The Great Migration: When to Go and Which Safari to Choose
The Great Migration follows fresh grazing through Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Masai Mara throughout the year. There is no single date when it starts, and the famous river crossings are only one part of the experience.
The best way to plan is to decide what you most want to see, then match your travel dates to the right region. You can plan for a good chance of finding the herds. You cannot schedule a river crossing.
What do you want to see?
Some travelers want the drama of wildebeest entering a river. Others are drawn to newborn calves, predator activity, or the sheer scale of the herds across open plains. Each calls for a different plan.
| Your priority | Typical timing | Where to focus |
|---|---|---|
| Mara River crossings | July–October | Northern Serengeti and Masai Mara |
| Newborn calves and predator activity | Late January–March | Southern Serengeti and adjoining Ngorongoro Conservation Area plains |
| Moving herds and potentially better value | April–June | Central and western Serengeti |
| Returning herds and fresh green grazing | November–December | Eastern and southern Serengeti |
These are typical patterns, not a timetable. Rainfall shifts the herds’ movements, and the best camp location can change within each seasonal window.
If your dates are flexible, choose the experience first. If your dates are fixed, choose the region around them. The migration continues outside crossing season, so traveling at another time does not mean missing it altogether.
Kenya or Tanzania?
Tanzania offers the broader choice across the year: southern calving grounds, herds moving through central and western areas, and Mara River crossings in the northern Serengeti. You do not need to be in Kenya to see those crossings.
Kenya’s Masai Mara becomes particularly relevant when the migrating herds reach it, alongside wildlife that lives there year-round. Neither country is automatically the better choice; the season and the location of your camp matter more.
You don’t need to visit both countries to experience the migration. Choose one well-positioned safari rather than adding a border crossing simply to follow the herds.
Is a river-crossing safari right for you?
A crossing can be extraordinary, but it can also take patience. Wildebeest may gather at the river and hesitate for hours, or move away without crossing. Even during the usual season, a sighting is never guaranteed.
Choose this kind of safari if you enjoy the anticipation and are comfortable spending time waiting. A private vehicle can give you more flexibility over how long to stay, rather than balancing your priorities with other guests.
If that does not sound appealing, the wider migration still offers immense herds, newborn calves in season, and predators in the surrounding landscape. We would build the trip around wildlife you are excited to see, with a crossing as a possibility rather than the only measure of success.
Three things to get right before booking
Camp location: A camp being “in the Serengeti” is not enough. It needs to suit the herds’ typical position during your travel dates. For calving, the relevant Ngorongoro Conservation Area plains are outside the crater itself.
Time on safari: Allow several nights in the relevant area rather than relying on one game drive. Additional time creates more opportunities, but still cannot guarantee a crossing. Combine locations when they add useful variety and the transfers make sense.
Budget and availability: River-crossing season brings strong demand and peak-season pricing. For first-choice camps and dates, planning 12–18 months ahead may be worthwhile. Other periods can offer better value; compare complete trip prices, including transfers and park fees.
Choose your migration safari
If river crossings are your priority, explore our Primetime River Crossing safari. For other dates and experiences, browse our Great Migration safaris and compare the regions included in each itinerary.
Start with your dates and the experience that appeals to you most. The detailed movements, camp positioning, and logistics are the parts we help you work through.