Reference map
East Africa Safari Map
A hand-drawn reference map of East Africa, covering the great safari countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda, plus the Spice Islands of Zanzibar. The map traces the year-round path of the Great Migration through the Serengeti and Masai Mara, and marks the standout reserves and parks: Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Laikipia in Kenya; Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Amboseli (on the Tanzanian border) and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania; Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda; and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, the heart of the Gorilla Highlands. You are welcome to use this map on your own website with a credit and link back to safari.com.
Free to use on your website with a credit and link back to safari.com. Download hi-res version .
Countries
Reserves and parks on the map
- Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
- Laikipia, Kenya
- Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya
- Amboseli National Park, Kenya
- Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
- Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
- Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
- Volcanoes National Park (Gorilla Highlands), Rwanda
- Zanzibar & the Spice Islands
The Great Migration, by season
The Great Migration is a continuous, year-round movement of roughly two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. The map's legend marks the four windows we plan around. The herds are always somewhere, but the spectacle (calving, river crossings, predator action) shifts with the rains.
January to March: Southern Serengeti calving season
The herds are concentrated on the short-grass plains around Ndutu and the southern Serengeti, near Ngorongoro Crater. Around half a million calves drop in a six-week window from late January, followed closely by every predator in the ecosystem. Best paired with a few nights in the Crater itself.
April to June: Grumeti River and the western corridor
As the plains dry, the herds move north and west through the central Serengeti towards the Grumeti River, the first major crossing of the year, where outsized crocodiles wait in the pools. Quieter on lodges and camps, with greener landscapes.
August to October: Masai Mara and the Mara River crossings
The herds cross into the Masai Mara in Kenya. This is the headline image of the migration: wildebeest plunging into the Mara River. August and September are peak; book a year ahead for the best riverside camps.
November to December: Eastern Serengeti, returning south
The short rains pull the herds back down through the eastern Serengeti towards the calving grounds. A good shoulder window, with fewer vehicles, cheaper rates and still excellent game viewing.
How to combine East Africa
Most of our East Africa itineraries pair a wildlife leg in Kenya or Tanzania with one of two add-ons: gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, or a beach finale on Zanzibar. A typical 10-night trip might run Masai Mara, Serengeti and Zanzibar; a 14-night trip adds Ngorongoro Crater and Volcanoes National Park for the gorillas. Talk to one of our safari specialists about putting the right combination together for your dates.
Plan a trip
Speak to a safari specialist.
We can build a tailor-made itinerary across any of the regions on this map, at the same rates as booking direct, with a single named safari specialist from first enquiry to the day you come home.
