5 Days Luxury Fly-In Serengeti Safari

Great Migration Patterns Explained;
The Great Migration in January, February and March ( Calving Season)
Around January each year, the migration will be done with a southward trek moving along the eastern area of the Serengeti and into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Here the plains are rich in nutritious grass providing the migration herds with the best conditions for raising their newborn calves. Although there is no real beginning or end to this migratory circuit other than birth and death, it seems reasonable to call the wildebeests’ Calving season the start of the migration. Around late January or February, the herds occupy the short-grass plains that spread over the lower northern slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater highlands and around Olduvai Gorge. The abundance of vulnerable young calves means the surrounding predators also spring into action hunting with ease due to the sheer numbers of wildebeest.

The Great Migration in April and May (Mating Season)
After giving birth to their young ones in February and March, around April the wildebeest herds begin to move northwest toward the fresher grass of the central Serengeti drawing with them thousands of zebra and smaller groups of antelope. By May, herds of wildebeest stretch for several kilometres as the animals start to congregate by the Moru Kopjes. Mating season begins toward the end of May and male wildebeest battle head-to-head. Throughout ‘the rut,’ the journey continues at leisure with the wildebeest, zebra and gazelle grazing as they go along.

Gradually, the movement gathers momentum and the wildebeest start to mass in the Serengeti’s Western Corridor. The herds form in huge numbers along the pools and channels of the river which they have to cross in order to continue on their journey. This may not be as spectacular as the famous Mara crossings but there are still enough wildebeest to provide the Grumeti crocs with a veritable feast.

The Great Migration in June and July (Grumeti and Mara River Crossings)
During June, the dry season starts with large concentrations of wildebeest in the Western Serengeti and on the southern banks of the Grumeti River. Each migrating animal must face the challenge of crossing the crocodile-infested river which is the first of many daunting and tense river encounters.

As June moves into July, the hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra continue to head north along the western edge of the park toward an even riskier barrier: the Mara River in the north of the Serengeti. These river crossings are arguably one of the most exciting wildlife events on Earth. They usually begin at the onset of high season in July but timing all depends on nature. Later in July, those animals that have successfully made it across the Mara River will also be found in the Masai Mara. At this time, daily river crossings can be seen at the Mara and Talek rivers, both often central to incredible scenes.

The Great Migration in August, September and October (Peak of the Mara River Crossing)
By August, the herds have faced the challenge of crossing the Mara River and are spread throughout the Masai Mara’s northern region, with many remaining in the northern Serengeti. In years when the river is in full flow, the panic and confusion at the crossings combined with waiting predators and surging currents can cause massive loss of life. But even in years of relatively gently flowing water, the crocs take their toll not to mention the lions and other large predators that patrol the banks ready to ambush any wildebeest that make it to the other side. Please note that there is no single crossing meaning that at some spots there are just a few individuals while others see a mass of animals moving without break for hours.

By September to October, the main chaos has ended and the migrating columns have gradually moved eastward. However, they wildebeest will face the heavy waters of the Mara River once more as they prepare to cross once again for their return journey southward.

The Great Migration in November and December
After the East African short rains in late October and early November, the wildebeest move down from Kenya and into the eastern limits of the Serengeti past Namiri Plains an area known for outstanding cheetah sightings. By December, they are spread throughout the eastern and southern reaches. In the early months of the new year, the grasses in the deep south of the Serengeti are lush with rain. This draws the herds of wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and other plains animals. The cycle continues as the calving season starts once again.