Serengeti

The southern Serengeti short-grass plains and adjacent Ndutu area in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area form the calving grounds where approximately 8,000 wildebeest are born daily during a 2-3 week peak in February. The alkaline Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek attract flamingos and waterfowl. Predator density peaks here during calving — cheetah, lion, and hyena follow the herds onto the open plains.

The Western Corridor stretches from the central Serengeti towards Lake Victoria, narrowing into a distinctive funnel of woodland, grassland, and the winding channels of the Grumeti River. This region comes alive from May to July when the migration herds push westward, crossing the crocodile-infested Grumeti River in dramatic fashion before continuing their northward journey. The Grumeti crossings are smaller and less publicised than the Mara River spectacles, but they offer an equally thrilling experience with far fewer vehicles and visitors. The Grumeti Reserves — private concessions flanking the national park — provide exclusive access to the migration corridor with walking safaris, night drives, and off-road driving that are not permitted within the national park itself. The riverine woodland supports large numbers of black-and-white colobus monkeys, while the grasslands harbour topi, eland, and kongoni. The Western Corridor's relative remoteness means that even during peak migration months, game drives here feel wonderfully uncrowded compared to Seronera or the northern sector.

The western corridor stretches from Seronera to Lake Victoria and includes the Grumeti River system, where the migration passes through in May and June. The Grumeti Reserves (managed by Singita) encompass 140,000 hectares of private concession with exclusive access. The Grumeti River's resident Nile crocodile population — some individuals exceeding 5 metres — creates intense crossing drama here before the main Mara River events.