When can I see the river crossings?

The famous Mara River crossings in the north generally occur from about July to October, though timing shifts each year with the rains.

Where is the migration right now?

It moves in a rough annual circle: calving in the south from January to March, heading north-west by mid-year, and crossing the Mara in the north from July onward.

Is the migration in the Serengeti or Ngorongoro?

The great migration takes place within the Serengeti ecosystem, though the herds also pass through the northern part of the neighbouring Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

How do I get to the Serengeti fastest?

Flying from Arusha to a Serengeti airstrip such as Seronera takes about an hour, far quicker than the long overland drive.

Destination guide

Serengeti

Endless plains and the stage of the great wildebeest migration

What's happening

Events & festivals

January to March

Calving season

The southern plains fill with hundreds of thousands of wildebeest births and intense predator activity.

May to July

Grumeti river crossings

The western corridor sees the herds cross the Grumeti River amid waiting crocodiles.

July to October

Mara river crossings

The signature migration spectacle in the north, when herds brave the Mara River.

November to April

Green-season birding

Migrant birds arrive and the plains turn green, a rewarding quieter time to visit.