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 March keeps the herds on the southern Serengeti plains, with stronger calves and long rains that usually begin towards the end of the month. In return for fewer very new calves, you get green-season rates. This page settles where the herds stand, what you gain and lose against February, how the weather behaves, and when March suits your dates.
Late Marchwhen the long rains usually begin
Green seasonthe rate band that applies to March
3 to 6 monthsthe minimum lead time we advise
Larger groupsherds bunch up before they move on
The short answer
The Great Migration in March is still on the southern Serengeti plains around Ndutu and Kakesio. Calves are stronger, and the herds gather in larger groups before they move on. The long rains usually begin towards the end of the month. Expect green-season rates and fewer very new calves than in 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 March?
Through most of March the herds remain on the short-grass southern plains. Look for them around Ndutu, Kakesio, Lake Masek, Naabi Hill and the Gol Kopjes, and on into the southern and eastern Serengeti and the edge of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The cast is the same as in February, with zebra and gazelle grazing among the wildebeest.
What changes is the grouping: the herds gather in larger groups before they move on. The cycle can run two to four weeks ahead of schedule or behind it, so in an early year the Serengeti migration in March can begin its move towards the central park before the month ends. In a late year the herds stay on the southern plains longer.
Serengeti in March: staying south or moving to the centre
That small shift is why the wildebeest migration in March rewards a flexible plan. Our Great Migration safari guide explains the full loop, and the southern and central Serengeti migration guide shows what each area offers as the herds start to leave.
Masai Mara in March
The Masai Mara in March has no migration herds, which makes a Kenyan camp the wrong base for this month. The Great Migration in Kenya guide covers when to go instead.
What happens in March: strong calves and gathering herds
Serengeti in March is the month when the calves are stronger. Calves born in the weeks before now keep pace with the herd. A birth in progress is possible but never promised, and you see the season after the surge rather than the surge itself.
Predators remain close. Lions and cheetah still hunt around the herds on the open plains, and hyena clans stay with them. For the full story of the births, see our guide to the Serengeti calving season.
Wildebeest migration March compared with February
The gap shows in the details. February offers more very new calves. March offers sturdier young animals and bigger gatherings. For a first-time visitor who values the sheer spread of the herds, either month works. For someone who will be disappointed without a birth, February is the stronger choice.
Be aware. March is not the peak of anything. If a newborn calf is the one image you want, choose February. If you want herds with calves at green-season rates, March is a sound alternative.
Great Migration March weather: when the long rains start
Afternoon storms are more frequent in March, the long rains usually begin towards the end of the month, and some tracks are muddy. Most of the month therefore comes before the main wet spell.
For the general climate in each country, use the Tanzania and Kenya best-time guides. Rain keeps the grass green, and the herds follow the grass.
What the weather gives photographers
Heavy skies can make a strong backdrop for a herd, so bring a wide lens for scale and a beanbag for the vehicle window. Pack a waterproof layer and a cover for the camera.
March price and booking
March is a green-season month, so rates are lower than in February, which is often priced as peak in the southern Serengeti. Indicative figures per person per night, sharing, are:
- Comfort: typically US$350 to 550.
- Premium: typically US$550 to 900.
- Luxury: typically US$900 to 1,700.
The quote names the band for your dates. On timing, we advise booking at least three to six months ahead, which is far shorter than February needs.
What a March quote includes and leaves out
A typical quote covers lodging, meals while on safari, a private vehicle and specialist guide, park and conservation fees, airport transfers and any internal flights we list. International flights, visas, travel insurance with medical evacuation, balloon flights and tips are extra. As a rule of thumb, allow about US$20 to 30 per day per group for the guide and US$10 to 15 per guest per day for camp staff. The wider cost picture is in our Tanzania safari cost breakdown.
Where to stay in March
Where to stay in March depends on whether you want to stay with the herds in the south or position yourself for their move. Which camps are open, and where, is settled in your quote.
For the south, Ndutu Safari Lodge and Lake Masek Tented Camp are Comfort options, Lemala Ndutu is a Premium one, and &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas is a Luxury choice. These put you near the plains while the herds remain there. Mobile camps move two or three times a year to follow the herds, so ask where yours will stand when you arrive.
For a trip that shifts north-west, central Serengeti around Seronera becomes more useful as the season turns. Dunia Camp and Serengeti Pioneer Camp are Premium options there, and Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti and Namiri Plains are Luxury ones. Central Serengeti is at its best from April to May and again in November, and tented camps around Seronera keep predator viewing strong all year.
Whichever you pick, ask how far the camp is from the action. A camp 20 minutes away can give about two extra hours of viewing a day compared with one 90 minutes away.
March vs February and April
The comparison below shows what you give up and gain either way. For the neighbouring months in detail, read our pages on the Great Migration in February and the Great Migration in April.
| Question | February | March | April |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herds | On the southern plains | Still in the south, gathering | Leaving for the north-west via Moru Kopjes and Seronera |
| Young calves | Peak births | Calves stronger | Herds have left the calving grounds |
| Rain | Warm with occasional storms | Afternoon storms more frequent; long rains usually begin late in the month | Wettest month |
| Camps | Calving-zone camps sell out first | Shorter booking lead time | Parks quiet, some camps close |
| Rates | Often peak in the south | Green season | Green season; prices drop |
| Book ahead | 9 to 12 months | 3 to 6 months | 3 to 6 months |
In short, February is for the births, and April is for the wettest weather, quiet parks and green-season rates. March is the month to pick if you want to see the herds before they depart and prefer a shorter booking lead time.
Who the Great Migration in March suits, and who is better off elsewhere
A Great Migration March safari suits travellers who put lower rates ahead of the very newest calves. It is a good choice for these travellers:
- Photographers who like moody skies and green grass.
- Couples and small groups who book three to six months ahead rather than a year.
- Anyone who missed the February window but still wants the herds in the south.
Choose another month if river crossings are the aim (they come mainly from July to October), if you want the calving peak (February), or if you dislike the risk of showers and muddy tracks (the dry months in the middle of the year suit you better).
Two Tanzania packages for March
For the herds themselves, the Tanzania Grand Migration Explorer is the better fit: ten days, timed for calving (late December to March) or crossings (late June to September), starting from US$7,200 per person. Tell us which part of March you prefer and we will advise on timing.
The Classic Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Safari runs seven days from US$4,650 per person. Its best months are June to October and late December to February, so March sits outside them. It is not built around the herds' position, so choose it for a first week-long safari in which resident big cats and the crater matter most. The Ngorongoro Crater guide explains what the descent involves, and the terms are on each itinerary page.
Next steps for a Great Migration in March trip
- Decide what matters more: the newest calves (February) or lower rates (March).
- Leave some flexibility in the plan, because the herds may be early or late by weeks.
- Give us your dates, the size of your party and your passports, and we will quote camps and check entry rules.
- Book at least three to six months ahead; how far ahead to book a migration safari compares the windows for every month.
Plan a March migration safari
Tell us your dates and the kind of safari you want. We will check where the herds are likely to be and which camps suit you.
Plan my tripWant every month side by side? Open the Great Migration by month guide, or work through 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 February
Where the herds are in February, the weather and who should go.
Great Migration in April
Where the herds are in April, 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.