Well over a million wildebeest circle the Serengeti ecosystem every year. Here is roughly where the herds are through the seasons.
The Great Migration is a year-round journey of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle through the Serengeti and Kenya's Maasai Mara, following the rains and fresh grass. The exact timing changes each year with the weather, but the general pattern is reliable.
December to March: the southern plains
The herds spread across the southern Serengeti and the Ndutu area. From late January to March most calves are born, drawing lions, cheetahs and hyenas.
April and May: moving north-west
As the rains ease, the herds begin to move through the central and western Serengeti. Long columns of animals are a common sight.
June and July: the Western Corridor and Grumeti
The herds reach the Grumeti River, where the first crossings happen in front of large crocodiles, before pushing further north.
August to October: the Mara River
The herds arrive in the northern Serengeti and cross back and forth over the Mara River. These crossings are the most dramatic moments of the migration.
November: heading south again
With the short rains, the herds stream south through the eastern and central Serengeti towards the calving grounds, and the cycle begins again.
Because nature does not follow a calendar, we place your camps where the herds are expected during your visit and adjust as the season unfolds.
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