When to visit the Maasai Mara for the Great Migration

The Great Migration doesn't run on a fixed calendar, but most years the herds arrive in the Mara from July and stay through October, crossing the Mara River in dramatic, chaotic surges that draw crocodiles and camera lenses in equal number. Early July can be quieter and cheaper, with herds still arriving. August and September are peak season — book camps well in advance. By late October, the migration begins its slow return south to the Serengeti. Outside migration season, the Mara is still excellent for resident wildlife: lion, leopard, cheetah, and elephant are present year-round, and lodge rates drop significantly from November through June.