Tanzania Safari Migration Season in Serengeti National Park: Most first-time travelers think that the great wildebeest migration only happens once a year, but the migration is in fact an all-year-round event, with each time of year offering a unique migration experience.
Below is a month-by-month Serengeti migration guide on what to expect each month in terms of weather, wildlife, migratory movements, predator interactions, and river crossings to ensure you get the most out of your safari trip to see the great wildebeest migration.
Month-by-month Wildebeest Migration Season Guide
1. In January, there is a lot of movement from north to south as the herds await the first Serengeti rains, and like June, it is a hard month to predict because the herds’ movements depend on when it starts to rain on the southern plains. Female wildebeest are carrying calves and are almost ready to give birth the reason the herds move swiftly in search of favorable grasslands to provide sustenance for the arrival of their young.
2. Around February, the calving season starts, and this is a period when wildebeest, zebra, and other migratory animals give birth to their offspring. Once the calves are born, the herds don’t move much, hence a high chance of witnessing a wildebeest birth, and predators are high.
3. Noted as the last month mobile camps operate, March is fairly wet with lush and green grasslands, and as a result, wildebeest herds move slowly and predictably to be able to feed the calves. This also makes it possible to have predators such as lions and leopards around
4. April is wet in the Serengeti with long rains that happen mostly in the evenings, with clear days, which is why you should carry a raincoat with you. The herds are starting to move a little bit faster as the calves and foals get mobile the reason we highly recommend April as one of the best times to see wildebeest herds.
5. May is a great time for wildlife action photography because at this time of the year, the herds are gathering speed and the calves are fully operational and moving quickly to the Serengeti’s western corridor. However, May is the wettest Month in Serengeti, and roads tend to get slippery and tricky to navigate
6. June is traditionally the Grumeti River crossing period, though the intensity and drama of the crossing depend on the water levels of the Grumeti River, which occasionally sees raised levels as the Mara River does in July and August. Expect a rewarding experience in June as the herds will be spread out.
7. July marks the start of the Mara River crossings as well as mating season in the Serengeti, and since it’s a dry season with a more arid Serengeti, the wildebeest herds begin moving faster in search of water and greener grass, making their way across the Grumeti River and the Mara River, where crocodiles are encountered.
8. August is arguably the best month to see the dramatic Mara River crossings in the Serengeti or Masai Mara, and it’s the time the dry season kicks into overdrive. The herds are continuing their search for greener grass, making their way across the crocodile-infested Mara River
9. September is one last chance to see the epic Mara River crossings in the Serengeti or Masai Mara, and around this time, its more hot and drier in both Serengeti and Masai Mara. Most of the wildebeests have already crossed into the greater Masai Mara area and are enjoying the lush green resources before venturing northwards.
10. Around October, the weather is milder as the dry season approaches its climax. The Month is a good time to see the wildebeest herds move back into the Serengeti through the Loliondo in the East.
11. In November, early rains start to fall with cooler weather, and the wildebeest herds are now in Serengeti Lobo, Seronera Valley, and Mbuze Mawe; therefore a good time to see the wildebeest in the Serengeti.
12. December is a busy and wet month, and the wildebeests are moving more quickly towards the south plains, which is another time you can track the herds in the Serengeti.
