The Best Time to See the Great Migration
Linsel Ajode·Updated 2026-08-14·1 min readThe Great Migration is a year-round movement of roughly two million wildebeest and zebra circling the Mara–Serengeti ecosystem in search of grazing and water. Timing your trip around it is the single biggest factor in how your safari unfolds.
Where the herds are, month by month
The migration follows a broadly predictable clockwise loop, though rainfall can shift the exact timing by a few weeks either way.
Month | Migration location | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
Dec–Mar | Southern Serengeti / Ndutu | Calving season, dense predator action |
Apr–May | Central Serengeti | Green season, herds on the move north |
Jun–Jul | Western corridor | Grumeti River crossings begin |
Jul–Oct | Maasai Mara / Northern Serengeti | Mara River crossings, peak season |
Nov | Southern Serengeti | Short rains, herds head south again |
Our recommendation
For first-time visitors chasing the classic river-crossing photograph, July to October in the Maasai Mara is hard to beat. For a quieter, calving-season alternative with newborn wildebeest and dramatic predator sightings, consider February in the southern Serengeti.
There is no single 'best month' — there's a best month for what you want to see. Tell us your priorities and we'll route the trip around them.
Linsel Ajode, Founder & Director
John founded Safari Updates Travels after 20 years guiding across East Africa and now oversees every itinerary personally.
Plan a trip with Linsel →Plan Around the Season
Ready to Plan Your Safari?
Tell us your travel window and priorities — we’ll route your itinerary to the wildlife event that matters most to you.
Keep Reading
