Serengeti National Park — Guide
The Mara River crossings, up close
Where the migration's single most dramatic moment actually happens — the crossing points, the timing, and what's really going on in the water when a herd decides to cross.
Where the migration's single most dramatic moment actually happens — the crossing points, the timing, and what's really going on in the water when a herd decides to cross.
A crossing isn't a scheduled event — it's a standoff. Herds can gather at a riverbank for hours, sometimes a full day, before one animal finally commits and the rest follow in a sudden, chaotic rush.
Video: Nomad Tanzania, via YouTube
The Mara River crosses between the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara at several known points — some more consistent and more visible than others.
One of the most active crossing zones as herds move north into Kenya — wide river bends give good, unobstructed sightlines from the Tanzania side.
Elevated ground on the Kenyan side, giving a wide view of herds gathering on the bank before a crossing — a favorite for photography.
Open terrain near the river where many well-known migration crossing sequences have been filmed, thanks to clear visibility of the full herd.
Smaller-scale river crossings start in the central-western corridor, well before the herd reaches the Mara.
The most consistent window for large Mara River crossings, and the busiest for both herds and vehicles.
Crossings can continue into October as the herd works its way back south — fewer crowds, less certainty.
The migration cycles back toward the southern Serengeti plains, and river crossings largely stop until the next cycle.
Crossing timing shifts with rainfall each year, so a guide tracking the herd's current position is worth more than any fixed date on a calendar.
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