It moves all year. A month-by-month guide to where the herds actually are.
“When is migration season?” is one of the most common questions we get, and one of the most misleading, because there isn’t a single “migration season.” The Great Migration is a continuous, year-round movement of over a million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra, following seasonal rains across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.
January–March, calving season (southern Serengeti / Ndutu): the majority of wildebeest calves are born, often hundreds of thousands within a few weeks. Predator activity is at its most dramatic as lions, cheetahs, and hyenas take advantage of vulnerable newborns.
April–May, the long rains: herds move gradually northward through the central Serengeti. Fewer visitors, lower prices, though heavier vegetation and rain can occasionally affect road conditions.
June, the Grumeti River region: as the dry season begins, herds move through the western corridor, often crossing the Grumeti River, home to a resident population of large crocodiles.
July–September, the Mara River crossings: the dramatic, chaotic river crossings most people picture when they imagine “the migration,” in the northern Serengeti. Exact timing shifts year to year with rainfall, but this window is the most reliable bet.
October–December, the return south: as rains return south, herds move back down through the eastern and central Serengeti toward Ndutu, ahead of the next calving season.
Booking without understanding this cycle is one of the most common sources of disappointment for travelers. Someone hoping specifically to see a river crossing but traveling in February, for example, will likely be in the wrong part of the ecosystem entirely, even though it’s still peak season for other kinds of wildlife viewing.
The right camp location changes throughout the year as the herds move, which is why fixed-location lodges sometimes struggle to guarantee migration sightings outside their immediate area, while mobile camps or itineraries built around seasonal movement have a real advantage.
Important · Before you travel
Every foreign visitor to Tanzania must now hold the government-required travel insurance, in force since 1 October 2026. It costs about US$44 per person, is valid for up to 92 days, and is issued by NIC for the mainland and ZIC for Zanzibar. It covers medical emergencies, emergency evacuation, repatriation and lost luggage. Citizens of East African Community and SADC countries are exempt on the mainland.
We also recommend comprehensive private cover on top, so you are protected for the whole trip:
Rules can change, so we confirm the latest requirements for your travel dates when you book. Read our full Tanzania entry requirements guide, or ask our team and we will point you the right way.
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