Well-known for its endless savannahs, diverse ecosystems, and plentiful wildlife – notably the Great Migration, Serengeti National Park is one of the crown jewels of Tanzania’s national park system. It hosts the largest population of lions in all of Africa.
The park is located in northern Tanzania within eastern Mara region and northeastern Simiyu region.
It covers a vast area of 14,763 sq km (5,700 sq mi) extending close to the border with Kenya. Serengeti derives its name from a Maasai word ‘siringet’ which means ‘endless plains’.
Looking for a guide to visiting Serengeti National Park in Tanzania? Well, look no further.
In this comprehensive guide, we aim to cover absolutely all aspects of trip planning to Serengeti including activities, best time to visit, some practical tips, and more.
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Understanding Serengeti National Park
Established as a game reserve in 1930, Serengeti was upgraded to a national park in 1940. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and plays a vital role in protecting the African wildlife.
There are broadly four main regions in Serengeti National Park.
- Central Serengeti/Seronera
- Western Corridor/Grumeti
- Northern Serengeti
- Southern Serengeti/Ndutu
Central Serengeti encompasses Open savannas, acacia woodlands, and the Seronera River. It is the most visited area of the park because of the large number of resident wildlife found here year-round.
Western Corridor Stretches along the Grumeti River all the way to Lake Victoria. This area is known for the Grumeti River crossings (May-July) when several thousand wildebeest and zebra go across the crocodile infested waters.
Northern Serengeti features rolling lush hills, riverine areas, and open woodlands. One of the remotest regions of the park, it is the busiest from July to October during the dramatic wildebeest crossings on the famous Mara River.
Southern Serengeti or Ndutu Area is the best for wildlife viewing during calving season between January and February. The richness of new life attracts carnivores making it a prime location for sighting wildlife in calving season.
How To Get There
Serengeti National Park is part of Tanzania’s Northern Circuit safari. Arusha is the gateway city to access this circuit.
If you are coming by road from Arusha, it can take anywhere between 6-7 hours to reach Naabi Hill Gate.
Most people visit Tarangire National Park or Ngorongoro Crater on the way, stay overnight, and then head to Serengeti. On the way back, visit Lake Manyara National Park and come back to Arusha.
You can also fly directly to Serengeti National Park from Arusha. There are several airstrips serving different areas of the national park. The largest and the most used is Seronera Airstrip in Central Serengeti.
Other airstrips include Kogatende Airstrip (Northern part), Lobo Airstrip (Northeastern part), Serengeti Kusini Airstrip (Southern part, Ndutu area), and Kirawira B Airstrip (Western part).
How To Get To Arusha
The nearest international airport to Arusha, Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), is roughly 50 km away. You can take an airport shuttle or book a private car to reach Arusha from the airport.
Alternatively, fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam and take a connecting flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK).
Things To Do in Serengeti
Serengeti National Park is a haven for wild animals. It boasts one of the highest concentration of animals in the world.
Let’s explore the best things to do in Serengeti.
Experience Serengeti On A Full-Day Game Drive
We did 2 full-day game drives in Central Serengeti (Seronera region) and it was worth every penny we spent on the tour.
If you want to visit North Serengeti, it makes sense to be there during the migration season usually from July to September.
The park is home to over to 3,000 lions and other predators like leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, and wild dogs.
The Serengeti ecosystem also supports a number of herbivores, reptiles, and more than 500 species of birds.
There are roughly 1.5 million wildebeests and 250,000 zebras in the park. Besides that, you can also see giraffes, elephants, hippopotamuses, Cape buffalos, warthogs, and different types of antelopes.
The rock-like structures in this picture are actually hundreds of hippos cooling themselves in a muddy pool.
We managed to see four of the Big Five game animals including lion, leopard, elephant, and Cape buffalo.
Black rhino sighting is extremely rare as there are just a few of them left in the area. Their population has declined significantly due to poaching.
Ride A Hot Air Balloon
A hot air balloon safari offers an incredible way to view Serengeti’s iconic wilderness.
If you have booked a tour, they pick you up from your lodge and bring you to the launch site.
After a safety briefing, you will be ready to take a hot air balloon flight. For the next one hour, you will be floating peacefully over the breathtaking landscapes of Serengeti.
This experience comes with a hefty price tag. It was costing $599 per person when we visited.
Witness The Great Migration
The Great Migration is an amazing spectacle of nature that allows cyclical, year-round movement of wildlife across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.
Over 1.5 million animals such as wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles migrate in search of fresh grazing and water. Since the migration involves seasonal movement, you need to be there in the right season.
Grumeti River Crossing, Western Serengeti: late May, June, early July
Mara River Crossing, Northern Serengeti: mid-late July, August, September, early October
You can find highlights of each season in the “Best Time To Visit” section.
Where To Stay
In Serengeti, you should stay in the same area where you have your game drive planned. As the park is vast, transfer between different areas can take a lot of time. Here are some of the best lodges to stay within the park.
Central Serengeti/Seronera: Seronera Wildlife Lodge
Western Corridor/Grumeti: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Northern Serengeti: Lobo Wildlife Lodge
In addition to lodges, there are plenty of semi-permanent tented camps. They are constructed during the high season and dismantled at the end of the season. Many guided tours offer stay in such tented camps.
Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit Serengeti depends on what you want to see there.
January – Early March: Calving Season
Visit Southern Serengeti /Ndutu Plains. In the calving season, predator activity is very high due to easy preying opportunities.
Late March – Early May: Rainy Season
This is peak rainy season, expect heavy rains and lush surroundings. During this time, Central Serengeti (Seronera region) is the best area to explore. By the end of May, the herds start moving northwest in search of fresh grazing grounds.
Late May – Early July: Awe-inspiring Grumeti river crossings
As the dry season starts, wildebeests and other herbivores migrate to western Serengeti. There is a short window between late May and June, when big herds make their way across the crocodile-filled Grumeti river.
Mid-late July – Early October: The Great Migration across the Mara River
This is the peak safari season in Serengeti National Park. Tourists flock to see hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebras crossing the Mara River, populated by deadly crocodiles.
Late October – December: Short rainy season
Herds start returning to South Serengeti as the rains bring fresh grazing.
Self-drive or Guided Safari
Serengeti National Park offers guided as well as self-drive safari options. Make a choice depending on the comfort level and the kind of experience you are looking for.
Although self-drive is more cost effective and provides flexibility, it is not for everyone. The roads in Serengeti are unmarked and not in a great condition. So, you may face navigational challenges when self-driving.
We chose guided safari for the fact that we didn’t have to worry about driving or planning the routes. There was comfort of having an expert guide who knew Serengeti inside out.
Our safari company made all arrangements including food, logistics, permits and accommodation. The only thing we had to do was to focus on sighting wildlife.
The guided safari comes in different packages such as budget (group safari), mid-range and luxury. You can choose something that matches your budget.
Practical Tips
- Book early, at least 3-4 months in advance, if you are travelling during dry season (June to October).
- Animals and birds are at their most active during morning hours. So, start your game drive early.
- Dress in neutral-colour clothing like khaki, beige, green, tan as these colours blend well with the surroundings.
- Early mornings can be chilly, don’t forget to take a lightweight jacket with you on the safari. It usually gets hot by afternoon.
- Apply a good insect repellent to keep the annoying flies and bugs away.
- Carry your binoculars to optimise your wildlife watching experience. When animals are far away, you can’t see them clearly with naked eyes.
Further Reading
You may also like to read about other national parks in northern Tanzania.
The Ultimate Guide to Tarangire National Park.
A Complete Guide To Visiting Ngorongoro Crater.
Lake Manyara National Park – Essential Travel Guide.
Ultimate 5-Day Tanzania Safari Itinerary.
Over To You Now…
Whether you are a seasoned traveller or a first-time visitor, a trip to Serengeti National Park promises remarkable wildlife experiences.
We hope you found our Serengeti travel guide helpful and found plenty of inspiration for your upcoming safari trip.
Have you visited this iconic Tanzanian national park? Let us know in the comments below.
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