the Great Migration Safari: Great Migration 2024 Dates

the Great Migration- Mara River Crossings
Every year, over 250,000 wildebeests and 30,000 die crossing the Mara River

We are on a Great Migration Safari in the Masai Mara. The first time for the six tourists I’m guiding for the day. And for me? Well, I’ve honestly lost count.

As the sun begins to rise, Chris, our driver, takes us to the edge of the savannah where I excitedly point to a herd of approaching wildebeests.

“The first herd has just arrived from the Serengeti. There will be about 700,000 more by afternoon,” I remark.

You see, the Great Wildebeest Migration is the largest of its kind on the planet. It is graced by over 1.5 million wildebeests, 300,000 zebras, and countless grant’s gazelle, elands, and impalas.

In this article, I tell you all you need to know about this recognized wonder of the world; from where it happens, how it happens, and why it happens.

I also tell you about our migration safari packages and why you should book one with us.

Our 2024 Great Migration Safari Packages

The Magical, 13-Day, 12-Night Kenya Wildlife & Beach Safari

The Magical, 13-Day, 12-Night Kenya Wildlife & Beach Safari

From £4183 VIEW MORE
The Classic, 3-Day, 2-Night Masai Mara Safari

The Classic, 3-Day, 2-Night Masai Mara Safari

From £798 VIEW MORE
The Budget, 3-Day, 2-Night Jambo Masai Mara Safari

The Budget, 3-Day, 2-Night Jambo Masai Mara Safari

From £887 VIEW MORE
The Luxury, 4-Day, 3-Night Basecamp Masai Mara Safari

The Luxury, 4-Day, 3-Night Basecamp Masai Mara Safari

From £1233 VIEW MORE
The Perfect, 4-Day, 3-Night Keekorok Lodge Safari

The Perfect, 4-Day, 3-Night Keekorok Lodge Safari

From £1111 VIEW MORE
The Adventures, 4-Day, 3-Night Masai Mara Luxury Family Safari

The Adventures, 4-Day, 3-Night Masai Mara Luxury Family Safari

From £1143 VIEW MORE
The Magical, 4-Day, 3-Night L. Nakuru & Masai Mara Safari

The Magical, 4-Day, 3-Night L. Nakuru & Masai Mara Safari

From £959 VIEW MORE
The Luxury, 5-Day, 4-Night L. Naivasha, L. Nakuru, & Masai Mara Safari

The Luxury, 5-Day, 4-Night L. Naivasha, L. Nakuru, & Masai Mara Safari

From £1359 VIEW MORE
The Super, 5-Day, 4-Night Nairobi & Masai Mara Safari

The Super, 5-Day, 4-Night Nairobi & Masai Mara Safari

From £1134 VIEW MORE
The Magical, 6-Day, 5-Night Amboseli, L. Naivasha, & Masai Mara Safari

The Magical, 6-Day, 5-Night Amboseli, L. Naivasha, & Masai Mara Safari

From £2234 VIEW MORE
The Magnificent, 7-Day, 6-Day Kenya Wildlife Safari

The Magnificent, 7-Day, 6-Day Kenya Wildlife Safari

From £1945 VIEW MORE
The Top, 8-Day, 7-Night Kenya Wildlife Safari

The Top, 8-Day, 7-Night Kenya Wildlife Safari

From £2078 VIEW MORE
The Memorable, 5-Day, 4-Night Masai Mara Honeymoon Experience

The Memorable, 5-Day, 4-Night Masai Mara Honeymoon Experience

From £1248 VIEW MORE
The Magical, 7-Day, 6-Night Honeymoon Safari to Kenya

The Magical, 7-Day, 6-Night Honeymoon Safari to Kenya

From £2016 VIEW MORE
The Luxury, 8-Day, 7-Night Honeymoon Experience in Kenya

The Luxury, 8-Day, 7-Night Honeymoon Experience in Kenya

From £1948 VIEW MORE
The Romantic, 14-Day, 13-Night Kenya Honeymoon Safari

The Romantic, 14-Day, 13-Night Kenya Honeymoon Safari

From £6317 VIEW MORE
The Lovely, 14-Day, 13-Night Honeymoon Experience in Kenya

The Lovely, 14-Day, 13-Night Honeymoon Experience in Kenya

From £5086 VIEW MORE
The Best, 12-Day, 11-Night Kenya Wildlife & Beach Safari

The Best, 12-Day, 11-Night Kenya Wildlife & Beach Safari

From £2688 VIEW MORE

Why Choose Kenya Luxury Safari?

When Kenya Luxury Safari was founded almost two decades ago, our mission was simple- to provide intimate safari experiences that stay with you.

For us, that has meant going far and beyond the expected even for the briefest of trips. It has meant tailoring each safari to the varying, sometimes unspoken, needs of our guests. It has meant bringing together a team of passionate, experienced individuals and only working with the most reliable, reputable suppliers in the business.

Choose us and your migration safari will be more than a collection of sights and sounds. It will become an experience that you treasure forever.

For bookings, call or WhatsApp us at +254-704-532-105 or send us an email at safarioffers@kenyasafariholidays.uk, safarioffers@ajkenyasafaris.com, or james@ajkenyasafaris.com 

What is the Great Migration 2024?

the great migration of Africa
Each individual wildebeests travels for up to 1000km all through the migration

Every year, over 1.5 million wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, and elands journey across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem with two things only in mind- fresh grazing lands and water.

The journey is pleasant and grueling; pleasant because along the way thousands are born and grueling because of the thousands of lives lost to predators, exhaustion, and dehydration.

It is remarkable and heart-wrenching to watch, a reason why it’s dubbed the greatest show on earth.

Here are Some More Fascinating Facts About the Great Migration

  1. It is the world’s largest overland migration made up of almost 1.5 million wildebeest, 300,000 zebra, 500,000 Thomson’s gazelle, and 18,000 eland. It is also graced by countless predators including the lion, wild dog, cheetah, hippo, hyena, leopard, and fox.
  2. The Great Migration is recognized as one of the seven wonders of the world.
  3. The Great Migration can be seen from space! Yup, you heard that right! It is hard to miss it when there are approximately 1,000 animals per km2.
  4. Uh-huh, we’ve all read it or seen it on TV somewhere- ‘the annual event’. But is it actually an event? Well, no it is NOT! The Great Wildebeest Migration is actually a cyclic, year-long process dictated primarily by the rains.
  5. 800 to 1000km! That’s the total distance each migrating animal covers!
  6. The migrating animals follow an age-old route that loops through Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and Kenya’s Masai Mara.

Why do the Wildebeest and Zebra Migrate?

Guided purely by the need for survival, the migrating animals travel for over 1000km in search of fresh grazing lands and water. On their journey, the herds cross crocodile-infested rivers, face the wrath of adverse weather, and battle vicious blood-thirsty predators.

It is a journey of survival, one that has taken place for centuries and will continue to take place in the future.

When Is the 2024 Great Migration Start Dates?

the Great Migration of Africa
The migrating animals move in a clockwise direction to and from the Serengeti and Masai Mara National Parks

Although it’s difficult to pinpoint when the Great Migration starts, it seems reasonable to call the wildebeest birthing season the start of the migration.

That said, the migration can then be described as a continuous loop of movement that takes animals from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the south of Tanzania’s Serengeti to the Serengeti National Park itself, then up to the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and back again.

When is the Great Migration: a Month by Month Breakdown

Great Migration
The migration is dictated primarily by the rains

Again, we’d like to reiterate that there is no telling where or when the migration starts. The migration, as previously mentioned, is triggered by the rains which have become increasingly difficult to predict due to climate change.

We can, however, give you a general timeline so that you can have an idea of where and when to expect the animals.

Here’s a month-by-month breakdown of the Mara-Serengeti Migration.

January, February, and March

At this time, the migrating herds are in the Serengeti heading south toward the short grass plains of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It is around late January or early February when the herds finally settle in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area which makes a fine calving ground thanks to its nutritious grasses.

In February, the calving season officially begins. And believe it or not, almost 8,000 calves are born daily.

Now, the presence of vulnerable young calves means there will be hundreds of blood-hungry predators lurking around, so this is the time to observe big cats in action.

April: Mating Season

April marks the beginning of the Apr-May long rains and being ones to take a hint, the wildebeest herds head north towards Central Serengeti. Along the way, a few friends tag along (read zebras and antelopes), and together these newly acquainted buddies journey hundreds of kilometers to the Simba and Moru Kopjes.

The Kopjes, for some reason, seem to ramp up testosterone and within no time the mating season begins.

May: the Grumeti River Crossing

Calves are a little bit stronger which only means one thing- it’s go time! The wildebeests begin to mass in Serengeti’s western corridor and when huge numbers form, the first river crossing happens- the Grumeti River crossing.

Although not as spectacular as the Mara River crossing, the Grumeti River crossing is no less thrilling to witness.

June and July: Crossing the Mara River

The dry season, which begins in June, finds the wildebeests in Western Serengeti and on the southern banks of the Grumeti River.

From there, the animals slowly graze their way toward northern Serengeti, soon finding themselves on the banks of the Mara River where they must make their most dangerous river crossing yet.

We call it the iconic Mara River Crossing, a brutal event that claims the lives of almost half a million wildebeest and zebra. It’s a bloodbath, one that is as necessary as it is brutal.

August, September, and October

While a significant number of the migrating animals still remain in northern Serengeti, a huge number of them have made it past the Mara River and are now settled in the northern plains of the Masai Mara. The river crossings continue from August to early September and by mid-September, the animals are well settled in the Masai Mara plains.

In October, the wildebeest migrate eastward of the Masai Mara National Park.

November and December

The short rains begin in late October. In early November, the herds leave the Masai Mara for the now rejuvenated Serengeti. By December, these animals are well spread out in east and southern Serengeti.

When is the Best Time to go For a 2024 Migration Safari?

It really all comes down to what you want to see. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the events that happen during the Wildebeest crossing and when and where they happen.

Occasion 

Estimated Time

Place

Calving season

February

Southern Serengeti- Ngorongoro Crater

Breeding season

April to May

Central and Western Serengeti

Grumeti River Crossings

May to June

Central Serengeti

Mara River Crossings

June to early September

Northern Serengeti and Masai Mara

Great Migration Camps: Where Should I Stay to Make the Most of the 2024 Wildebeest Migration?

Great Migration Serengeti

There are more mobile camps and permanent lodges than one can count in the Mara and Serengeti combined.

Here are 5 of our favorite places to stay for the best views of the great migration.

The Governor’s Camp

Set on the banks of the Mara River, on the direct path of the wildebeest Migration, the Governor’s camp truly is the epitome of Mara excellence. Everything’s top-tier here, from the rooms to the ambiance to the amenities and boy are those views of the park to die for.

Kichwa Tembo Camp

Now, Kichwa Tembo is the stuff of legend- set in the heart of the Mara, along the Saparingo River on the edge of the Olololo escarpment. The rooms? Le Magnifique too and comprising of 20 superior tents, 8 superior view tents, and 12 classic tents.

You’ll also love the camp’s riveting views of the Mara and that it’s set on the seasonal path of the great wildebeest migration.

The Serengeti Safari Camp

Interested in watching the calving season? The Serengeti Safari Camp is the place to be. Located in the heart of southern Serengeti, close to Lake Ndutu, the camp possesses a certain level of pizzazz that is hard to find elsewhere!

It also offers exceptional services and even better walking safaris and game drives. The catch? It is only open for six months (for the calving season).

Singita Faru Faru

Set in the private Grumeti Reserve in western Serengeti, the Singita Faru Faru Lodge is majestic indoors and out.

The views of the Serengeti migration here are unparalleled, with gazelles vying for space alongside wildebeest and zebras as they wade across the Grumeti River.

Mara Serena Safari Lodge

You cannot mention exceptional great wildebeest migration camps and leave out Mara Serena. Set on the banks of the Talek River in the middle of the migration route, this lodge offers uninterrupted views of the Wildebeest Migration. The ambiance is unparalleled too and so are the rooms and amenities.

Serena Kirawira Tented Camp

With all its twenty-five tents offering awe-inducing views of the Serengeti’s Western Corridor, the Serena Kirawira Tented is an unbeaten spot to catch the wildebeest migration. The camp also has lots of activities to enjoy, from game drives to hot-air balloon trips.

It is also located just a few minutes away from the Grumeti, which makes it an ideal spot to catch the river crossings.

Frequently Asked Questions

We answer some of your most frequently asked questions about the Great Migration of Africa.

Can the Mara River Crossings be Predicted?

No, they can’t be predicted. The movements of the wildebeest are primarily dictated by the rains which, due to climate change, have become incredibly difficult to predict. So there’s really no knowing when that first wildebeest will make its leap into the Mara River.

Is the Great Migration worth it?

Judging by the sheer numbers alone, you bet it is. The pure horror and excitement that comes with watching the migration is an experience like no other, one which cannot be replicated in any other two national parks in the world.

Like truly, where else in the world would you find over two million wildebeest and zebra moving in one direction? Where else in the world can you witness the brutality of nature and still feel so alive?

The answer is nowhere else. The migration is utterly unique and absolutely worth the experience.

Which is better Serengeti or Masai Mara?

The Mara and Serengeti share the same ecosystem so there’s really not much of a difference when it comes to their wildlife diversity, climate, and landscape.

The Serengeti, however, is much larger than the Mara and offers more in terms of wildlife numbers. Here’s the catch though- due to its small size, wildlife densities are better in the Mara making it better for game drives.

The Mara is also cheaper to safari in than the Serengeti. Park entry fees are higher in the Serengeti and accommodation tends to cost more due to the lack of diversity, which brings us to our next point- infrastructure.

Infrastructure is also more developed in Mara. We are talking roads, lodges, campgrounds, security, you name it. There is also more variety when it comes to accommodations and flight options in Kenya. As we know, increased supply brings down prices.