The Great Migration in April: Where the Herds Are and What to Expect
Where the herds are in April, how wet the month really is, what it costs and who should choose March or May instead.
Read the guide →The Great Migration in August is the scene most people picture: herds spread across the Maasai Mara and the northern Serengeti, crossing the Mara River again and again in both directions. It is also peak season, with the most vehicles at the best-known crossing points. This page shows where the herds are, how a crossing day is really spent, how Kenya and Tanzania differ for crowds, and how many nights to allow. The wider picture sits in the full Great Migration safari guide.
Mid-Augustwhen the likeliest crossing window begins
4+ nightsour minimum near the river
05:45typical wake-up on a crossing-season morning
9–12 monthsat least, to book camps for the month
The short answer
The Great Migration in August puts the herds across both the Maasai Mara and the northern Serengeti, crossing the Mara River repeatedly in both directions. The likeliest window starts around mid-August. Crossings happen many times a week but never on a fixed day, and none is guaranteed. Allow at least four nights near the river and book nine to twelve months ahead.
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 August?
In August the herds are on both sides of the border at once. Large groups of wildebeest and zebra are spread across the Maasai Mara in Kenya and the northern Serengeti in Tanzania, and they move between the two. Roughly 1.3 to 1.5 million wildebeest, about 200,000 to 300,000 plains zebra and about 400,000 to 500,000 gazelle make up the wider movement. Not all of them are at the river on the same day.
The wildebeest migration August pattern
Kenya hosts the Serengeti herds for only three to four months, from about July to October. August sits in the middle of that window. The herds cross the river in both directions, many times over the weeks. Positions can run two to four weeks early or late, so we treat every date here as a typical year.
Serengeti in August
The Serengeti in August means the northern end of the park. Kogatende, the Lamai Wedge, Bologonja and Wogakuria hold the Tanzanian share of the herds. The country is remote, and the Tanzanian side is generally quieter than central Kenya.
Masai Mara in August
The Masai Mara in August has the most vehicles at its central crossing points. The central reserve and the Mara Triangle both see crossings. The smaller Loita herd is also in the Mara by now, so the plains hold both populations.
What happens in the Great Migration in August: crossings in both directions
August is the month when the Mara River stops being a single event and becomes a routine. Herds cross in both directions, so the same animals can use the river more than once. Crossings can occur many times a week. They never follow a fixed day or hour.
The likeliest window starts around mid-August and runs to mid-September. Crossings can also happen earlier in the month. A crossing can last minutes or more than an hour. Herds often gather at the edge, mill about, and retreat, sometimes for days, before one group commits. Zebra are frequently the first into the water. The river holds Nile crocodiles, and some points are narrow with sheer drops.
The behaviour of the herd tells you more than the clock. A rising grunt that drops suddenly, and a plume of dust close to the bank, are the signs our guides listen for. Vehicles wait well back until the animals commit. Blocking a landing zone can turn a whole herd away and lead to more drownings. For the crossing areas and the timing, read our Mara River crossing points guide.
Be aware. A busy month does not mean a busy river. Waiting is a large part of every crossing day, and some days end with no crossing at all. If you cannot spend several mornings and afternoons at the bank, a crossing-focused August trip may leave you disappointed.
A crossing day in August, hour by hour
A crossing-season day is built around patience. A typical schedule looks like this, adapted to the camp and the herds that day.
- 05:45: wake-up call.
- 06:15: first light, and the day's drive begins.
- Morning: a bush breakfast.
- 10:00 to 14:00: the main waiting period, with a picnic lunch.
- Evening: sundowners.
For photographers, a shutter speed of 1/1600 s or faster freezes the action, continuous autofocus follows the movement, and a beanbag on the window frame beats a tripod. Bring a wide lens for scale. Backlit dust at dawn and dusk adds atmosphere to the frame.
August crowds: Kenya vs Tanzania
August crowds are heaviest at the Kenyan central-Mara crossing points and lightest on the Tanzanian side. The Lookout Hill area and the Paradise Crossing area draw the most vehicles in peak weeks. Tanzania's Kogatende and Lamai areas are generally quieter, though not empty.
| Area | What August is usually like |
|---|---|
| Central Maasai Mara (Lookout Hill, Paradise Crossing area) | The most famous Kenyan crossings, and high crowds in peak weeks. The river is narrow, with sheer drops. |
| Mara Triangle | The western part of the reserve, across the river from the main reserve, managed by the non-profit Mara Conservancy. Crowds are medium, with strict vehicle rules. It has a separate cashless ticket, strong ranger patrols and well-kept roads. Several recognised crossing areas line this bank. Purungat Bridge links the Triangle to the main reserve, but it is a vehicle bridge, not a wildlife crossing. |
| Kogatende and Lamai Wedge | Kogatende has medium crowds. The Lamai Wedge is remote, with low crowds, and Crossing Point Number Four there is a well-known productive spot. |
| Bologonja and Wogakuria | Quieter hills and tracks, with low crowds. |
If you are weighing the two countries in detail, our comparison of the Serengeti and the Masai Mara for the migration sets out the trade-offs. Many travellers want both banks in one trip. That is possible, but it takes a half-day transfer via Nairobi and Kilimanjaro or Arusha, because no flight links the two sets of airstrips directly.
Great Migration August weather and price
Weather
August is dry. Take layers for the early starts on an open vehicle. For the wider climate picture, see our guides to the best time to visit Kenya and the best time to visit Tanzania.
Price
August is peak season, so peak rates apply. Typical prices per person per night, sharing, are US$450–750 at Comfort level, US$750–1,300 at Premium and US$1,300–2,500+ at Luxury. These are indicative and confirmed in your quote.
- The Maasai Mara National Reserve ticket is US$200 per adult per day from 1 July 2026. Children aged 9 to 17 pay US$50 and under-9s are free. The ticket is valid from 06:00 to 18:00.
- The Mara Triangle charges its own cashless ticket. Conservancy fees are usually included in the camp rate.
- In the Serengeti, the conservation fee is US$70 plus 18% VAT (about US$82.60) per 24 hours, plus a concession fee of about US$60 plus VAT per night inside the park.
- A hot air balloon flight costs roughly US$550 to US$750 per person, and August slots go early. See the hot air balloon safari cost guide for details.
Our Kenya itinerary, Kenya Migration Explorer: Maasai Mara River Crossings, is an 8-day private 4x4 safari from US$6,100 per person. It covers the Mara Triangle, the central Mara and Mara North Conservancy, and it runs from late July to early October, so August falls squarely inside it.
Where to stay in August for the migration
Where to stay in August is a question about the river, not the room. Choose the bank first, then the style of camp. A camp that is 20 minutes from the action can give about two extra hours of viewing a day compared with one 90 minutes away.
| Base | Examples (changes every season) |
|---|---|
| Central Mara | Governors' Camp, beside Musiara Marsh, at Premium. |
| Elsewhere in the Maasai Mara | Rekero Camp and Elephant Pepper Camp at Premium; Ashnil Mara Camp and Basecamp Masai Mara at Comfort. |
| Mara Triangle side | Angama Mara on the Oloololo Escarpment above the Mara Triangle, at Luxury. |
| Mara conservancies | Mara Plains Camp in Olare Motorogi Conservancy at Luxury. |
| Northern Serengeti | Lemala Kuria Hills and Olakira Camp at Premium; Sayari Camp, Nomad Lamai Serengeti and Singita Mara River Tented Camp at Luxury; seasonal tented camps near Kogatende at Comfort. |
These are examples only. Availability and positions change every season and are confirmed in your quote. Mobile and seasonal camps move two or three times a year, while permanent lodges have pools and larger rooms. Conservancies limit beds and vehicles, and they allow off-road driving, walks and night drives that the main reserve does not. Herds do not always cross inside the conservancies, so guests drive to the reserve for the river. Our guides on where to stay in the Masai Mara for the migration and on the Mara conservancies migration safari go through the options.
How many nights to allow in August
Allow at least four nights near the river in August. Each extra night is another chance, because the herds move back and forth without a schedule. A single night at the river is a gamble, however good the month.
| Nights near the river | What it means |
|---|---|
| Fewer than four | You may see herds and big cats, but a crossing is a matter of luck. We advise against planning a trip around so short a stay. |
| Four | Our minimum. It gives you several full mornings and afternoons at the bank. |
| Four plus four, split | Four nights in Kenya and four in Tanzania, as on our nine-day crossing safari, cover both banks of the Mara River. |
For two banks in one itinerary, Mara to Serengeti: The Ultimate Migration Crossing Safari runs 9 days from US$7,600 per person. It has four nights in Kenya and four in Tanzania, with both banks of the Mara River, and it is built for July to October. The transfer between the two countries goes via Nairobi and Kilimanjaro or Arusha and adds cost.
Who the Great Migration in August suits, and who should choose September
The Great Migration in August suits travellers who want the headline experience and can book early. It suits those who accept crowds in exchange for the best-known weeks, and those with fixed school holidays. Families often travel in July and August. Our Kenya & Tanzania Family Migration Safari is an 11-day itinerary from US$8,300 per person, paced for children with a junior-ranger programme. Some camps set minimum ages, often 6, 8 or 12, so tell us the ages of your children early.
Choose another month if any of these sound like you:
- You dislike crowds. The next month often has slightly fewer visitors with similar crossing chances. Read the Great Migration in September page.
- You want to arrive as peak season starts. The Great Migration in July page explains the arrival month, when peak season is only starting.
- You cannot sit still for long waits. A resident-wildlife safari may suit you better than a month built around a river bank.
To see how August compares with the other eleven months, use the Great Migration by month overview.
Next steps for your Great Migration in August
- Choose your bank: Kenya, Tanzania, or both with a split stay.
- Tell us your dates, group size and nationality so we can check fees, visas and which camps are free.
- Plan for at least four nights near the river, and book nine to twelve months ahead.
- Read the itinerary page for each safari, where the terms are shown.
Plan your Great Migration in August
Send us your dates and your group. We will match you to the right bank and the right number of nights.
Plan my tripKeep reading: related Great Migration guides
Great Migration month by month
Twelve months compared, with a page for each one.
Great Migration in July
Where the herds are in July, the weather and who should go.
Great Migration in September
Where the herds are in September, the weather and who should go.
Northern Serengeti and Kogatende
The northern Serengeti, Kogatende and the Mara River banks.
For the whole picture, see our Great Migration safari guide. If you are ready to price a trip, Kenya Migration Explorer: Maasai Mara River Crossings starts from US$6,100 per person.