January
Very goodDry and warm. Calving begins on the southern Serengeti plains — predator action is exceptional.
Seasons
When to go, and what you’ll see
There is no bad month for an East African safari — but there is a right month for what you want to see. Here is how the year runs across the northern circuit.
February
PeakPeak calving in the southern Serengeti and Ndutu. The best month of the year for cats.
March
ShoulderHot, with the long rains building late in the month. Camps are quieter and rates soften.
April
Green seasonLong rains. Lush, green and very quiet, with the lowest rates of the year. Some camps close.
May
Green seasonRain easing. Excellent value and dramatic skies; roads can be heavy in places.
June
Very goodDry season opens. Herds gather in the western Serengeti; Tarangire game concentrates on the river.
July
PeakThe migration pushes north. First Mara River crossings, usually from mid-month.
August
PeakHerds spread across the Maasai Mara and northern Serengeti. Crossings at their most frequent.
September
PeakStill superb in the Mara, with slightly thinner crowds than August.
October
Very goodHerds begin drifting south. Dry, dusty and very good general game viewing.
November
ShoulderShort rains. Brief afternoon showers, green landscapes, good birding and lower rates.
December
Very goodDrying out again. Herds reach the southern Serengeti. Festive-season supplements apply.
The migration is a circuit, not a date
The herds move continuously between the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara following the rains, so timings shift year to year. River crossings in particular cannot be booked — they happen when they happen. What we can do is put you in the right part of the ecosystem for the month you travel, and give you enough nights there to be patient.
See migration itineraries