Tanzania, month by month.

By early January the migration has typically settled across the southern Serengeti's short-grass plains around Ndutu. Calving usually begins late in the month, with newborns dropping by the hundred each day. Predator activity is at its sharpest of the year. Photography light is soft and clean. The Ngorongoro Crater is consistently good year-round and pairs well with Ndutu for a southern-circuit trip.

February is the peak of calving season. Roughly half a million wildebeest calves are born in a three-to-four-week window on the short-grass plains. Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs follow the newborns. If your reason for travelling is to witness the predator-prey interaction at its most concentrated, this is your month. Central Serengeti's resident game stays strong year-round. Book 9 to 12 months ahead; the camps near Ndutu fill early.

Late calving continues into early March, then the herds begin moving north and west as the short-grass plains dry out. Visitor numbers ease and pricing softens. The landscape is still green from short rains. A good month for travellers who want the calving experience without the peak-February crowds, with the trade-off that the herd movements become harder to predict toward month-end.

April is the start of the long rains. Some camps close, others reduce rates significantly. The landscape is impossibly green and the light is dramatic when the sun breaks through. Visitor numbers are at their year-low. The honest trade-off: you'll have wet afternoons and tracks can become difficult, but you'll likely have parks largely to yourselves. Good for budget-conscious travellers who don't mind weather variability.

May continues the emerald-season rhythm. By mid-month the herds typically start gathering in the Western Corridor toward Grumeti, in preparation for the first crossings. The Grumeti River crossings are less famous than the Mara River crossings in the north but are equally dramatic when they happen. May is a sleeper-hit month for guests who want low traffic and don't mind that rains are still active.

June is when the Grumeti corridor delivers. Crossings typically begin mid to late June and continue through early July. The crocodiles in the Grumeti River are some of the largest in East Africa. Crowds are a fraction of what they'll be in the north a month later. The weather is excellent — rains have eased and temperatures are pleasant. One of the most underrated windows of the year if you're flexible about which migration zone you visit.

July is when most of the herd has crossed into the Northern Serengeti around Kogatende and Lamai. The first Mara River crossings typically begin mid-month. Peak-season pricing kicks in across the network. Tarangire is also at its dry-season best, with the densest elephant concentration of the year as wildlife converges on the Tarangire River. Central Serengeti remains excellent for resident game year-round. Book 6 to 12 months ahead for July arrivals — the best camps in the north fill earliest.

The headline month for migration travellers. Mara River crossings are at peak frequency and intensity. The river is at its lowest point of the year, exposing the crocodiles. Cat density on the Lamai wedge is exceptional. Peak pricing across all northern camps. Central Serengeti and Tarangire stay strong on resident game throughout. If you want the migration spectacle most travellers come for, August is the centre of the window. Expect crowds at popular crossing points; private conservancies and remote camps insulate you from this.

Mara crossings continue through September, often with herds crossing back and forth across the river depending on which side has fresher grass. Resident game in Central Serengeti and Ngorongoro stays excellent. Tarangire elephants remain at peak concentration around the river. The pricing stays at peak through September. A reliable month with consistent weather and high game density.

By mid-October the Mara crossings are winding down. The herds typically begin their southward migration back through the central Serengeti corridors. Late October sees the short rains arrive, which softens the landscape and triggers the southward movement. Pricing remains at peak through October at most lodges. Central Serengeti is back on the natural drive line as the herds move through. A good month if you want the dry-season experience without the August crowds.

November is short-rains season. Afternoons typically see brief, intense showers that pass within an hour or two; mornings and evenings are usually clear. The herds are moving south through Central Serengeti, heading back to the calving plains. Pricing drops to shoulder levels at most camps. One of the most underrated windows: green landscapes, the herds passing through accessible Central Serengeti zones, and significantly lower visitor density.

By mid-December the herds have typically returned to the southern Serengeti short-grass plains around Ndutu, completing the migration loop. The first calves of the new season usually arrive late in the month. Christmas and New Year drive a holiday spike in pricing and bookings; many camps charge a festive supplement for the December 22 to January 2 window. Outside the holiday peak, December offers the start of the calving cycle without the February-peak crowds.