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 December is really two different trips: a quiet, green early December, and a busy, peak-priced Christmas and New Year. In both, most of the herds are back on or near the southern plains, grazing fresh grass before the calves arrive. This page settles where the animals are likely to be, how the two halves of the month differ, and what each costs in crowds and money. It also says who should choose another month.
10-12 monthsahead for Christmas and New Year, at least
2-3 weeksthe window in which most calves are born, later in the season
US$82.60Ngorongoro Conservation Area fee per adult per 24 hours with VAT, which applies at Ndutu
The short answer
The Great Migration in December finds most of the herds on or near the southern plains, on fresh grass, with calves not yet born. Calving can start at the very end of the month. Early December is quieter. Christmas and New Year is busy and priced as peak, so book at least 10 to 12 months ahead. What you see depends on when the rains came.
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 December?
In a typical year the herds spend December on or near the short-grass southern plains. That means the Ndutu area, Kakesio, Lake Masek, Naabi Hill, Gol Kopjes, the southern and eastern Serengeti, and the edge of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Not every animal has arrived by the first of the month, because the rains set the pace and timing can shift by two to four weeks either way.
The month sits between the herds streaming south in November and the calving of January to March. Our full Great Migration safari guide sets out the annual loop, and the month-by-month migration guide shows the neighbours.
Serengeti in December: Ndutu, Kakesio and Naabi Hill
The Serengeti in December is open short-grass country, and the herds are on or near the plains around Ndutu, Kakesio, Lake Masek, Naabi Hill and Gol Kopjes. If the rains came late, some groups may still be further north and east. Our guide to the southern and central Serengeti migration covers the ground in detail.
Masai Mara in December: not a migration month
The Masai Mara in December is not migration country. Kenya sees the Serengeti herds for just a few months, roughly July to October, and they are back in Tanzania by December. If the herds are your reason to travel, plan for the Serengeti. Our comparison of Serengeti and Masai Mara migration helps you choose between the two.
What happens in December: back on the southern plains
In December the herds graze fresh grass on the southern plains, which sit on volcanic ash rich in phosphorus and calcium, good for the females that are about to give birth. Zebra, then wildebeest, then gazelle graze the grass in succession.
Calves are not yet born in most of the month. Calving can start at the very end of December. Calving usually runs from late January to March and peaks in February, and our Serengeti calving season guide owns that story in full.
Predators on open ground
Cheetah and lion hunt in the open, and spotted hyena clans follow the herds. Off-road driving is allowed in parts of the Ndutu area, within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, but not across most of Serengeti National Park. That rule changes how close you can get, so ask your guide which area you are in.
Early December vs Christmas and New Year
Early December and Christmas week are the same landscape priced and crowded very differently. Early December is quieter. Christmas and New Year is busy and priced as peak. The table sets the two side by side.
| Question | Early December | Christmas and New Year |
|---|---|---|
| How busy is it? | Quieter | Busy |
| How is it priced? | Confirmed in your quote; peak pricing is for the festive weeks | Peak rates apply |
| How far ahead? | As early as you can; we confirm it when we quote | At least 10 to 12 months |
| Best for | Travellers who want space and fresh grass | Families and groups tied to the holiday dates |
Be aware. Christmas and New Year is peak-priced and busy. What you see also depends on when the rains came, and the herds can be two to four weeks early or late. Calving can start at the very end of the month, but we cannot promise a birth or a sighting.
Great Migration December weather, crowds and price
Great Migration December weather is green and warm, with the short rains tailing off. For the wider climate picture, read when to visit Tanzania and when to visit Kenya. For the herds, the practical point is the rain: it moves them, so a late rainy season can leave some groups further north and east.
Crowds follow the calendar. Early December is quieter, and Christmas and New Year is busy. Prices follow it too. As indicative figures per person per night, sharing, the southern Serengeti is often priced as peak at Christmas and New Year, and the bands below show the difference. Your quote confirms the exact figures.
| Level | Typical green-season price | Typical peak price |
|---|---|---|
| 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+ |
Fees and extras
For a non-resident adult in 2026, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area fee is US$70 plus VAT (about US$82.60) per 24 hours, and it applies at Ndutu. Inside Serengeti National Park, add the conservation fee (US$70 plus 18% VAT per 24 hours) and a concession fee of about US$60 plus VAT for each night you sleep there. A crater descent costs about US$295 per vehicle, covered in our Ngorongoro Crater guide. All fees for 2027 are confirmed in your quote.
A hot air balloon flight is typically US$550 to US$750 per person and is weather-dependent, so book early for the festive weeks. Our hot air balloon safari cost guide explains it.
Where to stay in December on the southern plains
Choose the area first and the camp second: in December that means the southern plains, at or near Ndutu, with at least four nights in the main area. Camp position matters more than camp category, so ask how far the camp is from where the animals are that week.
- Luxury: &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas, and Nomad Serengeti Safari Camp, which is seasonal.
- Premium: Lemala Ndutu, and seasonal mobile camps near Kakesio.
- Comfort: Lake Masek Tented Camp and Ndutu Safari Lodge.
Treat these as examples. Positions and availability shift each season, so your quote confirms which camps are open for your dates. Mobile and seasonal camps move two or three times a year to follow the herds, while permanent lodges have pools and larger rooms.
A package built around the southern plains
The Tanzania Grand Migration Explorer is 10 days across Ndutu and the southern Serengeti, central Serengeti and the northern Serengeti, from US$7,200 per person. It is timed for calving from late December to March, and for crossings from late June to September. It flies between Ndutu, Seronera and Kogatende.
Families and beach pairings in December
December suits families because the school holidays fall in it. Our Kenya & Tanzania Family Migration Safari runs 11 days, paced for families, with a junior-ranger programme, and starts from US$8,300 per person. It is timed for July and August and the December school holidays. Camps differ on minimum age, so tell us your children's ages when you ask.
A beach break pairs well with a December safari. Finish with a few days on the coast after the plains, and use our guide to adding Zanzibar to your safari to plan it. Transfers differ by route, and we confirm them in your quote.
Who a migration safari in December suits, and who should choose another month
A migration safari in December suits travellers who want open plains, fresh grass and hunting in the open, and who can travel on holiday dates or in the quieter first weeks.
- Choose early December if you want space and a quieter month, and ask us for the rate, which we confirm in your quote.
- Choose Christmas and New Year if the school calendar leaves you no other choice, and book very early.
- Choose January if you want to be closer to calving, which usually starts in late January, and note that the lead time is shorter than for February.
- Choose November if you prefer lower rates and the herds on the move.
- Choose July to September if a Mara River crossing is the main goal. none is expected in December.
Plan your Great Migration in December safari
Start a Great Migration in December safari early, at least 10 to 12 months ahead for the festive weeks. Here is the order that works best.
- Decide between early December and Christmas and New Year.
- Choose the area first and the camp second, with at least four nights in the main area.
- Tell us your dates, group, children's ages and nationality.
- Decide whether a Zanzibar beach stay belongs at the end.
- The terms are shown on each itinerary page, so read them before you pay.
Plan your Great Migration in December with our team
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and whether Christmas week is fixed. We will show you where the herds are likely to be, and confirm every fee in your quote.
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 November
Where the herds are in November, the weather and who should go.
Great Migration in January
Where the herds are in January, the weather and who should go.
How the Great Migration works
The yearly cycle, why the herds move and what drives the timing.
For the whole picture, see our Great Migration safari guide. If you are ready to price a trip, Kenya & Tanzania Family Migration Safari starts from US$8,300 per person.