The Great Migration is the continuous movement of huge numbers of wildebeest and zebra throughout the Serengeti in Tanzania and the bottom of the Maasai Mara in Kenya. These enormous herds migrate throughout the year following the seasonal rains that produce the freshest grazing and clearest water areas. The migration’s specific location is entirely dependent on the rainfall patterns however it is possible to make a rough prediction of their location throughout the year as follows:
January / February / March: The herds are camped on the short grass plains enjoying the excellent grazing. The wildebeest calving season is a short window period during February creating a lot of activity and excitement.
April / May: The herds move west across the plains, around Moru Kopjes, often in prodigious columns, preparing for their dynamic movement northwards. This is also the wildebeest “rut” when males fight for their breeding rights.
June / July: Having moved into the Serengeti western corridor, the wildebeest start to file northwards with some dramatic scenes as they endeavour to cross the Grumeti River. As they head further north they tend to spread out a little more into the Grumeti Reserves and central Serengeti.
August / September / October: The herds are now spread out across the northern Serengeti, straddling the border of the Maasai Mara in Kenya. This is where the most dramatic river crossing scenes take place as the frantic herds traverse the Mara River travelling north and south.
November: As the short rains begin the wildebeest start migrating again, moving south through the Lobo area and Loliondo concessions, targeting the fresh green shoots that are starting to appear on the Serengeti short grass plains.
December: After the “short rains” the herds of wildebeest and zebra move south towards and into the Serengeti short grass plains in the south and east corner of the park around Ndutu whilst also crossing into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Read the Safari&Beach Guide to the Great Migration.
Recommended places to stay will be dependent upon where the migration is predicted to be at the time. Broadly speaking, the Migration tends to be in the Serengeti in Tanzania from November to September moving to and from the Masai Mara in Kenya around the end of September to the beginning of November. Some of our places on the circuit are as follows:
Masai Mara
Tanzania, Serengeti
Tanzania, Serengeti
Tanzania, Serengeti
Tanzania, Serengeti
Masai Mara, Kenya
Tanzania, Serengeti
Masai Mara, Kenya
Tanzania, Serengeti
Tanzania, Serengeti
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