Safari Guide
Great Migration Calendar
Quick answer
Where is the Great Migration each month?
The Great Migration is in the Serengeti ecosystem all year; only the place changes. Tanzania National Parks gives the cycle as: January to March, calving in the southern Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area; April and May, north through the central Serengeti; June and July, the Grumeti River crossings in the west; August and September, the Mara River crossings in the north; October and November, the return; December, back to the southern plains.
| January–March | Calving, southern Serengeti and Ndutu |
| April–May | Central Serengeti, the long rains |
| June–July | Grumeti River crossings, western Serengeti |
| August–September | Mara River crossings, northern Serengeti |
| October–November | Return through the north |
| December | Back to the southern plains |
| Last verified | 2 October 2026 |
The cycle
How does the Great Migration move through the year?
Every year the wildebeest, with hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, move in a circle through the Serengeti ecosystem in Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya. TANAPA describes the route as about 1,800 km, driven by the search for fresh grazing and water: the herds follow the rains, which is why the timing shifts from year to year.
For planning, think of the year in six steps: calving in the south, the move north through the centre, the western crossings, the northern crossings, the return, and back to the south. Each step has its own region and its own airstrips.
Month by month
Where is the Great Migration each month?
The table puts TANAPA's cycle against every month, with the airstrip areas Coastal Aviation flies to in that part of the park.
| Month | Where the herds are | What happens | Airstrip area |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area | Calving season | Ndutu, Serengeti South |
| February | Southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area | Calving season | Ndutu, Serengeti South |
| March | Southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area | Calving season | Ndutu, Serengeti South |
| April | Central Serengeti | Moving north; the long rains | Seronera |
| May | Central Serengeti | Moving north; the long rains | Seronera |
| June | Western Serengeti | The Grumeti River crossings | Grumeti |
| July | Western Serengeti | The Grumeti River crossings | Grumeti |
| August | Northern Serengeti, into the Masai Mara | The Mara River crossings | Kogatende, Lamai |
| September | Northern Serengeti, into the Masai Mara | The Mara River crossings | Kogatende, Lamai |
| October | Northern Serengeti | The return journey; the short rains begin | Kogatende, Lobo |
| November | Northern Serengeti | The return journey; the short rains begin | Kogatende, Lobo |
| December | Back to the southern plains | The cycle starts again | Ndutu |
Months as TANAPA describes the cycle; the NCAA gives December to April for the herds at Ndutu. Timing varies with the rains. More on the park: Serengeti National Park.
Calving
When is the calving season?
From January to March the herds gather on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The NCAA says they arrive at Ndutu from the end of December and stay until April, and that thousands of calves are born there; predators follow the herds, which makes these months good for watching them.
Ndutu lies inside the conservation area, close to the Ngorongoro Crater, so a calving safari often combines the two.
The crossings
When are the river crossings?
TANAPA gives two crossing seasons. In June and July the herds cross the Grumeti River in the western Serengeti. In August and September they reach the Mara River in the north and cross between Tanzania and Kenya's Masai Mara; TANAPA lists August to October for the crossings on the Kenyan side.
A crossing can take hours of waiting; the herds gather on the bank and go when they decide. Our Serengeti or Masai Mara page compares the two sides.
August
Where is the migration in August?
In the northern Serengeti, around the Mara River. Base yourself near the northern airstrips, such as Kogatende or Lamai, which Coastal Aviation's timetable connects with Arusha and, the same day, with Zanzibar. After a week of crossings, plan the beach: Zanzibar after safari covers the nights, and the safari and Zanzibar itinerary shows whole routes.
Where these facts come from
Official sources
- TANAPA: the Great Migration of Wildebeest: The annual cycle month by month, the river crossings and the best viewing areas.
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority: Ndutu Plains: The calving herds on the southern plains at Ndutu, December to April.
- Coastal Aviation: timetable and price list (updated July 2026): The Serengeti airstrips (Ndutu, Seronera, Grumeti, Kogatende, Lamai, Lobo) and the same-day flights to Zanzibar.
Checked on 2 October 2026. We link to the bodies that set the rules, not to summaries of them. Rules change: check the page itself before you travel.
Good to know
Questions travellers ask
The herds follow the rain, not the calendar, so treat every month below as a likely place rather than a promise.
Where is the migration in August?
In the northern Serengeti, around the Mara River on the Kenyan border. TANAPA gives August and September as the months of the Mara River crossings, when the herds cross between Tanzania and Kenya's Masai Mara. The northern airstrips, such as Kogatende and Lamai, are the usual base.
When is the calving season?
From January to March, on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The NCAA says the herds arrive at Ndutu from the end of December and stay until April, and that thousands of calves are born there.
When are the river crossings?
The Grumeti River crossings in the western Serengeti in June and July, and the Mara River crossings in the north in August and September, according to TANAPA. Crossings happen when the herds decide; a good guide waits with you at the right stretch of river.
Can I see the migration in April or May?
Yes, in the central Serengeti, where the herds move north during the long rains. It is green and quieter, but some park roads are harder after heavy rain and some small-plane flights stop in the long rains.
Is the migration the same every year?
The pattern is, the dates are not. TANAPA notes that the timing can vary, because the herds follow the seasonal rains and fresh grass. Book the region for the month, and let your guide find the herds on the day.
How do I combine the migration with Zanzibar?
Fly from the nearest airstrip back to Arusha and on to Zanzibar; Coastal Aviation's timetable connects the Serengeti airstrips with Zanzibar via Arusha the same day. Then plan 5 to 9 nights on the beach; see Zanzibar after safari.
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