# The Great Migration: Where to See It, Month by Month URL: https://emptvl.vercel.app/travel-guides/great-migration-guide Publisher: Empyrean Travel (https://emptvl.vercel.app/) Last reviewed: 2026-10-19 Where to see the Great Migration month by month: calving in the southern Serengeti, Mara River crossings from about July to October, and Kenya vs Tanzania. **Quick answer:** The Great Migration is the year-round movement of well over a million wildebeest, with zebra and gazelle, around Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara as the herds follow the rains. Calving happens in the southern Serengeti around late January and February, and the dramatic Mara River crossings typically take place from about July to October. Timing shifts every year. - Where: Serengeti (Tanzania) and Maasai Mara (Kenya) - Calving season: About late January–February - River crossings: Typically about July–October - Book: 9–12+ months ahead for July–September ## What is the Great Migration? The Great Migration is a continuous, roughly circular movement of well over a million wildebeest, along with hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle, through the Serengeti ecosystem in Tanzania and Kenya’s Maasai Mara. The herds follow rain and fresh grass, and predators follow the herds. It isn’t a single event on a single date. Something is always happening somewhere in the ecosystem; the question is where the herds are likely to be during your travel dates, and choosing camps to match. ## When is calving season in the Serengeti? From around December to March, the herds settle on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and the Ndutu area of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Calving typically peaks from late January into February, when huge numbers of calves are born within a few weeks. It’s a spectacular and underrated time to go: lions, cheetahs and hyenas are extremely active, the plains are green, and there are fewer visitors than at the river crossings. Seasonal mobile camps move into the area to be close to the action. ## When do the Mara River crossings happen? The crossings, when herds plunge into the crocodile-filled Mara River, typically happen from about July to October in the northern Serengeti around Kogatende and in Kenya’s Maasai Mara. August and September are often the peak, and herds may cross back and forth many times. Crossings can’t be scheduled. Herds may gather on the bank for hours and then turn away, so patience is part of the experience. Staying three or four nights near the river improves your odds, and experienced guides read the herds’ behavior to put you in the right place. ## Should you see the migration in Kenya or Tanzania? Tanzania hosts the herds for most of the year, so it offers migration viewing in almost every month, including calving season. Kenya’s Maasai Mara is smaller and easier to reach, with excellent big-cat viewing year-round, and typically hosts the herds from about July or August to October. In Kenya, private conservancies bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve limit vehicle numbers and allow night drives and walks, which makes a real difference in peak season. Many travelers combine both countries; see our Kenya vs Tanzania comparison. ## How do you plan a Great Migration safari? Timing is everything, so build the itinerary around where the herds are likely to be. - Book early: camps near the Mara River fill 9 to 12 months or more ahead for July to September. - Choose camps by month: mobile camps follow the herds; permanent camps suit certain seasons best. - Stay longer: three or four nights in each area gives you the best chance of a crossing or a hunt. - Fly between areas: light aircraft link the Serengeti’s regions and the Mara, saving long drives. - Add a contrast: the Ngorongoro Crater, Zanzibar or a gorilla trek in Rwanda round out the trip. ## The Great Migration month by month - **December–March** (Southern Serengeti · Ndutu): Herds graze the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Calving peaks around late January to February, drawing predators. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/africa/tanzania - **April–May** (Central Serengeti): The long rains arrive and the herds start moving north and west. Some camps close; those open offer green-season value. - **June** (Western Corridor): Herds mass in the Western Corridor, where Grumeti River crossings and their crocodiles can be dramatic. - **July** (Northern Serengeti): The leading herds reach the northern Serengeti, and the first Mara River crossings often begin. - **August–September** (Mara River · Maasai Mara): Often the peak of crossing season, with big herds spread across Kenya’s Maasai Mara and the northern Serengeti. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/africa/kenya - **October** (Northern Serengeti · Mara): Crossings continue as the herds begin to turn south, usually with fewer visitors than in August. - **November** (Eastern and central Serengeti): The short rains draw the herds south through the eastern and central Serengeti, toward the southern plains. ## Frequently asked questions **Q: What month is best to see the Great Migration?** A: It depends on what you want to see. For the dramatic Mara River crossings, go between about July and October, with August and September often the peak. For calving season and intense predator action, visit the southern Serengeti from late January to February. The herds’ timing varies each year with the rains, so build some flexibility into your plans. **Q: Where does the Great Migration happen?** A: In the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem, which spans Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Kenya’s Maasai Mara. The herds spend most of the year in Tanzania, moving clockwise from the southern plains through the western and northern Serengeti, crossing into the Maasai Mara around July to October, then heading back south. **Q: Can you guarantee seeing a river crossing?** A: No. Crossings depend on the herds, which may gather on the riverbank for hours and turn back, or cross somewhere else. Staying three or four nights near the Mara River in peak season, with an experienced guide, gives you a strong chance. Even without a crossing, the sheer numbers of animals and predators are extraordinary. **Q: Is the Great Migration better in Kenya or Tanzania?** A: Both are excellent. Tanzania has the herds for most of the year, including calving season, and the northern Serengeti for crossings. Kenya’s Maasai Mara is easier to reach, has superb predator viewing and typically hosts the herds from about July or August to October, with private conservancies that limit vehicles. Many travelers combine the two. **Q: How far in advance should I book a migration safari?** A: For July to September, book 9 to 12 months or more ahead, because the best camps near the Mara River have few rooms and fill early. Calving season around February is also popular with photographers. Shoulder months can sometimes be arranged later, but booking early gives you far more choice of camps and locations. ## Sources - [Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA)](https://www.tanzaniaparks.go.tz/) - [Tanzania Tourist Board](https://www.tanzaniatourism.go.tz/) - [Kenya Wildlife Service](https://www.kws.go.ke/) - [Magical Kenya (Kenya Tourism Board)](https://www.magicalkenya.com/)