The African savannah roars to life with the thunder of hooves as over 1.5 million wildebeests, joined by hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, embark on a perilous journey across the plains. Known as The Great Wildebeest Migration, this awe-inspiring event is one of the world’s last great natural spectacles, a breathtaking display of survival, endurance, and raw nature at its finest.
The migration is not just a movement—it’s a dramatic, year-round cycle dictated by seasonal rains and ancient survival instincts. Covering an estimated 1,800 miles, the herds move in search of fresh grazing lands, facing a gauntlet of predators, treacherous river crossings, and unpredictable weather.
January – March (Calving Season) – The Beginning of Life
📍 Southern Serengeti & Ndutu Plains (Tanzania)
This season marks the birth of new life as over 500,000 wildebeest calves are born within a few short weeks. But with new life comes danger—lions, cheetahs, and hyenas lurk in the tall grass, waiting for an easy meal.
April – June (The Long Trek North)
📍 Central Serengeti & Grumeti Reserve (Tanzania)
As the rains fade, the herds move north, crossing woodlands and open plains. They arrive at the Grumeti River, where stealthy crocodiles lie in wait. Many wildebeests perish, but the survivors push forward, determined to continue their journey.
July – October (The Mara River Crossing – The Greatest Challenge)
📍 Northern Serengeti (Tanzania) & Maasai Mara (Kenya)
This is the most famous and heart-pounding part of the migration. Thousands of wildebeests gather along the Mara River, hesitating before plunging into its crocodile-infested waters. Some make it across, others fall prey to the predators, and yet, the migration presses on.
November – December (The Return to the Serengeti)
📍 Masai Mara (Kenya) → Serengeti (Tanzania)
As short rains revive the southern plains, the herds move back to Serengeti National Park, completing the never-ending cycle of survival.
Serengeti National Park (Tanzania) – Best for the calving season, dramatic predator action, and open plains.
📍 Grumeti River (Tanzania) – Ideal for spotting massive crocodiles ambushing the migrating herds.
📍 Mara River (Tanzania & Kenya) – Witness the iconic river crossings, the migration’s most thrilling and perilous moment.
📍 Maasai Mara National Reserve (Kenya) – Excellent predator encounters and a front-row seat to the migration from July to October.
✔ A Wildlife Drama Like No Other – Witness nature’s greatest survival story unfold in real time.
✔ Capture Stunning Photography – Iconic images of wildebeests on the move, predator chases, and breathtaking landscapes.
✔ Experience Authentic Africa – Immerse yourself in untamed wilderness, guided by expert safari guides.
✔ Support Conservation & Local Communities – Your visit contributes to wildlife protection and supports Maasai and local communities.
The Great Wildebeest Migration is an unforgettable experience, an African safari unlike any other. Whether you dream of standing on the Serengeti plains at sunrise or watching the Mara River crossings unfold, Rioba Safaris will take you there.
EXCELLENT Based on 83 reviews Kevoo B2025-06-01Verified Epic Kilimanjaro Climb - 7 Days via Machame Route* Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with Rioba Safaris was a life-changing experience! Our guide,Mack and his team were incredibly supportive, making sure we stayed motivated throughout the climb. The organization was flawless—delicious meals, comfortable camping, and a well-paced itinerary. Summit night was tough, but with Mack encouragement, we made it to Uhuru Peak! If you’re planning to climb Kili, Rioba Safaris is the team you need! IRENE D2025-05-20Verified 10-Day Safari Across Tanzania Adventure Our 10-day safari with Rioba Safaris was beyond incredible! Baraka was a fantastic guide patient, knowledgeable, and full of fascinating insights. We explored Arusha NP, Tarangire, Lake Natron, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro, each place more stunning than the last. The highlight was witnessing the Great Migration in Serengeti and the massive herds of elephants in Tarangire. Everything was seamless, from accommodation to meals. Highly recommend Rioba Safaris for a truly immersive experience! Luc M2025-05-17Verified Lake Natron – A Unique Adventure Lake Natron was unlike any place we’ve ever visited! Our guide, Baraka, took us to see the flamingos, and the scenery was absolutely surreal. The red-colored waters of the lake and the backdrop of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano made for incredible photos. We also enjoyed a hike to the waterfalls, which was refreshing after the hot day. Rioba Safaris did a great job planning this off-the-beaten-path adventure! Fannie Z2025-05-15Verified Serengeti and Raha combo-7days of magic Rioba safaris organized an incredible 7-day safari covering Serengeti Ngorongoro&Raha.Guide baraka made sure we hade the best game drive and we even saw a rare black rhino!the lodges were comfortable and the trip was worth every penny. SARNA S2025-05-15Verified Safaris Amazing Rioba Safaris arranged a private safari for us, including a night game drive in Tarangire and a walking safari in Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Erick our guide, was excellent at spotting nocturnal animals like leopards and hyenas. The walking safari was equally thrilling—being on foot with Maasai guides was an unforgettable experience. If you want a mix of traditional and unique safaris, Rioba Safaris has great options! Declan H2025-02-10Verified An Incredible Six-Day Safari with a Remarkable Guide! Alex was our guide for the six-day safari, and he was awesome! His ability to to spot wildlife from a distance was impressive, and his passion for nature was infectious. The accommodations were comfortable, and the food was delicious. Rioba Safaris truly exceeded our expectations with their impeccable service and well-organized itinerary! kgkjgkjg2025-02-01Verified great but for one thing We did a 9-day Southern Circuit safari to Nyerere, Mikumi, Udzungwa Mountain, and Ruaha National Parks. The parks were great, the lodging ranged from as-expected to exceptional, and our guide Ibrahim was informative and helpful and resourceful when problems arose.But problems did arise. Avoidable problems. Problems relating to the safari vehicle. It was at least 20 years old. There was a big crack in the windshield. Getting out required reaching through the open window to the outside handle because the inside ones didn't work. We wrote all that off as rusticated charm.But then the vehicle broke down on the side of a remote dirt road, and we were stuck for about an hour until Ibra could recruit an eventual passerby to help jerry-rig a solution to get us to our next stop. This happened on two separate occasions. That's unacceptable.But as long as you're not in the Land Cruiser with a license plate ending in 534, I definitely recommend the company. Chen Z2025-01-06Verified Beautiful Memories Safari Africa I had an unforgettable experience on the 5-day luxury safari in Tanzania with Rioba Safari. Everything was perfect from start to finish. Our safari guide, Gody, was exceptional. He was incredibly experienced, knowledgeable, and always had a great attitude. His expertise made the safari even more memorable, as he knew exactly where to take us to see the wildlife and shared fascinating insights along the way. The accommodations were luxurious, and the overall service was top-notch. Highly recommend Rioba Safari for anyone looking for a premium safari experience! Serena A2024-12-18Verified Meraviglioso Safari ❤️ We had a wonderful safari! Our guide was very attentive... showed us a lot of animals... he was nice and prepared! Thank you for the wonderful experience ❤️ Esma H2024-12-04Verified I highly recommend RIOBA safari RIOBA was very nice and patient with me he was there to listen and meet all my needs from the planing and he made sure I got the accommodation i wanted, and our safari was very well organized, We are so happy we decided to do it . We are Tanzania we never imagine the experience will be this Amazing. We feel like we were missing out on the Safari experience. Our guide Eric was very knowledgeable and very attentive. My Aunt hurt her leg and he was so thoughtful and always there to help her and make things easy for her .He made our trip so memorable . Thank you for the Amazing experience we will be back again !Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
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