A guide to where to stay to see the Serengeti's Great Migration in December
Firstly, where are the herds? December is a month that sees the herds settling into the wet season grazing grounds of the southern Serengeti and northern Ngorongoro Conservation Area. At the start of the month the herds are often still moving south where as by Christmas and the New Year the southern plains are certainly the place to be.
The focus for the next few months is the volcanic soil of the ‘Serengit’ – the endless short grass plains. Here, nutritious grasses create the perfect mineral balance for muscle and bone growth in young wildebeest whilst adults benefit from the best grazing in the entire ecosystem. This can often be the start of calving season, although peak calving season concentrates itself in a few weeks between January and February.
Due to the fact the herds are still on the move it’s important to decide where you stay on exactly when you travel. At the start of December the central plains of Seronera and Namiri as well as an area further south called Moru (which has the best accommodation) would be my focus, whilst from the 15th December onward Kusini and Ndutu are the places to be. For longer Serengeti ‘migration focused’ trips it is advisable to use camps that cover the entire of the areas mentioned above.
THE VIDEO BELOW – an overview of where to stay in November to maximise your chance of seeing the herds.
BENEATH THE VIDEO - a write up of my favourite lodges and recommendations for where to stay that covers all price points