Follow nature's greatest show
Two million animals, moving on rainfall.
The migration is a continuous circuit through the Serengeti and Masai Mara, driven by grazing and rain. It has no timetable — which is exactly why where you stay matters more than when you book.
The circuit
A year in four movements.
These are typical windows, not guarantees. Herds arrive weeks early or late depending on rainfall hundreds of kilometres away. Any operator who promises you a crossing on a specific date is selling you something they cannot deliver.
What we do instead is position you within reach of several crossing points, with a guide who is talking to other guides every morning, so the day can change when the herds do.
- Dec – MarTanzania
Calving
Ndutu & southern Serengeti
Around half a million calves are born in a few short weeks on the short-grass plains. Predator activity is at its highest of the year, and the herds are concentrated rather than strung out.
- Apr – JunTanzania
The rut and the move north
Western corridor & Grumeti
The columns form and begin moving west and north. The Grumeti River crossings are smaller and less predictable than the Mara's, but far quieter — often a single camp watching.
- Jul – OctTanzania & Kenya
The river crossings
Mara River, northern Serengeti & Masai Mara
The season everyone pictures. Herds mass on the banks and cross where the pressure builds. Nothing about the timing is fixed — this is why we place you within reach of several crossing points rather than one.
- Nov – DecTanzania
The return south
Eastern & southern Serengeti
The short rains draw the herds back down. A quieter, greener, considerably less crowded time to travel, and the best value of the year.
An honest word
You may not see a crossing.
Herds gather at the bank for hours and then turn away. It happens constantly. Three days in the right area gives you a good chance; one day gives you a lottery ticket.
We would rather tell you that now than have you arrive expecting a documentary. The Serengeti in migration season is extraordinary whether or not the river obliges — and we build the itinerary so the trip does not rest on a single morning.
Migration questions
What people ask before they book.
When is the best time to see the Great Migration?
It depends on what you want to see. July to October is the window for the dramatic Mara River crossings in the Masai Mara and northern Serengeti. December to March is the calving season on the southern Serengeti plains — hundreds of thousands of births and intense predator action. The herds follow the rains, so exact timing shifts a few weeks each year.
Are the river crossings guaranteed?
No honest operator can guarantee a crossing — it is a wild event, and herds often gather at the bank for hours and then turn away. What we can do is place you in the right region for your dates, close to several crossing points, with enough nights (three or four, not one) to make a sighting highly likely and a guide who tracks the herds every morning.
How much does a Great Migration safari cost?
Our private, fully tailor-made journeys start from around ₹1.5 lakh per person, all-in except international flights. The final figure depends on the season, the camps you choose and how many nights you travel. We share an honest, everything-included quote before you commit.
Kenya or Tanzania for the migration?
Both — the herds move between the two across the year, so it is a question of timing, not rivalry. The Masai Mara (Kenya) is the classic July–October crossing stage; the Serengeti (Tanzania) holds the herds for far more of the year, including the calving season. We recommend the country that matches your travel dates.
Is a migration safari suitable for children and older travellers?
Yes. We design multi-generational trips with a private vehicle, elder-friendly pacing, shorter well-timed game drives, and vetted guides and medical-evacuation cover in place — so a nine-year-old and a seventy-nine-year-old can share the same drive comfortably.
The fire is lit
Ready to Begin Your African Adventure?
Speak with our safari experts and let us design a journey you will remember for a lifetime — the route, the camps, and an honest view of what the season will give you.
No obligation · Personal reply within 24 hours · Tailor-made for your family
Peak migration season (July–October) fills months in advance — the best camps go first. If you are thinking about next year, now is the time to talk.