Safari Guide
Great Migration Calendar
The short answer
A continuous loop, not a single event.
The Great Migration is a continuous clockwise loop through the Serengeti all year — not a single event. Mara River crossings run roughly July to October in the northern Serengeti. Calving season peaks late January to February in the southern plains around Ndutu, when 400,000–500,000 calves are born and every predator follows. For crossings, base north July to October. For calving and predator action, base south late January to February.
| River crossings | July–October — northern Serengeti, Mara River (Kogatende) |
| Crossing peak | August–September |
| Calving season | Late January–February — southern Serengeti, Ndutu basin |
| Calves born | 400,000–500,000 in a six-week window |
| Green/quiet season | November–December + March–May (30–40% lower prices) |
| Grumeti crossings | May–June — western corridor, fewer vehicles |
| Book north camps | 6–9 months ahead for July–August |
| Pairs with | Zanzibar coast — both February and August windows work |
| Last verified | August 2026 |
The calendar
Month by month: where the herds are
January: southern plains, Ndutu area, calving beginning. February: calving peak — the most intense predator action in the Serengeti calendar. March: herds moving northwest through southern and central Serengeti. April and May: western corridor and Grumeti River — fewer vehicles, dramatic if less famous crossings. June: herds column north through the western corridor toward the Mara River. July: first Mara River crossings near Kogatende. August: peak crossings, the busiest month in the northern Serengeti. September: crossings continue. October: final crossings, herds start the southward drift. November: central Serengeti, green growth. December: herds returning to the southern plains; early calves possible.
The practical consequence: a camp in the wrong zone for your month can put you hours from the action. A central Seronera camp works adequately in most months but is 3–4 hours from the northern crossing areas in August. Match camp to month.
Calving
The calving season: what it is actually like
Between late January and the end of February, 400,000–500,000 wildebeest calves are born on the short-grass southern plains around Ndutu, at the Serengeti's southern border abutting the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The reason it happens here: short grass gives calves the best chance of outrunning predators in the first days of life — wildebeest calves stand within minutes of birth.
On days with active calving the plain is alive with newborns, mothers, and every large predator in the area. Lion prides position near the birth zones; cheetahs sprint after calves within the first week; hyena clans follow through the night. A single morning drive can produce more predator-prey encounters than a week on a quieter African reserve. For wildlife photographers, February and March at Ndutu is the most technically demanding and most rewarding combination the Serengeti offers — flat terrain, dawn light across open grass, and subjects every 50 metres.
Practical camp choice: the Ndutu basin and the southern Serengeti border camps are the right positions. Ndutu Lodge and the seasonal mobile camps that set up in the basin are closer to the calving action. Central camps at Seronera are too far.
The crossings
The Mara River crossings: the honest version
Thousands of wildebeest on a bank, the decision to go, the plunge, the crocodiles, the chaos on the far side — that is the picture everyone carries into the trip. The honest version: crossings are not guaranteed on any given day. Herds gather at the river — sometimes for hours, sometimes for days — before one animal triggers the collective decision. On a 3-night stay in the north during August, most people see at least one crossing. On a 1-night visit, the odds are lower. Book 3 nights minimum.
The northern Serengeti around Kogatende is where this happens on the Tanzanian side. Key crossing points include the Second Crossings area and river bends used year after year. The Tanzanian northern Serengeti generally has fewer vehicles than the equivalent position on the Kenyan Masai Mara side — a meaningful difference if crowd-free viewing matters. Northern crossing camps fill 6–9 months ahead for July and August; book early.
Big cats
Big cats by season: when and where
Lions are resident across the Serengeti year-round — around 3,000–4,000 of them, part of Tanzania's national total of roughly 17,000, the largest lion population of any country in Africa. During calving season (January–February), prides concentrate near the Ndutu basin as easy prey arrives in volume. In the dry season (June–October), lions are more visible because vegetation is shorter and animals concentrate at water.
Cheetahs are easiest to see on the open short-grass southern plains and around Ndutu, where flat terrain lets them hunt at full sprint — January to March is the prime window, with calves as easier prey and grass short enough for long sight-lines. Leopards are more or less equally distributed year-round but hardest to spot; the riverine woodland around Seronera is the classic zone, and a guide with years in that area knows which individual fig trees are used repeatedly at dawn. Wild dogs (African painted wolves) are rare in the Serengeti; the Loliondo area, adjacent to the park's eastern boundary, is the best chance.
Green season
The green season and common booking mistakes
The green season (November to early December, and March to May) brings lower prices — often 30–40% below peak rates at the same lodge — green scenery, and fewer vehicles. Common mistakes worth avoiding: booking a southern camp for August crossings; expecting a crossing on a specific day; choosing a camp that cannot reach the river before 09:00, when the best crossings happen. From Zanzibar, both the February calving window and the August crossing window pair well with time on the east coast.
Good to know
Questions travellers ask
The single most common migration planning mistake is treating it as one event with one date.
When are the Serengeti river crossings?
The Mara River crossings happen roughly July to October in the northern Serengeti near Kogatende, peaking August to September. Plan at least 3 nights in the north to improve your odds — crossings are not guaranteed on any single day. Book northern crossing camps 6–9 months ahead for July and August.
When is the calving season?
Calving peaks late January and February on the southern short-grass plains around Ndutu, at the Serengeti's southern border. Around 400,000–500,000 calves are born in a six-week window. It is the best time for predator action — lion, cheetah, and hyena all follow the birth areas.
What is the best month for a first Serengeti safari?
June to October for classic dry-season game viewing — short vegetation, animals concentrated at water, excellent big-cat sightings. For the crossings choose August or September; for calving and intense predator action choose February. Both windows pair well with Zanzibar.
Is the green season worth visiting the Serengeti?
Yes for the right traveller. November to early December and March to May bring 30–40% lower prices, green open scenery, fewer vehicles, and good resident wildlife. Long rains (April–May) can affect road access in the west and close some camps, but dry-season crowds and noise are almost absent.
What are the Grumeti crossings?
The Grumeti River in the western corridor has its own crossings in May and June. Less famous than the Mara, but the Grumeti crocodiles are among the largest in Africa, the river is narrow, and vehicle density is far lower than the northern Serengeti in August.
How do I match my camp to the migration?
Base south at Ndutu (Jan–Feb for calving), west at Grumeti (May–Jun), north at Kogatende (Jul–Oct for Mara crossings), or central at Seronera (year-round base, adequate in most months, not optimal for crossings or calving).
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