A safari in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The Serengeti National Park is easily Tanzania’s most famous national park. It is 14 763 square kilometers of protected area that borders Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Park.
Serengeti National Park is host to the annual wildebeest migration and is also renowned for its wealth of leopards, cheetah, and lions. The Park is a hiding place for the endangered black rhino. It also provides a protected breeding ground for the vulnerable cheetah. Alongside the Serengeti’s thousands of other diverse species. From the 500 varieties of birds to 100 different types of dung beetle! A safari doesn’t get better than in the Serengeti!
Following the rains, the Serengeti’s magical golden horizon is transformed into an endless green carpet. Flecked with wildflowers. The famous plains are interspersed with wooded hills, towering termite mounds, and monumental rocky kopjes. Plus rivers lined with elegant acacia trees. Its large stone kopjes are home to rich ecosystems. The sheer magnitude and scale of life that the plains support is staggering.
Dunia Camp lioness
Large prides of lion laze easily in the long grasses. Plentiful families of elephants feed on acacia bark and trump to each other across the plains. Giraffes, gazelles, monkeys, eland, and the whole range of African wildlife are in awe-inspiring numbers.
The park has varied zones in which each ecosystem is subtly different. Seronera in the center of the park is the most popular and most easily visited area. The Grumeti River in the Western Corridor is one of the locations for the dramatic river crossings during the wildebeest migration. Along with the Mara River in the north.
Regions of the Serengeti National Park
With the vastness of the Serengeti, it is easier to split the regions up. This helps to see where is best for your safari in the Serengeti. Bear in mind, that the wildebeest migration doesn’t necessarily follow one route. They can split up and so can be in different regions at the same time. There are no guarantees. But below you will see a general idea of where the migration should be. This is why we recommend staying in at least 2 different regions on your safari.
Southern Serengeti
The southern Serengeti is made up of classic grassy plains. These plains stretch all the way through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and into the southern Serengeti. Many people refer to this region as Kusini or Ndutu. Kusini is an area inside the boundaries of the Serengeti National Park. The Ndutu area actually sits just outside the Serengeti, inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
The wildebeest migration is present in this area from December through till roughly March. During this time the game viewing is fantastic. The big cats love the abundance of prey and open plains for hunting. It is on these nutrient-rich grasslands that the wildebeest have their young. Calving season is usually around January and February.
Outside of these months, game viewing can be a bit more hit-and-miss as the herds move into other parts of the Serengeti.
It is approximately a 4-hour drive from Ngorongoro or Karatu. The closest airstrips are Serengeti South (inside the National Park) and Serengeti Ndutu (inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area).
Central Serengeti
The heart of the Serengeti is home to phenomenal quantities of wildlife all year. The Seronera River and other water sources ensure there is permanent water. This sustains large populations of resident plains game and predators alike. The topography in Seronera combines open savanna with the occasional kopjes which make for a stunning landscape.
The endangered black rhino can also be found in the area making the central Serengeti a ‘Big 5’ destination.
The wildebeest migration travels through this region twice a year. In April to June (as they move north) and October to December (on their way back south). It is a large area, with a huge network of game tracks for excellent game drives. There is an abundance of accommodation options, some of which are very large. This, combined with the fact that Seronera is one of the most easily accessed areas of the Serengeti, means it is busy almost all year.
Eastern Serengeti
The Eastern Serengeti is probably the less explored region with fewer camps. This results in it being the most remote and exclusive area of the Serengeti. For 20 years, the grasslands of the eastern Serengeti were closed to tourists to allow the cheetah population to replenish itself. The focus of game drives in this area is firmly on big cat sightings. If you are looking for a more diverse safari experience, then you may be better suited to a different area of the Serengeti. Such as searching for various bird species or different types of plains game.
In terms of topography, the eastern Serengeti is a continuation of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and southern Serengeti landscape. The area is dominated by vast open plains but there is also the odd kopje breaking up the horizon. The Gol Kopjes is known as the world’s largest Japanese rock garden. Huge granite rock formations are home to the highest concentration of cheetah on the continent. The area is also known for great leopard and lion sightings.
It’s too far to drive to the eastern Serengeti from anywhere other than the southern and central areas of the Serengeti. Clients coming from other areas, therefore, need to fly to Seronera and then be driven 1-2 hours to their camp.
The wildebeest usually pass through between November and February on their way down to the southern Serengeti.
A great idea if staying in the Eastern Serengeti is a visit to Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo Lengai. Lake Natron is a mineral-rich soda lake that is crimson-colored and forms a crust when the water levels drop. The alkaline warm waters provide the ideal breeding ground for millions of lesser flamingos. Best viewed between July and October.
The lake lies at the foot of the Ol Doinyo Lengai, an active volcano.
Western Serengeti
In the west, the Serengeti narrows into the remote ‘Western Corridor’. A small strip of verdant land that stretches almost as far as Lake Victoria. Two rivers flow through the area. The Grumeti and the Mbalageti. Lined by evergreen forest and swampy savanna, offering a different ecosystem for their inhabitants. The dense woodlands support plenty of resident wildlife. So game viewing is good throughout the year.
It’s too far to drive to the Western Corridor from anywhere other than a camp in the Seronera region. It is therefore often better to fly. The closest airstrip is Grumeti (inside the National Park) or Singita (outside the park in the Grumeti Game Reserve).
Sometime between May and July, the Great Migration passes through. And the herds have to cross the treacherous Grumeti River. Enormous Nile crocodiles lie in wait for their only large meal of the year.
Northern Serengeti
There are two main areas to stay in the northern Serengeti. Kogatende, which encompasses the main game viewing area south of the Mara River. And the Lamai Wedge is a tract of land north of the Mara River but south of the Kenya border. The Lamai Wedge has fewer camps and fewer vehicles as a result. But there is also less area to explore on drives in comparison to Kogatende.
It is too far to drive to the northern Serengeti from Arusha in a single day. Clients who wish to drive here need to spend at least one night in the central Serengeti en route. And, even if you do, it is still a very long journey. It is therefore better to fly. The closest airstrip is either Kogatende (south of the Mara River) or Lamai (north of the Mara River).
The northern Serengeti teems with wildlife. Including the largest concentration of elephants in the Serengeti all year round. The diverse landscape includes riverine forests, bushy savannahs, kopjes. And, of course, open plains.
The migration is present from approximately July until October. As they mill back and forth between Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Masai Mara. This is the best time to try and witness a dramatic crossing of the Mara River. This is also the busiest time in terms of visitor numbers.
After the migration, once the herds make their way south, calm descends on the northern plains. However, the resident game is still plentiful. This is a fantastic time to soak up the beauty of the Serengeti in peace and quiet. With hardly any other visitors around.
Activities in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania
Besides traditional vehicle bound safaris; hot air ballooning over the Serengeti plains has become a must-do experience in the Serengeti National Park. The flights depart at dawn over the plains. Taking passengers over the awakening herds of wildebeest and zebra, gazelle, and giraffe. The extra altitude allows guests to witness the striking stretches of plains punctuated only by kopjes.
Serengeti Hot Air Balloon
When to safari in the Serengeti
During the day it is warm, with temperatures ranging from 18 – 25°C. But it almost invariably rains at some stage. Except in the very driest months of January and February. The year round temperatures stay within this range.
To search for the at times elusive wildebeest migration; safari in the Serengeti from December to July. To see predators; June until October are the best months. For the best chance of finding the migration; allow a minimum of three days or longer if possible.
For birders, December to March is when you’ll see the migratory species from Europe and North Africa in the Serengeti. It’s also a good time for photographers as the landscape is lush and the sky is clearer.
You can visit the Serengeti any time of the year. Each season has its own special highlights. You will find the game is plentiful all year round.
January to March: wildebeest calving in the Southern plains & Ngorongoro Crater/Conservation Area April to May: the beginning of the migration, and the rains. Which covers the dust with a fine green blanket of grass! Consequently; this is an excellent time for photography. June to July: the migration is moving west and northwards over vast areas August to October: excellent game viewing; particularly around the central and northern areas November to December: the return of the wildebeest through the central and the southern plains of the Serengeti. To begin the whole process again.
How Long To Safari in the Serengeti
The Serengeti is usually the main component of a safari itinerary in northern Tanzania, so the longer you can stay, the better. The absolute minimum should be 3 nights. This would allow for two full days on safari plus some time on the day you arrive and the day you depart. If you have the time and budget, we recommend visiting two different areas of the park. One close to the wildebeest migration and another area away from the migration. This will give you time to see plenty of game in two diverse areas of the Serengeti.
How to get to Serengeti National Park
At 14,750 km² in size, the Serengeti is huge. A straight road transfer from Arusha or Kilimanjaro to the main park entrance (Naabi Hill Gate) takes at least 6 hours. The travel time from the park gate to camp then depends entirely on where you are staying. Therefore; we don’t recommend you transfer by road directly from Arusha/Kilimanjaro to a camp in the Serengeti in a single day. Most guests that arrive by road to the Serengeti come following a stay at Lake Manyara, Tarangire, or the Ngorongoro Crater to break up the journey.
Guests traveling to the western or northern Serengeti by vehicle need to overnight in the central Serengeti en route. Alternatively, there are 10 x airstrips in various regions of the Serengeti. These are served by regular flights arriving from Arusha, Manyara, Tarangire, and elsewhere in Tanzania.
For guests that are short on time, flying into the Serengeti National Park is the best. Full flying circuits are available so you can take in all the must see attractions of Tanzania.
andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge; western reaches of the Serengeti is ideally positioned for dramatic migration river crossings. Best rates and offers
