Great Migration calendar: So, where are the herds likely to be?
Picture roughly two million animals moving in one big loop through the Serengeti ecosystem. There's no start, no finish and no fixed date for any of it. Below is where they tend to be each month, based on where they've been in past years.
Let's be honest: nobody can promise you a river crossing. The herds follow the rain. If an operator guarantees one in a particular week, they're either guessing or selling. What we can do is put you in the right area for the month you're travelling, with enough days there for a little patience to pay off.
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January — Southern Serengeti & Ndutu
You'll find them on the short-grass plains around Ndutu and the Salei plains.
- What is happening
- Herds gathering before calving
- Herd behaviour
- Huge crowds on the fresh grass, and plenty of heavily pregnant females.
- Weather
- Warm with short storms
- Where to be
- Ndutu · Southern Serengeti
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February — Ndutu & the southern plains
They're gathered on the short grass between Ndutu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area boundary.
- What is happening
- Peak calving
- Herd behaviour
- Roughly half a million calves born in about three weeks, and predators everywhere you look.
- Weather
- Warm, humid, afternoon rain
- Where to be
- Ndutu · Kusini · Southern Serengeti
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March — Southern & central Serengeti
Still in the south, but starting to spread out and drift west.
- What is happening
- Calving ends, and columns start to form
- Herd behaviour
- The herds start moving, and the rut begins.
- Weather
- Hot, and getting wetter
- Where to be
- Ndutu · Seronera
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April — Central & western Serengeti
Moving north-west through the central woodland.
- What is happening
- The big move gets going
- Herd behaviour
- Long columns on the move, and the rut carries on.
- Weather
- The wettest month
- Where to be
- Seronera · Moru
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May — Western corridor
Heading towards the Grumeti River.
- What is happening
- Approaching the Grumeti
- Herd behaviour
- Columns of animals stretching for kilometres.
- Weather
- Rain easing off
- Where to be
- Western Corridor · Grumeti
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June — Grumeti River
Along the Grumeti, in the western corridor.
- What is happening
- Grumeti crossings possible
- Herd behaviour
- Massing at the river, where the crocodiles are huge.
- Weather
- Dry season beginning
- Where to be
- Grumeti · Western Corridor
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July — Northern Serengeti
Pushing north towards the Mara River.
- What is happening
- First Mara crossings
- Herd behaviour
- The herds build up at the river, sometimes for days, then cross without any warning.
- Weather
- Dry and clear
- Where to be
- Kogatende · Lamai
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August — Northern Serengeti & Mara River
Gathered around Kogatende and the Lamai wedge.
- What is happening
- Peak crossing season
- Herd behaviour
- Crossing again and again, in both directions. Nothing about the timing is predictable.
- Weather
- Dry, with cool mornings
- Where to be
- Kogatende · Lamai · Mara River
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September — Northern Serengeti
Still up north, with some herds crossing into the Masai Mara.
- What is happening
- Crossings continue
- Herd behaviour
- The herds split between the northern Serengeti and Kenya.
- Weather
- Dry and dusty
- Where to be
- Kogatende · Lamai
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October — Northern Serengeti, beginning to turn
Starting the journey back south.
- What is happening
- The return begins
- Herd behaviour
- The herds drift south as the short rains get closer.
- Weather
- Hot and dry, with the first rain late in the month
- Where to be
- Lobo · Kogatende
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November — Eastern & central Serengeti
Moving south through Lobo and Seronera.
- What is happening
- Heading south
- Herd behaviour
- Following the fresh grass after the short rains.
- Weather
- Short afternoon showers
- Where to be
- Lobo · Seronera
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December — Southern Serengeti & Ndutu
Arriving back on the short-grass plains.
- What is happening
- Back to the calving grounds
- Herd behaviour
- The herds spread out across the southern plains.
- Weather
- Warm and green
- Where to be
- Ndutu · Southern Serengeti