The Great Migration is the largest overland wildlife movement on Earth: close to two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle circling the Serengeti ecosystem in an endless search for fresh grass and water. It is not a single event you catch on one day — it is a year-round cycle, and where the herds are depends entirely on the month you travel.
Understanding that rhythm is the key to planning a migration safari well. Here’s how the year unfolds, and how to see each chapter at its best.
In short: The Great Migration is a year-round loop of about two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle around the Serengeti ecosystem. Calving is December to March in the south, the Grumeti crossings come in May to June, the dramatic Mara River crossings run July to October, and the herds drift back south in November.
A cycle, not an event
The herds follow the rains in a great clockwise loop through the Serengeti National Park and up into Kenya’s Masai Mara. There is no start line and no finish — the animals are always moving, always grazing, always pursued by the predators that depend on them. What changes through the year is where the drama concentrates.
December to March: calving on the southern plains
The herds gather on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti, around the Ndutu area, to give birth. In a compressed burst — mostly late January into February — close to half a million calves are born within a few weeks, drawing intense predator action onto open, photogenic plains.
It’s one of the most rewarding and least crowded times to travel. We’ve written a full guide to it here: Serengeti calving season.
April to June: the rains and the western corridor
As the long rains green the land, the herds begin moving northwest through the Serengeti’s western corridor toward the Grumeti River. Late May and June bring the first river crossings of the year at the Grumeti — smaller than the famous ones to come, but dramatic, and seen by far fewer travellers.
July to October: the Mara River crossings
This is the season most people picture: long columns of wildebeest massing on the banks of the Mara River in the northern Serengeti, then plunging across crocodile-filled water. It is raw, unpredictable and unforgettable — and it coincides with the dry season, when game viewing across the whole ecosystem is at its peak. It is also the busiest and most sought-after window, so it pays to plan well ahead.
November: the return south
With the short rains, the herds turn and drift back toward the southern plains, closing the loop and readying for the next calving season. A quieter, greener time to travel.
When should you go?
There is no single best time — only the best time for what you want to see. Come in July to October for the river crossings and peak dry-season game viewing; come in January to February for calving, predator action and fewer vehicles. Either way, a migration safari pairs naturally with the Ngorongoro Crater and Tanzania’s other northern parks for a complete trip.
See the migration with Mystique Safari
Our guides track the herds year-round and build each trip around where the migration actually is when you travel — not a fixed script. Browse our Serengeti migration safari, or get in touch and we’ll shape an itinerary around the season you want to witness.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Great Migration?
A year-round movement of around two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle around the Serengeti ecosystem, following the rains in a great loop.
When are the Mara River crossings?
Roughly July to October in the northern Serengeti, during the dry season, when the herds cross the crocodile-filled Mara River.
When is calving season?
Late January through February on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti, around the Ndutu area.
What is the best time to see the Great Migration?
July to October for the river crossings and peak game viewing, or January to February for calving season and intense predator action.