Great Migration Route 2026
1.5 million wildebeest. One circular route. Twelve months. Here is where to find them.
The Great Migration is not a single event — it is a continuous, year-long cycle. Approximately 1.5 million wildebeest, accompanied by 300,000 zebra and 150,000 gazelle, move in a roughly circular pattern across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, following the rains and the fresh grazing that follows.
This page is your month-by-month guide to the migration route in 2026. It tells you where the herds are, what they are doing, and why each phase of the cycle is worth seeing in its own right. The crossings get the headlines — but the calving season, in our view, is equally extraordinary.
The route below follows the classic pattern. Migration timing varies year to year based on rainfall patterns — if the short rains come early, the herds move earlier. Use this as your 2026 baseline, and talk to us for current conditions.
The migration route at a glance
The complete 2026 migration calendar
January
Southern Serengeti — Ndutu & the short-grass plains
Calving season. Approximately 8,000 calves born every day for 3 weeks. Predators follow the herds — exceptional lion, cheetah, and hyena sightings. Herds concentrated in a relatively small area.
February
Southern & Central Serengeti
Calving continues into early February. Herds begin slow movement north. Dense wildlife concentrations. Predator action remains intense as vulnerable newborns remain common.
March
Southern & Western Serengeti
Short rains typically end. Herds begin the northern movement. The landscape turns green. Zebra and wildebeest mix as they move. Quieter period between calving and the big northern movement.
April
Western Corridor & Central Serengeti
The great sweep north begins. Herds move through the western corridor — one of the least visited parts of the Serengeti. Grumeti River crossings begin. The landscape is gloriously green. Fewer visitors than peak season.
May
Western Corridor & Northern Serengeti
Peak green season. Herds moving north through the western corridor. The Grumeti and Mara Rivers begin to matter more. Exceptional birding with European migrants present. This is the best-value migration viewing window.
June
Northern Serengeti — Lamai Wedge
Herd concentrations build in the Lamai Wedge as they approach the Mara River. The first crossings may begin in late June. The landscape is still green. Long grass on the plains makes wildlife slightly harder to spot but photography is beautiful.
July
Northern Serengeti & Masai Mara
Crossing season begins. Wildebeest mass on the southern banks of the Mara River in the Lamai Wedge (Tanzania) and the Masai Mara (Kenya). Crossings happen daily, most often in early morning. The peak of crossing season.
August
Mara River — Northern Serengeti
Peak crossing month. Daily crossings. Crocodiles at their most active. Lions on the banks. The most dramatic wildlife event in Africa. Tanzania's Lamai Wedge and Kenya's Masai Mara both see the herds. Tanzania side is less crowded.
September
Mara River — Lamai Wedge & Mara Triangle
Crossings continue, typically tapering in late September as the herds begin their southward journey. Our personal favourite month — the crossing action remains excellent, but crowds are fewer than August and the landscape is starting to turn.
October
Northern Serengeti to Central Serengeti
The herds begin the southward migration. Crossing activity winds down in the north. Zebra and wildebeest mix as they move south through the central Serengeti. Shoulder season pricing returns. Excellent general game viewing throughout the park.
November
Central & Eastern Serengeti
Short rains return, greening the landscape. The herds move onto the short-grass plains of the central and eastern Serengeti. Spectacular photography conditions — green plains, dramatic skies, newborn zebra foals. Shoulder season pricing.
December
Southern & Central Serengeti
Herd concentrations build in the southern and central Serengeti as they move toward the short-grass plains. The cycle approaches completion as December ends. Festive season brings higher rates but extraordinary wildlife.
How the river crossings work
1. Massing
The wildebeest gather on the southern bank of the Mara River in their thousands. This can take hours — the herd mills, circles, and seemingly debates. Guides watch for the 'tipping point' — the moment when one animal decides to go and the rest follow.
2. The crossing
When it happens, it happens fast. A lead animal hits the water and suddenly the whole herd surges forward. Crocodiles are waiting. The water boils with thrashing bodies. The noise — hooves, water, grunts — is extraordinary.
3. The scramble up the far bank
Getting out of the river is often more dramatic than the crossing itself. Wildebeest scramble up steep muddy banks, sometimes slipping back into the water. Lions wait on the far bank. The survivors press on into the Mara Triangle (Kenya) or the Lamai Wedge (Tanzania).
4. The return
After grazing in the Mara Triangle, the herds typically cross back south in September–November. The southward crossing is usually less dramatic — the wildebeest are more familiar with the route and the predators have had their fill.
Tanzania or Kenya — where to watch the migration
Tanzania — the Lamai Wedge
- ✓Same crossings as Kenya — sometimes fewer vehicles
- ✓Tanzania park fees apply (different cost structure)
- ✓Lamai Serengeti and Grammie's conservancy offer exclusive access
- ✓Combined easily with Ngorongoro Crater and central Serengeti
- ✓Part of the classic northern circuit
Kenya — the Masai Mara
- •More established tourism infrastructure
- •Can be combined with Kenya's other safari areas
- •Kenyan park fees apply
- •Often more crowded at famous crossing points
- •Best combined with Tanzania for a two-country safari
Our recommendation: For first-time safari travellers, Tanzania offers the classic northern circuit experience — the migration, Ngorongoro Crater, and the Serengeti in one seamless trip. For travellers who have already done Tanzania and want to see the Mara from the Kenyan side, a two-country combination is extraordinary. Contact us to plan both.
Frequently asked questions — Great Migration 2026
What is the Great Migration route in 2026?
Where will the migration be in July 2026?
Can you see the migration from Tanzania or only Kenya?
What is the best time to see the migration river crossings?
What is calving season and is it worth seeing?
Can I see the migration on a budget?
Start Planning Your Great Migration Safari
Personal itinerary, zero obligation — just ask Kassim.