How Often Can I See the Great Migration in One Trip?

The Great Migration in Tanzania is one of the most remarkable wildlife spectacles on Earth. Every year, over 1.5 million wildebeest, accompanied by zebras and gazelles, move in a circular pattern across the Serengeti ecosystem in search of fresh grazing and water. For travelers, a common question is: “How often can I see the Great Migration in one trip?”

The answer depends on when you visit, how long you stay, and which regions of the Serengeti your safari covers. Unlike a single event, the Great Migration is a year-round cycle, which means that depending on your timing, you may witness different stages — from calving season to dramatic river crossings.

Understanding the Great Migration Cycle

To know how often you can see the Great Migration in one safari, it’s important to understand its seasonal movements:

1. December – March: Calving Season (Southern Serengeti & Ndutu Plains)

   • Wildebeest gather in the Ndutu area to give birth. Around 500,000 calves are born in just a few weeks.

   • Predator activity is high — lions, cheetahs, and hyenas take advantage of vulnerable newborns.

   • If your trip is during this season, you will see daily action as herds spread across the plains.

2. April – May: Long Rains (Central Serengeti)

   • Herds start moving northward through the central Serengeti.

   • You’ll see vast columns of wildebeest stretching across the savannah, often lasting for hours as they move.

3. June – July: Grumeti River Crossings (Western Serengeti)

   • One of the most dramatic phases — wildebeest cross the Grumeti River, facing crocodile-filled waters.

   • If your safari covers this region, you may see multiple river crossing attempts in a single week.

4. July – October: Mara River Crossings (Northern Serengeti)

   • The most famous stage of the migration.

   • Thousands of wildebeest leap into the Mara River, many perishing while others make it to Kenya’s Maasai Mara.

   • During this period, if you stay for 4–7 days, you might witness several river crossings as herds cross back and forth.

5. November: Short Rains (Return South)

   • The herds start heading back south to the Serengeti from Kenya.

   • You’ll see migrating columns on the move, though crossings are fewer.

How Often Can You See the Great Migration in One Trip?

The frequency of sightings depends on three factors:

1. Length of Your Safari

• On a 3–4 day safari, you might see one or two major events — for example, a calving spectacle or a river crossing.

• On a 7–10 day safari, your chances increase dramatically. You may witness multiple stages — herds grazing, predators hunting, and possibly several crossings.

2. Safari Location and Coverage

• If you focus on one park region, you’ll see the migration activity specific to that time.

• If your itinerary covers multiple parts of the Serengeti (south, central, west, north), you can see different stages of the migration in a single trip. For example:

  • Start in Ndutu for calving.

  • Move to central Serengeti for massive herds on the march.

  • End in northern Serengeti for Mara River crossings.

3. Season of Travel

• During peak migration seasons (calving in Ndutu or Mara crossings in July–October), you may see migration daily.

• In transitional months (April, May, November), sightings are more spread out — but you still experience huge herds on the move.