Wildebeest Migration
August 1, 2026
The Great Migration refers to the movement of more than 1.5 million wildebeest, 250,000 zebras, and gazelles across the plains of East Africa. The migration travels through Serengeti National Park, the Masai Mara, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and other areas in Tanzania. In an annual cycle, the animals cover over 1,700 miles on their endless journey driven by seasonal rains and fresh grass.
The migration is a continuous, circular journey with no real start or end:
January to March: Herds gather on the short grass in the southern Serengeti plains. Peak calving occurs in February, with thousands of youngsters born daily before the herds head west.
April to May: Herds move north and northwest toward the central Serengeti. Mating season begins.
June to August: Animals congregate in the western corridor and face crossing the Grumeti and Mara Rivers into Kenya's Maasai Mara.
September to December: The short rains start in Kenya, triggering the animals to begin their long trek south back to Tanzania.
Many people have a common misconception about the migration: that it is one large herd of wildebeests and zebras that move all at the same time across the plains. The animals often split into groups, so there may be times when one huge group is crossing the river in northern Serengeti, while other parts of the herd in the west are moving a bit slower and haven’t made their way up north yet. The distribution of the migrating animals is more widespread than you might think.
The image of millions of animals stampeding across the plains is another misconception. While it’s true that large groups of animals may stampede from time to time (especially during river crossings), it’s not constant, and it’s not predictable.
The best time to see the migration is in Kenya from July to September when the herds cross into the Maasai Mara National Reserve. July and August offer the best opportunities to catch dramatic Mara River crossings (if you’re lucky!).
But don’t forget you can find resident herds of wildebeests all year in Kenya.