The Survival Calendar: A Month-by-Month Guide to African Great Migration Tours

Every year, nearly two million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles move across the Serengeti and Masai Mara in one of the most extraordinary wildlife events on Earth. This continuous cycle of movement, driven entirely by the search for fresh grass and water, has no fixed start or end point. It runs all year long, shifting direction with the seasons and the rains. For travellers planning african great migration tours, understanding this seasonal rhythm is the single most important factor in choosing when to go and what to expect when you arrive.

This month-by-month survival calendar gives you a clear picture of where the herds are, what dramatic events take place, and which months offer the most rewarding experience on the ground.

January and February: Calving Season on the Southern Serengeti

The new year opens with one of the most tender and thrilling chapters of the migration story. In January and February, the vast herds settle across the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti in Tanzania, particularly around the Ndutu region. This is calving season, and the sheer scale of new life appearing on the plains is breathtaking.

During these two months, approximately 500,000 calves are born, with each wildebeest calf able to stand and run within minutes of birth. This remarkable survival instinct is put to the test immediately, as predators including lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs gather in enormous numbers to take advantage of the abundance. The predator-prey drama that unfolds during calving season is raw, intense, and unlike anything you will witness at any other time of year.

The southern Serengeti in January and February offers excellent game viewing conditions. The grass is short, visibility is wide, and the concentration of animals in a relatively compact area makes sightings frequent and close. For wildlife photographers and nature enthusiasts, this period ranks among the very best times to visit.

March and April: The Herds Begin to Move North

As the short rains arrive in March and April, the southern plains begin to dry out and the herds start their long northward journey. The wildebeest move in long, winding columns through the central Serengeti, passing through areas like the Seronera Valley where resident wildlife populations are already strong.

These months are considered the green season, and while the landscape is lush and visually stunning, the longer grass can make individual animal sightings slightly more challenging. However, the advantage of travelling during this period is significant. Fewer tourists visit during March and April, which means you enjoy a quieter, more intimate safari experience. Accommodation rates are generally lower, and you often find yourself watching wildlife without the presence of dozens of other vehicles around you.

The migration columns during these months are constantly on the move, and tracking their progress through the central corridor makes for a genuinely adventurous safari.

May and June: The Western Corridor and the Grumeti River

By May, the herds push further north and west into the Western Corridor of the Serengeti. This region leads them toward the Grumeti River, where one of the lesser-known but equally dramatic crossing events takes place. The Grumeti River is home to enormous Nile crocodiles, and as the wildebeest approach the riverbanks, tension builds rapidly.

The Grumeti crossings do not attract the same level of attention as the Mara River crossings further north, but they are no less spectacular. The crocodiles in the Grumeti are among the largest in Africa, and the confrontations between predator and prey at the water’s edge are both terrifying and mesmerising.

June marks the beginning of the dry season across the Serengeti ecosystem, and conditions for game viewing improve considerably. The grass begins to thin out, animals congregate around water sources, and the skies clear to deliver the golden light that makes East African safari photography so iconic.

July and August: The Famous Mara River Crossings

July and August represent the peak of african great migration tours season. By this time, the massive herds have completed their journey through the Serengeti and are massing on the southern banks of the Mara River, which marks the border between Tanzania and Kenya’s Masai Mara. What happens next is the most photographed and most talked-about wildlife spectacle on the planet.

The wildebeest crossings of the Mara River are unpredictable, chaotic, and absolutely extraordinary. The animals gather in their thousands at the riverbank, hesitating for hours before the collective instinct drives them forward into the fast-flowing, crocodile-filled water. Some crossings involve tens of thousands of animals surging across in a matter of minutes. Others are smaller and more tentative. No two crossings are ever the same.

Crocodiles launch from the water with explosive speed, lions wait on the far bank, and the noise, dust, and movement create a sensory experience that stays with you for the rest of your life. This is the moment that defines african great migration tours for most travellers, and July and August give you the highest probability of witnessing it firsthand.

The Masai Mara in Kenya is the place to be during these months. Luxury tented camps position themselves strategically near the main crossing points, and experienced guides monitor herd movements daily to ensure you are in the right place at the right time.

September and October: The Mara Continues to Deliver

The crossings do not stop when August ends. September and October keep the drama alive as the herds continue to move back and forth across the Mara River in both directions. The wildebeest graze across the Masai Mara’s open plains, taking advantage of the long rains that have refreshed the Kenyan grasslands.

These two months are excellent for african great migration tours because the peak tourist crowds of July and August begin to thin out slightly, yet the wildlife action remains intense. You still have strong chances of witnessing river crossings, and the broader game viewing in the Masai Mara during this period is outstanding. Big cat sightings are frequent, elephant herds are active, and the overall biodiversity of the ecosystem is on full display.

October also marks the beginning of the short rains in some years, which can bring afternoon showers but rarely disrupts a full day of game driving in any significant way.

November: The Herds Turn South Again

November signals a major shift in the migration’s direction. As the short rains arrive across the Serengeti ecosystem, the wildebeest begin their long journey back southward through the Serengeti. The herds spread out across the northern and central Serengeti during November, moving steadily toward the southern plains where the cycle will begin again.

November is a transitional month that offers a different kind of safari experience. The landscape transforms from the dry golden tones of the peak season into fresh, vibrant green. Migratory birds arrive in large numbers, adding a rich dimension to any wildlife experience. The rains bring new life to the ecosystem and create a completely different atmosphere compared to the dry months.

For travellers who appreciate a quieter, more contemplative safari experience with fewer vehicles on the road and more competitive accommodation pricing, November is an underrated and rewarding time to visit.

December: Return to the South and the Promise of New Life

December brings the herds back to the southern Serengeti, completing one full revolution of their annual cycle. The short grass plains of Ndutu and the surrounding areas begin to fill once again with wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles as the rains refresh the landscape and tender new grass shoots draw the animals back to where they started.

By late December, the pregnant wildebeest are approaching the final weeks of their gestation period, and the calving season that defines January and February is just around the corner. The sense of anticipation in the ecosystem is palpable. Predators begin to gather, the herds are dense and restless, and the great cycle is about to begin once more.

December also coincides with the holiday travel season, which means some camps and lodges book up quickly. Booking well in advance is essential if you plan to experience the migration during this festive period.

Choosing the Right Time for Your African Great Migration Tour

Every month of the year offers something genuinely remarkable on african great migration tours. The key is to align your travel dates with your personal priorities. If witnessing a river crossing is your primary goal, plan your trip for July through October and base yourself in the Masai Mara. If you want to experience the raw energy of calving season and witness predator action at its most intense, January and February in the southern Serengeti are unbeatable. If you prefer a quieter experience with lower costs and fewer tourists, the green season months of March, April, and November offer exceptional value.

No matter when you choose to visit, working with an experienced safari operator who specialises in african great migration tours ensures that you position yourself correctly within the ecosystem and maximise every single day in the field. The migration waits for no one, but with the right planning and the right guide, it will reward you with memories that last a lifetime.

Final Thoughts

The African Great Migration is not a single event. It is a living, breathing, year-round journey that changes character with every passing month. This survival calendar gives you the knowledge to plan your trip with confidence, choose the right destination, and arrive at the right time to witness the chapter of the migration that speaks most powerfully to you. Book early, plan carefully, and prepare yourself for one of the most humbling and awe-inspiring experiences that the natural world has to offer.