✦ Wildlife · Serengeti & Maasai Mara ecosystem
The Great Migration
Witness more than a million wildebeest follow the rains across the Serengeti–Mara plains.
✦ About the Experience
The Great Migration
The Great Migration is the largest overland movement of animals on the planet, a year-round circuit in which roughly 1.5 million wildebeest, several hundred thousand zebra and gazelle, and the predators that shadow them follow the rains across the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem. It is not a single event but a continuous loop, and where you should be depends entirely on the time of year you travel.
The calving season on the southern Serengeti's short-grass plains, around January to March, sees hundreds of thousands of wildebeest born within a few weeks, drawing lions, cheetah and hyena in extraordinary numbers. As the dry season advances the herds push north and west, and by the middle of the year they reach the Grumeti and then the Mara River. The river crossings, where the herds plunge through crocodile-filled water, are the migration's most dramatic and most photographed moments.
Because the animals follow the rains rather than a calendar, no crossing can be promised on a given date. A well-planned safari positions you in the right region for the season and builds in enough time and flexibility to wait for the action. Mobile tented camps that move with the herds are the classic way to stay close to the heart of it.
Even away from the great river crossings the spectacle is constant: endless columns of animals to the horizon, the thunder of hooves, and predators never far behind. It rewards patience and good guiding above all.
Highlights
- Over a million wildebeest on the move
- Dramatic Mara and Grumeti river crossings
- Dense predator action year-round
- Calving season on the southern plains
- Mobile camps that follow the herds
- Pairs perfectly with a balloon safari
Good to know
When is the best time to see river crossings?
The Mara River crossings typically occur between July and October, though timing shifts each year with the rains. We position your trip in the right area for the season you travel.
Where should I base myself?
It depends on the month: the southern Serengeti for calving early in the year, the western corridor mid-year, and the northern Serengeti or Maasai Mara for the later crossings. We tailor the itinerary to match.
Can the migration be guaranteed?
The herds' presence in a given region is highly predictable, but a specific crossing on a specific day cannot be promised because the animals move with the weather. Allowing extra days greatly improves your chances.
✦ Gallery
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