Travel Guides · East Africa
Best Time to Visit Serengeti 2026/2027
Tanzania · The greatest wildlife show on Earth — the Great Migration's home ground.
The Serengeti is a year-round safari destination, but what you'll see depends entirely on when you go. The famous Great Migration moves in a rough circle: calving in the southern Ndutu plains (January–March), the dramatic Grumeti river crossings (May–July), and the Mara river crossings in the north (July–October). The dry season (June–October) concentrates wildlife around water; the green season (November–May) brings newborn animals, migratory birds, and lower prices.
✅ Best months
- July – September — Mara river crossings — the migration's most dramatic chapter.
- January – February — Calving season in Ndutu: half a million wildebeest calves, big cats on the hunt.
- June & October — Shoulder months of the dry season — superb game viewing, fewer vehicles.
⚠️ When not to go
April — The peak of the long rains: black-cotton mud can bog down vehicles and some camps close. Wildlife is still there — and prices are lowest — but travel is slower and wetter.
Month by month
Green = best time to go · Yellow = good · Grey = okay · Red = avoid
Calving begins in the southern plains.
Peak calving; predator action at its best.
Calving tail; long rains approaching.
Heaviest rains; muddy tracks, some camps closed.
Rains tail off; herds moving toward the Grumeti.
Dry season; Grumeti crossings possible.
Migration reaches the Mara River.
Peak crossings; book camps a year ahead.
Crossings continue; superb predator viewing.
Herds drift south; excellent all-round game.
Green season begins; newborn impala, fewer crowds.
Herds returning south; festive atmosphere.
Local tips
- The migration is driven by rain, not calendars — exact crossing dates vary every year.
- Northern Serengeti camps (Jul–Oct) and southern Ndutu camps (Jan–Mar) are different trips; pick your season first.
- A hot-air balloon safari at dawn is the splurge worth taking.
- Combine with Zanzibar for the classic bush-and-beach itinerary.
Not sure when to go?
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