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 January puts the herds on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti, with calving starting in late December or January and usually from late January onwards. That timing is the honest catch: you may arrive a little before the main births, not during them. This page settles where the herds are, what happens on the ground, what the weather and price look like, and whether January or February suits your dates better. It is written for planners choosing between neighbouring months. River crossings belong to a different part of the year and are not part of a January trip.
1.3 to 1.5 millionwildebeest in the ecosystem, about
200,000 to 300,000plains zebra that graze alongside them
Late Januarywhen calving usually gets under way, and sometimes earlier
6 to 8 monthsthe lead time we advise for a January departure
The short answer
The Great Migration in January is on the short-grass southern plains of the Serengeti, around Ndutu, Kakesio and Lake Masek, grazing on fresh green grass. Calving starts in late December or January, usually from late January onwards, so January is the early edge of the season. Expect a warm, fairly dry month with short afternoon showers, and rates lower than February.
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 January?
In January the herds are on the southern plains of the Serengeti, in Tanzania, and nowhere near Kenya. The area runs from Ndutu, Kakesio and Lake Masek across Naabi Hill and the Gol Kopjes to the southern and eastern Serengeti, and over the edge of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. About 1.3 to 1.5 million wildebeest are in the ecosystem, joined by roughly 200,000 to 300,000 plains zebra and some 400,000 to 500,000 Thomson's and Grant's gazelle. Eland are present in smaller numbers.
Wildebeest migration January: why the herds are here
They are here for the grass. The rains turn the plains green, and the volcanic ash beneath them is rich in phosphorus and calcium, which suits pregnant and nursing females. That is why the wildebeest migration in January is spread across a wide area. Where they stand in a given week depends on where it rained last, and in a typical year the position can be two to four weeks ahead of or behind schedule.
If you want the whole loop explained first, our Great Migration safari guide sets it out, and how the Great Migration works covers the mechanics.
Serengeti in January: the plains and the central park
Serengeti in January splits into two practical bases. The southern plains around Ndutu hold the herds. Central Serengeti around Seronera has tented camps that suit year-round predator viewing, but it is not where the bulk of the animals stand this month. A longer trip can combine them, and the southern and central Serengeti migration guide shows how.
What happens in the Great Migration in January: grazing, early calving and gathering predators
The Great Migration in January is a month of grazing, gathering and the first births. The herds feed in a sequence: zebra graze first, wildebeest follow, and gazelle come last. On the plains that gives you mixed company everywhere you look, with long sightlines across open ground.
Calving can begin in the last days of December or in January, and it normally runs through late January to March with February as the peak. In January you see the build-up: pregnant females and, in an early-rain year, the first calves. The timing of the first big wave is decided by the rain, not by the calendar. The Serengeti calving season guide covers the births in full.
Predators read the same signs. Lions, spotted hyena and cheetah gather where the herds are. Cheetah hunt on the open southern plains, and hyena clans follow the movement.
Guide's tip. Watch the sky, not the calendar. Build flexibility into the plan, not just the dates, so one quiet morning does not decide the trip.
Be aware. January is the early edge of calving, and you may arrive before the main wave. If a large number of newborn calves is the point of your trip, February is the safer month, and the next section shows how the two compare.
January vs February: which is better for calving?
February is better for the births themselves, and January is better for price and for a quieter feel. Calving does not switch on at a fixed date, so the gap between the two months depends on the rain.
| What to compare | January | February |
|---|---|---|
| Calving | Starts late December or January, usually from late January onwards | The peak: most calves born within two to three weeks |
| Risk of arriving early | Real, most of all in a late-rain year | Lower, though timing still varies by weeks |
| Price | Usually below February once the Christmas peak has ended | More likely to carry peak rates in the south |
| Book ahead | At least 6 to 8 months | At least 9 to 12 months |
| Availability | Shorter booking lead time than February | The strongest calving-zone camps sell out first |
Choose January if you have flexible dates and want the plains at lower rates, if you are happy to see herds, predators and the first calves rather than the full surge, or if February is already full. Choose February if the births are the reason for the journey. Our page on the Great Migration in February sets out that month in detail, and the early days of the calving window are covered in what the herds do in December.
Weather and price for the Great Migration in January
Great Migration January weather
Great Migration January weather is warm and fairly dry, with short afternoon showers. For the wider climate picture across both countries, our guides to the best time to visit Tanzania and the best time to visit Kenya hold the month-by-month detail.
Rates
Christmas and New Year are peak-priced and busy, and January rates are lower than February's. February is often priced as peak in the southern Serengeti. The table gives typical, indicative bands per person per night, sharing. Your quote confirms the band that applies to your exact dates.
| Camp level | Green-season band | Peak band |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | US$350 to 550 | US$450 to 750 |
| Premium | US$550 to 900 | US$750 to 1,300 |
| Luxury | US$900 to 1,700 | US$1,300 to 2,500+ |
Light-aircraft legs between airstrips are often about US$250 to 500 per person per leg and are shown separately unless an itinerary lists them. Our Tanzania safari cost guide shows how the pieces add up.
Where to stay in January: camps close to the herds
Where to stay in January comes down to one question: how far is the camp from the herds each morning? A camp 20 minutes from the action can give about two extra hours of viewing a day compared with one 90 minutes away. These examples sit in the Ndutu and southern Serengeti area. Availability and positions change every season and are confirmed in your quote.
- Comfort: Ndutu Safari Lodge and Lake Masek Tented Camp give a straightforward base on the plains.
- Premium: Lemala Ndutu is a named option, and seasonal mobile camps operate near Kakesio.
- Luxury: &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas and Nomad Serengeti Safari Camp (seasonal).
Mobile camps are repositioned two or three times a year, so ask which spot yours will hold in January. Permanent lodges have pools and larger rooms but cannot move. You can reach the area by light aircraft from Arusha or Kilimanjaro, a flight of one to two and a half hours, and our fly-in or road safari guide explains when driving makes sense instead.
Parts of the Ndutu area allow off-road driving, while most of Serengeti National Park does not. We recommend at least four nights in the main migration area.
Masai Mara in January: why the migration herds are elsewhere
The Masai Mara in January has none of the Serengeti herds in it, because they spend roughly July to October in Kenya. There are no Mara River crossings this month, and no honest reason to book a Kenyan camp for the wildebeest. Maasai Mara is still a fine place for wildlife, but it answers a different question.
If Kenya is the country you have in mind, read about the Great Migration in Kenya and compare the two sides in Serengeti vs Masai Mara migration.
Who the Great Migration in January suits, and who should choose another month
A Great Migration January safari suits travellers who value a lower rate than February over certainty about the births. It works well for these groups:
- Couples and small groups who want green plains and predators without the February booking squeeze.
- Photographers who like fresh grass and long sightlines, and who accept that the main births may come a week or two later.
- Families and friends travelling after the holidays who can book six to eight months out rather than a year.
- Repeat visitors who have seen the crossings and now want the other half of the migration year.
Choose another month if you want river crossings (they belong to the middle of the year), if the peak of calving is non-negotiable (choose February), or if you can only travel between Christmas and New Year, when it is peak-priced and busy.
Two Tanzania packages that fit January
The Tanzania Grand Migration Explorer runs 10 days and is timed around the calving season from late December to March, with flights between Ndutu, Seronera and Kogatende. Prices start from US$7,200 per person, and it suits anyone who wants the herds as the main event.
The Classic Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Safari is a 7-day trip through Tarangire, central Serengeti and the crater, from US$4,650 per person. Its best months include late December to February, but it is not built around where the herds stand, so it fits a first safari where resident big cats matter more than the migration. Read our Ngorongoro Crater guide to see what the crater adds.
The terms are shown on each itinerary page, and live prices are confirmed when we quote.
Plan your trip around the Great Migration in January
- Decide between January and February using the table above, and tell us whether the main births are the priority.
- Book at least six to eight months ahead. Our guide on how far ahead to book a migration safari lists the lead time for each month.
- Send us your travel window, who is coming and which passports you hold, so the quote reflects the right camp level and entry rules.
- Ask a travel clinic about malaria protection about six to eight weeks before you fly.
- Pack a soft bag, as light aircraft usually allow about 15 kg per person including hand luggage. Pack for sun and short showers.
Tell us your January dates
Share your dates, group and camp level, and we will tell you where the herds are likely to be and whether January or February fits you better.
Plan my tripStill comparing months? Browse the month-by-month Great Migration calendar, or read our guide to migration safari itinerary planning.
Keep reading: related Great Migration guides
Great Migration month by month
Twelve months compared, with a page for each one.
Great Migration in December
Where the herds are in December, the weather and who should go.
Great Migration in February
Where the herds are in February, the weather and who should go.
For the whole picture, see our Great Migration safari guide. If you are ready to price a trip, Tanzania Grand Migration Explorer starts from US$7,200 per person.