Great Migration guide
The Great Migration, month by month
Find your moment: newborn calves on the southern plains, or a patient morning beside the Mara River.
Your safari, by season
A year of extraordinary moments.
Find the one that speaks to you.
Fresh southern grass, newborn calves, northern rivers. The migration follows rain and grazing—not a fixed timetable.
January · Tanzania
Start with wide-open plains
If your idea of a safari is a horizon filled with wildebeest, start in the south. When the short rains have brought fresh grass, the herds gather around Ndutu and the southern plains. You may see the first newborn calves, but the main calving pulse usually comes later.
Southern Serengeti & Ndutu
Choose a camp's southern seasonal location, not simply a Serengeti address. A northern camp can leave you a very long way from the action.
Dennis Njoroge · CEO, Perch Africa Safaris
Last updated 7 October 2026
Your best migration safari starts with a simple question: would you rather watch a newborn calf take its first steps, or wait beside a river as the herds gather? Those are different journeys, in different parts of East Africa. The camp that makes February special may be entirely wrong for August.
The herds follow rain and grazing, not our calendar. Use these months as a starting point, then check recent herd reports and your camp's exact seasonal location before committing. No month, camp or guide can guarantee a crossing.
| Your priority | Usual window & region | What to weigh up |
|---|---|---|
| Calves & predator encounters | January–March · Ndutu & southern plains | Stay in the southern seasonal site; births and sightings vary. |
| The western journey | May–June · central to western Serengeti | Choose your base using herd reports; Grumeti is not the Mara River. |
| Mara River possibilities | July–October · north Serengeti & Maasai Mara | Allow patient days; compare country, access and extra park charges. |
01January
GoodSouthern Serengeti & Ndutu · Tanzania
Start with wide-open plains
If your idea of a safari is a horizon filled with wildebeest, start in the south. When the short rains have brought fresh grass, the herds gather around Ndutu and the southern plains. You may see the first newborn calves, but the main calving pulse usually comes later.
Choose a camp's southern seasonal location, not simply a Serengeti address. A northern camp can leave you a very long way from the action.
Camps worth comparing
- Lemala Ndutu Tented Camp
Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
A southern seasonal camp for the calving plains. Confirm its opening dates and conservation-area charges, especially at the edges of the season.
- Olakira Migration Camp
Ndutu in the southern season; northern Serengeti in the crossing season
A seasonal mobile camp for staying near the migration. Open December–March and June–October; confirm the site for your dates.
- Ubuntu Migration Camp
Kusini, southern Serengeti; Lamai Wedge in the northern season
A small mobile camp with a southern season from mid-December to mid-March and a northern season from June to mid-November. Confirm opening dates before booking.
Published camp price reference
Lemala Ndutu Tented Camp · US$825
20 December 2026–31 March 2027
US dollars, per person sharing per day, standard room, full board. Not a complete safari price.
Includes: Accommodation, meals, house drinks, Wi-Fi and laundry.
Extra: Government levies, airstrip transfers, professional safari guide and vehicle. Flights are not included in this camp-only reference.
Lemala's published rates (schedule valid to 31 May 2027)- Lemala Ndutu Tented Camp
02February
PeakNdutu & southern plains · Tanzania
Meet the migration's newest arrivals
You don't need a river crossing for a remarkable migration safari. February is usually the heart of calving season: watch a calf find its feet, then look towards the grass where a cheetah might be waiting. Staying close to the short-grass plains gives you more time with these quieter, extraordinary moments.
Give yourself several mornings in Ndutu rather than racing between parks. Births and predator sightings remain wildlife encounters, never appointments.
Camps worth comparing
- Lemala Ndutu Tented Camp
Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
A southern seasonal camp for the calving plains. Confirm its opening dates and conservation-area charges, especially at the edges of the season.
- Olakira Migration Camp
Ndutu in the southern season; northern Serengeti in the crossing season
A seasonal mobile camp for staying near the migration. Open December–March and June–October; confirm the site for your dates.
- Ubuntu Migration Camp
Kusini, southern Serengeti; Lamai Wedge in the northern season
A small mobile camp with a southern season from mid-December to mid-March and a northern season from June to mid-November. Confirm opening dates before booking.
Published camp price reference
Lemala Ndutu Tented Camp · US$825
20 December 2026–31 March 2027
US dollars, per person sharing per day, standard room, full board. Not a complete safari price.
Includes: Accommodation, meals, house drinks, Wi-Fi and laundry.
Extra: Government levies, airstrip transfers, professional safari guide and vehicle. Flights are not included in this camp-only reference.
Lemala's published rates (schedule valid to 31 May 2027)- Lemala Ndutu Tented Camp
03March
GoodSouthern & central Serengeti · Tanzania
Follow the calves, not a fixed timetable
The young calves are growing stronger, and your drives may still find large herds in the south. As grazing and rain change, some groups begin spreading towards the central Serengeti. This is a lovely month to combine the migration with the eastern plains' resident big cats.
Olakira's southern season suits a Ndutu-focused stay; Namiri Plains is an eastern Serengeti base, not a substitute for sleeping beside the calving grounds. Choose after checking recent herd positions.
Camps worth comparing
- Lemala Ndutu Tented Camp
Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
A southern seasonal camp for the calving plains. Confirm its opening dates and conservation-area charges, especially at the edges of the season.
- Olakira Migration Camp
Ndutu in the southern season; northern Serengeti in the crossing season
A seasonal mobile camp for staying near the migration. Open December–March and June–October; confirm the site for your dates.
- Namiri Plains
Eastern Serengeti
A permanent eastern-plains base for resident big cats, with migration viewing when herds reach the area. Not a Ndutu or river-crossing camp.
Published camp price reference
Lemala Ndutu Tented Camp · US$825
20 December 2026–31 March 2027
US dollars, per person sharing per day, standard room, full board. Not a complete safari price.
Includes: Accommodation, meals, house drinks, Wi-Fi and laundry.
Extra: Government levies, airstrip transfers, professional safari guide and vehicle. Flights are not included in this camp-only reference.
Lemala's published rates (schedule valid to 31 May 2027)- Lemala Ndutu Tented Camp
04April
VariableCentral & eastern Serengeti · Tanzania
Enjoy the green season on its own terms
If you love green landscapes and don't mind changing your plans around a shower, April can be rewarding. The long rains make the herds less predictable, while resident lions and other wildlife remain part of the story. Come for the whole Serengeti experience rather than a promised migration spectacle.
Ask about camp opening dates, road access and the exact rainy-season rate. A cheaper room is only good value if the journey and game drives still work for you.
Camps worth comparing
- Lemala Ewanjan Tented Camp
Central Serengeti, Seronera region
A central base for resident wildlife and passing herds. Choose it for central game drives, not a daily commute to the far north.
- Namiri Plains
Eastern Serengeti
A permanent eastern-plains base for resident big cats, with migration viewing when herds reach the area. Not a Ndutu or river-crossing camp.
Published camp price reference
Lemala Ewanjan Tented Camp · US$305
1 March–31 May 2027
US dollars, per person sharing per day, standard room, full board. Not a complete safari price.
Includes: Accommodation, meals, house drinks, Wi-Fi and laundry.
Extra: Government levies, airstrip transfers, professional safari guide and vehicle. Flights are not included in this camp-only reference.
Lemala's published rates (schedule valid to 31 May 2027)- Lemala Ewanjan Tented Camp
05May
GoodCentral Serengeti to Western Corridor · Tanzania
Watch the journey gather momentum
You may find long lines of wildebeest moving west as the rut approaches. May rewards a little flexibility: the herds can be spread between central grazing areas and the Western Corridor, and rain can still shape your days. Pick your base for where the animals are, not where a calendar says they ought to be.
Lemala Ewanjan covers the central Serengeti; Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge is a western base. These are alternatives for different herd positions, not neighbouring camps.
Camps worth comparing
- Lemala Ewanjan Tented Camp
Central Serengeti, Seronera region
A central base for resident wildlife and passing herds. Choose it for central game drives, not a daily commute to the far north.
- &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge
Western Corridor, Serengeti
A western river lodge for exploring the Grumeti region when the herds pass through. Its rivers are not the Mara River.
Published camp price reference
Lemala Ewanjan Tented Camp · US$305
1 March–31 May 2027
US dollars, per person sharing per day, standard room, full board. Not a complete safari price.
Includes: Accommodation, meals, house drinks, Wi-Fi and laundry.
Extra: Government levies, airstrip transfers, professional safari guide and vehicle. Flights are not included in this camp-only reference.
Lemala's published rates (schedule valid to 31 May 2027)- Lemala Ewanjan Tented Camp
06June
GoodWestern Corridor & Grumeti · Tanzania
Give the western rivers your time
The Western Corridor is the place to consider when the herds reach the Grumeti area. You might see animals bunching along a riverbank, crocodiles in the water or columns moving towards the north. Grumeti crossings aren't the same event as the famous Mara River crossings, and neither happens on demand.
Stay in the Western Corridor rather than commuting from a northern camp. Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge and Mbalageti put your overnight base in the right region.
Camps worth comparing
- &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge
Western Corridor, Serengeti
A western river lodge for exploring the Grumeti region when the herds pass through. Its rivers are not the Mara River.
- Mbalageti Serengeti
Western Corridor, Serengeti
A western Serengeti base with lodge and tented accommodation. Ask for the exact room category and game-drive arrangements in your quote.
Published camp price reference
A dated quote is required for these western camps. We have not verified a public June tariff for them, so we won't substitute the price of a camp in the wrong region.
- &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge
07July
PeakNorthern Serengeti; Maasai Mara as herds arrive · Tanzania & Kenya
Let the herds set your crossing dates
If a Mara River crossing is your dream, July opens the window rather than guaranteeing the show. Herds move into the northern Serengeti, with arrival in Kenya varying from year to year. A few patient days near the river give you more opportunities than a rushed overnight stop.
Sayari and Lamai Serengeti are northern Tanzania bases. Don't assume Kenya already holds the main herds at the beginning of July; check before choosing your country.
Camps worth comparing
- Governors’ Camp
Musiara sector, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
A reserve camp on the Mara River for Kenya's migration season. Reserve game drives are included in its published FB+ rate; park and community fees are additional.
- Sayari Camp
Northern Serengeti, near the Mara River
A northern base for river-country game drives during the crossing window. Proximity improves your opportunities; it cannot promise a crossing.
- Lamai Serengeti
Kogakuria Kopje, northern Serengeti
A permanent northern camp for the river region and surrounding plains. Keep several days free for wildlife rather than one fixed crossing excursion.
Published camp price reference
Governors’ Camp · US$1,048
1 July–31 October 2027
Per person sharing, per night, Luxury or Justus Tent, Full Board Plus (FB+). Not a complete safari price.
Includes: Accommodation, meals, listed house drinks, laundry, Musiara airstrip transfers and shared game drives under the operator's FB+ terms.
Extra: Maasai Mara park fees and the operator's separately listed US$50 per-person-per-night community fee; flights and extras need separate pricing. Reconfirm government fees for your dates.
Governors' Camp Collection · official 2027 selling-rate PDF- Governors’ Camp
08August
PeakMaasai Mara & northern Serengeti · Tanzania & Kenya
Choose your side of the river
August is a popular choice for a reason: herds may be moving between the northern Serengeti and the Maasai Mara, with crossings possible in either direction. You can spend hours waiting and still see nothing cross. The plains, predators and anticipation are part of your safari too.
Choose Sayari for the Tanzanian side or Angama Mara for access to Kenya's Mara Triangle. A two-country trip needs separately priced flights, border arrangements and park entry.
Camps worth comparing
- Governors’ Camp
Musiara sector, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
A reserve camp on the Mara River for Kenya's migration season. Reserve game drives are included in its published FB+ rate; park and community fees are additional.
- Sayari Camp
Northern Serengeti, near the Mara River
A northern base for river-country game drives during the crossing window. Proximity improves your opportunities; it cannot promise a crossing.
- Angama Mara
Oloololo Escarpment, above the Mara Triangle, Kenya
An escarpment lodge with access into the Mara Triangle. It is a Kenya choice, not a base for drives in Tanzania; park charges are separate.
Published camp price reference
Governors’ Camp · US$1,048
1 July–31 October 2027
Per person sharing, per night, Luxury or Justus Tent, Full Board Plus (FB+). Not a complete safari price.
Includes: Accommodation, meals, listed house drinks, laundry, Musiara airstrip transfers and shared game drives under the operator's FB+ terms.
Extra: Maasai Mara park fees and the operator's separately listed US$50 per-person-per-night community fee; flights and extras need separate pricing. Reconfirm government fees for your dates.
Governors' Camp Collection · official 2027 selling-rate PDF- Governors’ Camp
09September
PeakMaasai Mara & northern Serengeti · Tanzania & Kenya
Stay patient, and look beyond the crossing
You still have a strong seasonal reason to choose the north in September. Herds may cross back and forth, and the surrounding plains can be just as absorbing as the riverbanks. Build in time for a lion encounter or a slow morning with grazing wildebeest instead of making every drive a crossing chase.
Angama Mara is a Mara Triangle choice; Lamai Serengeti keeps you in northern Tanzania. Compare the full stay cost, including the different countries' park charges, rather than room rates alone.
Camps worth comparing
- Governors’ Camp
Musiara sector, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
A reserve camp on the Mara River for Kenya's migration season. Reserve game drives are included in its published FB+ rate; park and community fees are additional.
- Angama Mara
Oloololo Escarpment, above the Mara Triangle, Kenya
An escarpment lodge with access into the Mara Triangle. It is a Kenya choice, not a base for drives in Tanzania; park charges are separate.
- Lamai Serengeti
Kogakuria Kopje, northern Serengeti
A permanent northern camp for the river region and surrounding plains. Keep several days free for wildlife rather than one fixed crossing excursion.
Published camp price reference
Governors’ Camp · US$1,048
1 July–31 October 2027
Per person sharing, per night, Luxury or Justus Tent, Full Board Plus (FB+). Not a complete safari price.
Includes: Accommodation, meals, listed house drinks, laundry, Musiara airstrip transfers and shared game drives under the operator's FB+ terms.
Extra: Maasai Mara park fees and the operator's separately listed US$50 per-person-per-night community fee; flights and extras need separate pricing. Reconfirm government fees for your dates.
Governors' Camp Collection · official 2027 selling-rate PDF- Governors’ Camp
10October
GoodMaasai Mara & northern Serengeti · Tanzania & Kenya
Catch the last northern chapter
If the rains and grazing hold the herds in the north, October can still offer wonderful migration viewing. As conditions change, groups begin the journey south. Your best choice depends on the year: don't book a late-month northern stay on the assumption that August's pattern will last.
Sayari and Angama Mara work while herds remain in their respective northern regions. Check fresh reports, and make room in your expectations for resident wildlife if the main herds have moved.
Camps worth comparing
- Governors’ Camp
Musiara sector, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
A reserve camp on the Mara River for Kenya's migration season. Reserve game drives are included in its published FB+ rate; park and community fees are additional.
- Sayari Camp
Northern Serengeti, near the Mara River
A northern base for river-country game drives during the crossing window. Proximity improves your opportunities; it cannot promise a crossing.
- Angama Mara
Oloololo Escarpment, above the Mara Triangle, Kenya
An escarpment lodge with access into the Mara Triangle. It is a Kenya choice, not a base for drives in Tanzania; park charges are separate.
Published camp price reference
Governors’ Camp · US$1,048
1 July–31 October 2027
Per person sharing, per night, Luxury or Justus Tent, Full Board Plus (FB+). Not a complete safari price.
Includes: Accommodation, meals, listed house drinks, laundry, Musiara airstrip transfers and shared game drives under the operator's FB+ terms.
Extra: Maasai Mara park fees and the operator's separately listed US$50 per-person-per-night community fee; flights and extras need separate pricing. Reconfirm government fees for your dates.
Governors' Camp Collection · official 2027 selling-rate PDF- Governors’ Camp
11November
VariableEastern & central Serengeti; southbound herds · Tanzania
Trade certainty for fresh green landscapes
The short rains can draw the herds south through the Serengeti, but their pace and route vary. If you're comfortable with that uncertainty, you can enjoy a softer, greener safari with resident wildlife alongside any migrating groups you find. This isn't the month to buy a guaranteed crossing itinerary.
Namiri Plains and Lemala Ewanjan are eastern and central bases, respectively, not camps in Lobo. Use current reports to decide whether either is well placed for the moving herds.
Camps worth comparing
- Lemala Ewanjan Tented Camp
Central Serengeti, Seronera region
A central base for resident wildlife and passing herds. Choose it for central game drives, not a daily commute to the far north.
- Namiri Plains
Eastern Serengeti
A permanent eastern-plains base for resident big cats, with migration viewing when herds reach the area. Not a Ndutu or river-crossing camp.
Published camp price reference
Lemala Ewanjan Tented Camp · US$305
1 November–19 December 2026
US dollars, per person sharing per day, standard room, full board. Not a complete safari price.
Includes: Accommodation, meals, house drinks, Wi-Fi and laundry.
Extra: Government levies, airstrip transfers, professional safari guide and vehicle. Flights are not included in this camp-only reference.
Lemala's published rates (schedule valid to 31 May 2027)- Lemala Ewanjan Tented Camp
12December
GoodNdutu & southern Serengeti · Tanzania
Welcome the herds back to the south
As fresh grass returns, the herds often spread onto the southern plains again. You get the sense of the migration coming full circle, with calving season still ahead. Early and late December can feel quite different, so your exact dates matter more than the month printed on your ticket.
Olakira and Ubuntu are seasonal mobile camps: confirm their southern site and opening dates for your stay. Festive supplements and availability also need a dated quote.
Camps worth comparing
- Lemala Ndutu Tented Camp
Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
A southern seasonal camp for the calving plains. Confirm its opening dates and conservation-area charges, especially at the edges of the season.
- Olakira Migration Camp
Ndutu in the southern season; northern Serengeti in the crossing season
A seasonal mobile camp for staying near the migration. Open December–March and June–October; confirm the site for your dates.
- Ubuntu Migration Camp
Kusini, southern Serengeti; Lamai Wedge in the northern season
A small mobile camp with a southern season from mid-December to mid-March and a northern season from June to mid-November. Confirm opening dates before booking.
Published camp price reference
Lemala Ndutu Tented Camp · US$330 / US$825
US$330: 1–19 December 2026; US$825: 20 December 2026–31 March 2027
US dollars, per person sharing per day, standard room, full board. Not a complete safari price.
Includes: Accommodation, meals, house drinks, Wi-Fi and laundry.
Extra: Government levies, airstrip transfers, professional safari guide and vehicle. Flights are not included in this camp-only reference.
Lemala's published rates (schedule valid to 31 May 2027)- Lemala Ndutu Tented Camp
A real camp rate isn't your whole safari bill
These are public operator references checked on 7 October 2026, not Perch Africa package offers or live availability. January–May examples use published 2027 dates; November–December examples use 2026 dates; Kenya's crossing examples use 2027. Other years and every camp without a listed tariff require a dated quote. Single rooms, children, flights, park charges and your guide can change the total substantially.
Tell us your dates and the moment you hope to see. Your final itinerary and matching proforma will show the actual journey and total before payment, with a clear distinction between included services and optional extras.