Nelson Laizer
The Great Migration in Tanzania: A Month-by-Month Guide from the People Who Guide It
Where the Great Migration is in Tanzania each month, which camps put you closest to the herds, what a migration safari costs, and honest advice on river crossings from the Arusha-based team who plan and guide every trip.
The short answer: the Great Migration spends around nine months of the year in Tanzania. From December to March the herds calve on the southern plains around Ndutu. From April to June they move west through the Serengeti’s Western Corridor and the Grumeti River. From July to October they reach the Mara River in the northern Serengeti for the famous crossings, before drifting south again in November.
Around 1.5 million wildebeest, joined by hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle, follow the rain in a slow loop through the Serengeti ecosystem. There is no single “migration season”. There is only the right place for the month you travel, and the right camp within reach of it.
This guide is written from the ground. Emnel Adventures has been based in Arusha since 2016, and the guides who plan our migration safaris are the same guides who drive them. The advice below comes from seasons spent following these herds, not from a brochure. If you’d like the bigger picture first, read our companion piece, The Great Migration Is More Than a River Crossing.
Wildebeest crossing the Mara River, northern Serengeti. Photo: Jorge Tung / Unsplash
The migration at a glance
Herd size: around 1.5 million wildebeest, plus zebra and gazelle.
Time in Tanzania: about nine months of the year, in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Calving peak: late January to February, on the Ndutu and southern Serengeti plains.
Mara River crossings: July to October, peaking in August and September.
How long to stay: at least 3 nights in the migration area, ideally 4 or more.
Month by month: where the herds are
The herds follow rain and fresh grass, so the timing shifts by a few weeks each year. This is where they usually are, and what each month is best for.
Month | Where the herds usually are | What’s happening | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|
January | Ndutu & southern Serengeti plains | Herds settle on the short-grass plains; calving begins | Moderate |
February | Ndutu & southern Serengeti plains | Peak calving; strong cheetah, lion and hyena activity | Moderate to busy |
March | Southern plains, starting to stir | Late calving; herds gather before the long rains | Moderate |
April | Moving north-west through central Serengeti | Long rains; green landscapes and the year’s best value | Quiet |
May | Central Serengeti & Western Corridor | The wildebeest rut; long columns on the move | Quiet |
June | Western Corridor & Grumeti River | Grumeti crossings possible; herds turn north | Moderate |
July | Northern Serengeti, reaching the Mara River | First Mara River crossings | Busy |
August | Northern Serengeti (Kogatende, Lamai) | Peak Mara River crossings | Busiest |
September | Northern Serengeti & across into Kenya | Crossings continue, back and forth | Busy |
October | Northern Serengeti, starting south | Late crossings; the return begins | Moderate |
November | Eastern & central Serengeti, heading south | Short rains; herds stream south | Quiet |
December | Arriving back at Ndutu | Herds gather on the southern plains | Busy over the holidays |
From our guides: if your dates are fixed, choose your camp by the month, not by the brochure. A beautiful camp in the wrong part of the Serengeti can mean a three- or four-hour drive each way to reach the herds.
The herds on the move across the open plains. Photo: Harshil Gudka / Unsplash
December to March: calving on the southern plains
From December the herds return to the short-grass plains around Ndutu, on the border of the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The grass here grows on volcanic soil rich in minerals, exactly what nursing mothers need. Calving peaks in late January and February, when thousands of calves are born each day over a few short weeks, and within minutes most are on their feet and running.
This is the season for predators. Lion, cheetah and hyena follow the newborns, and with the herds spread across open plains you often see the whole story unfold in one view. Because Ndutu lies outside the national park, off-road driving is permitted in much of the area, which can bring you closer to a hunt than anywhere else on the circuit.
Calving season brings the predators close. Photo: Denice Alex / Unsplash
From our guides: in calving season, the best sightings come early. We leave camp at first light with breakfast packed, because the plains are cool, the predators are active, and the newborns are at their most vulnerable in the first hours of the day.
Travelling between January and March? We pair three nights at Ndutu with the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire. Explore our Great Migration safaris →
April to June: the Western Corridor and the Grumeti
When the long rains arrive in April, the herds leave the southern plains and move north-west through the central Serengeti. By May the wildebeest rut is under way, and long columns of animals stretch across the landscape. In June the herds reach the Western Corridor, where they may cross the Grumeti River.
Grumeti crossings are smaller and less predictable than the Mara crossings, so we never promise one. What this season promises is space. April and May are the quietest and best-value months in the Serengeti, with green landscapes, dramatic skies and some of the year’s most private game viewing.
Green-season plains in the Serengeti. Photo: Catherine Merlin / Unsplash
From our guides: the green season surprises people. Rain usually comes in the afternoon, the light is beautiful, and you can sit with a sighting for an hour without another vehicle arriving.
Prefer the migration with fewer vehicles? A May or June safari is one of the most rewarding ways to see it. Plan your dates with us →
July to October: the Mara River crossings
From July the herds reach the northern Serengeti, around Kogatende and the Lamai Triangle, where the Mara River blocks their path. This is the scene most people picture: thousands of animals gathering on the bank, sometimes for hours or days, before one plunges in and the rest follow, past waiting crocodiles.
August and September are the peak months, and also the busiest. The Tanzanian side of the Mara is generally quieter than Kenya’s Masai Mara (see our Serengeti vs Masai Mara comparison), but the best crossing points still draw vehicles. A guide who knows the river, and who is willing to wait patiently, makes more difference here than anywhere else in the ecosystem.
A crossing on the Mara River. Photo: Hal Cooks / Unsplash
From our guides: a crossing rarely happens on schedule. We read the herd, find a quiet position with a clear view, switch off the engine and wait. Patience is what turns a good day at the river into an unforgettable one.
Hoping to see a crossing? The best northern camps for July to September usually fill 9 to 12 months ahead, so early planning gives you the widest choice. Start planning a crossings safari →
November: the return south
With the short rains in November, the herds leave the north and move south through the eastern and central Serengeti, arriving back at Ndutu by December. The movement is more spread out, so sightings depend on following the rain. In return you get quiet roads, fresh green grass and shoulder-season rates, which makes November one of our favourite months for a first safari.
Where to stay, by season and budget
We don’t own camps, so we’re free to recommend the one that fits your month, your budget and how you like to travel. Every property below has been chosen by our team, and we stay in touch with them through the season about where the herds are.
Season & area | Classic | Luxury | Ultra Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
Dec–Mar | Ndutu Safari Lodge · Kati Kati Tented Camp (seasonal) | Lake Masek Tented Lodge · Lake Ndutu Luxury Safari Lodge | Olakira Migration Camp |
Apr–Jun | One Nature Nyarusigwa · Four Seasons Safari Lodge | ||
Jul–Oct | Tamu Tamu Kogatende · Kati Kati Tented Camp (seasonal) | Mara Mara Tented Camp · Ole Serai Luxury Camp | Kuria Hills Lodge · Sayari Camp · Singita Mara River · One Nature Mara River |
Year-round |
From our guides: seasonal camps that move with the herds put you closest to the action. If your dates are fixed, a permanent camp in the central Serengeti is the safer choice, because the central plains hold strong resident wildlife all year.
River crossings: what to really expect
No one can guarantee a river crossing, and an operator who promises one isn’t being straight with you. Herds can gather on the bank for hours, turn back, and try again the next day at a different point. Your chances improve with time, patience and a guide who knows the river.
Stay at least 3 nights in the north, and 4 if the crossings are the main reason for your trip.
Base yourself close to the river. Camps near Kogatende and the Lamai Triangle save hours of driving each day.
Take full-day game drives with a packed lunch, so you can wait at the river instead of returning to camp at midday.
Travel in a private vehicle, so the decision to wait or move is yours and your guide’s, not a group’s.
Consider the shoulder months. Early July and October bring fewer vehicles, with crossings still possible.
The herds often cross back and forth several times during the season, which is why September and October can still deliver strong crossings.
Patience and positioning matter at the river. Photo: Dawn Westveld / Unsplash
How long should you stay?
For a migration-focused safari, we suggest at least 3 nights in the migration area, ideally 4 or more, within a trip of 7 to 10 days. That allows time to reach the herds, follow them if they move, and still see Tarangire or the Ngorongoro Crater along the way.
What a migration safari costs
A private migration safari is priced per person and depends on three things: the month, the camps you choose, and whether you drive or fly into the northern Serengeti. Park fees are set by the government and are the same with every operator, so the real differences lie in the camps, the vehicle and the guide. Prices are highest from July to September and over Christmas and New Year, and lowest in April and May.
These are some of our private safaris that we time and route to the herds:
Safari | Best for | From, per person |
|---|---|---|
A short, focused stay with the herds | US$2,018 | |
The migration followed by the beach | US$2,450 | |
Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti at an unhurried pace | US$4,375 | |
Families, especially in calving season | US$4,900 | |
Intimate camps in prime migration areas | US$8,200 | |
Both sides of the Mara River in one journey | US$3,850 |
Every safari is private and can be adjusted to your month and comfort level.
Pairing your migration safari
The Ngorongoro Crater is the natural partner to a migration safari, with lion, elephant and the rare black rhino in one extraordinary setting. Tarangire adds great herds of elephant and baobab country early in the trip. Zanzibar offers beaches and Stone Town for a slower finish. For a second safari in the south, Ruaha brings wild, remote country with very few vehicles.
The Ngorongoro Crater, a natural pairing with the migration. Photo: Matthew Stephenson / Unsplash
Planning with the people who guide you
With Emnel Adventures, the team that designs your migration safari is the team that delivers it. We’re based in Arusha, and our own guides spend the season following these herds. When we suggest a camp for your month, it’s because we know what the herds are doing there, not because it’s on a list.
That means advice grounded in what’s happening on the ground this season, a private vehicle with a guide who decides when to wait and when to move, and one team from your first message to your last game drive.
“Nelson’s knowledge and guidance regarding locations and accommodation really pulled the itinerary together… There is no doubt that the real success of the trip was down to our fantastic guides Gabriel and Abasai.”
Melanie W, family of four, 8-Day Tanzania Family Safari
Where will the herds be on your dates?
Tell us when you’d like to travel, and we’ll tell you honestly where the migration is likely to be, which camps put you closest, and how we’d shape the days around it.
Plan your migration safari → · Message us on WhatsApp
Questions we’re asked most
When is the best time to see the Great Migration in Tanzania?
It depends on what you want to see. Come from January to March for calving and predators at Ndutu, or from July to October for the Mara River crossings in the northern Serengeti. May and June are quieter, with the rut and possible Grumeti crossings.
What month is best for the river crossings?
August and September are the peak months for Mara River crossings, with July and October also good and usually quieter. Crossings are never guaranteed, so we recommend at least 3 nights near the river.
Is the Great Migration better in Tanzania or Kenya?
The herds spend about nine months of the year in Tanzania and around two to three months in Kenya’s Masai Mara. Tanzania offers the calving, the rut and the crossings, often with fewer vehicles on the Tanzanian side of the river. Our Tanzania vs Kenya safari guide compares the two in detail.
Can you see the migration in December?
Yes. By December the herds are arriving back on the southern plains around Ndutu, ahead of calving. Holiday weeks are popular, so plan early for Christmas and New Year.
How many days do I need for a migration safari?
We suggest 7 to 10 days in total, with at least 3 nights, and ideally 4, in the area where the herds are that month.
Is a migration safari suitable for children?
Yes, especially in calving season, when the plains are full of life. A private vehicle lets you set the pace for your family. See our family safaris and our guide to what a Tanzania family safari costs.
Do I need to fly to the northern Serengeti?
Not necessarily, but it helps. Driving from Arusha to the Mara River takes the best part of two days, so many guests drive in through Tarangire and Ngorongoro and fly back to Arusha from the northern Serengeti.
How far ahead should I book?
For July to September and the holiday weeks, 9 to 12 months ahead gives you the widest choice of camps. For April, May and November, a few months’ notice is usually enough.
How much does a Great Migration safari cost?
Private migration safaris with us start from US$2,018 per person for a 4-day fly-in Serengeti safari. Longer journeys of 9 to 10 days start from US$4,375 per person at Classic level and from US$8,200 at Luxury level. The month, the camps and whether you fly make the biggest difference.