How to Get Wall-Worthy Pictures of Africa’s Great Migration

The Serengeti and Maasai Mara are the stage for the largest animal migration on Earth, and for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers, Natural Habitat Adventures offers an unparalleled front-row seat to capture this thrilling event.

Ⓒ Eric Rock

East Africa’s Great Migration: An Epic Wildlife Odyssey

East Africa’s Great Migration is one of the oldest and most spectacular wildlife migrations on Earth. Every year, nearly 2 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle journey approximately 1,800 miles across Tanzania’s Serengeti Plains into Kenya’s Maasai Mara and back again. Guided by ancestral instincts, these herds follow a circular, seasonal path driven by rains and fresh grazing grounds.

If you dream of witnessing nature’s most awe-inspiring sights, this African expedition is your ultimate adventure. Luxury accommodations, unparalleled wildlife encounters and thrilling moments await at Nat Hab’s Private Migration Base Camps in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve and in Tanzania’s iconic Serengeti National Park.

Ⓒ Joe Charleson

Unique Wildlife Shots to Last a Lifetime

Your journey begins in Nairobi, Kenya, where you’ll set off toward the renowned Maasai Mara National Reserve. This protected wilderness spans southwestern Kenya and borders Tanzania. Its iconic landscape unfolds in sweeping grassy plains, gently rolling hills and the dramatic Mara River, which becomes the epicenter of wildlife activity between mid-June and late November. During this time, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebras arrive from Tanzania’s Serengeti Plains, making it the setting for one of the most spectacular wildlife migrations on Earth.

The Maasai Mara takes its name from the Mara River, which winds through its grasslands, and the Maasai people who have inhabited these lands for centuries, living in harmony with nature.

As your expedition begins, private camps strategically placed along migratory routes offer exclusive views of the immense herds gathering to cross the Mara River. The sound of thousands of thundering hooves fills the air, and the landscape pulses with activity as wildebeest and zebras courageously navigate the treacherous river, attempting to evade stealthy crocodiles lurking below. Our private campsite, ideally situated near the Mara River, ensures you have ample time and unparalleled access to witness and photograph these dramatic, once-in-a-lifetime scenes.

Beyond the famous river crossings, the lush Maasai Mara landscape hosts an incredible diversity of wildlife, including gazelle, impala, hartebeest, topi and other antelope species. The region’s fertile grasslands thrive on nutrient-rich soils, enriched by volcanic ash deposited millions of years ago, sustaining an abundance of plant life that attracts elephants, giraffes, hyenas and the densest lion populations in Kenya. Your expedition provides extraordinary opportunities to observe and capture breathtaking images of all these remarkable animals in their natural habitat.

Ⓒ Matt Goddard

After capturing soul-stirring images of wildebeest and zebras battling strong currents as they cross the Mara River, we continue across the border into Tanzania, heading toward Serengeti National Park. We’ll spend the next week in one of Serengeti’s premier migration corridors, where you’ll witness plains alive with the movement of immense herds striving to evade lions and hyenas that prey on the weak and young.

Predator-prey interactions are common throughout the region, as migration patterns lead wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle across the vast grasslands of the African savannah, interacting constantly with elephants, lions and other big game. Each year is unique, and the exact timing and movements of the herds vary annually.

The annual migration of wildebeest and zebras is largely driven by seasonal environmental changes. In January and February, the golden grasslands of the Serengeti in northern Tanzania come alive as hundreds of thousands of wildebeest calves are born within a three-week span. In April, the herds begin their northward journey with their newborn calves. By June, Tanzania’s dry season pushes herds further north in search of more fertile grazing.

In June, migrating herds gather along the southern banks of the Grumeti River in the western Serengeti. Herds may congregate here for up to two weeks, cautiously avoiding the crocodile-filled shallow waters. During this time, the savannah buzzes with activity as the wildebeest enter their mating season, known as the rut. More than 500,000 wildebeest mate within a four-week period.

The migration continues northward as grazing lands become depleted, driving herds toward the greener plains near the Mara River and Lamai Triangle in the northern Serengeti, typically by mid- to late July. With the arrival of short rains in November, the now heavily pregnant wildebeest return south toward the rejuvenated Serengeti plains, continuing the timeless cycle of life.

Throughout your journey, you’ll be guided by Nat Hab’s Expedition Leaders, receiving continuous insights and tips from some of the world’s most accomplished professional nature photographers and wildlife guides.

Nat Hab’s Kenya Migration Photo Expedition offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness Africa’s Great Migration, one of nature’s most breathtaking spectacles. With expert guidance and professional-level photography support, you’ll create lifelong memories—and equally unforgettable images.