Travel guide
The Great Migration
Around 1.5 million wildebeest moving in a continuous circle through the Serengeti. Where they are depends entirely on when you travel, and the timing shifts with the rains every year.
Last updated 15 August 2026
What it actually is
Around 1.5 million wildebeest, together with several hundred thousand zebra and gazelle, move in a rough clockwise circle through the Serengeti and Kenya's Maasai Mara. They are following rain and fresh grazing, not a route, which is why the timing shifts every year.
The animals spend most of the year inside Tanzania. It is not an event with a start date. It is a continuous movement, and there is always somewhere in the Serengeti where the herds are.
Where the herds usually are
| When | Where, and what happens |
|---|---|
| December to March | Southern Serengeti and Ndutu. Short-grass plains. Calving peaks around late January to February, when a very large number of calves are born within a few weeks. Predators concentrate here, so this is the best period of the year for cat action. |
| April to May | Moving north and west. The long rains. Herds stretch into long columns through the central Serengeti. Quiet, green and much cheaper. |
| June | Western corridor. The Grumeti River is the first serious obstacle. Crossings here are smaller and less predictable than the Mara, but far less crowded. |
| July to October | Northern Serengeti and the Mara River. The crossings people picture. Herds mass on the banks, sometimes for hours or days, then go. Crocodiles wait. This is the most dramatic and most oversubscribed part of the year. |
| November | Turning south. The short rains pull the herds back down through the eastern Serengeti. |
Treat these as typical windows, not fixed dates. In a dry year the herds reach the Mara early. In a wet year they spread out and stay put. Any operator who gives you exact crossing dates months ahead is guessing.
Calving or crossings?
Most people arrive wanting the river crossings. It is worth knowing that the calving season is, for many guides, the better wildlife experience.
| Crossings, July to October | Calving, late January to March |
|---|---|
| High drama, and genuinely unforgettable when it happens | Constant activity rather than one big moment |
| Requires waiting, sometimes for a whole day, with no guarantee | Predator sightings are close to daily |
| Peak season pricing and crowded viewpoints | Quieter parks and better availability |
| Northern Serengeti, further from Arusha | Southern plains, easier to combine with Ngorongoro |
How to give yourself the best chance
- Stay at least three nights in the right part of the Serengeti. A single night is a lottery ticket.
- Pick the region for the month, not the other way round. Being in the central Serengeti in August means missing the crossings entirely.
- Full days in the park beat morning-only drives. Herds often move in the middle of the day.
- Be patient at the river. Crossings build slowly and then happen very fast.
Common questions
When are the Mara River crossings?
Typically from late July through August, September and into October, in the northern Serengeti around the Kogatende area. The window shifts with the rains and cannot be predicted precisely in advance.
When is calving season?
The main calving period is late January into February and March, on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti around Ndutu.
Do I need to go to Kenya to see the migration?
No. The herds spend the majority of the year inside Tanzania. Only a few months of the cycle involve the Maasai Mara.
How many days should I allow?
Three nights or more in the right region. Fewer than that and you are relying heavily on luck.
Where this comes from
General Tanzania travel information on this page draws on the sources below. Anything specific to a Clerisa journey comes from us. Rules and timings change, so check official sources close to your travel date.
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