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 November is decided by rain. When the short rains arrive, the wildebeest leave the north and stream south along the eastern side of the Serengeti. This page settles where the herds are likely to be in November, what a safari in this low-season month looks like, and how to plan around animals that move with the rain. It also says plainly when November is the wrong choice and a neighbouring month would serve you better.
1.3-1.5 millionwildebeest in the ecosystem, about
800-1,000 kmthe clockwise loop the herds walk each year
US$350-550indicative Comfort price per person per night in the green season
3-6 monthsto book ahead, as a minimum
The short answer
The Great Migration in November is the herds' march south. Once the short rains begin, the herds stream south along the eastern side of the Serengeti, through the Lobo area and towards central Serengeti. A few Mara River crossings are possible early in the month but should not be expected. November is low season, with lower rates and migratory birds arriving.
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 November?
In a typical year the Great Migration in November is on its way from the northern Serengeti to the centre of the park, and it is travelling on the eastern side. The herds pass through the Lobo area and eastern Serengeti and then continue towards central Serengeti around Seronera. Timing can slip two to four weeks in either direction, depending on when the rain falls.
It helps to think of the month as a route, not a place. Roughly, a herd in November follows this order:
- The northern Serengeti around Kogatende, where a few late groups may still be at the river early in the month.
- The Lobo area and the eastern Serengeti, which the herds stream through once the rain is on.
- Central Serengeti around Seronera, which the herds pass through on the way south.
- The short-grass southern plains, where the herds are on or near in December.
Our guide to how the Great Migration works explains why the animals follow this circuit, and our Great Migration safari guide places it inside the whole year.
Serengeti in November: the park in low season
The Serengeti in November is a low-season, green-season destination, with the short rains bringing fresh grass. For the country the herds are heading towards, read our southern and central Serengeti migration guide.
What happens in November: the herds stream south
The wildebeest migration in November is a movement south along the eastern side of the Serengeti, not a single herd in one place. Positions change with the rain, so the spot that is right in the first week may be wrong by the last.
That changes how to plan. Choose the area first and the camp second, and allow at least four nights in the main area. Mobile and seasonal camps move two or three times a year to follow the herds, so ask where each camp will stand on your dates.
Predators and birds
Lions, spotted hyena and cheetah live along the route, and the tented camps around Seronera are known for year-round predator viewing. Cheetah favour the open southern plains, which the herds reach as the season turns. November also brings migratory birds, which gives keen birders a second reason to come.
Guide's tip. Watch the sky, not the calendar. Ask your guide how much rain has fallen in the last week and where the herds were seen, because that tells you where to drive on the first morning.
November rain: the short rains and the migration
The short rains shape what the herds do in November, and they arrive at different times from year to year. Great Migration November weather is therefore the main driver of where you will find the animals. Rain brings fresh short grass, and the herds follow it south. Timing can run two to four weeks early or late.
| If the rains arrive | Where the herds are likely to be | What it means for your trip |
|---|---|---|
| Early | Already streaming through Lobo and the eastern Serengeti | Ask about the east and central Serengeti |
| On time | Moving across the east and into central Serengeti by the second half of the month | Ask about central Serengeti |
| Late | Lingering in the northern Serengeti, with a few crossings possible | Ask about the northern Serengeti as well |
Country-wide climate is covered in the guides to Tanzania's best season and Kenya's best season. The Great Migration November weather question that matters for planning is simpler: the short rains mean showers, so pack a light waterproof layer. For the park itself, our Serengeti National Park guide adds the detail.
Be aware. A few Mara River crossings are still possible early in November, but you should not plan a trip around one. If a crossing is your goal, look at October or earlier, and read how they work in our guide to Mara River crossing timing.
Masai Mara in November: what to expect without the herds
The Masai Mara in November is largely without the Serengeti herds, which spend roughly July to October in Kenya and then return to Tanzania. If your reason for travelling is the wildebeest migration in November, the Serengeti is the place to be. The Mara remains a fine reserve for other wildlife, but it is not the migration country this month.
If you want both countries, a July to September trip fits better, and our guide to combining Kenya and Tanzania explains the routing. Going between the Mara and the Serengeti means routing through Nairobi (Wilson) and Kilimanjaro or Arusha. That takes about half a day and adds cost.
November crowds and price: low season in the Serengeti
November is a low-season month, and rates are lower than in July to September. That is the main practical argument for the month.
These are typical, indicative prices per person per night, sharing, in the green season. Your quote confirms the exact figure for your camp and dates.
| Level | Typical green-season price |
|---|---|
| Comfort | US$350 to US$550 |
| Premium | US$550 to US$900 |
| Luxury | US$900 to US$1,700 |
Park fees sit inside our quotes. In 2026 a non-resident adult pays a Serengeti conservation fee of US$70 plus 18% VAT (about US$82.60) for each 24 hours, and a concession fee of about US$60 plus VAT for each night spent in the park. Rates for 2027 are confirmed when we quote.
Book at least three to six months ahead for November. That is a shorter lead time than for crossings or calving. Early booking still beats perfect dates.
Where to stay in November for the migration
The best answer on where to stay in November is central Serengeti, with the southern plains as a second area on a longer trip. Central Serengeti is best in November, and the herds are heading towards it and then the southern plains. A split stay of three nights in each of two places suits a longer trip.
- Central Serengeti. Premium: Dunia Camp and Serengeti Pioneer Camp. Luxury: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti and Namiri Plains. Tented camps around Seronera suit travellers who want year-round predators.
- Southern Serengeti and Ndutu. Comfort: Ndutu Safari Lodge and Lake Masek Tented Camp. Premium: Lemala Ndutu. These camps are normally listed for December to March, so ask whether they suit the last part of your stay.
Use these as examples, not offers. What is open, and where, changes every season, and your quote confirms it. The most useful question to ask any camp is how far it sits from where the herds are walking that week.
Which of our packages fits a migration safari in November?
If this is your first safari, the Classic Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Safari is the option to ask about. It is 7 days through Tarangire, central Serengeti (Seronera) and the crater, from US$4,650 per person. It is not built around the herds' position, because its focus is the resident big cats, so treat the wildebeest as a bonus. Its best months are June to October and late December to February, so November sits outside them, and we say so plainly when we quote.
Families should look at the Kenya & Tanzania Family Migration Safari, an 11-day itinerary paced for families, with a junior-ranger programme, from US$8,300 per person. Its dates are July to August and the December school holidays, so ask us what we can offer for November. Minimum ages are set by individual camps, and your quote confirms them.
Who a migration safari in November suits, and who should choose another month
A migration safari in November suits travellers who like lower rates and a little uncertainty. It rewards a flexible plan and a guide who reads the herds.
- It suits you if you want to see animals on the move, travel outside the peak months and enjoy birdlife.
- It suits you if you can accept showers and a plan that changes with the rain.
- Choose October if you still want a chance of a river crossing.
- Choose December if you want the herds on or near the southern plains, ahead of the calving season.
- Choose February if calving is the goal. The Serengeti calving season guide explains why.
Our Great Migration by month page compares all twelve months side by side.
Plan your Great Migration in November safari
A Great Migration in November safari is easiest to plan with a flexible plan and early booking, at least three to six months ahead. Work through these steps and we can do the rest.
- Decide whether you want the herds on the move in November or on and near the southern plains in December.
- Choose the area first and the camp second, with at least four nights in the main area.
- Tell us your dates, group and nationality, so we can check fees and entry rules.
- Ask how each camp's season fits the second half of your stay.
- Look at the booking terms on the itinerary page before you commit to a package.
Plan your Great Migration in November with our team
Tell us when you can travel and who is coming. We will suggest 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 October
Where the herds are in October, the weather and who should go.
Great Migration in December
Where the herds are in December, 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, Classic Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Safari starts from US$4,650 per person.