Great Migration Safari in Tanzania
The Tanzania migration, known as the Great Migration, is the largest movement of land animals on earth. More than 1.5 million wildebeest, accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, travel in a clockwise circle through the Serengeti and into Kenya's Maasai Mara every year, following the rains and the fresh grass. It never stops, and there is no single month that is best for everything: it depends what you want to see.
The Tanzania migration, known as the Great Migration, is the largest movement of land animals on earth. More than 1.5 million wildebeest, accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, travel in a clockwise circle through the Serengeti and into Kenya's Maasai Mara every year, following the rains and the fresh grass. It never stops, and there is no single month that is best for everything: it depends what you want to see.
Golden Memories Safaris plans migration safaris from Arusha, positioned each month where the herds are. Our packages start from USD 1,800 per person and include a private vehicle, a driver-guide who tracks the herds daily and camps chosen for the season.
Where is the Great Migration each month?
The animals follow a rough annual pattern. The timing shifts by a few weeks each year with the rains, so we track the herds with our guides and adjust your camps.
January to March: calving season in the south
The herds graze on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and Ndutu in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. In February around half a million calves are born over a few weeks, and predators such as lions, cheetahs and hyenas gather. It is a season of life and action, with excellent photography.
April to May: the herds head north
As the long rains arrive, the herds move through the central Serengeti and the western corridor. Lodges are quiet and cheap, the plains are green and wildlife is plentiful, but the herds are spread out and roads can be wet.
June and July: the Grumeti River and the western corridor
The herds reach the Grumeti River in the west, where crocodiles wait at the crossings. The main crossings are less reliable than in the north, but the western corridor is quiet and rewarding.
July to October: Mara River crossings in the north
From July the herds arrive in the northern Serengeti and mass at the Mara River. Thousands of animals cross the river in dramatic crossings, hunted by crocodiles and watched by lions. This is the most famous part of the migration, and the most popular, so book camps early.
November and December: back to the south
The short rains draw the herds south again through the eastern Serengeti and Loliondo. The plains turn green, the herds arrive on the southern plains by December and the cycle starts again.
Which is better: calving season or river crossings?
The river crossings are dramatic and are the classic image of the migration, but they are not guaranteed on any day. A herd may wait at the river for hours or days before crossing, and your guide needs patience and local knowledge. The calving season is more predictable and offers newborn animals and predator action across open plains, with less reliance on a single moment.
If you want the crossings, plan on three nights in the northern Serengeti between mid-July and mid-October. If you want calving, stay in Ndutu from late January to early March. If you can only choose one, consider the time of year you can travel and the style of trip: calving is greener and quieter, and the crossings are drier and busier.
How we plan a migration safari
We choose camps close to the herds for your dates, and we position you in a private vehicle for the best chance of a crossing. We include extra time in the right area, not extra driving, and we keep the plan flexible: if the herds move early, we adjust. Camps in the north and the south are small and fill up early, so contact us as soon as your dates are known.
Practical tips
These tips help you get more from a migration safari:
- Allow at least five days, and seven if you can, so you have time to find the herds
- Book camps six to nine months ahead for July to October and January to March
- Bring a long lens, a bean bag and spare memory cards
- Be patient at the river: crossings can start without warning and end in minutes
- Ask your guide about the vehicle position, and keep the engine off during a crossing
Why the herds migrate
The migration is driven by rainfall and grass. The short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti are rich in minerals that lactating wildebeest need, so the herds return there each year to calve. When the plains dry out in May, the animals follow the rains north and west toward the longer grass and the permanent water of the Mara River. By November, the short rains pull them back south again. There is no leader and no fixed route. The herds follow the weather, and the timing shifts a few weeks from one year to the next.
What else you will see
The migration is not only wildebeest. About 200,000 zebras travel with them, along with several hundred thousand gazelles, and they bring the predators. Lions, hyenas, cheetahs, leopards and crocodiles all feed on the herds, and vultures circle above. For many guests the surprise is how much happens beyond the river crossing: the sound of the herds at night, the long lines of animals on the plain and the births on the calving grounds.
Photography tips for the migration
A few simple habits improve your pictures a lot:
- Use a lens of 200 to 400 mm for the crossings, and a wide lens for the herds on the plain
- Shoot at sunrise and sunset, when the light is soft and the animals are active
- Set a fast shutter speed for the crossings, and keep your camera ready for a long wait
- Bring a bean bag for the vehicle window, and a second memory card
- Respect your guide’s positioning, and do not ask him to drive too close to the river
Ethical viewing of river crossings
Crowds of vehicles at a crossing can make the herds hesitate or turn back. We keep a respectful distance, never block the animals’ path and do not rush the herds. A good guide waits quietly and lets the animals decide. The best crossings are the ones where the vehicles are few and the animals are calm.
Great Migration safari packages
Choose the package by season: calving in January to March, the river crossings from July to October.
- 10 Day Great Wildebeest Migration, Cultural & Soda Lake Safari (10 Days / 9 Nights, from USD 3,750 per person) A private 10 day lodge safari: Lake Natron, Northern and Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Eyasi cultures and the Kilimanjaro foothills.
- 5 Day Luxury Wildebeest Migration Safari (Serengeti Focus) (5 Days / 4 Nights, from USD 4,500 per person) A 5 Day luxury migration safari from Kilimanjaro Airport: Tarangire, three Serengeti nights, and Ngorongoro Crater, USD 4,500 per person.
- 7 Day Luxury Big Five & Wildebeest Migration Safari (From Arusha) (7 Days / 6 Nights, from USD 5,900 per person) A 7 Day luxury safari from Arusha: Tarangire, three Serengeti nights, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara, USD 5,900 per person.
- 6 Day Luxury Great Migration River Crossing Safari (Northern Serengeti Focus) (6 Days / 5 Nights, from USD 4,800 per person) A 6 Day luxury Great Migration safari focused on Mara River crossings in Northern Serengeti, plus Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro, USD 4,800 per person.
- 5 Day Migration Safari (5 Days / 4 Nights, from USD 2,000 per person) A 5 Day midrange Great Migration safari: Tarangire, Central and Northern Serengeti river crossings, and Ngorongoro Crater, USD 2,000 per person.
- 5 Day Fly In Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Safari from Arusha (5 Days / 4 Nights, from USD 2,500 per person) Fly from Arusha straight into the heart of the Great Wildebeest Migration in Northern Serengeti to witness Mara River crossings without long hours on the road,
- 7 Day Mara River Crossing Safari, The Great Wildebeest Migration (7 Days / 6 Nights, from USD 3,300 per person) Experience the Great Migration in Tanzania on a thrilling 7 Day private safari through Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro with prime Mara River crossing viewin
- 8-Day Great Migration Calving Season Safari - Midrange (8 Days / 7 Nights, from USD 3,850 per person) An unforgettable 8-day Tanzania safari timed for the spectacular calving season in Ndutu and Southern Serengeti, with Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater — USD 3,85
- 4 Day Ndutu Calving Season Safari Great Migration & Ngorongoro Crater (4 Days / 3 Nights, from USD 1,800 per person) Experience the Serengeti calving season in Ndutu and Southern Serengeti combined with a game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater, USD 1,800 per person.
- 6 Day Tanzania Wildebeest Calving Safari, Ndutu, Serengeti & Ngorongoro (6 Days / 5 Nights, from USD 2,250 per person) A 6 Day private safari combining Tarangire elephants, two nights in the Ndutu calving grounds, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Eyasi Hadzabe cultural encounters, US
- 8 Day Lake Natron & Mara River Migration Crossing Safari (8 Days / 7 Nights, from USD 3,650 per person) An 8 Day expedition combining Lake Natron flamingos and waterfalls with Tarangire, Northern Serengeti Mara River crossings, Central Serengeti, and Ngorongoro, U
- 7 Day Ndutu Calving Season, Serengeti & Lake Eyasi Cultural Safari (7 Days / 6 Nights, from USD 3,480 per person) A 7 Day journey combining the Ndutu calving season and Central Serengeti with Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, and Hadzabe & Datoga cultural immersion at Lake Eyas
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see the Great Migration?
There is no single best month. July to October is best for the Mara River crossings in the north, and January to March is best for the calving season in the south.
Can I see the migration in Tanzania all year?
Yes. The herds are always somewhere in the Serengeti ecosystem. The area changes with the season, and your camp should be near the herds.
How many wildebeest are there?
The population is usually estimated at about 1.5 million wildebeest, along with several hundred thousand zebras and gazelles.
Is the migration better in Kenya or Tanzania?
The herds spend most of the year in Tanzania and cross to Kenya's Maasai Mara from about July to October. The Serengeti is bigger and less crowded, and it is the only place to see the calving season.
How far ahead should I book?
Six to nine months for July to October, and at least six months for January to March.
Is the migration guaranteed?
The herds are always somewhere in the Serengeti ecosystem, but a river crossing on a given day is never guaranteed. We improve the chances with local knowledge and by staying several nights in the right area.
Is the calving season good for children?
Yes. It is warm, green and full of young animals, and the game drives are not too long. Predator kills are part of nature, and we prepare children before the trip.