Calving Season in the Southern Serengeti

The Circle of Life Unfolds (Dec-May)

From late January through March, the Southern Serengeti and the Ndutu plains come alive in one of the most moving spectacles of the wild—the calving season of the Great Migration. Here, over half a million wildebeest gather to give birth, turning the vast, green-carpeted plains into a living nursery.

This is nature’s rhythm at its most eloquent. The short rains of December bring fresh, nutritious grasses that draw the herds south. As the plains flourish, so too does the life they support. Each day during peak season, up to 8,000 wildebeest calves are born—often under the soft light of full moon nights, which provide added visibility and a sense of security for mothers against lurking predators. Within mere minutes, the newborns rise to their feet, ready to run and rejoin the safety of the herd.

Calving Season in the Southern Serengeti

The cycle is perfectly timed. As calves are born in February, nature ensures the long rains follow soon after—from March through April—replenishing the plains with ample foliage. This sustains the now one-million-strong herd, allowing the young to gain strength and stamina for the long journey ahead.

By May, as the southern plains begin to dry, the great herds begin their movement northward into the Central Serengeti. The rhythm continues as they follow the scent of rain and fresh grass through the Western Corridor, ultimately reaching the Mara River by July—setting the stage for the next dramatic act of the migration.

And perhaps the most delightful truth of all: since every wildebeest is born on Tanzanian soil—within the Southern Serengeti and the greater Ndutu region—it’s fair to say that all wildebeest are Tanzanian by birth, honorary citizens of this magnificent land.

This is more than a migration; it is the pulse of the ecosystem, a living testament to the harmony between land, rain, wildlife, and time—a spectacle that defines the wild soul of Tanzania.

The Wildebeest Rut

A Thunderous Serengeti Symphony Late May-June

Come June, as the vast herds settle across the short-grass plains of the Central Serengeti, a new chapter in the Great Migration begins—the rutting season. This is the onset of the wildebeest gestation cycle, and for a few intense weeks, the plains erupt in a spectacular display of raw energy, primal instinct, and reproductive urgency.

Timed, as always, with nature’s impeccable rhythm, the rut often peaks during full moon nights. The bright, cloudless skies cast a silver glow over the savannah, illuminating the wild drama as dominant males compete fiercely to mate with thousands of fertile females. Clashes between bulls are common—dust flies, hooves stamp, and horns clash in noisy, chaotic encounters that echo across the plains.

The sounds of the rut are unforgettable. Grunts, bellows, and the thundering of hooves fill the air in a deep, resonant chorus—an untamed symphony marking the start of the next generation. With the calving season still months away, this is the critical moment when the cycle begins anew.

Taking place in the open plains of Central Serengeti, this phase is both dramatic and essential. It marks the transition between the lush southern pastures and the drier northern routes that lie ahead. By now, the calves born in Ndutu are strong and capable, and the herds begin to shift slowly toward the Mara River region, drawn once again by the scent of rain and fresh grazing.

In the great theatre of the Serengeti, the rut stands as a powerful scene—where fierce competition, fertile opportunity, and the beauty of the moonlit savannah come together in perfect, wild harmony.

Wildebeest Migration in Northern Serengeti

The Drama of the Mara River (July through to Oct)

From July to October, the Northern Serengeti pulses with life as vast herds of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles gather at the banks of the Mara River. This is where the Great Migration reaches its most thrilling and perilous stage—the river crossing.

Wildebeest Migration in Northern Serengeti

It’s a heart-pounding spectacle: the hesitation, the sudden surge, and the chaos as hooves splash through crocodile-infested waters. Yet these crossings aren’t just a one-way journey. Herds move back and forth between the riverbanks, drawn by the promise of fresh grass. Rainfall—or the lack of it—guides their every move, and on clear full moon nights, when rain is less likely, the chances of a daytime crossing rise as the animals make their move under open skies.

This part of the Serengeti feels wild and untamed, with rolling savannahs, rocky outcrops, and riverine forests teeming with predators lying in wait. For those on safari, witnessing a crossing is a moment of pure, unscripted nature—an unforgettable dance of survival played out on Africa’s greatest stage.

The Return Journey

Wildebeest Migration Back to Southern Serengeti (October-November)

After months of dramatic river crossings and grazing in the northern plains, the wildebeest herds begin their return journey from the Masai Mara and Northern Serengeti around late October through November. Triggered by the short rains in the north—typically starting in late October—the plains begin to green again, signaling that it’s time to move.

By this point, the females are heavily pregnant, following successful mating during the rut in Central Serengeti back in June. The herds begin their southward migration, often entering back into the Serengeti ecosystem via the Loliondo Game Controlled Area, funneling through the Kleins Camp region and descending into Central Serengeti.

This return journey, though less publicized than the Mara River crossings, is equally remarkable. The grasslands begin to fill once more with the rhythmic movement of hooves, the dust kicked up by the herds blending with the soft rains that rejuvenate the land. Along the way, predators follow—aware that a season of abundance is approaching.

By mid to late December, the first herds reach the Southern Serengeti and the Ndutu area—setting the stage for the calving season to begin in January. The plains are lush, open, and rich with minerals—ideal conditions for birthing and nursing the next generation.

This cyclical movement—driven by rainfall, grass availability, and instinct—forms one of the most awe-inspiring natural migrations on Earth. The return south is not just a journey; it’s the quiet crescendo that prepares the Serengeti for its most tender and dramatic act: the circle of life, beginning once again where it all started—on Tanzanian soil.