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 June is a month with two possible homes, and choosing between them is the real planning problem. The herds are working through the Western Corridor and the Grumeti River, while part of the herd turns north through Ikorongo and Lobo. Travellers searching for the wildebeest migration in June usually want one answer, and the honest one is that the best base depends on the week and on the rains. This page tells you how to choose. Our Great Migration safari guide sets June in the full year.
Late May to early Julythe usual window for Grumeti River crossings
Junethe most reliable month of that window
6 to 8 monthsat least, the usual lead time for June
About 800 to 1,000 kmthe length of the full clockwise loop
The short answer
The Great Migration in June is in the Western Corridor around Kirawira and the Grumeti River, where Grumeti crossings usually run from late May to early July and June is the most reliable month. In late June part of the herd moves north through Ikorongo and Lobo. The dry season begins and skies clear. First Mara River crossings can come in late June in an early year but should not be expected.
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 June?
In June the herds are in the west and starting to turn north. The first half of the month is the Western Corridor, around Kirawira and the Grumeti River. Later in the month, part of the herd moves north through Ikorongo and Lobo, towards the northern Serengeti. These are typical-year positions, and the rains can move the timing by two to four weeks either way.
Serengeti in June: west, north or both
The practical choice for the Serengeti in June is where to sleep. The table sets out the three options.
| Base | What it gives you | The risk |
|---|---|---|
| Western Corridor only | The prime Grumeti window, with far fewer vehicles than at the Mara River | If the herd moves on early, you are behind it |
| North only (Lobo, Kogatende) | You are in position for the northern herds if they turn north on time | Too early in the month, the herds may not have arrived |
| Split: west first, north second | Covers both outcomes and follows the herd's own route | An extra transfer |
A split stay suits a longer trip, usually with three nights in each of two places. On a shorter trip, choose one area and stay at least four nights. The extra cost of a split is shown in your quote.
What happens in the Great Migration in June: Grumeti crossings and the rut
June is when the Grumeti River crossings are most reliable. They usually run from late May to early July, and the Grumeti is a smaller, slower river than the Mara. In the dry season it shrinks to deep pools that hold very large Nile crocodiles, and crossings are less concentrated than at the Mara. Our guide to Grumeti River crossings and the Western Corridor covers the river in detail.
Wildebeest migration June: the rut continues
The rut also continues. It runs mainly through May and June, so males are still grunting and chasing. Lions and spotted hyena follow the herds, leopards use the riverine trees and crocodiles wait in the river.
Guide's tip. Build flexibility into the plan, not just the dates. On a longer trip, a split stay of three nights in the west and three in the north stops you betting on a single week.
Masai Mara in June: will you see Mara River crossings?
Probably not. The herds have not yet reached the Masai Mara in June. Mara River crossings can come in late June in an early year, but they should not be expected, and they are far more likely in July. Kenya hosts the Serengeti herds from roughly July to October, so a June trip aimed at Kenya is a bet against the usual timing.
The reserve ticket reflects that shift: the published tariff had US$100 per adult per day until 30 June 2026 and US$200 per adult per day from 1 July 2026, and your quote confirms the fee for your dates. For the crossings themselves, start with the Great Migration in July, which is when the first Mara River crossings often come.
Be aware. The Grumeti is smaller than the Mara River and its crossings are less concentrated. If a large, dense crossing is the only thing you will count as success, choose July to September, and understand that no month can promise one.
Great Migration June weather and price
The dry season begins in June, skies clear and temperatures are pleasant, which defines the Great Migration June weather. For the general climate, see when Tanzania is at its best and when Kenya is at its best.
For a Great Migration June safari, the Western Corridor has far fewer vehicles than the Mara River. June is a shoulder month: rates are often lower than July to September, but each camp sets its own calendar, confirmed in your quote.
Typical per-person-per-night bands, sharing, are indicative and confirmed in your quote, which also states whether peak or lower rates apply to your dates. Comfort is about US$450 to US$750 at peak and about US$350 to US$550 in the green season. Premium is about US$750 to US$1,300 at peak, and Luxury about US$1,300 to US$2,500 and above. In the Serengeti a non-resident adult also pays US$70 plus 18% VAT, about US$82.60, as the daily conservation fee. Each of these is a 2026 figure that may change.
Book at least six to eight months ahead. June sits with October and January in that band, well short of the nine to twelve months that July to September needs. Peak crossing-point camps sell out first, so early booking matters more than perfect dates. Our booking-window guide for migration trips has the full table.
Where to stay in June
Where to stay in June starts with the Western Corridor. For examples by style, Kirawira Serena Camp is a Comfort option, &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp is Premium, and Singita Sasakwa and Singita Faru Faru are Luxury. The Singita camps are in a private reserve, so walks and night drives are possible there. In the national park they are not. Camp positions and availability can shift from one season to the next, and we confirm them when we quote.
For the north, the camps are mainly placed for July to October. If you want to follow the herd in late June, we confirm which northern camps are open on your dates when we quote.
Two itineraries to compare
The 10-day Tanzania Grand Migration Explorer starts from US$7,200 per person. It flies between Ndutu, Seronera and Kogatende and is timed for crossings from late June to September, so a late-June departure suits it. For the first half of June we can adapt the route.
The Kenya and Tanzania Great Migration Grand Safari runs 12 days from US$8,900 per person, with four nights each side of the border and a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater. Its best months are June to October and late December to March. Kenya hosts the herds roughly from July to October, so if the Mara matters most, a July departure fits better, and for June we can adapt the split. The two halves connect through Nairobi and Kilimanjaro or Arusha, because the airstrips on either side of the border have no direct link. That takes about half a day and adds cost.
Who the Great Migration in June suits, and who should choose another month
June is a flexible month, and it suits flexible travellers. The Great Migration June safari is right for you if you:
- Want the Western Corridor, which has far fewer vehicles than the Mara River.
- Prefer clear skies and drier tracks to the green season.
- Are planning a longer trip with a split stay to follow the herd.
- Want rates that are often lower than July to September, though each camp sets its own calendar.
Choose another month if:
- You need Mara River crossings as the centrepiece. Go to July, or to mid-August to mid-September for the likeliest window.
- You want the rut, low rates and the rains easing. The Great Migration in May is the neighbour on that side.
- You want calves and short-grass predators, which belong to February.
- You are travelling with a fixed idea of where the herd will be on fixed dates.
For all twelve months together, use the Great Migration by month overview.
Plan your Great Migration June safari
To plan the Great Migration in June, take these steps in this order.
- Decide whether the Grumeti River is the point, or whether you would rather head north late in the month.
- Tell us your dates, whether you can split the stay, and your nationality.
- Pick a style and ask which camps in the west and north are open on your dates.
- Ask for a quote. Optional extras are shown separately.
Plan your Great Migration in June with a specialist
Share your dates and we will tell you honestly whether June, May or July suits you best.
Plan my tripIf the river is your priority, read about the Mara River crossing points, then come back and compare dates.
Keep reading: related Great Migration guides
Great Migration month by month
Twelve months compared, with a page for each one.
Great Migration in May
Where the herds are in May, the weather and who should go.
Great Migration in July
Where the herds are in July, 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, Tanzania Grand Migration Explorer starts from US$7,200 per person.