The endless journey of the animals of the Serengeti/Mara Ecosystem has been called “The greatest show on Earth”. Around 1.5 million wildebeest, 350,000 Thomson’s gazelle, 200,000 zebra, and thousands of eland and other ungulates (hoofed animals) migrate in ever-moving columns, following an age-old route in search of grazing and water. This journey takes them across the plains of the Masai Mara in Kenya, all the way south into Tanzania, through the Serengeti to the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater, before circling up and around in a clockwise direction.

Along the way, high drama is always present, as thousands of animals are taken by predators, and thousands more are born, replenishing the numbers and sustaining the Circle of Life.

The Pattern of the great migration

Although the migration follows a familiar pattern, one can never predict with certainty where the animals will be at any given moment. Created by local weather conditions, the migration is driven entirely by standing water and grazing. Neither will the migration move in one continuously forward motion. The animals will move forward, backwards, and to the sides, they mill around, split up, join forces again, walk in a line or spread out. You can never predict with 100% certainty where the herds will be; the best you can do is suggest likely timing based on past experience.

Jan -mar

The herds are usually calving on the short grassy plains in the southern Serengeti.

Apr - may

Movement towards the central Serengeti in splinter herds.

Jun - jul

Splinter herds congregate in the western corridor (Grumeti) and start moving north towards the Lamai Wedge.

Aug - oct

Starts moving north into the Masai Mara Crossing to and fro over the Mara River To deplete the abundant grass before returning south.

Nov - dec

Herds break into splinter groups and head south for breeding season.