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The Maasai Mara's Great Migration

Every year between July and October, approximately 1.5 million wildebeest, accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle, move north from Tanzania’s Serengeti into the Maasai Mara in search of grass. It is one of the largest movements of animals on earth, and from Mattikoko, you are perfectly placed to witness it.

The migration in Lemek

As the herds move through the Greater Maasai Mara ecosystem, they pass through Lemek Conservancy. This means that during peak season, migration wildlife (wildebeest, zebra, and the predators that follow them) comes directly to you. Game drives during this period have an added intensity: the plains fill with moving animals, predator activity increases dramatically, and the sheer scale of what you’re watching is difficult to prepare for.

Obviously the wildlife’s movement isn’t entirely predictable, and witnessing this event is never guaranteed. But if you come to Lemek in the right season, you’ll have a good chance.

river crossing during Great Migration in the Maasai Mara

River crossings

The most dramatic moments of the migration happen at the Mara River, where wildebeest must cross in the face of waiting crocodiles. From Mattikoko, we can arrange full-day game drives into the Maasai Mara National Reserve to put you at the river crossing points. Our guides know the crossing locations and the patterns that determine when a crossing is likely, which makes the difference between witnessing one and spending a long day waiting at the bank.

Park entry fees for the national reserve apply on these days and are not included in the camp rate.

Migration season timing

The migration is present in the Maasai Mara ecosystem from approximately July through October, with the herds building through July and peak river crossing activity typically concentrated in August and September. It is worth knowing that crossings are not a fixed event — timing depends on rainfall, grass conditions, and the unpredictable instincts of the herd. An experienced guide who knows the river and the patterns of the crossing points makes an enormous difference to your chances of witnessing one.

Outside of migration season, Lemek’s resident wildlife remains exceptional year-round. The big cat populations are territorial and stay in the conservancy regardless of what the wildebeest are doing — and the Mara is never quiet, whatever the month.