The Great Migration Safari • Serengeti & Masai Mara • Escape Safari Co

The Great Migration

There is nothing else in the natural world quite like it. One and a half million wildebeest, two hundred and fifty thousand zebras and countless Thomson’s gazelles moving in a continuous cycle across the plains of Tanzania and Kenya, driven by rainfall and the growth of grass, following a route their ancestors have followed for millennia. The Great Migration is not a single event with a start and a finish. It is a year-round phenomenon, and knowing where to be and when is what separates a remarkable experience from an ordinary one.

A Grand Spectacle

The migration moves through a defined circuit across the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Loliondo Game Controlled Area and the Grumeti Reserve in Tanzania, to the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya.

From January to March, the herds gather on the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti and the Ndutu area of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This is calving season, when an estimated eight thousand wildebeest are born each day at the peak of the cycle. The concentration of predators drawn to the plains around Naabi Hill Gate, Gol Kopjes, Olduvai Gorge and Maswa during this period produces some of the most dramatic predator and prey interactions on the continent.

April and May usher in the rains, a challenging period for migration safaris due to road closures. By June, with the roads accessible once more, the journey north begins. With the young ones steady on their feet, the herds split into smaller groups in search of new pastures, making this another of the best times to experience the migration.

July to September is the period most travellers associate with the Great Migration, and for good reason. This is when the Mara River crossings take place, where the herds plunge into crocodile-filled waters to cross into Kenya’s Masai Mara, one of the most dramatic wildlife events on earth.

By October, the herds begin moving south again. Remarkably, they arrive at the Ndutu plains just in time for the first rains of the season. This final phase of the migration, stretching through December, sees the herds spread out within striking distance of the Ndutu lakes and plains. Be prepared for the predators that often lurk in the Lobo grass during this time.

April and May usher in the rains, a challenging period for migration safaris due to road closures. By June, however, with the roads accessible once more, the journey north begins. With the young ones steady on their feet, the herds split up into smaller groups in search of new pastures, making this another of the best times to experience the migration.

July to September heralds another dramatic spectacle: the Mara River crossings. Feel your heart pound as the herds risk the crocodile-infested waters, their sacrifices securing the survival of the species.

Escape_Safari_Co_SOUTH_AFRICA_Slider_Main

Lion

The African lion is an iconic big cat, recognized by its majestic mane in males. Lions are apex predators and live in groups called prides. They are known for their strength, stealth, and cooperative hunting strategies. Lions are often associated with bravery and royalty in various cultures.

Leopard

The African leopard is a solitary and elusive big cat with a beautiful coat adorned with distinctive rosette patterns. They are skilled climbers and opportunistic predators, known for their adaptability and ability to thrive in various habitats, from forests to grasslands.

Escape Safari Co Safari Portal36 (Large)

African Elephant

The African elephant is the largest land animal, known for its immense size, distinctive trunk, and prominent tusks. They are herbivores and play a crucial role in shaping and maintaining their habitats. African elephants are highly intelligent, social creatures with complex social structures.

Londolozi Escape Safari Co (22 of 30) (Large)

Black Rhino

Both black and white rhinoceroses are large, thick-skinned herbivores with two distinctive horns on their heads. Rhinos are critically endangered due to poaching for their horns, which are highly valued in illegal markets. They are essential for the ecosystem and are known for their gentle demeanor.

African Buffalo

The African buffalo is a robust herbivore with a distinctive, large, and curving set of horns. They often live in large herds and are known for their unpredictable behavior, making them one of the most dangerous animals to hunt. Buffaloes are vital to the ecosystem, shaping vegetation patterns through their grazing habits.

Join Us For A Migration Safari

We have followed the migration across every phase of its cycle and know the ecosystems, the camps and the guides that give you the best possible chance of experiencing it at its most extraordinary.

The Great Migration is one of the most searched and most sought-after wildlife experiences in Africa. In the right hands, it is everything it promises to be.