# Great Wildebeest Migration Calendar (Month-by-Month)

- Link: https://adelikenyasafaris.com/great-wildebeest-migration-calendar-month-by-month/
- Published: 2026-06-30T00:46:45+03:00
- Author: Adeli Kenya Safaris Limited

The **Great Wildebeest Migration** is one of Africa’s most spectacular wildlife 
events, involving approximately **1.5 million wildebeest**, over **250,000 zebras**,
and hundreds of thousands of gazelles as they travel between [Serengeti National Park](https://adelikenyasafaris.com/destinations/tanzania-safari-tours/serengeti-national-park-tanzania/)
and the Masai Mara National Reserve in search of fresh grazing.

![Masai Mara wildebeest Migrations, Mara river crossing. Book Luxury Kenya Wildlife
safaris with Adeli Kenya Safaris - best Africa safari tour operator & travel agency
in Kenya](https://adelikenyasafaris.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Masai-Mara-wildebeest-
Migrations-Mara-river-crossing-Masai-Mara-National-Reserve-Kenya-Wildlife-safaris-
Adeli-Kenya-Safaris.webp "Great Wildebeest Migration Calendar (Month-by-Month) 1")

Masai Mara wildebeest Migrations, Mara river crossing. Book Luxury Kenya Wildlife
safaris with Adeli [Kenya Safaris](https://adelikenyasafaris.com/product-category/kenya-safaris/)–
best Africa safari tour operator & travel agency in Kenya

> **Important:** The migration is driven by rainfall, so exact timing varies slightly
> from year to year.

  |  Month |  Location |  What to Expect |  
   |  **January** |  Southern Serengeti & Ndutu |  Herds gather on lush plains. Excellent predator sightings. |  
 |  **February** |  Ndutu & Southern Serengeti |  Peak calving season. Around 8,000 calves may be born each day. Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and leopards are highly active. |  
 |  **March** |  Southern to Central Serengeti |  Calves begin strengthening. Herds gradually move northwest. |  
 |  **April** |  Central Serengeti |  Green season continues. Long columns of migrating wildebeest. Fewer tourists. |  
 |  **May** |  Western Corridor |  Large herds move toward the western Serengeti. Dramatic migration scenes. |  
 |  **June** |  Western Corridor |  First river crossings at the Grumeti River. Crocodiles become a major threat. |  
 |  **July** |  Northern Serengeti |  Herds approach the Mara River. River crossings begin. |  
 |  **August** |  Northern Serengeti & Masai Mara |  Peak Mara River crossings. One of the best months for safari. |  
 |  **September** |  Masai Mara |  Herds spread across the Mara. Superb game viewing and predator action. |  
 |  **October** |  Masai Mara & Northern Serengeti |  Many animals begin returning south after seasonal rains. |  
 |  **November** |  Eastern & Central Serengeti |  Migration heads back through eastern Serengeti following fresh grass. |  
 |  **December** |  Southern Serengeti & Ndutu |  Herds arrive back on the southern plains, completing the annual cycle. |

## Migration Route

![Wildebeest Migration route fromSerengeti National Park in Tanzania to Masai Mara
National Reserve in Kenya - book with Adeli Kenya Safaris](https://adelikenyasafaris.
com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Wildebeest-Migration-route-fromSerengeti-National-
Park-in-Tanzania-to-Masai-Mara-National-Reserve-in-Kenya-book-with-Adeli-Kenya-Safaris.
jpeg "Great Wildebeest Migration Calendar (Month-by-Month) 2")

Wildebeest Migration route fromSerengeti National Park in Tanzania to Masai Mara
National Reserve in Kenya – book with Adeli Kenya Safaris

### Best Time Based on Your Interests

 * **Calving Season:** January–March
 * **Predator Action:** February–March
 * **Grumeti River Crossings:** June
 * **Mara River Crossings:** July–September
 * **Best Overall Safari:** August–October
 * **Photography:** January–March and July–September
 * **Fewer Crowds:** April, May, and November

## Month-by-Month Highlights

### January–March: Calving Season

 * Located mainly in the Ndutu area and southern Serengeti.
 * Thousands of newborn calves attract lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, and jackals.
 * Excellent opportunities for wildlife photography.

### April–June: Journey North

 * Herds travel through central and western Serengeti.
 * Massive migration columns stretch for kilometers.
 * Grumeti River crossings occur in June.

### July–October: Mara River Crossings

 * Perhaps the migration’s most famous stage.
 * Thousands of wildebeest leap into the crocodile-filled Mara River.
 * Exceptional predator sightings in both northern Serengeti and Masai Mara.

### November–December: Return South

 * Short rains trigger the journey back toward the southern Serengeti.
 * Herds disperse across fresh grazing before calving begins again.

## Where to Stay for Each Season

 * **January–March:** Ndutu, Southern Serengeti
 * **April–May:** Central Serengeti
 * **June:** Western Serengeti
 * **July–October:** Northern Serengeti or Masai Mara
 * **November–December:** Eastern and Southern Serengeti

## Wildlife You’ll See

Besides the enormous wildebeest herds, you can expect to see:

 * Lions
 * Leopards
 * Cheetahs
 * Spotted hyenas
 * African wild dogs (occasionally)
 * Nile crocodiles
 * Elephants
 * Buffaloes
 * Giraffes
 * Zebras
 * Thomson’s gazelles
 * Grant’s gazelles
 * Topi
 * Elands
 * Hippos

The Great [Wildebeest Migration](https://adelikenyasafaris.com/masai-mara-wildebeest-migration/)
is a year-round phenomenon rather than a single event. Every month offers a different
experience, from dramatic calving scenes in southern Serengeti to thrilling river
crossings in the north, making it possible to plan an unforgettable safari at any
time of the year.