Great Migration Calendar
The Great Wildebeest Migration is the largest overland animal movement on Earth - 1.5 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra, and 500,000 gazelle circling between the Serengeti and Masai Mara. Here's where to be and when, backed by 300 recorded wildlife events across both ecosystems.
January
500,000+ wildebeest calves born on the short-grass plains
Parks with migration events:
February
Peak calving - predator activity at its highest
Parks with migration events:
March
Herds begin the long journey northward as rains end
Parks with migration events:
April
Massive columns moving through the Serengeti corridor
Parks with migration events:
May
Grumeti River crossings begin as herds push west
June
Dramatic Grumeti River crossings - crocodile encounters
July
The main Mara River crossings begin - peak drama
August
Highest concentration of crossings - rivers of wildebeest
September
Continued crossings, excellent game viewing across the Mara
October
Crossings continue; herds begin moving south
November
Long rains arrive; herds begin the return journey south
December
Herds arrive on the short-grass plains, ready to calve again
What is the Great Migration?
The Great Migration is the largest overland wildlife movement on Earth. Every year, approximately 1.5 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra, and 500,000 Thomson's gazelle make a continuous circular journey of around 1,800 km between the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya - driven entirely by rainfall and the growth of fresh grass.
There is no single start or finish point. The herds move clockwise around the ecosystem year-round, calving on the Serengeti's southern plains in January-February, crossing the Grumeti River in June-July, and reaching the Mara River crossings in the Masai Mara from July through October - where dramatic crocodile encounters make for the most iconic wildlife footage on the planet.
The wildebeest crossing the Mara River is often what people picture when they hear "the Great Migration" - but the calving season (500,000 calves born in just three weeks) and the Grumeti crossings are equally spectacular and far less crowded.
When is the Best Time to See the Great Migration?
Calving Season
January-February
Southern Serengeti (Ndutu). 500,000+ calves born in weeks. Exceptional predator activity. Less crowded than the Mara crossings.
Grumeti Crossings
June-July
Western Serengeti. Dramatic Grumeti River crossings. Smaller but intense - and far fewer tourists than the Mara.
Mara River Crossings
July-October
Masai Mara, Kenya. The iconic crossings. Peak season, peak prices - but genuinely unmissable if timed right.
Plan Your Migration Safari
Best parks to see the migration