Top 10 Places to Stay in Kenya and Tanzania to See the Great Migration

Every year, the Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystems bear witness to one of nature’s most fantastic spectacles: the Great Migration. It sees the rotational movement of millions of wildebeest and other herbivores across the savannah in search of prime grazing areas.

After calving in Tanzania’s southern Serengeti near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, herds make their way north in a clockwise direction towards Kenya’s Masai Mara before returning near the end of the year. Drama persists during the Great Migration as predators follow the herds, keeping watch for hunting opportunities.

While the wildebeest migration is a year-round occurrence, one of its most exciting periods is the river crossing, where animals cross the ever-raging Mara River from the Serengeti into the Masai Mara, braving hungry crocodiles and rapid waters. This spectacle is a sight to behold, drawing travellers from across the globe.

If you’re considering embarking on a migration safari, read on to find some of the top 10 camps and lodges in Kenya and Tanzania to witness the river crossings of the Great Migration.

Where to Stay in the Serengeti (Tanzania)

The Serengeti is a land where nature unfolds in its rawest and most thrilling form – endless golden plains, prowling predators, and the thunder of hooves during the Great Migration. It’s a place where every sunrise promises a new wildlife spectacle and every night echoes with the sounds of the wild.

Choosing where to stay here is key to experiencing its magic up close. From luxury camps perched near dramatic river crossings to remote lodges nestled deep in the bush, it offers adventurous travellers front-row seats to nature’s greatest show.

1. Sayari Camp

Asilia Africa’s Sayari Camp is an award-winning camp set in the Northern Serengeti. From its luxurious base, it offers a premium view over the Mara River, where the Great Migration river crossings take place. Between July and October, the migration reaches its inevitable climax, where hundreds of wildebeest – and other herbivores – are seen making the treacherous crossing over the river.

Being the closest permanent camp to the Mara River, Sayari often becomes engulfed by herds of wildebeest and zebra during peak crossing periods. The region is also home to leopards, black rhinos, lions, and cheetahs.

Besides its fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities, the camp boasts several premium amenities, including mahogany floors, king-size beds, walk-in showers, and freestanding tubs. While here, you can relax on the expansive wraparound deck with a cold drink in hand and enjoy passing wildlife.

2. A&K Sanctuary Kichakani Serengeti Camp

Located in the Northern Serengeti, A&K Sanctuary’s Kichakani Camp provides an unobstructed view of the Great Migration’s river crossings. This mobile camp exists in two different locations in different parts of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, allowing you to see two distinct parts of the Great Migration: the iconic Mara River crossing in the north, as well as the calving season in the south!

During the river crossing season, Kichakan provides an unparalleled view as wildebeest brave the raging waters of the Mara. The camp relocates to the south during the green season, characterised by lush landscapes and rainy days, allowing you to see new wildebeest take their first steps.

Up to 8,000 wildebeest calves are born each day during this period (usually between January and March), causing predators to spring into action. Despite the quiet nature of calving season, a migration safari during this period offers plenty of exciting sightings.

3. One Nature Mara River

One Nature Mara River is a luxury safari lodge in the Northern Serengeti, located just minutes away from the Kogatende Airstrip, allowing for quick access for viewing the Great Migration.

The lodge boasts excellent guides who understand migration patterns intimately. You will be guided to prime spots on the river while they share captivating stories and insights, revealing the challenges and facts shaping the Great Migration.

Beyond the migration, the lodge ensures a luxurious and exclusive experience with a two-bedroom family villa as well as a one-bedroom luxury villa. Each villa is equipped with its own private sun deck and heated pool. Whether you are an experienced safari-goer, travelling with family, or seeking a romantic escape, One Nature Mara River provides a crafted experience to witness one of nature’s most awe-inspiring spectacles.

4. Serian’s Serengeti Lamai

Reminiscent of scenes from Out of Africa, the open plains of the Lamai Wedge – a triangular-shaped region located in the Northern Serengeti – are home to an incredible amount of game. Serian’s Serengeti Lamai is located on the opposite end of Crossing Point 4 of the Mara River, giving it an excellent view of the river crossing.

This camp features eight comfortable tents, two family suites, and two mess tents set among the shade of acacia trees. This peaceful intimacy lends itself to exclusive bookings for large groups and families. For those seeking a digital detox, you’ll be pleased to know that Serengeti Lamai has no available Wi-Fi, allowing you to completely disconnect from the modern world for a truly remote experience.

Away from the river, the area includes rolling savannahs with boulder-strewn hillsides and fig-tree groves and is home to a diversity of wildlife, making it a world-class game viewing destination. Cheetahs, lions, and elephants all make their way here, and it’s also not unheard of to spot all of the Big Five in one day, making it a fantastic spot for a Big Five safari as well.

5. Songa Tented Camp

Songa Tented Camp calls the hilly outcrops of Kogatende home and invites you on an immersive safari experience with an explorer-styled tented camp as your home base. During the Great Migration’s peak between July and November, the camp lies in wait and is perfectly positioned to witness the river crossings.

Relocating to the south during the quiet months, the camp transforms into a tranquil retreat coupled with sightings of lions, cheetahs, and hyenas. Enjoy the freedom of exploring an uncrowded Serengeti, both on foot and by vehicle, and wake up to the sounds and sights of wildlife just outside your tent.

With eight en-suite tents and a family tent, and even the option to book one side on an exclusive basis, the camp is perfectly suited for groups and families looking to explore the Serengeti at their own pace. Activities include game drives with a private guide, hot air balloon safaris, and relaxing sundowners, ensuring a well-rounded and relaxing experience in the bush.

Where to Stay in the Masai Mara (Kenya)

The Masai Mara, Kenya’s crown jewel of wildlife reserves, is the northern theatre of the Great Migration. This region sees the arrival of the wildebeest herds from July through October, when the Mara River crossings reach their dramatic peak. Grassy plains, acacia-dotted landscapes, and teeming wildlife make the Mara one of Africa’s most thrilling safari destinations.

Here are five of the finest places to stay in the Masai Mara for front-row seats to the Great Migration.

6. Governors’ Camp

A pioneer of classic safari experiences, Governors’ Camp sits along the banks of the Mara River inside the Masai Mara National Reserve. With over 50 years of guiding history, this camp is legendary for its consistent and intimate sightings of the Great Migration and the Big Five.

Governors’ Camp’s location offers breathtaking views over the Mara River, placing you at the heart of the action. On occasion, you won’t even need to leave the camp, with wildebeests crossing the river just outside!

The entire camp is under canvas with en-suite bathrooms and private verandahs. The dining tent also offers gorgeous views over the river, with the bar tent facing the plains for incredible sunset photography opportunities. For those seeking wellness, the spa tent offers a range of treatments using 100% natural products from The Wild Herb Company.

For the eco-conscious, you’ll be glad to know that Eco-Tourism Kenya has also awarded Governors’ Camp with a GOLD rating for its sustainability efforts and environmentally-friendly practices, making this the perfect camp for a sustainable safari.

7. andBeyond Bateleur Camp

Elegant, romantic, and deeply rooted in East African safari heritage, andBeyond Bateleur Camp blends classic safari style with wilderness immersion. Located just below the scenic Oloololo Escarpment in Kenya’s renowned Masai Mara National Reserve, it delivers both luxury and prime wildlife access to viewing the Great Migration.

Here, you’re in a front-row seat for the drama of the migration and the daily life of the Mara’s resident wildlife. The camp features just two intimate camps of nine luxury tents each and a luxury family tent, each with a private butler, indoor and outdoor showers, and decks overlooking the bush. After game drives led by top-tier guides, guests can enjoy cocktails by the fire, dine under the stars, or slip into a hot bath in a polished silver and copper bathtub.

For those seeking adventure, the camp provides twice-daily game drives and walking safaris, as well as a range of additional activities, including hot air balloon safaris, community excursions, a well-equipped gym, and wellness treatments in their massage sala.

8. Rekero Camp

Rekero Camp stands out for its intimate, authentic safari feel. Located on a bend of the Talek River, near one of the most active crossing points, Rekero is often in the thick of the migration action. Here, you can view the Great Migration from the expansive deck in front of camp as well as during game drives!

Owned and operated by renowned safari specialists Asilia Africa, Rekero is designed for those who want to connect deeply with nature. The camp features nine spacious tents with en-suite bathrooms and sweeping views of the river, where hippos and crocodiles are constant companions. Enjoy morning coffee on your verandah or enjoy a relaxing book while watching wildlife on the plains across the river.

Guides here are among the best in the business, with years of experience tracking the herds and sharing the secrets of the Mara ecosystem. Rekero is especially popular among wildlife photographers, migration enthusiasts, and honeymooners.

9. Saruni Mara

Saruni Mara blends community-led tourism with luxury safari travel. Situated on the edge of the Mara Reserve along the northern corridor of the Great Migration, it offers an exclusive, crowd-free safari – perfect during the migration peak.

The secluded hills of the 69,000-acre Mara North Conservancy brings with it seclusion, wide open plains to the south and forests to the north. Being the only luxury lodge in the area, Saruni Mara is an excellent choice for a remote safari, especially during the Great Migration.

When it comes time to step away from the hustle of migrating herds, sit back and enjoy elegant cuisine and exceptional service. Its dining room features two fireplaces and al fresco spaces for starlit meals. This romantic setting ensures that each night is as memorable as the safari day that preceded it.

The camp is solar-powered and features eco-friendly architecture that integrates seamlessly into the surrounding wilderness, the perfect stay for a sustainable safari. The boutique lodge offers five elegant cottages, one family villa, and one private villa, ideal for groups and families travelling together.

One of the most interesting aspects of this lodge is its guides, Maasai warriors who are eager to share their customs and deep knowledge of the land and its wildlife. The Warriors Academy experience also offers you a chance to spend some time with the Maasai and learn some of their essential survival skills. You will learn how to track animals and craft tools on the plains of the Masai Mara.

10. Great Plains Mara Plains Camp

If you’re after a high-end, all-inclusive safari with a conservation edge, Mara Plains Camp by Great Plains Conservation is hard to beat. Located in the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy, adjacent to the main reserve, this Relais & Châteaux camp offers exclusive access to one of the Mara’s most wildlife-dense regions.

With only seven opulent suites, each with copper baths, private decks, and photography gear available for guest use, Mara Plains is for those who want to experience the migration without sacrificing comfort or privacy. No other camp offers the extensive traversing area of Mara Plains Camp, with access to over 40,000 hectares of private conservancy land as well as the world-renowned Masai Mara.

The camp’s commitment to conservation and low-impact tourism enhances its appeal, with your stay here contributing considerably to the conservancy’s flourishing ecosystem. Conservation fees are paid to safeguard the habitat while simultaneously supporting over 1,000 Maasai families, ensuring the survival of the surrounding landscapes and the people who call it home.

Choosing where to stay to see the Great Migration river crossings is key to experiencing this awe-inspiring spectacle in comfort, style, and proximity. The Great Migration is not just a wildlife event but a unique experience that sharply focuses on the raw drama of life on the savannah.

By staying in the right camp, you’ll witness epic river crossings and immerse yourself in the rhythm of Africa’s wilderness, guided by expert trackers and surrounded by stunning landscapes with luxury comforts. If you want to keep track of where the herd is right now, use our handy HerdTracker tool, or take a look at some of our migration tours to inspire your next safari!