The Great Migration in the Masai Mara is one of the most thrilling wildlife spectacles on Earth. Between roughly July and October each year, more than a million wildebeest, together with hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle, cross from Tanzania’s Serengeti into Kenya’s Masai Mara in search of fresh grazing.

The Mara River crossings

The highlight is the dramatic Mara River crossing, where huge herds mass on the banks before plunging into crocodile-infested waters. It is nature at its most raw – unpredictable, tense and unforgettable.

When to see it

The herds typically arrive in the Mara from July, with river crossings most likely between August and September. By late October and November they begin the journey back south into the Serengeti.

Predator action

The migration draws Africa’s great predators. The Mara has some of the highest lion densities in Africa, along with cheetah and leopard, making this a prime time for big-cat sightings.