Wilderness
Tanzania’s wildlife
Tanzania ranks among Earth's most biodiverse nations, hosting over 840 protected areas covering 38% of its land.
Iconic Tanzania
Iconic Tanzania
The country shelters approximately 20% of Africa's large mammals across more than 350 mammal species. The renowned Serengeti alone supports over 120 mammal species, more large mammals than anywhere globally, including over a million wildebeest alongside vast zebra and gazelle herds.
Witness the Great Migration
Tanzania co-hosts the Great Migration, a wildlife phenomenon that sees over two million animals move annually across the famed Serengeti National Park. This mass movement includes approximately 1.3 million wildebeest, 800,000 zebras, and 200,000 gazelles, with herds moving in response to seasonal rains in a year-round cycle, making it a dynamic, ever-changing wildlife experience.
The annual cycle of the Great Migration
The Great Migration occurs year-round, with herds moving across the Serengeti in response to seasonal rains. Notably, the herds prefer the Southern Plains, as its open grasslands provide safety and nutrient-rich grasses, a product of ancient volcanic activity. If not for the influence of rain, they probably would not move as they do.
When to visit Tanzania
December to April
Calving season in the Southern Plains
As the rains arrive, this flat landscape transforms into a green expanse of fertile grass. During calving season, an estimated 500,000 wildebeest are born here over just a few weeks. This synchrony overwhelms predators, reducing the chances of calves being singled out. Add to that their ability to move with the herd within minutes of being born, and the battle between predator and prey is on.
April to July
Moving north through the Grumeti
After calving season, herds begin dispersing towards the central, eastern, and western Serengeti. April to July sees the Migration reach the Grumeti River. Here, herds can be seen launching dramatic river crossings, with innumerable crocodiles lying in wait. The area also supports both migratory and resident wildebeest populations, ensuring year-round wildlife activity.
July to October
Northern Serengeti
By July, the Migration normally reaches the northern Serengeti, where herds attempt even more dramatic Mara River crossings. These crossings are a highlight of the Migration, and witnessing them is a thrilling experience. The herds cross the river multiple times before eventually moving back into the central regions of the Serengeti around November.
July to October
Northern Serengeti
North of the Mara River lies the Lamai area, characterised by vast open grasslands interspersed with small groves of trees. The annual wildebeest migration begins arriving here in mid-July for their rutting season, staying until late October. This region remains one of the most breathtaking and unspoiled areas of the Serengeti, with abundant resident wildlife creating a serene safari experience.
November to December
The return south
Herds gradually head south from the central regions of the Serengeti, following the rains to the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti. This southward movement sees the herds spreading out again across the landscape as they make their way back to the nutrient-rich Southern Plains, where the cycle will begin again with the next calving season.
December to April
December to April
Calving season in the Southern Plains
As the rains arrive, this flat landscape transforms into a green expanse of fertile grass. During calving season, an estimated 500,000 wildebeest are born here over just a few weeks. This synchrony overwhelms predators, reducing the chances of calves being singled out. Add to that their ability to move with the herd within minutes of being born, and the battle between predator and prey is on.
April to July
April to July
Moving north through the Grumeti
After calving season, herds begin dispersing towards the central, eastern, and western Serengeti. April to July sees the Migration reach the Grumeti River. Here, herds can be seen launching dramatic river crossings, with innumerable crocodiles lying in wait. The area also supports both migratory and resident wildebeest populations, ensuring year-round wildlife activity.
July to October
July to October
Northern Serengeti
By July, the Migration normally reaches the northern Serengeti, where herds attempt even more dramatic Mara River crossings. These crossings are a highlight of the Migration, and witnessing them is a thrilling experience. The herds cross the river multiple times before eventually moving back into the central regions of the Serengeti around November.
July to October
July to October
Northern Serengeti
North of the Mara River lies the Lamai area, characterised by vast open grasslands interspersed with small groves of trees. The annual wildebeest migration begins arriving here in mid-July for their rutting season, staying until late October. This region remains one of the most breathtaking and unspoiled areas of the Serengeti, with abundant resident wildlife creating a serene safari experience.
November to December
November to December
The return south
Herds gradually head south from the central regions of the Serengeti, following the rains to the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti. This southward movement sees the herds spreading out again across the landscape as they make their way back to the nutrient-rich Southern Plains, where the cycle will begin again with the next calving season.
Wildebeest
Zebra
Gazelles
Wildlife wonders in the Serengeti
The Serengeti hosts massive herds, including 1.3 million wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelles, plus eland, impala, buffalo, elephant, and topi.
Predators
The Serengeti supports a diverse predator community that follows the migrating herds. Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and crocodiles at river crossings all play crucial roles in this ecosystem, maintaining the natural balance as they hunt the abundant prey species moving across this productive landscape. Other predators include leopard, African wild dog, serval, caracal, and striped hyena.
Lion
Lions are well represented in the Serengeti, with healthy populations throughout the park. These apex predators are among the large mammals that make this ecosystem unique, with the many lion prides all preying on the migrating wildebeest, zebra, and other herbivores moving through their territories.
Cheetah
Cheetahs are among the iconic predators found in the Serengeti ecosystem. Here, you will find healthy populations, which hunt abundant prey species such as gazelle across the open plains. The habitat is well-suited to their speed, making the Serengeti one of the best places to see cheetah in full stride.
African wild dog
African wild dog populations have been re-establishing in the north-east of the park, in the Loliondo area. These endangered predators add to what is already an exceptionally diverse predator community.
Nile crocodile
Nile crocodiles are abundant in the Serengeti and are often seen predating on wildebeest, zebra, and gazelles as they make their dramatic river crossings through the Mara River between July and October. These reptiles grow exceptionally large due to the abundance of prey they catch, as the herds cross the rivers in search of grazing and water.
Spotted hyena
Spotted hyenas are part of the Serengeti's predator community, with healthy populations throughout the park. These carnivores, along with lions and cheetahs, prey on the abundant herbivores while also scavenging from their competitors.
Lion
Lion
Lions are well represented in the Serengeti, with healthy populations throughout the park. These apex predators are among the large mammals that make this ecosystem unique, with the many lion prides all preying on the migrating wildebeest, zebra, and other herbivores moving through their territories.
Cheetah
Cheetah
Cheetahs are among the iconic predators found in the Serengeti ecosystem. Here, you will find healthy populations, which hunt abundant prey species such as gazelle across the open plains. The habitat is well-suited to their speed, making the Serengeti one of the best places to see cheetah in full stride.
African wild dog
African wild dog
African wild dog populations have been re-establishing in the north-east of the park, in the Loliondo area. These endangered predators add to what is already an exceptionally diverse predator community.
Nile crocodile
Nile crocodile
Nile crocodiles are abundant in the Serengeti and are often seen predating on wildebeest, zebra, and gazelles as they make their dramatic river crossings through the Mara River between July and October. These reptiles grow exceptionally large due to the abundance of prey they catch, as the herds cross the rivers in search of grazing and water.
Spotted hyena
Spotted hyena
Spotted hyenas are part of the Serengeti's predator community, with healthy populations throughout the park. These carnivores, along with lions and cheetahs, prey on the abundant herbivores while also scavenging from their competitors.
Other animals of the Serengeti
The Serengeti has over 120 mammal species recorded, supporting more large-mammal species than anywhere else on the planet. The park's outstanding mammal diversity includes mega-herbivores and numerous antelope species. There are over 550 bird species.
Hippo
Hippos are found throughout the Serengeti ecosystem, with these large mammals occupying the rivers and water sources.
Big Five
The Serengeti is home to the Big Five, with elephants occurring throughout the park, but concentrated in the north. There are also healthy populations of lion and leopard, with African buffalo found in large numbers. Black rhinos, which are Critically Endangered, are also found in the ecosystem.
Birds
The Serengeti-Mara ecosystem has well over 550 recorded bird species, with six country endemics found here, including grey-breasted spurfowl, rufous-tailed weaver, red-throated tit, Karamoja apalis, Tanzanian red-billed hornbill and grey-crested helmet-shrike.
Giraffe
Maasai giraffe (Endangered) occurs throughout the woodland areas of the Serengeti. These large mammals are among the diverse species that make the park one of the most important wildlife areas in Africa.
Hippo
Hippo
Hippos are found throughout the Serengeti ecosystem, with these large mammals occupying the rivers and water sources.
Big Five
Big Five
The Serengeti is home to the Big Five, with elephants occurring throughout the park, but concentrated in the north. There are also healthy populations of lion and leopard, with African buffalo found in large numbers. Black rhinos, which are Critically Endangered, are also found in the ecosystem.
Birds
Birds
The Serengeti-Mara ecosystem has well over 550 recorded bird species, with six country endemics found here, including grey-breasted spurfowl, rufous-tailed weaver, red-throated tit, Karamoja apalis, Tanzanian red-billed hornbill and grey-crested helmet-shrike.
Giraffe
Giraffe
Maasai giraffe (Endangered) occurs throughout the woodland areas of the Serengeti. These large mammals are among the diverse species that make the park one of the most important wildlife areas in Africa.
Wonderfully diverse
Wilderness mobile camp
Is the migration predictable?
Is the migration predictable?
The Great Migration follows an annual pattern driven by seasonal rainfall, but exact timing varies year to year. Wilderness Usawa camps move with the migration using live wildlife and weather information, ensuring the best possible wildlife experience regardless of annual variations. If conditions indicate better viewing elsewhere, camps relocate and guest routes are adjusted accordingly.
The Great Migration
Year-round movement
December to April
Calving season in the Southern Plains
April to July
Moving north through the Grumeti
July to October
By July, the Migration normally reaches the northern Serengeti.
July to October
The herds cross the river multiple times before eventually moving back into the central regions of the Serengeti around November.
November to December
The return south
Month
Southern Plains
What do I need to know before I visit?
Travel tips from our Tanzania experts
Frequently asked questions
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