When is the best time to see the Great Migration?
Overview
Every month, the Great Migration is at its best.
Because the Great Migration is a continuous, year-round cycle from place to place, there is no one time of year that is ideal for seeing it. Nonetheless, your safari can be customized to give you the best opportunity of seeing what you want, based on the time of year you choose to travel or the part of the Great Migration you want to see (such river crossings). In this sense, the Great Migration might be summed up as having four seasons.
As an alternative, you can read the Great Migration's month-by-month analysis below to find out more about when to go.
There is a vast array of breathtaking spectacles taking place in front of you, regardless of whether the massive herds are calving in the south or traveling north in pursuit of better pastures and then returning.
The seasons of the Great Migration
The Great Migration is seen throughout the year. Although historical migration patterns can be used to forecast herd locations, these animals are wild creatures, and the yearly rainfall that they depend on to promote grass growth is becoming less reliable. Our guests have the finest chance to witness the migration up close while on safari because Asilia's camp is located entirely along the migration route.
The Calving Season Continues from January to March
The short grass plains in the westernmost parts of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the southern Serengeti are where the herds gather. A two- to three-week period in February is thought to see the birth of half a million calves. A startling number of predators are drawn to this mass calving, ready to feed on the defenseless infants.
December/January:
There are plenty of sweet, fresh grasses for the wildebeest to feed on in the Southern Plains. In anticipation of the birth of the new calves, the herds will spend some time in the northern Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the vicinity of Ndutu, where there is a plenty of grass.
February:
More than 80% of fertile mother wildebeest give birth to their calves within a few weeks of one another between late January and mid-March. The grasslands are home to almost 500,000 little wildebeest, and predators pounce to take advantage of the simple prey.
March: As the plains dry out, the wildebeest are getting ready to go north, but they are still inhabiting the southern portion of the park.
April through mid-June: The Rut and the Trek North's season
The herds begin moving north into the middle Serengeti once the rains stop and the earth dries out, where they can feed and care for their young since the grass is still new. They take advantage of the fresh grass by grazing as they go, moving slowly. When mating season arrives, male wildebeest engage in intense competition for a mate. Some herds continue their journey through the rut, crossing the Grumeti River and heading west into the Western Corridor.
April: The wildebeest start their protracted journey north through the park's center. The cattle graze as they travel, moving slowly.
May: The park's central Moru Kopjes is flooded by striking columns of wildebeest that can reach several kilometers in length.
First part of June: In the Western Serengeti, large herds of wildebeest may be observed along the southern banks of the Grumeti River, preparing to cross the crocodile-infested river for the first time.
The Great Migration River Crossing Season runs from mid-June to November.
The herds move toward the Serengeti's northern region. The timing of the river crossings, which are regarded by some as the most thrilling aspects of the Great Migration, is entirely dependent on the rainfall, but they often begin around July.
Both the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Northern Serengeti are home to the herds. The Mara and Talek rivers, which are frequently at the center of extremely dramatic incidents, see daily river crossings.
The herds typically return to the Serengeti from the Mara and go toward the southern Serengeti, which is now productive. The herds move quickly and cover a lot of ground in a day. The process starts over when the herds return to calve in Ndutu at the beginning of December.
July: As the migration picks up speed, massive herds of wildebeest may be observed moving northward along the Western corridor. Early in July, the first herds will start to move into the North.
August: The Great Mara River is the second obstacle for the wildebeest as the dry season draws near. The thousands of calves born more than make up the numbers, but many will die.
September: While many of the herds are still in the Serengeti, the majority are in Kenya's Maasai Mara, the trek's northernmost region.
October: As they make their way back south, the wildebeest encounter the swelling waters of the Mara River for the second time.
November: The arrival of brief rains drives the wildebeest southward to the Serengeti's restored grasslands.
December: The Start of the Calving Season
The southern Serengeti's short grass plains and the northernmost parts of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are where the herds gather. A two- to three-week period in February is thought to see the birth of half a million calves. A startling number of predators are drawn to this mass calving, ready to feed on the defenseless infants.
December/January:
There are plenty of sweet, fresh grasses for the wildebeest to feed on in the Southern Plains. In anticipation of the birth of the new calves, the herds will spend some time in the northern Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the vicinity of Ndutu, where there is a plenty of grass.
The January–December Great Migration
Find out more about the historical trends that forecast the location of the Great Migration each month below:
January:
From Moru southward to Naabi, Kusini, and Ndutu, wildebeest start to congregate in the southern plains. Because of the volcanic ash of the calcrete layer that sits just beneath the shallow soil of the plains, the short grasses here are high in phosphorus and magnesium. There may be severe thunderstorms all across the area, so bring waterproof gear. You might get lucky and see a few early calvings.
February
Nothing compares to witnessing hundreds of thousands of newborn wildebeest make their first movements amidst motionless herds during February, the busiest month for calving. They are visible from the plains of Ndutu and Kusini all the way to the Ngorongoro Highlands. Though there are still occasional showers, this is the driest month of the rainy season.
March
As the calving season draws to a close, the herds are largely still in the Ndutu-Kusini area, though some are moving east toward the Namiri Plains (prime predator country, so keep your camera handy) and even further south into Maswa. In the midst of intense, local thunderstorms, the final wildebeest calves are born.
April
This month is your last chance to see the enormous herds (including calves) moving slowly across the plains in the Naabi and Kusini regions. Before starting their lengthy and frequently dangerous journey north, they will be making the most of what is left of the nutrient-dense Digitaria, Sporobolus, Andropogon, and Cynodon grasses.
May
The wildebeest will be constantly moving from the beginning of this month, moving north via the Moru Kopjes and toward the Western Corridor. The herds will now be grazing on medium-to-tall Tussocky Themeda and Pennisetum grasses, which are irrigated by the ongoing dramatic thunderstorms that make for excellent photography. The animals continue to migrate northward since the foliage provides a little less nourishment.
June
The Western Corridor and Grumeti Reserve are being rapidly traversed by the Great Migration, which is currently underway. Although there are still isolated rains in the north, it is peak rutting time and the start of the dry season. From this point on, the growth stage of the grasses—Pennisetum, Eustachys, Themeda, and Digitaria—anchored in nutrient-rich soil within the forests would play a major role in the animals' diet.
July
The vegetation on the other side of the Mara and Sand rivers, that is, is actually greener for wildebeest. Nature films are about crossings, and staying at Sayari puts you in a prime location to witness the activity. With ravenous crocodiles hiding in the water, the herd's leader will have arrived at the Kogatende region of the northern Serengeti, prepared to cross the Mara and Sand rivers.
August
Because of the earlier showers and the more nutrient-dense pasture on the northern side, herds will typically move from south to north. Crossings do, however, occasionally take place in the opposite direction. Visit the Lamai Wedge and Nyamalumbwa Plains for breathtaking views of the majority of the wildebeest herds, dotted with antelope herds and zebra dazzles.
September
Although a southerly trend will predominate by the end of the month, river traffic between Kenya and Tanzania moves in both directions in September. Tens of thousands of animals will perish in the attempt to make this perilous journey, which is one of nature's most magnificent and heartbreaking sights. There are still no rains in the south, and the north is still seeing sporadic showers.
October
As thunderstorms start toward the north, the herd's tail end crosses the river from Kenya into Tanzania. The majority of the animals, meanwhile, are making their epic yearly journey back south toward their calving areas by returning to the Lobo Valley region and Grumeti Reserve.
November
The herds have mostly left the north and are continuing their march through the Lobo region on their way to the center Serengeti. Here, rain is still in short supply, and the grasslands' natural nutrition is not the best. It's interesting to note that because zebra and wildebeest eat distinct sections of individual grass blades, they may nevertheless share grazing territory.
December
Today, the Great Migration is spread throughout the central Serengeti, from Lobo in the north to Ndutu in the south. Across the region, there are severe thunderstorms and isolated showers as the rain finally catches up with the herds that are still moving. In preparation for calving in the south and starting the big cycle anew, the animals have returned to the more nutrient-dense Pennisetum, Sporobolus, Andropogon, Cynodon, and Themeda grasses.
Our Safari Guide will teach you everything you need to know about organizing the best Great Migration Safari. A comprehensive map of the migration's path, a list of the top safari accommodations, a month-by-month synopsis, and professional advice for a safari that will never be forgotten are all included in the guide.
Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience by scheduling a migration safari with us. You can get even more value for your money on your trip with Beyond Travel Africa.