The Great Migration in August: Where the Herds Are and What to Expect
Where the herds are in August, how Mara River crossings work in both directions, how Kenya and Tanzania differ for crowds, and how many nights to allow.
Read the guide →The Great Migration in April is the month the herds leave the southern plains. The wildebeest that spent the calving season in the south start to move, so a trip that expects the February concentrations will find something different. This page settles where the herds are in April, how wet the month really is, what it costs and who should choose a different month. It is also the page for anyone asking where is the Great Migration in April before they pay for flights. Our Great Migration safari guide covers the whole year.
Wettest monthof the migration year in the Serengeti
3 to 6 monthsat least, the usual booking lead time for the green season
1.3 to 1.5 millionwildebeest in the ecosystem, spread out and on the move
Moru Kopjesthe landmark on the herds' route north-west
The short answer
In a typical year the Great Migration in April is leaving the southern Serengeti and heading north-west through Moru Kopjes and the central Serengeti around Seronera. It is the wettest month, the parks are quiet and prices drop. Expect herds on the move rather than the February concentrations, and no river crossings.
Facts checked 12 October 2026. Fees, schedules and herd positions change, so we confirm them again when we quote.
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Where is the Great Migration in April?
In April the herds are on the move out of the south. The short-grass plains around Ndutu, Kakesio, Lake Masek and Naabi Hill, where the herds spent December to March, empty out as the month goes on. The animals head north-west through Moru Kopjes and the central Serengeti around Seronera.
The herds do not leave on one day. The rains can move the whole schedule by two to four weeks either way, so the positions in any one April can differ from the typical pattern.
Serengeti in April, area by area
| Area | What to expect in April |
|---|---|
| Southern plains (Ndutu, Kakesio, Naabi Hill) | The herds are leaving, so expect fewer animals than in the calving months. |
| Moru Kopjes | The route north-west. Herds pass through here, with timing that changes from year to year. |
| Central Serengeti (Seronera) | The usual base in April, with herds in transit and resident predators. |
| Western Corridor | Not yet. The first gatherings at the Grumeti River come in late May. |
| Northern Serengeti and the Mara | Not yet. The herds arrive here from about July. |
Wildebeest migration April: choosing your base
Because the herds are on the move, ask which area gives you the best odds of herds in transit, and what else is there if they are late. Central Serengeti answers both. For the mechanics behind the loop, see how the Great Migration works.
What happens in the Great Migration in April: the herds leave the south
The main event of the Great Migration in April is departure. By March the calves are stronger, the herds gather in larger groups, and the long rains usually begin late in the month. Rain brings fresh grass elsewhere, and the herds follow it. This is the same engine that drives the whole loop of about 800 to 1,000 km, run clockwise.
What you see from a vehicle is different from the calving season: herds on the move across open ground and past the kopjes, rather than a dense concentration on the southern plains. Changeable weather gives photographers dramatic skies.
The wildlife that stays
The wildebeest are not the only reason to be in the Serengeti in April. Lions and leopards live around Seronera all year, and the tented camps there suit year-round predator viewing. Leopards use the riverine trees. If you are comfortable with a migration that is passing through, resident predators are a strong reason to choose this month.
Guide's tip. Watch the sky, not the calendar. Build flexibility into the plan, not just the dates, because the herds follow the rain.
Great Migration April weather: how wet is it really?
April is the wettest month in the Serengeti, so plan for rain on some days. Our general guides to the best time to visit Tanzania and the best time to visit Kenya cover the climate in full.
For the Great Migration April weather, the practical effects matter more than the totals:
- Some camps close for the wet season, so the choice of where to sleep is narrower than in July or February.
- Some tracks are muddy after rain, so drives may need to be rerouted.
- Skies are changeable, which suits photographers who like dark clouds over green plains and frustrates those who want clean blue days.
- Build slack into the plan, because weather can change a day's drives.
Be aware. If you cannot accept a wet day, or if your trip is only worth it to you with a large herd in front of you, April is the wrong month. No one can promise dry game drives or a particular herd position here. The honest alternatives are February, when the herds are concentrated on the southern plains, or July to September for the river.
Masai Mara in April: are the herds in Kenya?
No. The Masai Mara, also spelt Maasai Mara, does not host the Serengeti herds in April. Kenya sees them for roughly three to four months, from about July to October. In April the herds are still in Tanzania, so an April trip built around the migration should stay in the Serengeti.
The Mara has resident wildlife all year, and our Maasai Mara National Reserve guide covers it. For the reserve fee, the published 2026 tariff had US$100 per adult per day from 1 January to 30 June 2026, and the fee for your dates is confirmed in your quote. For when the herds do arrive in Kenya, our guide to the Great Migration in Kenya has the window.
April price: green-season rates
April is a green-season month. The parks are quiet and prices drop.
The table shows typical per-person-per-night bands, sharing a room, for the green season (March to May and November) and for peak weeks (July to September and Christmas and New Year; June and October are shoulder months, and each camp sets its own calendar). These are indicative and confirmed in your quote.
| Style | Green season, per person per night | Peak, per person per night |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | US$350 to US$550 | US$450 to US$750 |
| Premium | US$550 to US$900 | US$750 to US$1,300 |
| Luxury | US$900 to US$1,700 | US$1,300 to US$2,500 and above |
On top of the room rate, a non-resident adult pays the Serengeti National Park conservation fee of US$70 plus 18% VAT, about US$82.60, per 24 hours, and a concession fee of about US$60 plus VAT per night when you stay inside the park. These are published 2026 tariffs that can change at short notice, so your quote confirms the 2027 figures. Our quotes normally include park fees, the private vehicle and specialist guide, meals on safari and airport transfers. International flights, visas, travel insurance with medical evacuation and tips are extra.
For a first look at what a week costs, our Classic Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Safari runs from US$4,650 per person over seven days, through Tarangire, the central Serengeti around Seronera and the crater. It suits a first safari and is not built around where the herds are. Its best months are June to October and late December to February, so for April we adapt the route to what is open and confirm the price for your dates when we quote. For the wider picture, see our East Africa safari cost guide.
Where to stay in April for the wildebeest migration
For a wildebeest migration in April, stay in the central Serengeti around Seronera. The central Serengeti is at its best in April and May, and it combines herds in transit with resident predators. The Kogatende camps in the north are for the July to October season.
Examples of camps in this area, by style, include Dunia Camp and Serengeti Pioneer Camp at Premium level, and Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti and Namiri Plains at Luxury level. There are also tented camps around Seronera that work well for year-round predators. Availability and positions change every season and are confirmed in your quote.
Two points to settle with every camp:
- Permanent lodges have pools and larger rooms. Some camps close in April, so confirm that yours is open.
- Mobile and seasonal camps move two or three times a year to follow the herds, so ask where one will stand on your dates.
Ask every camp how far it is from the action. A camp 20 minutes from the herd can give you about two extra hours of viewing a day compared with one 90 minutes away. If you want a longer look at the area, read our southern and central Serengeti migration guide.
How far ahead to book an April safari
For a migration safari in April, book at least three to six months ahead. That is the lead time for the whole green season of March to May and November, and it is much shorter than the nine to twelve months needed for July to September or February. Some camps close in April, so the choice is narrower. Our guide to how far ahead to book a migration safari has the full table.
Who the Great Migration in April suits, and who should choose another month
The Great Migration April safari suits travellers who accept quiet parks and unsettled weather. It works for you if one or more of these is true:
- You want quiet parks and can live with a wet afternoon.
- You are a photographer who prefers dark skies to clear days.
- You care most about resident lions and leopards around Seronera.
- You want green-season rates for a Serengeti stay.
Choose another month if any of these is more like you:
- You need predictable weather, or you cannot lose a game drive to rain. Look at July to September instead.
- You want a large herd in front of you every day. Look at the Great Migration in March, when the herds are still on the southern plains, the calves are stronger and the herds gather before they move.
- You want the rut with males grunting and chasing, which belongs to the Great Migration in May and June, with the herds pushing west.
- You want to see a river crossing. Crossings come mainly from July to September, and even then they are never guaranteed.
For all twelve months side by side, see the Great Migration by month guide. If you want the full list of questions to put to us, our first safari planning guide is a useful start.
Plan your Great Migration April safari
Planning the Great Migration in April takes four steps.
- Decide whether you want the herds in transit or the resident predators. In April you may get both, but herd positions vary.
- Tell us your dates, your group and your nationality, so that we can check which central Serengeti camps are open.
- Choose a style: Comfort, Premium or Luxury. The green-season bands above show the difference.
- Ask us for a quote. Optional extras are shown separately.
Plan your Great Migration in April with a specialist
Tell us your dates and group size and we will say honestly whether April, March or May suits you best.
Plan my tripIf you are still weighing the year, compare the Serengeti calving season in the south with the green season, or read our Serengeti National Park guide.
Keep reading: related Great Migration guides
Great Migration month by month
Twelve months compared, with a page for each one.
Great Migration in March
Where the herds are in March, the weather and who should go.
Great Migration in May
Where the herds are in May, the weather and who should go.
Serengeti or Masai Mara for the migration
Which side of the border suits your dates, budget and style.
For the whole picture, see our Great Migration safari guide. If you are ready to price a trip, Classic Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Safari starts from US$4,650 per person.