Serengeti Migration Safari Wildlife Sightings

2025-26 Serengeti & Mara Wildebeest Migration: Essentials

The Wildebeest Migration, often referred to as the "Great Migration," is one of the most extraordinary natural phenomena in the world. Every year, over two million wildebeests, accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, traverse the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem in a relentless pursuit of fresh grazing grounds. This cyclical journey, guided by the rhythm of the rains, creates awe-inspiring moments of survival, teamwork, and raw wilderness that are unmatched anywhere else on Earth.

Whether you’re captivated by the thunder of hooves during a river crossing, the playful antics of calves in the calving season, or the dramatic predator-prey interactions, the migration promises unforgettable safari experiences year-round.

Explore Your

Wildebeest Migration Safari

Our Serengeti Migration Safari for Beginners includes all you need to know to enjoy this natural wonder. We specialize in crafting bespoke migration experiences. Whether you prefer a luxury lodge overlooking a river crossing or a mobile tented camp that follows the herds, We ensure every detail is tailored to you. Join us for the 2025-26 Serengeti and Mara Migration Safari, where you'll witness the breathtaking spectacle of the wildebeest migration.

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3 Million

1.7 Million Wildebeest, 470,000 Gazelles and 250,000 Zebras.

250 000+ Dead

About 250,000+ of them including full grown die during the journey.

Active Predators

Bittersweet, The circle of life played out as a live action drama.

Hot air balloon

Although not cheap, a balloon safaris is worth the expense.

When is the Best Time to Go on a Migration Safari?

The migration route spans the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, following a circular path driven by rainfall and grazing needs. Beginning in the southern Serengeti during the calving season, the herds move northward through the central and western Serengeti, crossing the Grumeti and Mara Rivers before entering Kenya’s Maasai Mara. As the short rains arrive, they return south, completing the cycle. Each phase offers unique wildlife experiences, from predator hunts to dramatic river crossings. See below for some of our most popular packages, resorts and contact our safari specialists for specific advice and recommendations.

Key Events of the 2025-26 Serengeti and Mara Migration Safari
Event Approximate Time Place
Calving (Birthing) Season February to March
Southern Serengeti
February to March Southern Serengeti
Rutting (Breeding) Season April to May
Western & Central Serengeti
April to May Western & Central Serengeti
Grumeti River Crossings May to June
Central Serengeti
May to June Central Serengeti
Mara River Crossings July to August
Northern Serengeti & Masai Mara
July to August Northern Serengeti & Masai Mara
On the Move November to January
Masai Mara & Northern Serengeti to Southern Serengeti
November to January Masai Mara & Northern Serengeti to Southern Serengeti

Explore Our Popular

Migration Safari Packages

Each phase offers unique wildlife experiences, from predator hunts to dramatic river crossings.

Migration Calving Season From February to March

Migration Calving Season

7 Days/6 Night Mid-Range to Luxury Only
River Crossing Safari From May to August (Grumeti & Mara River)

River Crossing Safari

8 Days/7 Nights Mid-Range to Luxury Only
(Short) River Crossing Safari July to August (Fly-In/Fly-Out)

(Short) River Crossing Safari

4 Days/3 Nights Mid-Range to Luxury Only
Migration Western Corridor From April to May

Migration Western Corridor

6 Days/5 Night Mid-Range to Luxury Only
Masai Mara Safari From September to October (Kenya)

Masai Mara Safari

4 Days/3 Nights Budget to Luxury Only

Explore Our

Best Serengeti Migration Safari Camps

Listed below are our recommendations for nice places to stay in Kenya & Tanzania. Ask us for more details of what's where, and what's likely to suit you best!

LOCATION : Tanzania - Serengeti National Park

Alex Walker's Serian Serengeti Luxury

Alex Walker's Serian Serengeti

Serian Serengeti is a mobile tented operation run by Alex Walker which moves between two locations following the wildebeest migration.

Dunia Camp Luxury

Dunia Camp

Dunia Camp is well located for the migration from December to March, and has excellent game viewing for the rest of the year.

River Karibu Tented Camp Semi Luxury

River Karibu Tented Camp

Located only about 500 metres from the famous Mara River, set amidst acacia trees and the whispering grasslands of northern Serengeti. For guests who want to be away from the crowds but still experience resident wildlife and great cat activity.

Lodges In Tanzania Semi Luxury

Woolands Karibu Camp

Tucked within the slopes of Nabi Hills that links Lake Ndutu, Moru Kopjes and the hidden valley.During the calving season, this area is teaming with wildebeest as hundreds of thousands of pregnant females converge to give birth.

The Four Seasons Safari Lodge Deluxe

The Four Seasons

The Four Seasons Safari Lodge is the only hotel in the Serengeti offering international facilities such as a gym, spa and children’s club.

Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp Mid Range

Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp

A traditional mobile tented camp in central Serengeti.

Kubu Kubu Luxury

Kubu Kubu

Kubu Kubu is a contemporary, tented lodge, well located in the central Seronera area of the Serengeti National Park.

Lodges In Tanzania Deluxe

Kirurumu Serengeti Camp

7 tent luxury mobile camp providing excellent game viewing in 2 specially chosen locations in the Serengeti.

Lodges In Tanzania Deluxe

Kirurumu Serengeti North Camp

A small tented camp positioned for watching the annual wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River.

Lodges In Tanzania Deluxe

Kleins Camp

Enjoy panoramic views of the Serengeti plains from this small lodge which offers game drives by day and night and bush walks.

Lodges In Tanzania Deluxe

Kusini Camp

Sanctuary Kusini Camp is a permanent tented camp that blends into the delicate environment of the predator-rich plains of the Serengeti.

Grumeti River Camp Deluxe

Grumeti River Camp

Grumeti River Camp offers a laid-back atmosphere combined with top service, first-rate food, expert guiding and an excellent location.

Seronera Wildlife Lodge Mid Range

Seronera Wildlife Lodge

Seronera Wildlife Lodge is large hotel-style safari lodge in the heart of the Serengeti, offering good value and a great location.

Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge Mid Range

Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge is family-friendly, with good facilities, and its central location makes it an ideal base from which to explore the Serengeti at most times of the year.

Olduvai Camp Mid Range

Olduvai Camp

Olduvai Camp lies between Ngorongoro and the southern Serengeti plains. It's a good base for the southern plains during the rainy season.

Ndutu Safari Lodge Mid Range

Ndutu Safari Lodge

Large and economical, but not luxurious, Ndutu Safari Lodge is well located in the southern Serengeti, so book early to get space.

LOCATION : Kenya - Maasai Mara National Reserve

Angama Mara Mid Range

Angama Mara

Angama Mara is a top-end luxury tented camp on the Siria-Oloololo escarpment of the Maasai Mara ecoystem, just above the Mara Triangle sector of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Basecamp Maasai Mara Mid Range

Basecamp Maasai Mara

Basecamp Maasai Mara is a family-friendly, award-winning eco-camp on a U-bend on the north bank of the Talek River, on the boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Governors' Camp Luxury

Governors' Camp

Governors' Camp is a large tented camp on the Mara River and one of the oldest in the Mara region, dating from 1972. Although unfenced, and regularly visited by elephants, the whole compound is always busy with human activity.

Governors' Il Moran Deluxe

Governors' Il Moran

The smallest and most expensive of the three camps in the Governors’ group, Governors’ Il Moran Camp hugs a meander of the Mara River just 1km north of the main Governors’ Camp.

Tipilikwani Camp Mid Range

Tipilikwani Camp

Tipilikwani Mara Camp is a larger, mid-range tented camp offering good value from its base on the Talek River just outside the Mara National Reserve.

Sand River Camp Luxury

Sand River Camp

Luxury colonial-style tented camp on the banks of the Sand River close to the Tanzania border – a great spot to see the wildebeest migration.

Mara Serena Safari Lodge Mid Range

Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Mara Serena Safari Lodge is a large safari hotel with views of the Mara River, in the Mara Triangle sector of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Mara Expedition Camp Luxury

Mara Expedition Camp

Mara Expedition Camp is a small luxury camp located on the banks of the Ntiakitiak River inside the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Serengeti Migration Safari for Photographers

Capture the breathtaking beauty of the Great Wildebeest Migration on a safari designed specifically for photography enthusiasts. The Serengeti offers unparalleled opportunities to document wildlife in its raw, untamed form against a backdrop of iconic African landscapes.

Whether it’s the dramatic river crossings at Grumeti or Mara, the sprawling herds in the central Serengeti, or the tender moments of calving in Ndutu, each phase of the migration provides a unique canvas for your lens. Expert guides with a keen eye for photographic opportunities ensure you’re always in the right place at the right time, offering valuable insights to help you compose the perfect shot.

Custom Safari Vehicles

Vehicles equipped with open sides, pop-up roofs, and stabilizers to ensure clear, unobstructed shots.

Flexible Itineraries

Ample time at key migration hotspots to patiently capture dynamic wildlife behavior.

Golden Hour Focus

Early morning and late afternoon game drives to harness the best natural lighting conditions.

Small Group Size

Limit of 1-4 guests per vehicle for optimal space and angle access.

Serengeti Migration Safari FAQs

Planning your Serengeti Migration Safari? Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions to help you prepare for this unforgettable adventure:

The Great Migration is one of nature's most spectacular events, where over 1.5 million wildebeest, accompanied by zebras and gazelles, travel across the Serengeti and Maasai Mara ecosystems in search of fresh grazing land.
The migration is a year-round event, but highlights include:
  • Calving Season (January–March): Best in Ndutu and Southern Serengeti.
  • Grumeti River Crossing (May–June): Central and Western Serengeti.
  • Mara River Crossing (July–September): Northern Serengeti.
  • Short Rains Migration (October–December): Moving back to Southern Serengeti.
Costs vary based on the type of safari, duration, and season. Mid Range options start at $375 per person per day, while luxury experiences can exceed $1,500 per day.
Yes, especially for peak migration seasons (July–October) when accommodations and guides are in high demand. Booking 6–12 months ahead is recommended.
Essentials include lightweight clothing in neutral colors, a good camera, binoculars, sunscreen, a hat, and comfortable walking shoes. Don't forget warm layers for early morning and evening game drives.
Yes, but consider the age of your children. Many lodges and camps cater to families and offer activities for kids, but some activities may have age restrictions.
Absolutely! Many travelers pair their Serengeti safari with trips to Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Zanzibar, or even neighboring Kenya.
Yes! Many operators offer tailor-made packages to suit your preferences, including duration, accommodation style, and activities.
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