Every year, the vast plains of East Africa host one of the planet’s most incredible wildlife events—the Migration of 1.4 million wildebeests, along with hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, all of which attract Africa’s top predators. While the wildebeest migration is often simplified as a predictable route between Tanzania’s Serengeti plains in the south and Kenya’s Maasai Mara in the north from May to December, the reality is much more intricate.

As world-class safari guide Richard Knocker said, “The Migration doesn’t move in a straight line. They advance, retreat, and veer sideways; sometimes, they gather in large groups, only to split apart again. It’s impossible to know their exact location; instead, the most we can do is share likely timings based on experience, but we can’t guarantee the Migration will unfold as expected.”

Considering this unpredictability, we recommend areas and properties to help you witness the wildebeest migration. These suggestions are based on the patterns of where the wildebeests tend to congregate at various times of the year. While they draw from years of experience, remember that they are still estimates. At its core, Migration is driven by rainfall and fresh grass, and nature doesn’t always adhere to our schedules!

RELATED: A Complete Guide to The Great Migration in Africa

January, February to mid-March: 

The wildebeest are calving in the southern Serengeti.

End of March and April:

The wildebeest migration moves into the central Serengeti (this is the rainiest time of year). They are often in splinter groups.

May and June: 

The wildebeest move into the central and western Serengeti, including the Western Corridor and Grumeti Reserve.

Late June to mid-July: 

The wildebeest enters northern Tanzania.

Mid-July through September:

The wildebeest migration moves into the Maasai Mara in Kenya. Typically, the herds will cross back and forth between Tanzania and Kenya, and epic river crossings can be seen if you have a bit of luck!

October and November:

The Migration starts to work back to Tanzania, but there will still be plenty to see in the southeastern Maasai Mara in Kenya and the Northern Serengeti