A Guide to the Serengeti Great Migration in September
Tanzania’s Serengeti Great Migration
The Serengeti is the ‘mother’ of all safari parks and the Great Migration one of the planets most impressive wildlife events; this is a park that epitomises the very essence of safari. Home to the largest herds on earth and with Africa’s Big Five on show, the Serengeti is one of those rare places that exceeds your expectations.
The 1.5 million-strong ‘Wildebeest Great Migration’ is the park’s major attraction and the majority of trips to the Serengeti should be designed around it. In this 12-part month by month blog series, I look at each month’s movements of the herds and all the other wildlife caught up in the action. I will also link you to my suggestions for the best places to stay throughout the year, to make sure you’re in the thick of the herds whenever you travel. And there are a few suggestions for how you might like to combine your Great Migration trip with other areas. Intrigued? Read on…
A Guide to the Serengeti Migration in September
Following August’s activity, September is a quieter month in terms of travellers and a period that still sees the mega-herd spreading out across the entire northern Serengeti and the Maasai Mara. Herds can be found from central Lobo (the central strip of the northern Serengeti) to the western area of the northern Serengeti (Kogatende and Lamai) right through to the heart of the Maasai Mara. This is another prime river-crossing month, with Kogatende the place to be if this is your focus. A truly wonderful area, due to the energy and beauty of the Mara river system. September is always slightly quieter than August… never a bad thing!
Summary – Clear skies and beautiful days. Amazing river crossings and excellent resident game. One of the very best times to be in the Serengeti – better than August, in my opinion due to a quieter park.
What Parks Are Best to Combine With the Serengeti in September?
This is a very difficult topic – because the vast majority of Tanzania is superb in September! I’ve always found it helps clients to consider options for trips that stay just in northern Tanzania, and then options that include the south and west of the country.
The North
- The Ngorongoro Crater is virtually impossible to turn down. This spectacular game-drive area may be busy, but September is quieter than July and August, and besides, how often are you going to have the opportunity to drive on the floor of an extinct volcano… and with one of the highest densities of animals anywhere all around you?! The setting is nothing short of exceptional…but if you want to avoid the crowds there is a strong argument for missing it out.
- Tarangire is a fantastic choice in September. This park is most famous for its elephant herds which start to mass on Tarangire’s rivers and swamps from July onwards. It is a wonderful, off the beaten track gem of a safari park at its peak in September!
- My secret spot in the north is Lake Natron, for the quality of walking, the sheer beauty of the volcanic scenery, and the fact you are far off the tourist track – I think it’s well worth a visit. You have to want to be adventurous, though!
The South and West
- Tanzania’s west is the place of safari enthusiasts and chimpanzees. Katavi is as wild a park as anywhere I’ve been, while Mahale is the finest destination in Africa for viewing chimps. The cost of trips out here takes prices to another level (flights are over $1,000pp alone!), but the experience is truly special.
- Try to be slightly clever with your budget, however, and Tanzania’s Ruaha is a cracking park where big game is at its best. I love designing trips that focus on the Serengeti and Ruaha… the value and authenticity is superb whilst the predator concentrations are unrivalled. Likewise, nearby Nyerere (formerly Selous) offers amazing boating safaris and a different experience overall.
The Beaches
Finally, the beaches of the Zanzibar Archipelago or Tanzania’s mainland coast are superb. Mozambique is also excellent but tricky to include due to difficulties with flights. Further afield and the Seychelles or Mauritius are superb.
The Best Serengeti Safaris in September
The major decision that needs to be made is whether you include the Ngorongoro Crater. As visually stunning and game rich as it is, I cannot stress how incredibly busy this park can be in early September especially….and would urge clients to avoid it if they want an authentic safari experience.
If you are looking to stay in northern Tanzania then a combination of Tarangire, the Crater and the Serengeti is the trip I would do. We can be clever with internal flights and only do a one night Crater stay that means you see the Ngorongoro quickly and move on, making the most of the area. Alternatively, miss out the Crater area altogether and simply focus on the two migrations – the elephants in Tarangire and the Serengeti’s wildebeest Great Migration.
However, a trip I always love designing is the Serengeti for the river crossings and Ruaha in central Tanzania for sheer wilderness and predators! These two areas have such unbelievably good game, complement each other in terms of very different habitats. Ruaha will always be one of my top three big game parks. If you have slightly longer then including the boating in Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous) is a great way to finish.
