Planning guide · Updated 20 September 2026
The Great Migration, month by month
By Mohammed, a local Arusha guide · Arusha, Tanzania · Last updated 20 September 2026
The short answer
The migration is a year-round loop around the Serengeti, so there is no off season, only different chapters. In broad strokes: calving on the southern Ndutu plains from December to March, the Grumeti crossings in the west in June, and the Mara River crossings in the north from July to October. Pick your month by what you want to see, and base yourself in the right zone for it.
The migration is a circle, not a season
Around two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle move in a clockwise loop through the Serengeti ecosystem, following the rain and the grass. Because it never stops, the honest question is not "when is the migration" but "where is it this month, and do I want the calving, the rut or the river crossings." The table below is the whole year at a glance.
| Month | Where the herds are | What is happening | Where to base |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Southern plains (Ndutu, southern Serengeti, NCA) | Calving builds; the herds graze the short-grass plains | Ndutu / southern Serengeti |
| February | Southern plains (Ndutu) | Peak calving; roughly 8,000 calves a day, predators close behind | Ndutu / southern Serengeti |
| March | Southern plains, starting to drift north west | Calving tails off; columns begin to form as the plains dry | Ndutu / central Serengeti |
| April | Central Serengeti (Seronera) and moving north west | Long rains; the herds move through the centre in long columns | Central Serengeti (Seronera) |
| May | Central to western Serengeti | The rut; columns push toward the Western Corridor | Central / Western Serengeti |
| June | Western Corridor (Grumeti) | Grumeti River crossings begin as the herds meet the first river | Western Serengeti (Grumeti) |
| July | Northern Serengeti (Kogatende, Lamai) | The herds reach the Mara River; the famous crossings begin | Northern Serengeti (Kogatende) |
| August | Northern Serengeti and the Mara | Peak Mara River crossings; the most dramatic window | Northern Serengeti (Kogatende / Lamai) |
| September | Northern Serengeti and the Mara | Crossings continue back and forth across the river | Northern Serengeti (Kogatende / Lamai) |
| October | Northern Serengeti, starting to turn south | Late crossings; the herds begin the long move back south | Northern Serengeti (Kogatende) |
| November | Eastern and central Serengeti | Short rains pull the herds south through the eastern plains | Central / eastern Serengeti |
| December | Southern plains (Ndutu) | The herds return to the short-grass plains; calving nears again | Ndutu / southern Serengeti |
Nature runs to its own clock. These are the usual patterns, drawn from years of tracking the herds, but rainfall shifts the timing by weeks each year. We plan around likelihood and keep you in the right zone, rather than promising a specific event on a specific day.
The three chapters worth planning around
Calving, December to March (the south)
On the short-grass plains around Ndutu the herds gather to calve, with the peak usually in February. It is the best window for predators, because the newborns draw lion, cheetah and hyena into the open. Off-road driving is allowed on parts of these plains, which brings you closer to the action than the national park zones.
The Grumeti crossings, June (the west)
As the plains dry, the columns push into the Western Corridor and meet the Grumeti River. The crossings here are smaller and less famous than the Mara, but the Western Corridor is far quieter, so you often have the drama close to yourself.
The Mara River crossings, July to October (the north)
This is the chapter most people picture: thousands of wildebeest massing on the banks of the Mara River around Kogatende and Lamai, then plunging across through waiting crocodiles. August and September are the most reliable window. Crossings are unpredictable, so several nights at the river beats a single rushed day.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Great Migration right now, month by month?
As a rule of thumb: December to March the herds are on the southern short-grass plains around Ndutu (calving); April to May they move north through the central Serengeti; June brings the Grumeti crossings in the Western Corridor; July to October they are in the northern Serengeti for the Mara River crossings; November they drift back south. It is a continuous loop, not a set of fixed dates.
When are the Mara River crossings?
Roughly July to October, with August and September the most reliable window in the northern Serengeti around Kogatende and Lamai. Crossings are unpredictable by nature, so we base you at the river for several nights to raise your chances rather than promise a crossing on a given day.
When is the wildebeest calving season?
Late January to March on the southern plains around Ndutu, with peak calving usually in February. Around 8,000 calves are born a day at the peak, which draws intense predator action, so it is one of the best windows for big cats.
Which month is best to see the migration?
There is no single best month, only the best month for what you want. For the river crossings, aim for August or September in the north. For calving and predators, aim for February in the south. Both are superb; they are just in different parts of the Serengeti.
Is the migration guaranteed?
The migration is always happening somewhere in the ecosystem, so being in the right zone for the month puts you with the herds. What is never guaranteed is a specific event like a river crossing on a specific day, because it depends on rain and the animals. We plan around likelihood, not promises.
How many nights do I need to see a river crossing?
Give the northern Serengeti at least three nights in the July to October window. Crossings can happen at any hour and on any of several river points, so more time at the river materially raises your odds. One night is a gamble; three is a fair chance.
Trips built around the migration
Be in the right place at the right time
Plan your trip around the herds.
Tell us your month and we build the route to the zone the migration is in, with every park fee, lodge and flight itemised as you go.
Build & price your trip