The Great Migration: How to Witness Kenya and Tanzania’s Epic Wildlife Spectacle
For travelers chasing the ultimate safari moment, this is your front-row seat to the greatest wildlife movement on Earth. Here’s how to witness it, when to go, where to be, and how to make it deeply personal.
The Migration Calendar: Nature’s Grand Circuit
The Great Migration is not a single event - it’s a circular journey. Nearly two million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles move clockwise through Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara, following the rains and fresh grass.
January–March: Calving Season (Southern Serengeti / Ndutu)
The year begins in Tanzania’s southern Serengeti. The plains turn emerald, and hundreds of thousands of wildebeest give birth within weeks. Predators prowl. It’s intimate, emotional, and astonishingly beautiful.April–June: Northward March (Central to Western Serengeti)
As the long rains ease, herds head north and west, crossing the Grumeti River - the first test of survival. Crocodiles lurk beneath the surface; vultures trace the skies above.July–October: River Crossings (Northern Serengeti & Maasai Mara)
This is the Migration’s crescendo. The Mara and Talek rivers surge, and chaos unfolds: stampeding herds, crocodile ambushes, and raw drama. Split between the Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara, this is the bucket-list moment most travelers dream of.November–December: Return South
With the short rains, the herds pivot south again, grazing their way back to Tanzania to begin the cycle anew.
Each stage is remarkable. While July–October offers the most famous crossings, the quieter months, especially February’s calving season, reveal the Migration’s gentler, more intimate side.
Best Viewing Spots: Where the Wild Moves
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania:
Home to the longest leg of the journey. Key areas include Ndutu (for calving), Western Corridor (for Grumeti crossings), and the northern Kogatende/Lamai regions (for Mara River crossings).Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya:
Smaller than the Serengeti but equally rich, the Mara stages the Migration’s climactic moments from July to October. The Mara River becomes the theatre of life and death, one of the most powerful scenes in the animal kingdom.Ngorongoro Conservation Area:
Adjacent to the Serengeti, this lush caldera hosts many herds during the rains, ideal for a quieter, scenic stop.
Insider route tip: A well-timed journey can trace the herds north through Tanzania and cross into Kenya mid-year, following their path in sequence. See The Kenya Edit itinerary for inspiration.
Safari Strategies: How to Follow the Herds
The best guides and safari planners use satellite tracking, rainfall data, and decades of local knowledge to pinpoint where the herds will be next.
Mobile Camps: Move seasonally with the herds. Set amid the action, they’re intimate and atmospheric, think luxury under canvas, with wildebeest grazing just beyond your tent flap.
Permanent Lodges: Offer stability, spa comforts, and cinematic views. Choose based on timing (e.g., Lamai Serengeti for July–September; Ndutu Safari Lodge for Feb–March).
Private Conservancies: Adjacent to the parks, these allow night drives and walking safaris (Kenya excels here with Mara North, Olare Orok, and Naboisho).
Whichever you choose, book early, Migration-season camps often fill a year in advance.
Conservation Matters: Witnessing with Purpose
The Great Migration is not guaranteed forever. Climate shifts, poaching, and land pressure threaten its ancient routes. Choosing eco-conscious lodges and operators (like those supporting Mara conservancies or Tanzania’s Grumeti Fund) ensures your visit protects the spectacle you came to see.
