Every year more than a million wildebeest, together with vast herds of zebra and gazelle, travel in a great circle through the Serengeti ecosystem in search of fresh grass. It is one of the biggest wildlife journeys on earth, and for many visitors, seeing a river crossing is the main reason to come to Tanzania.
If the migration is on your wish list, when and where you go makes all the difference. The herds never stop moving, so being in the right area at the right time turns a good safari into an unforgettable one. On this page you will find:
The truthful answer is that it depends on the rain. Because the herds follow fresh grass, nobody can say exactly where they will be on a particular date, not even the wildebeest. In recent years the rainy seasons have been less regular, which can move the migration's timing earlier or later.
What we can give you is the pattern the herds have followed for generations, shown in the month-by-month trail below, together with the latest reports from our guides in the field when you are choosing your dates. After more than 13 years of guiding in the Serengeti, that local knowledge shapes every one of our Tanzania safaris.
The usual yearly route of the herds around the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Treat it as a guide, not a timetable.
Let us know roughly when you would like to travel, and we will plan your safari around where the herds are most likely to be.
Request a Free QuoteSafaris designed around the herds' movements, each one adjusted to your travel dates.
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