Serengeti National Park Safari

The Central Serengeti, lying at the heart of this spectacular national park, is the most popular region in the reserve for its abundant wildlife, large numbers of big cats and quintessential Serengeti landscapes of acacia-studded savanna. Resident wildlife makes this part of the Serengeti a fantastic year-round destination, but the months of April to June and October to December, when the herds of the Great Migration pass through the area, are when it’s at its peak.

Credit: Camp Zebra

The Seronera River Valley, located in the south-central region of the park, is one of the most popular areas in the entire reserve. Known as the Big Cat Capital of Africa, the Seronera is rich in lion, leopard and cheetah – and people often spot all three in one day of game drives. Look for leopard around the Seronera River, which is home to one of Africa’s densest populations of the big cats, while lions can often be seen on the kopjes (rocky outcrops). The Serengeti Plains – the open savanna south of the Seronera River – are prime cheetah territory. Other animals to spot in the area’s varied habitats of rivers, swamps, kopjes and grasslands include elephant, hippos and crocodiles in the rivers, buffaloes, impala, topi, jackals and bat-eared foxes.

While the year-round supply of water from the Seronera River means that the area is excellent for wildlife spotting throughout the year, April to June is the peak season for game viewing in the Seronera, as this is when the plains are full of migrating wildebeest, zebra and gazelle as they’re making their way up north. The central location of the Seronera means that it’s one of the best places to see the Great Migration in action, as the animals are moving through the area for months.

Highlights

The Central Serengeti is a fantastic area to see the Great Migration in action: the herds move through this section of the park from April to June as they travel northwards, and then they come back again heading south from October to December. Some of the best locations in the Central Serengeti to see the herds include the Seronera Valley and Seronera River, Moru Kopjes, Simba Kopje and Maasai Kopjes.

If you’re after Big Cats, the Seronera area in the Central Serengeti is your best bet: this region is hailed as the best place to see predators – particularly lion, leopard and cheetah – on thrilling hunts.

The Central Serengeti is studded with many rocky granite outcrops, known as kopjes, which are where you should look out for lions and cheetahs. There are also some particular kopje highlights, such the Simba Kopje, or Simba Rocks – the place that inspired Pride Rock in the Disney film The Lion King. The film link is not the only reason to visit this pile of granite boulders however – it’s great spot to see lions, which are often lying on the rocks under the sun. At Moru Kopjes, south of the Seronera River, you can try and search for some of the last remaining black rhinos in the entire reserve – as well as see some old rock art paintings. Then there’s a visitor’s centre for the Serengeti Rhino Project, where you can learn about the important rhino conservation work that’s being done to protect this highly endangered species. Moru Kopjes is also one of the very few areas of the park where you can do multi-day walking safaris.

Hot air ballooning is a must-do when you’re visiting the Serengeti. Floating gently above the grassy plains in the golden light of dawn, spotting animals from your suspended basket is an experience you’ll never forget. If you’re staying in the Central Serengeti, you can get a transfer to and from your lodge or camp to the hot air ballooning launch site near the Masai Kopjes. A champagne breakfast once you land is the cherry on top of an amazing activity.

Many lodges and camps offer a visit to a Maasai village so that you can learn more about the famous semi-nomadic pastoralist tribe who have long lived in the area that is now the Serengeti and the Masai Mara national parks. At the Maasai village you’ll be treated to members of the village singing and dancing, with the male warriors doing a traditional jumping dance. You’ll also be able to buy beautiful jewellery and handmade crafts, which make great souvenirs – and also support the local economy.

Travel Tips

Credit: Serengeti Acacia Camps

• The Seronera region, as the most popular area of the park, has a wealth of lodging options ranging from budget-friendly through to mid-range and up to all-out luxury, with some of the park’s best high-end properties. Budget travellers can camp under the stars at the rustic Seronera Campsite, while travellers looking for mid-range options will find affordable lodges and camps – many of which are family friendly and offer the full range of amenities such as WiFi. You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to luxury camps: there are mobile camps which move with the Great Migration herds (and don’t scrimp on comfort, with proper beds, hot bucket showers and private butlers), beautifully designed lodges with private infinity pools and activities such as guided meditation sessions in the bush, bush picnics and stargazing.

• The park headquarters are also based in Seronera (close to the airstrip), where there’s a visitor information centre, a curio shop and a café.

• The Seronera gets particularly busy during the most popular months of June and July and October to April and sightings can be overpopulated. If escaping the crowds is your priority and you’re travelling in these months, consider booking your lodging in another part of the park.

• Seronera is accessible by road on a six-hour drive from both Arusha and Mwanza, but the easiest option to access this part of the park is to fly into the Seronera airstrip and stay at a lodge that caters for fly-in travellers: they’ll come and pick you up from the airstrip and provide game drives in their vehicles.

• Some of the lodges and camps offer short walks in the bush of two to four hours with Maasai guides, who’ll teach you about the smaller creatures and the plants that you miss on game drives. If walking is something you’d like to experience, do some research on lodges that offer this activity.

The Eastern Serengeti is one of the most beautiful regions of the park: mountains, valleys and sweeping grassy plains with are lush in the green season dotted with granite outcrops and sliced through by meandering rivers. It’s one of the more remote regions of the park, which makes it perfect for adventurous travellers who prefer their safaris off the beaten track.

The region can be visited year-round for wildlife sightings, but November to February are the best months to see the Great Migration herds passing through towards the Southern Serengeti. The green season of December to May sees the plains become lush and verdant, which attracts abundant game. Home to the biggest concentration of cheetah on the continent, the Gol Kopjes is the most famous landmark in the Eastern Serengeti, while the area is also known for its lion and leopard sightings.

Under two hours’ drive from the Central Serengeti, the Soit Le Motonyi region, which opened in 2014 after being closed for two decades for cheetah conservation, is drawing visitors for its pristine, totally undeveloped landscapes of grassy plains and acacia woodlands, completely secluded camps – and for cheetah.

Highlights

Spotting cheetah is a big highlight of a safari to the Eastern Serengeti, and the prime area is Gol Kopjes. Known as the world’s largest Japanese rock garden, the Gol Kopjes – huge granite rock formations – are home to the highest concentration of cheetah on the continent, and offer some of the best game viewing opportunities in the Serengeti during the rainy season from January to June, when the Great Migration herds are passing through the area.

To experience rugged wilderness with very few other visitors, the newly re-opened Soit Le Motonyi region, where short grassy plains meet acacia woodlands, is one of the most remote and least developed corners of the Serengeti. The area was inaccessible to the public for twenty years for cheetah conservation, and now it’s the best place in the Serengeti to see a huge concentration of cheetah undisturbed by other cars and tourists. The Great Migration herds pass the area between November and April (with the “long rains” period of March to May attracting a huge number of feasting hyena), and leopard and lion can be spotted on the rocky outcrops, while there’s other wildlife to spot year-round thanks to a permanent water supply. There are only two camps in the Soit Le Motonyi area, and activity highlights include walking safaris and spending time with a cheetah researcher learning about conservation strategies and helping to collate data on cheetahs that you spot.

If you’re staying in the Eastern Serengeti, consider making a side trip outside of the park to visit Lake Natron, a brightly hued lake with a pinkish crust that attracts millions of flamingos between June and November. You can swim in the lake, and explore the surrounding scenery, which is remarkable – think volcanic craters, waterfalls and gorges. Close by to the southern end of the lake, the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai (“Mountain of God” in Maasai) looms over the Rift Valley. Adventurous travellers who are up for a bit of a challenge can tackle the 2962-metre ascent of Ol Doinyo Legai over three days.

Travel Tips

• There’s a limited amount of lodging in the Eastern Serengeti, which is perfect if you like seclusion and privacy, but it does mean that you need to book far in advance.

• If you’re staying at a camp in the Soit Le Motonyi region, then the closest airstrip is Seronera, which is around one and a half hours’ drive away. Note that there are only two camps in Soit Le Motonyi, so you’ll need to book in advance for the high seasons of December to February and June to October.

The Ndutu Region forms part of the northern section of Ngorongoro Conservation Area and stretches to the unfenced southern reaches of the Serengeti National Park, a meeting point between these two incredible wilderness areas. This section of the park is made up of rolling grasslands peppered with alkaline lakes that attract flocks of flamingos, as well as acacia woodlands.

There’s year-round resident wildlife (such as giraffe, elephant, hyena and various antelope species) in the Ndutu Region, and you can spot animals around the waterholes during the dry season from June to November. Look out for the six cat species – lion, cheetah, leopard, serval, African wild cat and caracal – that are present throughout the year.

The best months to visit the Ndutu Region are from December, when the Great Migration herds start to arrive from the north, until April when the millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle have trekked northwards again. In the early months of the year – with a peak in February – the wildebeest herds are calving on the verdant grassy plains: thousands upon thousands of baby animals are born every day, attracting the attention of cheetah, lion and hyena.

Highlights

Credit: Legendary Serengeti Camp

A big draw of the Ndutu Region is to see the full circle of the Great Migration, from the return of the herds to graze in December, and then the calving which takes place in January and February, and then the departure of the herds again in April as they start making their journey northwards. Calving season is particularly dramatic: a million wildebeest give birth to 8000 babies every day, and as these newborns take their first steps, they’re targeted by lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena.

The prime game viewing spot in the Ndutu Region is around Lake Ndutu, where enormous herds congregate between December and April to graze and calve. The forests and granite kopjes around Lake Ndutu are also home to lots of game outside of the migration months.

Sightings of six species of cats – leopard, lion, cheetah, caracal, African wildcat and serval – are a big highlight of visiting the Ndutu Region. You can spot the cats throughout the year, but the best viewing is during the calving months of January and February, when these predators pick on the fledgling baby animals.

A trip to Ndutu is not just about wildlife and landscapes – there’s incredible cultural heritage to explore too. Lying within the Ndutu Region, Olduvai Gorge (also known as Oldupai – the correct Maasai spelling of the word) is one of the world’s most significant paleoanthropological sites, thanks to the discovery of the earliest evidence of the existence of our human ancestors. Visit the dramatic ravine and spend some time in the museum to learn about the fascinating excavations and discoveries that have taken place here. A visit to Olduvai Gorge should be combined with a stop at the nearby Shifting Sands: mysterious and beautiful dunes formed of volcanic ash that move with the winds.

For adventurous travellers, you can do multi-day walking safaris starting in the Ndutu Region and heading into the highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and for the very intrepid, you can combine the walking safari with an ascent up the active volcano of Ol Doinyo Lengai.

Day trips to the Ngorongoro Crater are a highlight of staying in the Ndutu Region. The remains of a massive volcano, the Ngorongoro is one of the most superb wilderness areas on the continent, and boasts some of the greatest populations of animals – particularly predators – found in Africa.

Travel Tips

Credit: Nasikia Mobile Camp

• With no public campsites, Ndutu isn’t the best region for budget travellers. Your best budget-friendly option would be to stay at one of the mid-range mobile tented camps that operate in the area.

• As with most areas of the Serengeti, camps and lodges are mainly in the upmarket range. Due to the seasonal nature of wildlife, lodges tend to only open for the peak season from November to March.

• Camps and lodges in the Ndutu Region can either be located in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area or in the Serengeti National Park, so keep in mind that you’ll need to pay park fees for each park if you’re staying in one park and doing game drives in the other.

• You can reach the Ndutu region by road from Arusha, which is around six hours’ drive away through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. A quicker way to reach your lodge if you’re not self-driving is by air: the Ndutu Region is served by several airstrips, and it’s a quick flight from Arusha.

The Northern Serengeti offers a chance to escape the crowds: this region of the park – wedged between the Central Serengeti and Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve to the north – is remote and relatively inaccessible, which means it sees fewer visitors. Travellers who make it to this corner of the Serengeti will be rewarded with gorgeous landscapes of green rolling hills, granite outcrops and acacia woodlands dotting open savanna, incredible wildlife, and most importantly, with massive herds of wildebeest and zebra making dangerous crossing of the croc-infested Mara River during the Great Migration in June and July and again in September, October and November. This sector of the park is also home to the greatest concentration of elephant in the Serengeti, as well as good numbers of lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena and diverse resident animals such as giraffe, topi, eland and hippo.

Credit: Dunia Camp

Lying in the park’s north eastern corner, the remote Lobo Valley is a particularly beautiful part of the park, encompassing open plains, rolling hills, dramatic kopjes and woodlands. It’s known for large elephant herds and the second largest lion pride in the Serengeti, and it’s not unusual to spot lion, leopard and cheetah on one game drive. The Lobo Valley is also home to year-round resident game such as giraffe, hartebeest, topi and buffalo, while the herds of the Great Migration pass through the valley in July and August moving north, and then return on their southwards journey between September and November.

Outside of the park’s boundaries to the east and bordering Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Maasai-owned Loliondo Game Controlled Area is nearly a third of the size of the Serengeti itself. This private concession is an important wildlife corridor and the herds of the Great Migration pass through here on their southwards march from Kenya in November and December. The benefit of staying in lodges in the Loliondo is seeing all of the wildlife of the Serengeti but with the activities that are not permitted in the national park: night drives and off-road driving. Lodges also offer walking safaris and cultural activities with the Maasai.

Highlights

Credit: Oliver’s Camp

The Mara River, which courses its way through the Northern Serengeti and then into Lake Victoria to the west, is undoubtedly the highlight of this remote region of the Serengeti. The river is home to giant pods of hippos and attracts an abundance of game, from giraffe and elephant to leopard and lion. Between July and September, the Mara River becomes the site of thousands upon thousands of wildebeest and zebra battling currents and huge Nile crocodiles to reach the opposite bank, where they make their way north into the Masai Mara in neighbouring Kenya. These thrilling river crossings are a big highlight of seeing the Great Migration in action, and while across the border in Kenya these sightings can become crowded with game drive vehicles, there are far fewer tourists on the Serengeti side of the river.

Walking safaris are a recent addition in the Serengeti, and there aren’t many places in the park where they are offered. One location is from Kogatende, near the Mara River. On a multi-day adventure, you’ll just carry a day pack, staying at temporary camps with comfortable beds and delicious meals prepared for you by camp staff. Walking in the wilderness is the ultimate way to experience the Serengeti’s wildlife and scenery, and going camping in the bush and sleeping under the stars definitely takes the usual safari experience up several notches.

Go hot air ballooning one morning during your safari in the Northern Serengeti to be treated to sunrise views over the plains and 360-degree wildlife spotting from the air. The magical dawn flight ends with a lavish champagne breakfast when you land on the plains.

Travel Tips

Credit: Camp Zebra

• The best months to visit the Northern Serengeti are June until October, while for Mara River crossings the peak months are from July to September.

• Lodging options are limited in the Northern Serengeti, as there is only a handful of permanent lodges in the area. During the peak months of the Migration, from July to October, mobile camps move into the area to provide the perfectly located places to stay to catch the exciting Mara River crossings. There are a few mobile camps and lodges in the Loliondo Game Controlled Area on their own private concessions. Lodging is largely in the high-end category, but there is one option for budget travellers – the Lobo Campsite – which is the only public campsite in the north.

• If you need to head south through the park after a stay in the north, a scenic – and adventurous off-the-beaten track – alternative to driving through the park is to head out of Klein’s Gate, drive through the Loliondo Game Controlled Area to the beautiful flamingo-dusted Lake Natron, the looming volcano of Ol Doinyo Lengai and the Crater Highlands, before entering the park again.

Grassy plains studded with granite kopjes extend endlessly across the scenically beautiful Southern Serengeti, which stretches from the bottom of the Central Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Maswa Game Reserve. It’s one of the best areas to see the animals of the Great Migration: visit between December and May to see the huge herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle arriving to calve, and then at the beginning of the dry season making their way northwards again in search of green grass. February is a particularly good month to visit the Southern Serengeti to see thousands of baby wildebeest taking their first steps on the savanna – and being targeted by hungry lion, cheetah and hyena, which are in abundance in the region.

The Southern Serengeti is a seasonal region, as during the dry season, from May to October, when the plains are parched and there’s not much left to graze, most of the herds have left the area.

Because much of the Southern Serengeti lies outside the national park, lodges and camps permit off-road driving, which is not allowed in the rest of the park.

Highlights

A safari in the Southern Serengeti is all about seeing the Great Migration in action on daily game drives, whether it’s baby wildebeest being born and taking their first steps on the lush green plains in the early months of the year, or watching the vast herds on the move as they track their course northwards towards the Masai Mara. The Southern Serengeti is one of the places where you can see the full circle of the Great Migration: the herds returning to graze in December with the start of the green season, the birth of the babies in January and February, and the departure of the herds as the grass starts to dry at the end of the rains.

The Southern Serengeti is one of the few places in the Serengeti where you can do walking safaris. Exploring the bush on foot is one of the best ways of immersing yourself in the wilderness, and learning about the smaller creatures that you miss on game drives. And then there’s seeing large game on foot: truly thrilling encounters that make for an exceptional safari experience.

Hot air ballooning is offered in the Southern Serengeti, with a launch site located in the area. A gentle sunrise flight will give you incredible views over the vast plains, and a totally different kind of wildlife spotting. February is an excellent month to do a hot air balloon safari in the Southern Serengeti to see baby wildebeest being born on the savanna.

The Serengeti Cheetah Project, located in the Southern Serengeti, is monitoring cheetah numbers in the hopes of helping to conserve this very vulnerable species. Some camps in the area help the cheetah conservation by asking guests to collaborate in cheetah research by submitting photos and any details about the cheetahs they’ve spotted on game drives.

Travel Tips

Credit: Kusini Camp

• Due the seasonality of game viewing in the Southern Serengeti, there are only a few permanent lodges in the region, as well as one permanent tented camp. There are several mobile camps, ranging from affordable to luxury, that are open during the months of the Great Migration. Other options include lodges situated on private concessions bordering the Southern Serengeti.

• Be sure to reserve far in advance for a trip to the Southern Serengeti during the Great Migration months of December to May, as the few lodging options get booked up.

• The Southern Serengeti is an excellent area to base yourself in if you’d like to combine your Serengeti safari with a few days in the nearby Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Stretching across to Lake Victoria, the Western Corridor (or West Serengeti) is a remote, little-visited area of the national park famed for the thrilling river crossings of the Grumeti River during the Great Migration between May and July. A huge valley bordered by hills that ends in Lake Victoria, the Western Corridor is made up of open savanna, woodlands, floodplains and riverine forest which are home to a great diversity of year-round wildlife, including elephant, giraffe, hippo, giant Nile crocodiles, rare Colobus monkeys and the localised kongoni antelope.

Flanking the Western Corridor is the unfenced Grumeti Game Reserve, a 138 000-hectare private concession which serves as a wildlife corridor for the animals making the migration between the Masai Mara and the Serengeti in June and July. The concession not only offers superb migration sightings with few other vehicles around but also lush, green landscapes of woodlands, rivers and rolling hills, as well as year-round leopard and lion populations.

Highlights

Seeing the enormous herds of the Great Migration making crossings of the Grumeti in June and July is an excellent reason to visit this part of the Serengeti. While these river crossings are less well known than the Mara River crossings to the north – where the river is more dangerous, wider and has more viewing points – the Grumeti River, which is the first big obstacle for the herds to tackle, still offers some exciting sightings, with the added benefit of fewer tourists at the crossing points.

There are only a few places where you can do walking safaris in the Serengeti, which makes the walking safaris offered in the Grumeti Game Reserve particularly special. Spend hours on foot in the bush with a guide, not only tracking animals and learning about birds and insects, but also discovering fascinating medicinal and cultural uses for indigenous plants.

Visit a local Maasai community to see how people from the tribe live on the edges of the Grumeti Reserve. You’ll get to meet with subsistence farmers and their families and learn about what daily life is like – such as how villagers need to invent non-invasive ways to prevent elephants from trampling their crops.

Credit: Sanctuary Swala Camp

Hot air ballooning is offered seasonally (from the beginning of June to the end of August) in the Western Corridor. A magical sunrise flight in a gently gliding balloon is an unforgettable way to see the Serengeti’s spectacular landscapes and wildlife from a bird’s eye perspective.

Travel Tips

Credit: Roving Bushtops

• Budget travellers are best off staying in the Central Serengeti, as the Western Corridor and the Grumeti are more geared towards higher end travellers, however there is a campsite located at a lodge near the Ndabaka entrance gate, and a public campsite at the gate itself. Mid-range options in the sector include camps located just outside the park boundaries, while the region is most famous for its superb, intimate luxury lodges and mobile camps – some of which are completely exclusive.

• June and July are the most popular times to visit the Western Corridor and the Grumeti to see the Grumeti River crossings and the herds on the move, but September and October are also great months to see the remaining herds of zebra and wildebeest, along with other resident wildlife such as elephant, leopard and lion. If you’re travelling during June and July, you’ll need to reserve lodging far in advance, as there aren’t many places to stay in the region.

• Many people choose to fly into their lodge or camp’s private airstrip. Self-drivers hiring a car should pick up their vehicle and supplies from Mwanza, which is just over 130 kilometres from the Ndabaka Gate.

The Serengeti National Park is divided into several distinct regions, each offering unique landscapes and wildlife experiences. Here’s a detailed guide to the key areas within the park and what makes them special:

1. Central Serengeti

Overview: The heart of the Serengeti, known for its abundant wildlife and large populations of big cats. This area is ideal for year-round visits, with peak game viewing during the Great Migration.

Key Highlights:

• Seronera Valley: The central hub of the Serengeti, famous for its resident big cats, including lions, leopards, and cheetahs. This region offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the year.
• Retima Hippo Pool: A popular spot to see hippos up close, along with a variety of other wildlife that frequent the area.

Unique Facts:

• The Seronera Valley is often referred to as the “Big Cat Capital” of the Serengeti due to its high density of predators.
• The central Serengeti is a key area for witnessing the Great Migration, particularly during the calving season in the early months of the year.

2. Northern Serengeti

Overview: Less crowded and renowned for the dramatic river crossings of the Great Migration, the Northern Serengeti offers pristine landscapes and abundant wildlife.

Key Highlights:

• Mara River: Witness the thrilling spectacle of the Great Migration river crossings, where wildebeest and zebras brave the crocodile-infested waters.
• Lobo Valley: Known for its rugged beauty and exceptional wildlife, including large elephant herds and big cats.

Unique Facts:

• The Northern Serengeti is home to the famous Mara River crossings, a highlight of the Great Migration that occurs between July and October.
• This region offers some of the most remote and untouched safari experiences in the Serengeti.

3. Western Corridor

Overview: Famous for the Grumeti River and its large crocodile populations, the Western Corridor is ideal for visits during the dry season from May to July.

Key Highlights:

• Grumeti River: See the dramatic river crossings of the Great Migration and the impressive concentration of crocodiles.
• Kirawira: A luxurious safari camp offering stunning views and exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities.

Unique Facts:

• The Grumeti River area is renowned for its dramatic wildebeest crossings, one of the highlights of the Great Migration.
• The Western Corridor offers a mix of riverine forests, open plains, and woodlands, providing diverse habitats for a variety of wildlife.

4. Southern Serengeti & Ndutu

Overview: Known for the calving season of the Great Migration herds, the Southern Serengeti and Ndutu region are ideal for visiting from December to April.

Key Highlights:

• Ndutu Region: Witness the incredible calving season, where thousands of wildebeest calves are born, attracting predators and providing dramatic wildlife interactions.
• Lake Ndutu: A hotspot for birdwatching and seeing large herds of animals gathering around the lake.

Unique Facts: 

• The Ndutu area is notable for its ancient volcanic soil, which creates nutrient-rich grasslands, sustaining large herbivore populations. 
• The Southern Serengeti’s unique topography includes vast plains and rocky outcrops called kopjes, which serve as vantage points for predators like lions and leopards.

5. Eastern Serengeti

Overview: A remote and beautiful region, home to the largest concentration of cheetahs on the continent. Best visited from November to February during the Great Migration.

Key Highlights:

• Namiri Plains: Known for its stunning scenery and excellent cheetah sightings, this area offers a more secluded and exclusive safari experience.
• Gol Kopjes: Famous for its large prides of lions and panoramic views, ideal for photography and wildlife enthusiasts.

Unique Facts:

• The Eastern Serengeti is less frequented by tourists, providing a more intimate and off-the-beaten-path safari experience.
• This region is particularly known for its cheetah population, making it a must-visit for big cat enthusiasts.

The Serengeti is expansive, and each region offers special opportunities to see Africa’s incredible wildlife. 

Whether you are interested in the dramatic river crossings, predator-rich landscapes, or the serene beauty of the remote plains, there is something for everyone in the Serengeti. 

To find out more about each area and plan your perfect safari, visit our detailed guides linked above.

Credit: Kusini Camp

The most affordable way to visit the Serengeti is to book a holiday package which includes transport from Arusha, lodging, meals, park fees, as well as game drives and other activities at the safari lodge. You can also hire your own 4×4 and self-drive in the park, although you can often get better value for money with packages.

While the Serengeti has a concentration of exclusive and luxury camps and lodges, there’s a good choice of mid-range lodging options both inside the park and outside the park gates. The benefit of staying outside of the park boundaries is that you don’t pay park fees for your days of travel to and from the Serengeti, and there are activities on offer – such as night drives – that aren’t permitted in the park.

For discounted rates on lodges and on safari tours, book your trip during the rainiest months of April and May, which are the least popular months to visit the Serengeti. While you’ll have heavy rains, the wildlife viewing is still good, and you’ll get better value for money, as well as fewer other tourists in the park.

While most lodging options in the park cater to high-end travellers, and park fees are pricey (US$60 per person per day), there are a few options available to budget travellers. The most affordable way to do a safari in the Serengeti is to join an overland tour, which will include transport, a guide, the cost of camping, food and park fees.

Credit: Roaming Around The World

Self-guided independent travellers will need a car to explore the park: you can hire a 4×4 from Arusha or Mwanza, as well as camping equipment, and stay at one of the campsites outside the park gates or at one of the nine public campsites inside the Serengeti: there are six in the Seronera area in the heart of the park, one at Lobo, one at the Fort Ikoma Gate and one at Ndabaka Gate (you can book and pay for these campsites when you enter the park gates). There are also special campsites which you’ll be able to use exclusively for your group. These you’ll need to book in advance through a tour operator or through the Tanzania National Parks Authority. You’ll need to be entirely self-sufficient if you’re camping, so stock up on provisions in either Arusha or Mwanza before you enter the park and bring your own firewood. Many travellers prefer not to drive themselves on the Serengeti’s challenging roads, and instead hire a driver although this will cost a lot more than driving yourself.

The alternative to staying inside the park is to book an affordably priced lodge on the outskirts of the park where your meals and game drives are included in the rate, and spend some time on game drives outside of the park, so you don’t have pay park entrance fees for every day that you’re in the bush.

Travel during the rainy season from January to March, when the Serengeti is at its wettest, to get discounts on lodge rates and safari packages for the best budget deals.

The Serengeti has much to offer high-end travellers, with a wealth of luxury lodges and tented camps scattered across the reserve and on its outskirts. Permanent lodges – which can be small or have dozens of rooms – have the full range of amenities, from tennis courts and gyms to spas and swimming pools where you can watch wildlife drink from water holes while you cool off. Tented camps, which give you a taste of sleeping under canvas without sacrificing any comforts (think king-sized beds, ensuite bathrooms, antique furniture and butler service). Then there are minimal-footprint seasonal bush camps which are only open during the months of the year when the migration is passing through the area, and exclusive, intimate mobile camps, which move a few times during the year with the movement of migrating herds. Mobile camps are an excellent choice for a Serengeti safari, as they get you close to the action in remote, untouched areas, and you get an experience of being immersed in the bush – but this is a long way away from rustic camping. Luxury mobile camps come with hot bucket showers, flush toilets, private butler service and gourmet cuisine served in dining tents, and some offer private and exclusive game drive vehicles and guides for each part of guests.

Credit: Chem Chem Safari Lodge

Picking your lodge or camp is a question of when in the year you’re travelling, as the park is vast and there are different attractions in each region at different times of the year. If your priority is seeing the Great Migration, then you’ll need to book a lodge that closest to the action in the month you’re travelling.

You can hire a car, a driver and a private guide from Mwanza or Arusha and travel to the park on your own, or, the much easier and more hassle-free option is to do a fly-in safari, taking a small plane from Arusha to one of the many airstrips located across the Serengeti. Some lodges have their own private airstrips, and a vehicle will be waiting to collect you when you arrive – so your first game drive will be the journey to your lodge. You can also hire a car and a driver and still do a fly-in safari: the driver will travel from Arusha and meet you at the airstrip in the park.

Having the perfect family holiday in the Serengeti is all about picking the right lodges: while some don’t allow children under the age of 12, others are particularly family-friendly, offering a host of fun kids’ activities such as learning to use a bow and arrow, getting cooking lessons, roasting marshmallows over the campfire. And then there are some camps and lodges allow children under the age of 10 to sleep and eat for free. When choosing your lodge there are a few things to take into consideration, such as picking a place that has a swimming pool so that your kids have something to do during the long hot afternoons in between safari activities.

Credit: Camp Zebra

There are family-friendly lodges, camps and mobile camps in all the different regions of the Serengeti, but the wealth of lodging options lies in the Seronera region of the Central Serengeti. If you’re looking to get more off the beaten track, then try the Western Corridor and the Grumeti Game Reserve, or the Eastern Serengeti, while staying in the Northern Serengeti during the months of the Great Migration gives you the chance to catch the exciting and dramatic crossings of the Mara River – thrilling scenes that will keep the kids on the edge of their seats.

In terms of safety, be aware that lodges and camps are unfenced in the Serengeti and you’ll need to keep careful watch over your children, as wild animals can enter the camp at any time. Children should not be allowed to walk around camps on their own. An alternative is to stay at a lodge outside of the park, where children will have more freedom to run around.

While you can fly into the park and get transfers to and from your lodge (and many lodge stays include twice daily game drives), you can also hire a car and a driver for your family, as this gives you more freedom to run on your own schedule and do shorter game drives if you have small children who get restless in the car on long drives.

The Serengeti is the ultimate romantic safari destination: a magical combination of breathtaking landscapes, superb wildlife viewing and the drama of Great Migration sightings, as well as truly memorable luxury lodges and camps situated in remote reaches of the wilderness make for a very special holiday.

Credit: Dunia Camp

Choosing which region to stay in the Serengeti on your romantic holiday is all about what time of year you’re travelling, as wildlife movements are seasonal and many lodges and camps are only open for certain months of the year. Every region of the park has superb upmarket lodges and camps that cater for romantic safaris – and each region has its benefits, depending on what kind of experience you’re looking for. The Central Serengeti has the biggest array of choices, with the Seronera region in particular boasting the largest concentration of places to stay. For exclusivity, stay at one of the lodges or camps in the Grumeti Game Reserve in the western Serengeti. If you really want to get off the beaten track, stay at one of the few camps in the Soit Le Motonyi region at the far east of the park, which was closed for two decades and only re-opened a few years ago.

Choose to stay in a permanent lodge, which will have a wide range of facilities such as gym, swimming pools and spas, or stay in a more intimate tented permanent camp where rooms may be under canvas but feature king-sized beds, stylish antique furniture and spacious ensuite bathrooms. On the other hand, mobile tented camps are a wonderful choice if you want the feeling of really being in the wild: you can experience giant herds of wildebeest grazing just metres away from your tent. There’s no electricity or running water (although you can expect hot bucket showers) but luxury mobile camps are far from rustic: think large, beautifully decorated tents with ensuite bathrooms and outdoor seating, communal lounge and library areas and gourmet meals.

Many lodges offer special romance or honeymoon packages that include activities such as bush picnics for two, couples’ massages, private sundowners and exclusive candlelit dinners in the bush or on your private deck. For the ultimate romantic safari, book a private safari vehicle through your lodge, so that you’ll be able to go on game drives where it’s just you, the driver and your guide.

The beauty of solo travel in the Serengeti is having the option to be with other travellers, or to enjoy this vast wilderness on your own private game drives.

Credit: andBeyond Serengeti Under Canvas

The best option for solo travellers to the Serengeti in terms of getting to meet other travellers and have a value-for-money trip, is to join a safari tour – an all-inclusive package holiday that covers transport, a guide, lodging, park fees, activities and meals. It’s a hassle-free way to travel, and you’ll have the safety and security of travelling in a group.

Independent travellers can hire a car and a drive from Arusha and Mwanza and stay in a camp inside the park, joining up with fellow travellers on game drives from your lodge or camp, or travelling in their own vehicle. Another option is booking a stay at one of the many all-inclusive lodges across the park’s regions, and doing a fly-in safari: take a small charter plane to the closest airstrip servicing your lodge, and start your first game drive as you’re picked up from the runway in the lodge’s safari vehicle. Many lodges include twice daily game drives as part of an all-inclusive package, as well as other activities such as nature walks and Maasai cultural visits where you’ll be able to join other guests.

One of the greatest wilderness areas in the world, the Serengeti supports a magnificent diversity and abundance of animals, from the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and black rhino (although these are rarely spotted) – to giraffe, Grant’s gazelle, impala, kongoni, topi and eland.

Credit: Kusini Camp

The Serengeti is famous for its predators: you can expect excellent lion and cheetah sightings (and exciting lion kills), and leopards are also regularly spotted. Other predators include serval cats, golden and black-backed jackal, African wild dog and spotted hyenas.

The Great Migration is the stellar highlight of the Serengeti’s wildlife: an annual circular movement of millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle northwards into the neighbouring Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and back into the plains of Serengeti. This mass movement of animals is accompanied by predators picking off their kills, while the dangerous crossings of the mighty Mara River make for dramatic scenes of struggle and survival as animals battle strong currents and attacks by huge Nile crocodiles.

Credit: Camp Zebra

For birders, there are more than 500 species in the park, including a few Tanzanian endemic species, such as Fischer’s lovebird, grey-breasted spurfowl and rufous-tailed weaver. Other birding highlights include kori bustard, secretary bird, usambiro barbet, yellow-throated sandgrouse, grey-crested helmet shrike, and Hildebrant’s starling.

Planning the best time to visit Serengeti National Park can significantly enhance your safari experience. 

Here’s a detailed guide to help you choose the ideal time based on weather, wildlife sightings, and overall conditions:

Dry Season (June to October)

Overview: The dry season is considered the best time for wildlife viewing in the Serengeti. The lack of rain means animals congregate around water sources, making them easier to spot.

Weather:

• Temperature: Daytime temperatures range from 24°C to 28°C (75°F to 82°F), while nighttime temperatures can drop to 14°C to 18°C (57°F to 64°F).
• Rainfall: This period sees very little rain, resulting in sparse vegetation and better visibility for wildlife spotting.

Wildlife Sightings:

• Great Migration: Increased chances of witnessing the dramatic river crossings of the Great Migration in the Northern Serengeti.
• Big Five: Excellent opportunities to spot the Big Five as animals gather around waterholes and rivers.

Pros:

• High wildlife concentration around water sources.
• Pleasant temperatures during the day.
• Fewer mosquitoes and lower risk of malaria.

Cons:

• Cooler nights and mornings require warm clothing.
• The dry landscape may not be as visually appealing as the lush green of the wet season.

Wet Season (November to May)

Overview: The wet season is characterized by lush landscapes and an abundance of birdlife. 

This is the best time for birdwatching and seeing newborn animals.

Weather:

• Temperature: Daytime temperatures range from 26°C to 30°C (79°F to 86°F), with high humidity. Nighttime temperatures are mild, ranging from 16°C to 20°C (61°F to 68°F).
• Rainfall: Expect afternoon thunderstorms, particularly from March to May. The rain transforms the park into a verdant paradise.

Wildlife Sightings:

• Bird Watching: This is the peak season for birdwatching, with many migratory species present.
• Newborn Animals: Many animals give birth during this period, providing opportunities to see young wildlife.

Pros:

• Lush, green landscapes.
• Excellent bird watching opportunities.
• Lower tourist numbers, leading to a more exclusive experience.

Cons:

• Higher temperatures and humidity.
• Increased mosquito activity and higher risk of malaria.
• Dense vegetation can make wildlife spotting more challenging.

Key Considerations for Each Month:

June to October (Dry Season):

• June: Start of the dry season; good visibility for game drives.
• July to September: Peak months for witnessing the Great Migration river crossings; excellent wildlife viewing.
• October: End of the dry season; animals still concentrated around water sources.