Serengeti Migration Area Travel Guide

The Greater Serengeti Migration Area spans two countries and refers to the area through which millions of wildebeest, zebra, antelope and their predators migrate each year. It includes over 30,000 km² of land through numerous game parks including the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti, Maswa, Loliondo, Seronera, Grumeti Reserve, Ikorongo and Kenya's Masai Mara.

The Great Migration

Often referred to as The Greatest Show on Earth, the movement of almost two million wildebeest, 500,000 zebra, hundreds of thousands of antelope, followed closely by the apex predators that hunt them, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The annual migration actually happens all year, as the animals move in a circular route through the area in search of better grazing and water.

In the wet season from November to March, the herds are mainly on the southern plains – northern Ngorongoro Conservation Area and around Ndutu – with all their newborn calves. The predators feast during this period. When the rains stop in March, the herds start moving through the central area to the western corridor (Grumeti River area). Around May, they move north to the northern area and Mara River, the border between Tanzania and Kenya.

The famous Great Migration crossings take place at the Grumeti River in the western corridor around June and July, and at the Mara River in August and September going up into Kenya's Masai Mara, and around October coming down. In November, the herds move south again, arriving back on the southern plains in November and December.

Game in the Greater Serengeti Migration Area

There are many places in the area that have resident game that don't participate in the migration, making them a wonderful safari option. The Big Five live here, as do large numbers of antelope, giraffe, zebra, monkey and all the wild cats.

While some areas may be quiet animal-wise when the migration has headed off, there are pockets that offer spectacular game viewing opportunities. Speak to one of our consultants to guide you to the best places.

Things to see and do in the Greater Serengeti Migration Area

• Game drives – both day and night
• Witness the Great Migration
• Hot air ballooning at dawn over Serengeti

• Meet local tribes and learn about their customs and traditions
• Walking safaris to get a closer look at the micro-systems of the African bush
• Mobile tented camping – move around in order to get the best game sightings
• Be enchanted by all the baby wildebeest during calving season around Lake Ndutu in February
• Horseback riding safaris

Best time to visit

There is no bad time to visit the Greater Serengeti Migration Area, as many areas have resident game that don't follow the migration route.

The short rains usually fall around November and December, and the long rains around March to May. The dry season is between June and October. Some camps close during the wet season.

If seeing the Great Migration is top of your bucket list, please remember that nature works to its own schedule and the movement of the animals is unpredictable and highly dependent on the rains and weather. Safari tour patterns are based on historical experience and our experts can only provide an educated estimate of where the game will be at any given time. Speak to our consultants about the best time to go, and where to go, in order to improve your chances of witnessing this incredible natural phenomenon.

Do remember though, that this area is one of the world's best game viewing parks and even if you miss the Great Migration, the safari experience is second to none!