The year · ranked by WEI
When to goon safari.
A month-by-month guide to wildlife peaks worldwide. Migrations, calvings, marine windows, dry-season drama — all independently ranked by the Wildlife Experience Index.
Right now
It's June.
What's peaking this month, where to go, and why timing matters more than location.
06Dual peak · Serengeti 83.7 + Pantanal 83.1
Two continents surge at once.
Two continents reach high WEI simultaneously: the Great Migration assembles in northern Tanzania while jaguar activity surges across the Pantanal.
The wildlife calendar
The year, on one strip.
Seven recurring wildlife events, plotted across the calendar. Hover a bar to see why it peaks when it does.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Wildebeest birth + intense predation (WEI: Jan 87 · Feb 89.5)
Mara crossings · river drama (WEI: Jul–Oct all 87–88)
Brazil dry season · riverbank cats (WEI: Jul 87.3 · Aug 87.7)
Southern right + orcas off Valdés (WEI: Sep 90 · Oct 91)
Bandhavgarh · Ranthambore peaks— destination not yet live
Dry, stable trekking conditions— destination not yet live
Mirissa · year's largest cetaceans— destination not yet live
Each bar represents a recurring wildlife event. Bars overlap because the world's best months are dense with simultaneous peaks across regions.
Twelve guides
The full calendar.
Each month is its own page — with ranked destinations, signature species and seasonal context.
January
Ndutu calving begins · Serengeti
The wildebeest calving season opens on the Ndutu plains — newborns draw lion, cheetah and spotted hyena in relentless pursuit.
February
Peak calving · Serengeti WEI 89.5
The year's highest WEI score globally: Ndutu calving at maximum intensity, with the greatest density of predator-prey interactions of any month.
March
Patagonia season opens · Valdés 82
Península Valdés peaks: southern sea lions, Magellanic penguin colonies and the first southern right whale arrivals off the Patagonian coast.
April
Southern right whales arrive · Valdés
The first southern right whales move into the sheltered gulf of Valdés. Sea lion pup season continues; Magellanic penguins in full colony.
May
Pantanal dry season · jaguar window opens
Water levels in the Pantanal begin their annual retreat. Riverbanks expose; jaguar sightings surge as cats patrol the shrinking waterways.
June
Dual peak · Serengeti 83.7 + Pantanal 83.1
Two continents reach high WEI simultaneously: the Great Migration assembles in northern Tanzania while jaguar activity surges across the Pantanal.
July
Twin peak · Serengeti 88.1 + Pantanal 87.3
The richest month globally across our index: Mara River crossings begin in the Serengeti while Pantanal jaguars reach peak frequency on the riverbanks.
August
Triple peak · three destinations all at 86–88
Pantanal 87.7, Serengeti 87.4, Península Valdés 86 — the most consistent month across all published destinations. Wherever you go, you win.
September
Valdés peak · right whales + orcas 90 WEI
Península Valdés reaches 90 WEI — the heart of southern right whale season, with orca beachings at Punta Norte and the biggest whale congregation of the year.
October
Valdés annual maximum · 91 WEI — index high
The highest WEI score of any published destination in any month: Península Valdés 91. Serengeti also peaks at 88.1. The two strongest parks in the world, simultaneously.
November
Valdés finale · Serengeti short rains
Southern right whales conclude their season at Valdés (WEI 82). The Serengeti short rains arrive — new calves are born and the plains turn vivid green.
December
Serengeti peaks again · WEI 87
As the short rains end, the Serengeti returns to 87 WEI. Fresh green plains, dispersed herds, young animals everywhere — a dramatic close to the wildlife year.
Quick-pick by quarter
Grouped by season
Wildlife rhythms cluster by quarter more than by single month. Browse the four broad windows.
Northern winter
Calving · marine peaks
Northern spring
Transition · early dry
Northern summer
Peak migration · drama
Northern autumn
Marine + dry-season finale
Why month matters
Wildlife sightings are time-bound. A great park in October can be a quiet one in May. The WEI scores every month independently — so you pick the window that actually delivers.
How we score every month →