The Great Migration

The herds broadly concentrate on the short-grass plains around the Ndutu area in the southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Calving is concentrated within this seasonal window, and predators may be active around the herds. Rainfall and grass conditions influence the timing and location each year.

This is one of the most underrated times to visit the Serengeti. The spectacle of calving season rivals river crossing season for visual drama, without the concentration of visitors that July to October brings.

As the long rains arrive, the herds push westwards through the central Serengeti and into the western corridor, where the Grumeti River provides the first significant water crossing of the year. Grumeti crossings are less predictable than the Mara crossings further north and often overlooked, but they are genuinely dramatic and typically far less crowded.

April and May fall within Tanzania's broad long-rains period and often bring fewer visitors. Rates vary by property and year, while access and road conditions need to be checked for the proposed area.

This is the most visited phase of the migration. The herds accumulate on the banks of the Mara River, in the northern Serengeti at Kogatende and Lamai, and in Kenya's Maasai Mara, and may attempt to cross. The timing and location remain unpredictable.

Crossings are unpredictable. Herds can wait on the bank for days before something triggers the move. Being camped nearby and able to respond quickly is the only reliable strategy. Mobile tented camps that position according to herd movements give the best access. Permanent lodges require longer drives.

Peak-season camps in the northern Serengeti and Maasai Mara fill well ahead of the main travel window, so flexibility on location and dates is valuable.

As the short rains arrive, the herds begin moving south and east through the Lobo area of the eastern Serengeti. November is a quieter period for travellers who want to follow the movement without the peak-season concentration.