Great Migration Calendar 2026

The Great Migration is not a single event you witness in one afternoon. It is a continuous, year-long circuit — over a million wildebeest, 200,000 zebras, and 350,000 Thomson's gazelles moving in a roughly circular path through the Serengeti and Maasai Mara in search of rain-fed grass. Where the herds are in any given month depends on the rains, and the rains do not read calendars. This guide tells you what to expect in each month of 2026 based on typical patterns — and the reality that every year is different.

How the Migration Works

The migration follows a roughly predictable path. From December through April, the herds are in the southeastern Serengeti and the Ndutu area — the short-grass plains that run between the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This is calving season. From May onward, the herds move northwest, crossing the central Serengeti and heading toward the western corridor. The river crossings — the dramatic events that make migration safaris famous — happen from July through October as the herds attempt to cross the Grumeti River (July) and the Mara River (July-September).

What the migration calendar cannot show you is the nuance. In a dry year, herds move toward water faster. In a wet year, the timing stretches. Your guide will be tracking current herd positions and adjusting the itinerary in real time. That is the difference between a good migration safari and a great one.

January — Calving Season Begins

January marks the start of the most magical phase of the migration cycle: calving season. Approximately 8,000 wildebeest are born every day during the peak weeks of February, but January is when the first calves appear and the southeastern plains — Ndutu, Olduvai, Naabi — begin to fill with pregnant females and new mothers. The landscape turns green, the light is extraordinary, and predator activity increases as lions and cheetah follow the concentration of vulnerable calves.

This is arguably the most photogenic time to be on the migration. The combination of newborn animals, dramatic golden light, and relatively accessible wildlife concentrations makes January a favourite of photographers. The grass is still short enough to see animals clearly, and the herds have not yet begun their long northwestward march.

February — Peak Calving

February is the most emotionally intense month of the migration calendar. The calving is in full swing — the plains are dotted with newborns struggling to their feet within minutes of birth, while lions and hyenas are never far away. There is a rawness to the wildlife viewing in February that is unlike any other time of year. You will see predator-prey interactions. You will see calves that do not make it. This is nature without the narrative control that some safari operators try to manufacture.

For first-time safari visitors, February is a remarkable choice. The wildlife density on the southeastern plains is staggering, prices are lower than peak season, and the combination of newborn animals with predator action creates sightings that stay with you for decades.

March — The Herds Begin to Move

March sees the first real movement of the migration. The short rains that typically fall in March (they are less predictable than the long rains of April-May) trigger the herds to start their long northwestward journey. The calving is largely complete, and the animals begin to follow the emerging green flush of grass. The density of wildlife on the southeastern plains decreases as the herds string out along their migration corridors.

March is shoulder season — fewer tourists, lower prices, landscapes at their greenest. The trade-off is that the big herds are on the move, so you need a guide who can track them rather than take you to fixed viewing points. This is when local knowledge matters most.

April — Green Season at Its Greenest

April is the greenest month in Tanzania's safari calendar. The long rains are in full swing, the landscapes are emerald, the birding is exceptional (over 550 species present, many in breeding plumage), and the parks are at their quietest. The migration herds are moving through the western and central Serengeti, spread out and difficult to track in the same concentrated way they are in January or July.

If you are primarily interested in photography, birding, or the sheer visual beauty of the Tanzanian bush at its most alive, April is extraordinary. If seeing the migration in its most dramatic, concentrated form is your goal, this is not your month.

May — The Long Dry Season Begins

May marks the beginning of the long dry season and the herds enter the western corridor of the Serengeti — a ribbon of woodland and grassland bordered by the Grumeti River to the south. This is when the migration becomes more predictable again after the dispersal of the green season. The animals are moving with purpose, heading north, and the density begins to rebuild.

May is one of the best-kept secrets in the Tanzania safari calendar. The landscapes are still green from the rains, the birding remains excellent, the parks are uncrowded, and the migration herds are moving in a visually dramatic way through the western corridor. Prices have not yet reached their peak-season levels. Our guides consistently rank May as one of their favourite months.

June — The Herds Reach the Grumeti

June is when the migration enters its most dramatic phase. The herds have pushed north through the western corridor and reach the Grumeti River — the first major water barrier of their northern journey. Grumeti River crossings begin, typically building through the month. While not as famous as the Mara River crossings, Grumeti crossings are still spectacular — crocodiles wait in the river, hippos bellow from their pools, and the wildebeest mass on the banks before committing to the crossing en masse.

June is also peak season for the Northern Circuit overall — dry weather has arrived, wildlife is easier to spot as vegetation thins, and the Serengeti's other wildlife (resident prides, leopards, cheetah) is still excellent. It is a two-for-one month: migration action plus optimal general wildlife viewing.

July — The Mara River Crossings Begin

July is the month that defines the migration in most people's imagination. The herds reach the Mara River — the northern boundary of the Serengeti and the most feared crossing point of the entire migration circuit. The Mara is deeper, faster, and more crocodile-infested than the Grumeti. The crossings here are larger and more dramatic.

The first crossings typically happen in early July and continue through September. Unlike the Grumeti crossings, the Mara River crossings are genuinely unpredictable in their timing — herds may mass at the banks for days before the right moment triggers them to pour across. Your guide's experience and real-time intelligence from other guides in the field becomes invaluable. A great guide can position you at the right crossing point at the right moment; a mediocre one will drive you to the wrong bend of the river.

This is peak season in every sense. July and August see the highest prices, the most vehicles in the park, and the most competitive booking environment. Premium camps in the northern Serengeti are typically fully booked 4-6 months in advance for July and August. If this is your target window, plan early.

August — The Peak of the Crossings

August is the apex of the migration safari calendar. The Mara River crossings are at their most frequent, the herds have spread north into the Masai Mara (Kenya) as well as the northern Serengeti, and the wildlife spectacle is as intense as it gets anywhere on earth. Lions are hunting the exhausted wildebeest as they emerge from the river. Crocodiles wait below. Hyena follow the crossing points.

August also means crowds. The northern Serengeti and Maasai Mara see their highest visitor numbers. A good operator will position you in less-visited areas of the northern Serengeti where the herds pass but the vehicles are fewer. The difference between a great August migration safari and a frustrating one is largely the operator's knowledge of where to go.

September — Last Crossings, Herds Turn South

September sees the final Mara River crossings as the herds begin their long journey back south. The timing varies by year — in some years, crossings continue through mid-September; in others, the last major crossings happen in early September. The herds then spend October moving back through the central Serengeti, heading toward the southeastern plains for the next calving season.

September offers a slightly less crowded experience than August while still delivering excellent crossing opportunities. The light is beautiful, the landscapes are drying to their golden best, and the wildlife on the return journey is excellent. It is an overlooked month — most people either book July/August or skip to November, leaving September underutilised.

October — The Return South

October finds the migration herds spread across the central and eastern Serengeti as they move south toward the short-grass plains. The wildlife density remains high, but the concentrated drama of the river crossings is over for another year. Predator activity on the plains remains excellent — the cheetah of the southeastern Serengeti are particularly visible in October as the open grasslands make hunting easier.

October also marks the beginning of the short rainy season, and the first green flush appears on the plains the herds will need for the upcoming calving season. The landscape begins to transform, and with it the photography. October light on the Serengeti plains is a particular favourite of our guides.

November — Shoulder Season Returns

November is shoulder season — the second rainy season arrives, the landscapes turn green again, and the migration herds are spread across the eastern and southeastern Serengeti preparing for the next calving cycle. This is the lowest-priced window of the migration season (excluding April-May) and one of the most rewarding for those who do not need the specific drama of river crossings.

The short rains typically make the landscapes extraordinarily beautiful. The birding is excellent. And the calving season that will begin in December is only weeks away — the herds are gathering in the right area, the anticipation is building in the ecosystem, and the predator activity is high as everything prepares for the next generation.

December — The Cycle Begins Again

December marks the return of the migration to the southeastern Serengeti plains and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area's Ndutu region. The first wildebeest calves of the new season appear. The landscapes that were golden and dry in October are green and lush. The contrast between the dry-season landscapes of September and the green-season transformation of December is one of the most dramatic seasonal changes in Africa.

December is peak season for family safari travellers due to school holidays — the parks are busier, prices are higher, and the calving season is just beginning. But the combination of newborn wildlife, green landscapes, and the Christmas/New Year holiday atmosphere makes it a magical time. Advance booking is essential.

Planning Your Migration Safari — Practical Notes

A few things that our guides wish every migration safari client understood before they booked:

• The migration is not a theme park show. There are no guarantees. Your guide cannot control where the herds are on any given day. What a great operator provides is the intelligence, flexibility, and field experience to position you as well as possible.
• River crossings require patience. You may wait hours at a crossing point for a crossing to happen. Then it is over in minutes. That is the nature of it.
• The Serengeti is vast. When the herds are spread across 14,750 km², you will not see them from every camp. Location matters enormously — your camp or lodge's position relative to current herd movements is a key planning decision.
• Fly-in safaris are worth considering for migration season. When the herds are in the far north of the Serengeti (July-September), a fly-in saves a full day of driving each way and lets you maximise your time in the right area.

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