The Great Migration

• Follow the wildebeest migration across Tanzania’s Serengeti

• Experience vast herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle

• Exceptional opportunities to see lions, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas

• Visit the best Serengeti region for your travel dates

• Possible Mara River crossings during the northern migration season

• Experience the Ndutu calving season early in the year

• Private 4×4 safari vehicle with your own guide

• Flexible game drives designed around wildlife movements

• Handpicked safari camps close to the migration

• Excellent wildlife photography opportunities

When Is the Best Time for a Great Migration Safari?

The Great Migration takes place throughout the year, but the location and experience change with the seasons.

January to March – Ndutu & Southern Serengeti

The herds gather across the short-grass plains of Ndutu and the Southern Serengeti.

This is the famous calving season, when large numbers of wildebeest give birth over a relatively short period.

The concentration of young animals attracts predators including lions, cheetahs and hyenas, making this one of the most exciting times of year for wildlife viewing.

Best for: Calving, predator action and photography.

April to May – Central Serengeti

As the rains and grazing conditions change, the herds begin moving north through the Serengeti.

April and May can offer a quieter safari experience, with fewer vehicles and dramatic green landscapes.

Migration movements during these months are particularly dependent on rainfall.

Best for: Fewer visitors, green landscapes and moving herds.

June to July – Western Serengeti & Grumeti

The migration generally moves towards the Western Corridor and Grumeti region.

Large herds may gather around the Grumeti River and surrounding plains before continuing north.

The Western Serengeti also offers excellent resident wildlife and a quieter safari atmosphere than some of the better-known regions.

Best for: Migration herds, Western Serengeti and Grumeti wildlife.

July to October – Northern Serengeti & Mara River

During the dry-season months, the migration typically reaches the Northern Serengeti around Kogatende and the Mara River.

This is the period most associated with dramatic river crossings.

Wildebeest may gather on the riverbanks before attempting to cross while crocodiles wait in the water and predators patrol the surrounding plains.

River crossings are natural events and cannot be scheduled or guaranteed, but staying several nights in the Northern Serengeti gives you more time to explore the migration area.

Best for: Northern Serengeti, large herds and possible Mara River crossings.

November to December – Returning South

As the short rains arrive, the herds gradually begin moving back through the Serengeti towards the southern plains.

The exact timing and route varies each year depending on rainfall and grazing conditions.

Best for: Quieter safari conditions and migrating herds moving south.

Where Does the Great Migration Take Place?

The Great Migration moves through the wider Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.

On the Tanzanian side, the main safari areas include:

Ndutu & Southern Serengeti

Best known for the migration calving season from approximately January to March.

Central Serengeti

Excellent year-round wildlife viewing and often part of the migration route as the herds move north or south.

Western Serengeti & Grumeti

A quieter part of the Serengeti associated with the migration during approximately May to July.

Northern Serengeti

The main Tanzania base for travellers hoping to experience the migration around the Mara River from approximately July to October.

Your itinerary can combine more than one Serengeti region depending on your travel dates and number of nights.

What Wildlife Can You See?

The Great Migration is famous for wildebeest, but the Serengeti experience goes far beyond the herds.

Depending on the region and season, you may encounter:

• Wildebeest

• Zebra

• Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles

• Lions

• Leopards

• Cheetahs

• Hyenas

• Elephants

• Giraffes

• Buffalo

• Hippos

• Crocodiles

• Jackals

• Numerous antelope species

• Hundreds of bird species

The movement of enormous herbivore herds also creates some of the Serengeti’s most dramatic predator-prey interactions.

Can You Guarantee a River Crossing?

No — and no safari operator can genuinely guarantee one.

Mara River crossings are completely natural events. Wildebeest may gather beside the river for hours or even days before crossing, move elsewhere without crossing, or cross unexpectedly.

Rainfall and herd movements also vary from year to year.

For travellers specifically hoping to experience a crossing, we normally recommend spending several nights in the Northern Serengeti rather than trying to schedule a single game drive around one predicted event.

The unpredictability is part of what makes the Great Migration extraordinary.

How Many Days Do You Need?

For a Great Migration-focused safari, we generally recommend spending at least three nights in the main migration region.

A broader Tanzania safari is often 6–10 nights, allowing you to combine the migration with other destinations such as:

• Central Serengeti

• Ngorongoro Crater

• Tarangire National Park

• Lake Manyara

• Western Serengeti

• Northern Serengeti

Longer itineraries provide more flexibility and reduce the pressure to experience a particular wildlife event on one specific day.

Private Great Migration Safaris

BookMeAfrica primarily creates private safaris.

Your vehicle and guide are dedicated to your group, allowing your days to remain flexible.

If the herds are active in a particular area, you can spend longer there. If you want to stop for photography, watch predators or simply enjoy the landscape, your safari does not have to follow the schedule of a larger group.

This flexibility is particularly valuable during the Great Migration because wildlife movements can change from day to day.

Where Will You Stay?

We select camps according to where the migration is expected to be during your travel dates.

Depending on the season, your safari may include camps in:

• Ndutu and the Southern Serengeti

• Central Serengeti

• Western Serengeti and Grumeti

• Northern Serengeti and Kogatende

We work with a range of intimate tented camps and safari lodges, allowing us to match accommodation to your preferred comfort level, location and budget.

For a migration safari, location is especially important. A beautiful camp in the wrong part of the Serengeti can mean hours of unnecessary driving, so we prioritise camps that provide practical access to the areas you want to explore.

What Is Included?

Your Great Migration safari can typically include:

• Private 4×4 safari vehicle

• Dedicated English-speaking safari guide

• Private game drives

• Safari accommodation

• Full-board meals while on safari

• National park and conservation fees

• Airport and airstrip transfers

• Internal logistics between safari regions

• Itinerary planning and local support

Exact inclusions depend on the itinerary and accommodation selected.

Why Book Your Great Migration Safari With BookMeAfrica?

Designed Around the Season

We plan the safari around where the migration is likely to be during your travel dates rather than offering the same route year-round.

Private Safari Experience

Travel in your own safari vehicle with a dedicated guide and greater flexibility during game drives.

Carefully Selected Camps

We prioritise location as well as comfort so you can spend more time on safari and less time driving unnecessarily.

Tailor-Made Itineraries

Your safari can be designed around wildlife, photography, family travel, honeymoon travel, luxury accommodation or a combination of interests.

Tanzania-Based Safari Support

Our local teams and partners help coordinate the journey from arrival through to the final day of your safari.

Combine the Great Migration With More of Tanzania

A Great Migration safari can easily form part of a larger Tanzania journey.

Popular combinations include:

Great Migration + Ngorongoro Crater
Combine Serengeti migration viewing with one of Tanzania’s most wildlife-rich destinations.

Great Migration + Tarangire
Add elephant herds, baobab landscapes and a very different safari environment.

Great Migration + Zanzibar
Finish your safari with several nights relaxing on the beaches of Zanzibar.

Northern + Central Serengeti
Combine migration viewing with excellent year-round resident wildlife and big-cat territory.

Plan Your Great Migration Safari

Tell us when you would like to travel, how many nights you have and what you most want to experience.

We’ll recommend the Serengeti regions, camps and safari route that make the most sense for your dates.

Every Great Migration safari is different because the migration itself is always moving.

Start planning your private Great Migration safari with BookMeAfrica.