The great migration: The Never-Ending Journey - Nature’s Greatest Loop
Every year, nearly two million wildebeest, accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, travel on a breathtaking, cyclical journey through the heart of East Africa. This epic event, known as the Great Migration, is one of the most awe-inspiring spectacles on the planet. It is not just a journey—it is a rhythm of life, death, and renewal, dictated by the rains and the endless search for fresh grazing.
While often imagined as a simple north-south movement, the Great Migration actually follows a clockwise loop between Tanzania and Kenya. The vast majority of this journey takes place in different regions of Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, with the herds venturing into Kenya's Masai Mara during the dry season.
Let’s follow the hoofbeats of the Great Migration:
January - March: Calving Season in the Southern Serengeti (Technically the Ndutu Area is part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area). At the start of the year, the migration gathers in one of its most iconic settings—the phosphorus-rich short grass plains of southern Serengeti and the Ndutu region. Beneath vast skies and across sweeping open plains, a remarkable event unfolds in February: the Wildebeest calving season.
Each February—often peaking mid-month—over 500,000 wildebeest calves are born within just a few intense weeks. This synchronized birthing is a survival strategy, overwhelming predators with sheer numbers and giving more calves a fighting chance to survive their first weeks of life.
This is a time of both tenderness and tension. New life teeters on spindly legs, taking its first steps under the watchful eyes of hungry predators. The landscape hums with activity—nurturing mothers, prowling lions, and opportunistic hyenas—all playing their part in nature’s eternal cycle.
April - May: On the Move to Central and Western Serengeti As the southern plains are grazed off, the herds begin their journey northwest toward the central Serengeti and the Western Corridor. The movement can be slower during this time due to muddy conditions, but it's a time of great abundance and the herds are not in a big hurry.
June - July: River Crossings Begin The migration reaches the Grumeti River, where the first of the dramatic river crossings occur. These crossings, though less famous than those of the Mara River, still offer plenty of thrills and drama as crocodiles lie in wait. By July, many of the herds continue northward toward the Mara River and the Kenyan border.
July - October: The Masai Mara & the Iconic Mara River Crossings This is peak migration season in Kenya's Masai Mara and the northern Serengeti. River crossings at the Mara River are the stuff of legends—chaotic, heart-pounding, and unforgettable. The herds face danger from the strong currents, steep banks, and massive crocodiles, yet the drive to reach fresh grazing lands propels them forward.
October - November: The Southward Journey Begins After several months in the north, the herds begin to make their way back south. Some groups cross the Mara River again, often under very different conditions than their initial crossing. This is a transitional period where the migration splinters and regroups, gradually pushing toward the eastern Serengeti.
December: Once again arriving in the Southern Plains By the end of the year, the herds return to the southern Serengeti, completing their massive loop. The short rains turn the plains green again, offering rich feeding grounds and setting the stage for the next calving season.
The Great Migration is more than just movement—it is an immersive experience in the raw power and delicate balance of nature. Whether you dream of watching newborn calves take their first steps, witnessing a river crossing with bated breath, or simply experiencing the rhythm of life across Africa's most iconic landscapes, this journey will stay with you forever.
Each time of year offers something unique. There is no "best" time, only different shades of wonder and different areas you will want to be in for optimum viewing opportunities.
In October of 2025, we’ll be on our own Great Migration safari, culminating in the northernmost part of Tanzania. We'll hope for a little bit of luck to witness some dramatic river crossings. This itinerary is always a challenge for me because I absolutely LOVE the Ndutu area. It’s SO hard for me to drive right past it without stopping! However, October isn’t the right time for that region. In the north, the migration will be nearing its peak, while Ndutu will be quieter, home to only the resident animals.
December of 2025, we’ll be back in Tanzania on another Great Migration safari—and this time, the vast herds will be in Ndutu, and so will we! Just as we won’t visit Ndutu in October, we won’t be heading to the northern Serengeti in December. Each season has its place, and that’s what makes it so special. I still have spaces available for our December safari (as of April 6, 2025), but they won’t last long. Reach out for all the details—we’d love to have you join us!
February is another phenomenal time for a Great Migration safari, especially in the Ndutu area. This is calving season—when the majority of wildebeest give birth—and the landscape comes alive with newborns and dramatic predator interactions. It’s a time of great vulnerability and beauty, and witnessing it firsthand is something you’ll never forget.
Kim and I have only managed to visit once in February, and it left a lasting impression. If your schedule allows for travel during this magical season, I’d be thrilled to help you design an unforgettable safari of your own. I’ll send you to all the places I would go myself, with our trusted guide team who know the terrain—and the wildlife—like old friends. You’ll be in the best hands, and while I may not be with you in person, I’ll be cheering you on and keeping watch like your safari guardian angel from afar.
