The Great Migration

The cycle

There is no single 'migration month' — the herds move continuously. Predators trail the columns; river crossings are dramatic but never scheduled. Flexibility and local knowledge beat fixed predictions.

Southern Serengeti — January to March

Calving peaks on short-grass plains near Ndutu. Thousands of wildebeest births attract cheetah, lion, and hyena — intense predator action in a relatively compact area.

Central and western corridors — April to June

Columns push north and west as rains retreat. The Grumeti River in the western corridor can deliver crocodile crossings before herds continue toward the north.

Northern Serengeti — June to September

Mara River crossings between Tanzania and Kenya draw photographers worldwide. Crossings are unpredictable — some days many, some days none — but the northern woodlands hold excellent resident game regardless.