Great Migration Safari: Combining the Masai Mara and Serengeti

Each year well over a million wildebeest, together with zebra and gazelles, move in a great loop through the Serengeti and the Mara. The herds ignore the border entirely. Staying in only one country means that your trip depends on where the animals happen to be during your dates, and the movements shift with the rains from year to year.

This guide explains how the combination works, how long to allow, how the route is usually arranged and who will enjoy it most. It links to seven companion pages covering itineraries, borders, timing, practical matters and questions.

This guide is part of our Uganda road routes and driving guide. When you are ready to plan, see our Uganda safari packages or the Ameera Africa Safaris Uganda tours homepage.

Why Combine the Two Parks

The Mara and Serengeti are sometimes described as two halves of the same story. Calving takes place in the southern Serengeti, the herds then drift west and north, and between roughly July and October they cross the Mara River into Kenya before heading back south as the short rains arrive. A single-country trip captures only a slice of that cycle. Combining both gives you a second chance if the herds are late or early, two very different landscapes, and a chance to compare two safari cultures, from Kenya's conservancies to Tanzania's vast open spaces. For the wider picture, read the East Africa Great Migration guide.

How the Herds Actually Move

The movement is a response to rain and fresh grass, not a timetable. Calves are born on the southern short-grass plains early in the year, the herds then follow the rain north and west, pass the Grumeti River in the west, and reach the northern Serengeti and the Mara. Timing can vary by weeks, and crossings at the Mara River are irregular events that no operator can promise. Our Serengeti migration calendar and the Mara migration calendar describe the general pattern, and the best-time page in this set, best time for the combination, turns it into month-by-month advice.

A Typical Route

Most combined trips begin in Nairobi, spend several nights in the Masai Mara, and then continue to Tanzania, usually by scheduled flight with a connection through a gateway city, or occasionally by road at an official border post. The Tanzanian leg centres on the northern Serengeti if the herds are in the north, or on central and southern areas earlier or later in the year. Trips may also finish in Arusha, or add the Ngorongoro Crater on the way out. The full options are set out in the route and border guide.

How Many Days to Allow

The right length depends on how much travel you are willing to do between camps.

• Short itinerary (5 to 7 days): two or three nights in each country, mostly flying, with few transfers.
• Medium itinerary (8 to 12 days): room for the northern Serengeti, a conservancy stay and a change of pace.
• Long itinerary (13 to 18 days): adds the southern plains, the Ngorongoro Crater and rest days or a beach finish.

Whatever the length, give each park at least three nights, because the herds are rarely where you first look.

Who the Combination Suits

It suits travellers who care more about animal behaviour than ticking off new species: photographers, returning visitors and anyone who has seen a documentary and wants the real thing. It is less suited to travellers who dislike early starts, long drives or light aircraft, because even a well-planned trip involves several transfers. Families with older children can enjoy it, as can couples, but very short stays rarely do the idea justice. If this is your first safari, read the first-time safari guide and consider starting with a single country.

What You Will See Besides the Herds

The migration draws predators, so lions, hyenas, cheetahs and crocodiles all feature. The Mara is excellent for big cats and offers conservancies with night drives and walks, described in the Masai Mara wildlife guide. The Serengeti adds kopjes, leopards at Seronera and wide horizons, covered in the Serengeti wildlife guide. Birdlife, giraffes, elephants and hippos fill the gaps between the big events.

Planning Next Steps

Start by choosing your travel month, then decide how much flying you are comfortable with. Read the practical guide for visas, health and luggage, and the frequently asked questions for quick answers. You can also compare this with the general Kenya and Tanzania combination and the East Africa safari itineraries hub. No itinerary can guarantee a river crossing, but a well-sequenced trip gives you the best chance of seeing the herds at their most dramatic.

Planning a Uganda safari? Send us your dates and we will build the route, permits and transport around what you want to see.

Related Tours, Guides and Resources

• Ameera Africa Safaris homepage: Uganda safaris, tours and holidays
• Uganda safari packages
• Uganda travel guide
• How to book a Uganda safari
• Plan your safari with our team