THE GREAT MIGRATION IN TANZANIA
Nature's Finest Wildlife Spectacle

The Great Migration in Tanzania is the largest overland animal migration in the world. It involves over 2 million animals – mostly wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles – moving in a continuous cycle through the Serengeti ecosystem. It’s one of the best wildlife experiences in Africa and a key reason why visitors book Tanzania safaris. Are you ready to plan your great migration safari? Let’s go!

QUICK MIGRATION FACTS

Great Migration Distance: ~800 km annually
Migration Duration: Year-round, cyclical
Peak River Crossings: July–October
Primary Park: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Nearby Airports: Kilimanjaro International (JRO, international airport), Arusha (domestic airport), and several airstrips inside the national parks such as Seronera, Ndutu and Kogatende Airstrips

WHAT IS THE GREAT MIGRATION?

Definition & scale

The Great Migration refers to the annual movement of:

1.5 million wildebeests
200 000 zebras
300 000 gazelles

These animals migrate in search of fresh grazing land and water, driven by seasonal rain patterns across Tanzania and Kenya.

Why do wildebeest migrate?

Wildebeests migrate as a survival mechanism. Following the rains helps them find nutritious grasses and water sources. The journey is dangerous, with predators and river crossings threatening their lives.

THE MIGRATION CYCLE: MONTH-BY-MONTH GUIDE

We often get questions such as “what is the best time to see baby wildebeest?” or “what is the best time to visit Northern Serengeti?”. Keep reading as we’ll answer all these questions below!

January to March – Calving Season in Ndutu (Southern Serengeti)

Best time to visit for baby wildebeests
Over 500,000 calves born within weeks

High predator activity from lions and cheetahs
During this period, your best chance of seeing the great migration is in Ndutu, which is part of Ngorongoro Conservation Area

April to May – Long Rains and Movement to Central Serengeti

Lush grasslands after the long rain season
Herds move northwest toward the Grumeti River in the western Serengeti
Fewer tourists, excellent photography

June to July – Grumeti River Crossings

River crossings begin in the western Serengeti
Chance to see crocodile attacks and dramatic crossings
Dry weather, ideal for safaris

August to October – Mara River Crossings (Northern Serengeti)

Most famous part of the migration
Animals cross into Kenya’s Maasai Mara
Best time to witness dramatic wildebeest river crossings

November to December – Return South

The short rains bring the herds back to Tanzania
Fresh pastures await in the Southern Serengeti
The migration cycle begins again

WHERE TO SEE THE GREAT MIGRATION IN TANZANIA

You can see the great migration in Tanzania almost all year long, but the best location will change according to the season during which you visit. Here’s the top locations by season.

LOCATION	BEST TIME TO VISIT	MIGRATION ACTIVITY
Ndutu (South Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area)	January - March	Calving season
Central Serengeti	April - June & November - December	Herd movement
Grumeti River and Western Serengeti	June - July	First river crossings
Northern Serengeti	August - October	Mara river crossings
Eastern Serengeti	October - November	Herd movement

WILDLIFE OF THE SERENGETI MIGRATION

Wildebeests, Zebras, and Gazelles

Each species plays a role:

Zebras eat longer grasses and lead the herds
Wildebeests feed on shorter grass, following zebras
Gazelles come last, eating the shortest grasses

Predators of the Migration

Lions stalk the herds across the plains
Crocodiles dominate river crossings
Hyenas and cheetahs target young or weak animals

ACCOMMODATION DURING A GREAT MIGRATION SAFARI

Many lodges have special migration camps, that follow the great migration and move 2 or more times per year. These camps are often located in Ndutu Area from mid-December until the end of March and in northern Serengeti from July until October. They exist in all comfort levels but are slightly less luxurious than their permanent counterparts, e.g. most mobile camps don’t have wooden floors.

Some lodges in these locations are permanent, so if you prefer a bit more comfort, this is also possible.

Public or special campsites are also available in all great migration locations, so if you’d prefer to keep it budget friendly, we can arrange it for you.

HOW TO INCORPORATE THE GREAT MIGRATION INTO YOUR SAFARI

We can incorporate the great migration into any safari that’s long enough and we’ll give you the best advice depending on your travel dates as soon as you send us a request. Please keep in mind that any safari including the Serengeti will be at least 4 days and we strongly recommend making it 5 days: 1 day Tarangire, 3 days Serengeti (including transfers so in reality this means 2 full days inside the park) and 1 day Ngorongoro.

From April to June, you can usually see the great migration in the central Serengeti, which is the area closest to the entrance of the park if you’re coming from Arusha, Karatu, Tarangire, Lake Manyara or Ngorongoro. Therefore, no extra days are needed.
If you’d prefer to go further west or see the river crossings at the Grumeti river, this is also possible, but you’ll need to add 1 or 2 days inside the Serengeti as these areas are quite far. We always add a stop in the central Serengeti between Karatu / Ngorongoro and the western Serengeti, to split up driving times.
From January to March, we suggest to include Ndutu Area, which is part of Ngorongoro Conservation Area, to see the calving season. We still suggest to include the central Serengeti and ideally to add at least 1 extra day, but it’s also possible to do this safari in 5 days (not in 4 days).
From August to October, the northern Serengeti is the place to be and to visit this area, you also need to dedicate at least 4 days, preferably 5, to the Serengeti. We also include stops in the central Serengeti on the way from and to Karatu / Ngorongoro because the distance to the northern Serengeti is too long to do in 1 time. This area is also easy to reach if you’re coming from Lake Natron since you’ll enter the park through its north-eastern gate.
From November to December, we could suggest accommodations in the eastern Serengeti but you can normally also see the great migration from the central part of the Serengeti so there is no real need to add extra days or stops. If you’re coming from Lake Natron, you’ll automatically drive through this part.

THE GREAT MIGRATION IN TANZANIA Nature's Finest Wildlife Spectacle