The Great Migration is the world’s largest land-based animal migration and a true bucket-list spectacle. Every year, over two million wildebeest and other hungry hoofed animals move in great swathes through Tanzania and Kenya across East Africa’s unfurling plains. The herds follow the rains in search of fresh grasslands while their predators wait to strike, in what is one of nature’s most epic shows. But when is the best time to see the Great Migration, and where? We have you covered. Read on for our insider tips so you can be in the right place at the right time...
What is the Great Migration?
More than just a wildebeest migration, this year-round cycle sees hundreds of thousands of zebras, gazelles and elands journey in a roughly clockwise direction from Tanzania’s Serengeti, up and around Kenya’s Masai Mara, before heading back at the end of the year. And the cycle repeats. Where there’s prey, there are predators. So, keep an eye out for lions, leopards, cheetahs and crocodiles lurking in the grassy plains and murky rivers, poised to snatch an easy dinner.
However, no two migrations are the same due to the rains and seasonal cycle, making it almost impossible to fully predict where the animals will be at any given time. That’s where we come in. Thanks to our local experts in Tanzania and Kenya, we can provide you with the best spots to catch the migration in all its chaotic glory.
Image by Marco Sgarbi / Fotolia.com
Where to see the Great Migration?
Tanzania
The Great Migration doesn't technically have a starting point, but the calving season is a good place to kick things off. From late January to early March, around half a million wildebeest calves arrive on the scene in the southern Serengeti. While herds graze on the grasslands, lions and cheetahs hide amid the granite outcrops and acacia woodlands.
As the rain fades, the herds travel north. The Seronera River Valley fills with wildlife, while leopards slink behind the Senegal palms. In June, the Grumeti River in the Western Corridor becomes a prime spot to catch dramatic river crossings. Then the migration moves into the Northern Serengeti’s rolling hills and sweeping savannah, on its way to Kenya’s Masai Mara.
Image by Olivier Romano
Kenya
Next up is Kenya’s lush grasslands, where the migration reaches one of its most iconic moments: the thrilling Mara River crossing. To reach the Masai Mara National Reserve, large herds must make the treacherous journey through crocodile-infested waters.
The Sand River and Talek River both flow into the Mara, offering quieter but just as exciting crossing points. These smaller waterways cut through predator territory, so keep your binoculars on hand to spot lions, leopards and hyenas. The herds that live to tell the tale can be found grazing on the Masai Mara’s verdant terrain, before heading back down the east side of the Serengeti to start the process all over again. Phew.
Image by Olivier Romano
When to see the Great Migration?
January to March
Visit the Ndutu plains and southern Serengeti between January and March, when fresh grass springs to life and large herds gather to graze. While calving season kicks off in late January, it’s February when most of the calves arrive (usually within just a few weeks of each other). Watch as wobbly newborns find their feet and skulking predators close in. By March, the first herds begin to venture northwest.
April to May
As April rolls around, herds of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles begin to travel northwest toward the lush grass of the Central Serengeti. For front-row seats, visit Dunia Camp to witness wildlife gather by the nearby Moru Kopjes. But keep in mind that it’s rainy season, so don’t forget to pack your waterproofs. By late May, mating season is underway. Some herds travel north through the Seronera Valley while others head along the Serengeti’s Western Corridor towards the Grumeti River.
Image by Robert Muckley / Getty Images
June to July
When the rain eases off in June, make your way to the banks of the Grumeti River, where the first of many dangerous river crossings begin. Stay in a nearby lodge for the chance to see brave herds take on the crocodile-filled waters. By July, the dry season is in full swing and the migration moves to the north of the Serengeti, where the famous Mara River awaits. High season for a reason, the Mara crossings are one of the most thrilling moments of the Great Migration. Vast herds gather at the water’s edge, sometimes for multiple days, before taking the flustered plunge to reach the Masai Mara’s greener pastures.
August to October
By August, the Great Wildebeest Migration is well underway. Sweeping herds of wildebeest, zebras and elands blanket the plains, pausing to graze after their perilous crossing. With predators never far behind, you might catch lions prowling through the plains or cheetahs chasing down their prey in the September heat. Some wildebeest begin their long trip south back to the Serengeti in October, while others remain in the Masai Mara savannahs for the whole month.
November to December
As the short rains arrive in November, the herds begin their journey south, drawn to the rejuvenated grasslands of the northeastern Serengeti, passing the Namiri Plains – a region renowned for its cheetah sightings. Their return to the Serengeti takes them back over the Mara and Grumeti rivers, and the lucky survivors will reach the southern plains in time for calving season, before the Great Migration begins again.
Image by Sallyrango / Getty Images
Written by Amy Larsen | Header image by Manoj Shah / Getty Images
