Best Time to Visit the Serengeti

Weather

Warm and mostly dry between the short and long rains. Occasional afternoon showers keep the southern plains lush. Clear mornings are ideal for photography.

Migration

The herds are concentrated on the short-grass plains around Ndutu and the southern Serengeti. Over 8,000 calves are born per day at the peak of the calving season.

Wildlife Highlights

Predator action is at its absolute peak. Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs follow the calving herds. Expect some of the most dramatic wildlife encounters of the year.

Weather

Similar to January with warm days, cool nights, and brief afternoon showers. The southern plains remain emerald after the short rains.

Migration

Peak calving continues in the Ndutu area. An estimated 500,000 zebra foals and wildebeest calves are born within a two-to-three-week window. The herds blanket the open grasslands.

Wildlife Highlights

The highest density of predators you will see all year. Cheetah hunting on the open Ndutu plains is spectacular because there is no tall grass for cover. Raptors gather in huge numbers.

Weather

The long rains (masika) arrive mid-March. Expect heavier, sustained rainfall in the afternoons and evenings. Roads in remote areas can become challenging.

Migration

The herds are still in the southern and central Serengeti, beginning their drift northward. Large aggregations remain on the plains.

Wildlife Highlights

Birdwatching is exceptional as migratory species are still present alongside resident species. Predator sightings remain good because prey is concentrated.

Weather

The wettest month. Heavy rains are common, particularly in the afternoon. Some dirt airstrips and secondary roads close temporarily.

Migration

Herds are moving through central Serengeti toward the Western Corridor. The Seronera area often holds large numbers.

Wildlife Highlights

Game viewing requires patience but rewards are real. The grass is tall, making sightings less frequent but more intimate. Leopard sightings along the Seronera River Valley remain reliable.

Weather

Rains taper off through the month. By late May, the landscape is transforming from wet green to drying gold. Mornings are often clear.

Migration

The herds push through central Serengeti toward the Western Corridor and Grumeti area. Massive columns of wildebeest on the move are visible from the air.

Wildlife Highlights

Crocodiles in the Grumeti River begin positioning for the first crossings. Resident game in Seronera (lions, leopards, elephants) remains excellent year-round.

Weather

The dry season arrives. Days are warm and sunny, nights are cool (sweater weather on game drives). Almost no rainfall. This is the Serengeti at its most comfortable.

Migration

The herds reach the Western Corridor and begin the Grumeti River crossings. These crossings are smaller and less dramatic than the Mara River but still extraordinary.

Wildlife Highlights

Grumeti River crocodiles feast on the first crossings. Lion prides in the Western Corridor are active. The drying landscape concentrates animals around water sources.

Weather

Dry, clear, and comfortable. No rain. The savanna turns golden-brown. Nights can drop below 15C (59F) in the north at higher elevations.

Migration

The main herds reach the northern Serengeti around Kogatende and the Mara River. The iconic Mara River crossings begin, the single most photographed wildlife event on earth.

Wildlife Highlights

Mara River crossings dominate. Massive Nile crocodiles, drowning hazards, and predators waiting on the far bank create raw, unfiltered drama. Big cats are everywhere in the northern sector.

Weather

Continued dry, clear conditions. Slightly warmer than July. The landscape is dusty and parched, which makes wildlife easier to spot against the bare terrain.

Migration

Mara River crossings are in full swing near Kogatende. Some herds have already crossed into the Masai Mara in Kenya, but hundreds of thousands remain on the Serengeti side.

Wildlife Highlights

The crossings reach their peak intensity. Hippo pods, crocodiles, and big cats create a theater of survival. Away from the river, the plains are dotted with elephant herds and buffalo.

Weather

Still dry and warm. The air shimmers with heat haze by midday. Late September may see the very first hints of the short rains in the south.

Migration

Crossings continue on the Mara River, though the herds begin fragmenting. Some groups loop back south, creating repeat crossings in both directions.

Wildlife Highlights

Excellent game viewing across the entire park. The central Serengeti (Seronera) and Lobo area hold strong resident populations regardless of where the migration is.

Weather

Warming up. The short rains (vuli) typically begin mid-to-late October. Early October is still dry and hot; late October brings dramatic thunderstorms.

Migration

The herds begin their long march south, passing through Lobo and central Serengeti. Late crossings at the Mara River are still possible in early October.

Wildlife Highlights

Leopards in the Seronera Valley are reliably seen year-round and October is no exception. Elephant herds move through the woodlands. Wild dog sightings increase in the south.

Weather

Short rains bring afternoon thunderstorms, often brief and intense. Mornings are typically clear. The landscape begins its transformation back to green.

Migration

The herds move steadily south through the central Serengeti toward the Ndutu plains. Large columns stretch across the landscape as over a million animals march in loose formation.

Wildlife Highlights

The plains come alive with fresh grazing. Smaller gazelle species (Thomson's and Grant's) are abundant. Predators follow the herds south. Photography is outstanding with dramatic cloud formations.

Weather

Rains ease through December. By late December, the short dry spell often begins. The plains are green and the air is clean after weeks of rain.

Migration

The herds arrive on the southern short-grass plains around Ndutu. They begin feeding on the mineral-rich grass that triggers the calving season in January.

Wildlife Highlights

Big Five are reliably seen. The southern plains teem with herbivores. Early calving sometimes begins in late December. Cheetahs on the open plains are a highlight.