After giving birth to their young in February and March, the wildebeest herds start moving northwest in April, heading for the fresher grass in the central Serengeti. They’re joined by thousands of zebras and smaller groups of antelopes. By May, you can see long lines of wildebeests stretching for miles as they gather.

In May, mating season begins, and male wildebeests start fighting each other. This period, called ‘the rut,’ is when the journey slows down a bit, with the wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles grazing as they move. As time passes, more and more animals join the migration, and the wildebeests start to group together in the Serengeti’s Western Corridor. Although it might not be as famous as the Mara crossings, there are still plenty of wildebeests for the crocodiles in the Grumeti River to feast on. May is considered the low season at Ubuntu, which means fewer tourists but still fantastic wildlife sightings on safaris in the Serengeti.

As June rolls in, the dry season begins, and you’ll find big groups of wildebeests in the Western Serengeti and along the southern banks of the Grumeti River. Each animal in the migration faces the tough task of crossing this river, which is full of crocodiles—a tense and dangerous moment for them.

Moving from June to July, the hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebras keep heading north, sticking to the western side of the park. Their next big challenge? The Mara River in the north of the Serengeti. These river crossings are some of the most thrilling events in the animal kingdom. They usually start in July, coinciding with the high season, but it all depends on nature’s timing.

In July, you’ll often find the herds in the Northern Serengeti. During this time, you can witness daily river crossings at the Mara and Talek rivers, creating truly incredible scenes.