Southern Serengeti
Short-grass plains, vast herds and the calving season. Resident predators are close by.
Serengeti & Masai Mara planning
Great Migration Calendar 2026–2027.
The migration does not follow a timetable. It follows rain, grass and the movement of more than a million animals. This is the practical guide to choosing the right month, region and pace for a private East Africa safari.
Start with your dates
There is no single “best” month—only the best place for your month.
The herds move through the Serengeti ecosystem all year. Calving in the south, long columns on the western corridor, river crossings in the north and the return south each create very different safari days. We plan around what is happening when you travel, rather than promising a river crossing on a particular date.
For the strongest result, allow at least three nights in the migration area and keep the route private so the day can respond to sightings.
Month by month
Central & western Serengeti
Green landscapes, fewer vehicles and herds beginning to gather and travel north.
Western corridor
The movement approaches the Grumeti. Roads can be slower after rain; patient timing matters.
Northern Serengeti & Mara
Classic dry-season game viewing and the chance of river crossings, never guaranteed.
Eastern Serengeti
The short rains often draw the herds south and east across open country.
Southern plains
Herds return toward the south, setting up a beautiful festive-season safari.
Published private journeys
Private routes to use as a starting point.
These six published journeys have distinct pacing and accommodation. We can tailor any of them around your migration dates.
7 days · Serengeti
7 Day Tanzania Migration Safari
A focused private route for dates that align with the herds.
8 days · Migration
8 Day Tanzania Migration Safari
More time to settle into the rhythm of the northern circuit.
8 days · Luxury
8 Day Luxury Migration Safari
A considered route for travellers who value both wildlife and comfort.
8 days · Northern Serengeti
Elewana Explorer Migration Safari
Private game drives and mobile-style migration camp experiences.
8 days · Tented safari
Malaika Luxury Camps Migration Safari
A route shaped around seasonal camp locations and big wildlife days.
Private celebration · Tanzania
Milestone Birthday Safari
Bring a significant occasion into a route designed around your dates.
Keep planning
Three guides that make the decision easier.
01 · SERENGETI
Serengeti Great Migration safari
How seasonal movement changes where to stay and what the days can hold.
02 · TIMINGBest time for a Tanzania safari
Balance weather, wildlife and travel style across the year.
03 · PRIVATE TRAVELLuxury Tanzania safari
The practical details that make a private safari feel unhurried.
Plan with confidence
Tell us the month you have in mind.
We will map the migration region, route and right stays around it.