A guide to where to stay to see the Serengeti's Great Migration in November
Firstly, where are the herds? November signals the start of Tanzania’s light rains, which triggers the herds to move head to their wet season grazing grounds of the southern Serengeti and northern Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It is a somewhat unpredictable time of year as the herds will be spread across much of the entire park throughout the month...but the rates are unbelievably good!
I’ve always believed that the key for November depends on exactly when in the month you are travelling. Early November sees the lodges drop their rates significantly and the last of the Great Migration’s river crossings at Kogatende and the Lamai Wedge in the north of the park are still going on. As much as river crossings are not guaranteed over the first two weeks of November the chances are still high; for that reason alone a trip that includes the northern Serengeti is a good idea.
The other area to include is the central Serengeti – due to the fact the mega herds have usually moved off from the north by now. By the middle of the month they are often focused around the central Seronera river valley – and so designing a trip that covers both the north and the central plains is a great idea for early November.
From the 15th November onward and the focus should definitely be the central area of the park. River crossings are usually over by now and the Serengeti’s resident game in the heart of Seronera is nothing short of exceptional. The park is also wonderfully quiet. I’d still include the north in trips, but only to make the most of a very quiet park of the park and camps such as Lamai Serengeti which are a fraction of October pricing.
I therefore split this blog into two sections – travel from the 1st to 15th November and travel from the 15th November to the end of the month.
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