The Great Migration is not a single event on a fixed date - it is a continuous, clockwise movement driven by the rains and the search for fresh grass. Knowing roughly where the herds are helps you choose where to stay.
January to March - calving
The herds spread across the southern Serengeti and Ndutu plains, where more than half a million calves are born in a few short weeks. Predator action is intense, and the scenery is green.
April to June - moving north
As the plains dry, the columns push northwest through the Western Corridor and the Grumeti, with the first river drama of the year.
July to September - the crossings
This is the classic image: massed herds plunging across the crocodile-filled Mara River in the northern Serengeti. It is the most sought-after - and busiest - window.
October to November
Following the short rains, the herds drift back south to begin the cycle again.
Reaching the migration means a multi-day trip from Arusha, by road or a short flight to a Serengeti airstrip. Ask us to help match your dates to the right corner of the park.
