| Jul – Oct | Mara River crossings, peak drama | High | Highest of the year |
| Nov | Herds moving south, quiet camps | Low | Discounted |
Is Now the Right Time for You?
- You want the dramatic river crossings and don’t mind paying peak-season rates
- You would rather witness thousands of newborn calves than one river crossing
- You want the same wildlife for meaningfully less, and don’t mind the odd afternoon shower
- You’re flexible on dates and want us to build your itinerary around this year’s rainfall, not a fixed month
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best month to see a Mara River crossing?
Crossings are most likely from July through September, though the exact week shifts with rainfall and can vary from year to year.
Can I see the migration without paying peak-season prices?
Yes. April through early June offers the same herds during the green season, at meaningfully lower camp rates, before the July crowds arrive.
Do you actually track the herds, or work from a general calendar?
Our guides are in the field year-round and we route each itinerary around where the herds are that specific week, not a generic seasonal chart.
Let’s Build Your Migration Safari
Send us your travel window and we’ll map an itinerary around where the herds will realistically be when you land.
Plan Your Safari