Where To Go On A Wildebeest Migration Safari
Witness the Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth in Kenya & Tanzania
The Best Places To See The Wildebeest Migration Safari
Choosing where to go for your Great Migration safari is key to your experience. While the Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem functions as a single migratory corridor, the journey unfolds across two distinct conservation areas in two countries: the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
Each location offers unique vantage points depending on the time of year, from the calving season in southern Serengeti to the iconic river crossings in the Masai Mara. Understanding the migration’s route and seasonal movement will help you choose the best destination for your travel goals.
Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
The Masai Mara National Reserve, though smaller than Tanzania’s Serengeti, plays a vital role in the Great Wildebeest Migration. Located in southern Kenya, its southern boundary forms the international border with Tanzania, and it’s here that the herds typically gather between June and November—coinciding with the dramatic Mara River crossings.
As one of the most popular destinations for a Wildebeest Migration safari, the Masai Mara sees high visitor numbers during peak migration months (June to October). For a more exclusive and immersive experience, consider staying in one of the private conservancies that border the reserve. These conservancies offer access to migration hotspots inside the national park, plus added benefits like off-road game drives, night safaris, and guided bush walks—experiences not permitted within the reserve itself.
Choosing a private conservancy in the Masai Mara lets you witness the Migration in a more intimate setting, all while supporting community-run conservation initiatives and enjoying top-tier lodges in pristine wilderness.
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
East Africa’s short rains season (about November to December) triggers the wildebeest herds into moving south, out of the Masai Mara and into the Serengeti. Located in northern Tanzania and part of its famous Northern Safari Circuit, Tanzania’s flagship park is an impressive 14 750 square kilometres (5 700 square miles) and hosts the lion’s share of the Migration from about December to May.
