East Africa Wildlife Calendar — what happens when
The Great Migration’s Mara River crossings run July to October in the Masai Mara and Northern Serengeti, and calving season fills the Southern Serengeti from late January to March. Around those two headline windows, every month in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda has its own wildlife story — from gorilla trekking seasons to flamingo lakes and humpback whales. Here is the full year, month by month, as our guides plan it.
01Major wildlife events
Nine recurring events our guides plan whole itineraries around, with each event’s next calendar window.
- July – October
Great Migration — Mara River crossings
Masai Mara (Kenya) & Northern Serengeti (Tanzania) · Kenya & Tanzania
The dramatic Mara River crossings happen from July to October, when over a million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra plunge through crocodile-filled water between the Northern Serengeti and the Masai Mara. Crossings are unpredictable day to day, so plan at least three nights in the region. August and September are historically the most reliable months for repeated crossing activity.
Next · Jul 1 – Oct 31, 2026
See related safaris - Late January – March
Wildebeest calving season
Ndutu & Southern Serengeti · Tanzania
Calving season runs from late January to March on the short-grass plains of Ndutu and the Southern Serengeti. At the February peak, roughly 8,000 wildebeest calves are born every day, drawing lion, cheetah and hyena into constant hunting action. It is the best big-cat viewing window of the year, with green scenery, fewer vehicles and lower rates than the July–October peak.
Next · Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2027
See related safaris - May – July
Migration through the Western Corridor & Grumeti River
Western Corridor, Serengeti · Tanzania
From May to July the migration pushes north-west through the Serengeti's Western Corridor, and long columns of wildebeest cross the Grumeti River, where some of Africa's largest crocodiles lie in wait. Crossings here are smaller and less famous than the Mara River spectacle, but June visitors often watch them with barely another vehicle in sight — a quieter, earlier alternative to the peak season.
Next · May 1 – Jul 31, 2026
- June – September
Gorilla trekking — prime long dry season
Bwindi (Uganda) & Volcanoes NP (Rwanda) · Uganda & Rwanda
The prime gorilla trekking window is June to September, the long dry season, when forest trails in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Volcanoes National Park are at their firmest and mountain hikes are least muddy. Permits are limited to eight visitors per gorilla family per day, and this window sells out months ahead — book permits six months to a year in advance.
Next · Jun 1 – Sep 30, 2026
See related safaris - December – February
Gorilla trekking — short dry season
Bwindi (Uganda) & Volcanoes NP (Rwanda) · Uganda & Rwanda
December to February is the second reliable gorilla trekking window, coinciding with East Africa's short dry season. Trails in Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park are drier than during the rains, permits are easier to secure than in June–September, and treks combine neatly with a Kenya or Tanzania safari. Expect occasional showers — this is equatorial rainforest — but generally good hiking conditions.
Next · Dec 1, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
See related safaris - Year-round · classic June – October
Flamingo gatherings on the Rift Valley lakes
Lake Bogoria & Lake Nakuru · Kenya
Flamingos can be seen on Kenya's Rift Valley lakes year-round, with Lake Bogoria now hosting the largest flocks and Lake Nakuru still reliable for both lesser and greater flamingos. Numbers shift with water levels and algae blooms rather than a fixed calendar, but the June to October dry months are the classic window, combining pink shorelines with excellent general game viewing nearby.
Next · Jun 1 – Oct 31, 2026
- June – October
Elephant season in Amboseli
Amboseli National Park · Kenya
June to October is the best window for Amboseli's famous elephants, including some of Africa's last great tuskers. In the dry season, herds march daily across dusty lake beds to the park's spring-fed swamps, and clear mornings give the classic photograph of elephants beneath Mount Kilimanjaro. January and February offer a similar, shorter dry window with fewer visitors.
Next · Jun 1 – Oct 31, 2026
- July – September
Humpback whale migration off the Kenyan coast
Watamu & Diani coast · Kenya
From July to September, humpback whales migrate north along the Kenyan coast from Antarctic feeding grounds to breed and calve in warm Indian Ocean waters. Boat trips from Watamu and the Diani coast regularly encounter breaching whales and mothers with calves. The season overlaps perfectly with the Masai Mara's river-crossing months, making a bush-and-beach combination especially rewarding.
Next · Jul 1 – Sep 30, 2026
- June – October & January – February
Big Five dry-season game viewing peak
Masai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Amboseli & Tsavo · Kenya & Tanzania
Big Five viewing peaks in the dry seasons — June to October and again in January and February — across Kenya and Tanzania's flagship parks: the Masai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Amboseli and Tsavo. Grass is short, waterholes concentrate lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino, and unpaved park roads stay firm. June and October bracket the peak with lighter crowds.
Next · Jun 1 – Oct 31, 2026
See related safaris
02Month by month
January
Drymedium crowds
Short dry season — calving begins in the south
A dry, green-season sweet spot. The migration masses on the short-grass plains of Ndutu and the Southern Serengeti, with calving starting late in the month. Kenya's parks are quiet after the festive rush, skies are clear, and gorilla trekking trails are in good condition.
- Ndutu & Southern Serengeti
- Amboseli
- Gorilla trekking
February
Drymedium crowds
Calving peak and big-cat action
Peak calving month in the Southern Serengeti — thousands of wildebeest calves born daily draw intense predator activity around Ndutu. Elsewhere, dry weather holds across Kenya and Tanzania, making this one of the best-value months for excellent game viewing without July-level crowds.
- Calving season
- Big cats
- Photography
March
Shoulderlow crowds
Last calving weeks before the long rains
Early March still delivers calving-season drama in the Southern Serengeti before the long rains build from mid-month. Afternoon storms green the landscape and lodge rates start dropping. A good month for travellers who accept some rain in exchange for dramatic skies and low visitor numbers.
- Late calving
- Low-season rates
- Birdlife
April
Wetlow crowds
Long rains — the quietest month on safari
The heart of the long rains. Heavy afternoon downpours can make black-cotton roads challenging and some seasonal camps close, but parks are emerald green, newborn animals abound and rates are at their lowest. The migration herds begin drifting north-west through the Central Serengeti.
- Green-season rates
- Empty parks
- Bird migration
May
Wetlow crowds
Rains ease — migration moves into the Western Corridor
Rains taper through the month as the migration columns push into the Serengeti's Western Corridor toward the Grumeti River. Landscapes are lush, waterfalls run full and photographers get moody skies. By late May, conditions improve quickly — a smart early-bird window before peak pricing begins.
- Western Corridor
- Green landscapes
- Value stays
June
Dryhigh crowds
Dry season opens — Grumeti crossings
The long dry season begins. Wildebeest mass along the Grumeti River in the Western Serengeti, with the first river crossings of the year. Amboseli's elephant viewing sharpens, gorilla trekking trails firm up, and the whole region enjoys sunny days before the biggest crowds arrive in July.
- Grumeti River
- Amboseli elephants
- Gorilla trekking
July
Drypeak crowds
Mara River crossings begin — peak season starts
The migration reaches the Northern Serengeti and Masai Mara, and the first Mara River crossings typically begin. Weather is dry and mild, game viewing is superb everywhere, and humpback whales appear off the Kenyan coast. This is the start of peak season — book camps well in advance.
- Mara River crossings
- Masai Mara
- Coast & whales
August
Drypeak crowds
Prime crossing month in the Masai Mara
Historically the most reliable month for repeated Mara River crossings, with huge herds spread across the Masai Mara and Northern Serengeti. Every major park is in top dry-season form and gorilla trekking conditions are excellent. Expect peak-season rates and the year's busiest game-viewing circuits.
- River crossings
- Big Five
- Gorilla trekking
September
Drypeak crowds
Crossings continue, crowds thin slightly
River-crossing action continues as herds shuttle between the Mara and Northern Serengeti, while visitor numbers ease slightly from the August high. Dry-season game viewing remains outstanding across Kenya and Tanzania, and whale-watching off Watamu and Diani is at its most reliable.
- Mara & Serengeti
- Whale watching
- Photography
October
Dryhigh crowds
Last crossings — end of the long dry season
The final month of reliable crossing activity as the herds begin drifting south toward the Serengeti. Dry-season game viewing stays excellent almost everywhere, crowds and rates soften noticeably from mid-month, and the light turns golden ahead of the short rains — a superb-value late-peak window.
- Late crossings
- Softer rates
- Big Five
November
Wetlow crowds
Short rains — the migration heads south
The short rains arrive as brief afternoon showers between sunny spells. The migration streams south through the Eastern and Central Serengeti toward the calving grounds. Parks empty out, landscapes green up fast and migratory birds pour in — a rewarding, quiet month for flexible travellers.
- Quiet parks
- Birding
- Green-season rates
December
Shoulderhigh crowds
Rains fade — festive season fills the parks
Short rains usually fade by mid-month and the short dry season begins. The migration settles onto the Southern Serengeti plains, gorilla trekking conditions improve, and the Christmas–New Year fortnight brings a sharp festive peak in visitors and rates. Early December remains a quiet, green bargain.
- Southern Serengeti
- Festive safaris
- Gorilla trekking
03Rain & season at a glance
Two dry seasons (June–October and January–February), long rains from roughly mid-March to May, short rains from November to mid-December.
FAQSafari timing questions
When is the Great Migration?+
The Great Migration is year-round — around 1.5 million wildebeest move in a continuous clockwise circuit between Tanzania's Serengeti and Kenya's Masai Mara. The two headline windows are the Mara River crossings from July to October in the north, and calving season from late January to March on the Southern Serengeti plains around Ndutu.
When do the Mara River crossings happen?+
Mara River crossings typically run from July to October, when the herds shuttle between the Northern Serengeti and the Masai Mara. August and September are historically the most reliable months for repeated crossings. Exact timing depends on rainfall and grazing, and crossings are unpredictable day to day, so plan at least three nights in the region.
When is calving season in the Serengeti?+
Calving season runs from late January to March on the short-grass plains of Ndutu and the Southern Serengeti, peaking in February when roughly 8,000 wildebeest calves are born each day. The abundance of vulnerable newborns draws lion, cheetah and hyena, making it the best big-cat hunting action of the year — with fewer vehicles than the July–October peak.
What is the best month for an African safari?+
For most travellers, June to October is the best overall window — dry weather, firm roads, concentrated wildlife and the Mara River crossings from July. February is the standout alternative for calving season and big cats with fewer crowds. If value matters most, June and October bracket the peak with excellent game viewing at gentler rates.
When is the rainy season in Kenya and Tanzania?+
East Africa has two rainy seasons. The long rains run from roughly mid-March to May, with heavy afternoon downpours — the quietest, cheapest months on safari. The short rains fall from November to mid-December as brief showers between sunny spells, and rarely disrupt game drives. The dry seasons between them — June–October and January–February — are prime safari time.
When is the best time for gorilla trekking?+
The prime gorilla trekking windows are the two dry seasons: June to September and December to February, when forest trails in Bwindi (Uganda) and Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda) are firmest. Trekking runs year-round, but permits are limited to eight visitors per gorilla family per day, so book six months to a year ahead for the dry months.
Timing is everything — tell us your dates
Share when you can travel and we’ll match your dates to the right parks, from river crossings to calving season and gorilla trekking windows.