One of the most spectacular sights I’ve ever witnessed is what’s known as the Great Migration. One and a half million wildbeests and zebras are all traveling at the same time. The animals make a huge loop from Kenya down to Tanzania and back again, following the weather patterns for water and grasses. The best times to see the Great Migration is in the summer when it’s raining and massive herds have to ford raging rivers.
The other best time to go is in the winter during the dry season and see the herds with their babies. Uwe and I went in January for ten days of safaris on the Serengeti Plain and the surrounding national parks.
Look at this photo! Those are animals as far back as you can see.
The Serengeti National Park is beautiful, a stunning and stunningly impressive nature reserve. I would have been blown away by the opportunity to see it without all the animals. Getting to watch from the middle of the largest migration on the planet was unbelievable.
NOTES: We used the Wilkinson Tour Agency and I recommend them whole heartedly. A really well-informed guide is worth his or her weight in gold – or animals. https://wilkinson-tours.com© Jadi Campbell 2026. All photos © Uwe Hartmann. To see more of Uwe’s animal photos and pics from our trips go to viewpics.de.
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What an amazing experience! I’m loving your photos since I won’t ever make it there
I am happy to provide Uwe’s photos for you, Emilie!
During the two years I lived and worked in the Ruvuma region of Tanzania, I only managed one weekend trip to that part – sadly nowhere near migration time. We did, however, see a great deal: flamingos and tree lions in the Lake Manyara Park, many species in the small part of the Serengeti we saw, and so, so much in the crater that is Ngorongoro. Six of us left our lodges and descended into the crater in two Land Rovers,. We parted company, and neither group saw another human being until we met up again at the end of the day. In fairness, the level of tourism in 1984/5 was not what it is now!
What an incredible experience – Ngorogoro all to yourselves! We had to get our day passes months in advance. At least they are trying to make sure the park isn’t overrun by tourists. Tanzania in 1984 must have been magical.
i can’t imagine how amazing this must have been to witness this
My heart was in my throat the entire time. It was like being too excited to remember to breathe. I wanted to watch it forever.