Popular Serengeti National Park Tours

Serengeti Safari: All You Need to Know

The Serengeti, a true African gem, boasts never-ending grasslands, wandering coalitions of lions, and the magnificent migration of millions of wildebeest and zebras.

This annual spectacle spans almost 3,000 kilometers, venturing to the edges of the park and extending to Kenya’s Masai Mara – the greatest migration on the planet.

February alone ushers in the birth of over 8,000 wildebeest calves each day, though 40% of these won’t survive past the first four months of their lives.

In addition to the awe-inspiring Great Migration, Serengeti National Park Tours offer visitors the chance to behold the ‘Big Five’ – rhino, lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo – including rare rhino sightings in the Moru Kopjes. The Serengeti National Park, spanning 14,763 sq. km, abounds with predators such as cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, jackals, and the most spectacular of all – the lions – that are best witnessed on one of our organised Serengeti National Park Safari Packages.

The list of herbivores is endless, including zebras, giraffes, Thompson’s and Grants gazelles, topis, elands, hartebeests, impalas, klipspringers, duikers and many more, found in abundance. For birders, Serengeti Safari tours offer an exceptional birdwatching experience, with over 500 species that call the Serengeti their home.

What to Expect During a Serengeti Safari Tour

Depending on the time of year you visit the Serengeti, you’ll see different types of wildlife. For example, if you visit during the dry season (June to October), you’ll likely see large herds of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles as they migrate in search of water and food. You’ll also have a good chance of spotting predators like lions, cheetahs, and leopards as they hunt for prey.

If you visit during the wet season (November to May), you’ll see a different side of the Serengeti. The green landscapes are lush and vibrant, and the wildlife is more scattered as there’s plenty of food and water available. However, this can make it more challenging to spot certain animals as they blend in with their surroundings.

During your Serengeti safari holiday, you’ll be accompanied by an experienced guide who is well-versed in the park’s wildlife and terrain. They’ll help you spot animals and provide you with interesting facts and stories about the Serengeti ecosystem. You’ll also have the chance to go on game drives, walking safaris, and hot air balloon rides to see the park from different perspectives.

A Serengeti safari tour is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness some of Africa’s most iconic wildlife in their natural habitat. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-time visitor, a Serengeti safari is something you’ll never forget. With the help of an experienced guide and the right timing, you can make the most of your visit to this incredible national park. Book your Serengeti safari tour today and get ready for an unforgettable adventure

Booking a Safari to Serengeti National Park

Booking your Serengeti safari tour is easy with a Tanzania Serengeti safari operator, international travel agent, or via a direct booking with a camp or lodge in the Serengeti.

When booking with a tour operator, the comfort of landing in Tanzania, and being transferred straight to the Serengeti for a seamless safari experience is unparalleled.

However, booking through an international travel agent at home is equally efficient, as they will help you plan your Serengeti safari holiday with a local operator in Tanzania who will handle your trip at a lower cost.

It’s advisable to plan and book your Serengeti National Park safari in advance of your trip to Tanzania, particularly if you’re planning to visit during the peak season. This will ensure that you book a spot at top-notch lodges and camps, allowing you to have the safari of your dreams.

Cost of a Safari to Serengeti National Park

When planning a Serengeti National Park Safari, it’s important to consider the associated costs. While most tour packages cover transportation to and from the park, accommodation, park entrances, service of a safari guide, and drinking water, it’s important to confirm these inclusions with your tour operator before booking.

Keep in mind that drinks and beverages are often excluded from the package. If you book your tour directly with a lodge or camp in the Serengeti, you may be quoted full board accommodation prices. In this case, you’ll need to pay extra to the park for game drives. Typically, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in two activities per day, each lasting two to three hours.

To get the most out of your experience, it’s recommended to book the “game package” offered by your Serengeti safari lodge or camp

This package usually covers accommodation and two activities each day, including pick up and drop-off from the closest airstrip if you’re flying into the park. However, it’s important to note that these wildlife activities will be shared with other guests.

The cost of your Serengeti safari package will depend on your preferred operator and the type of safari you choose. Options range from budget, midrange, to luxury safaris.

• Budget Serengeti safari packages typically involve camping or basic tented camps located outside the park. With a reputable Tanzania Serengeti safari tour operator, expect to pay anywhere from USD 250 to USD 350 per person per day.
• For midrange Serengeti National Park tours, you’ll be accommodated in comfortable lodges and camps within the Serengeti. These tours offer reliable and reasonable value, and cost between USD 350 to USD 450 per person per day with room sharing.
• Luxury Serengeti safari packages offer private, authentic, and personalized experiences with high-end comfort. Usually, they’re accommodated in private high-end lodges and tented safari camps, and cost USD 450 and above per person per day with room sharing. Expect a wide range of amenities with top-quality safari guiding.

Choosing Your Serengeti Safari Lodge or Camp

When planning a Serengeti safari, choosing the right lodge or camp is crucial. With a range of accommodations available, from lower-scale to high-end, there is something to fit every budget. However, location is key, as certain areas are better suited for different times of the year.

For example, Seronera is a busy tourist area with a lot of vehicle traffic, while the north of the Serengeti is much quieter. The timing of the animal migration is also a critical factor in selecting your camp or lodge location. It is essential to be where the animals are, so if they are on the southern plains, there is no point in being in the western corridor.

A good ground operator can ensure you are within reach of the migration, but luxury mobile camps that follow the herds are the ultimate experience. These tented camps move from the north from June to October and then to the short-grass plains around Ndutu from December to March.

Booking early is recommended, especially if you hope to be close to the migration. While places outside the park’s western boundary can be cheaper, they do not see as much plains game.

For an even more authentic experience, camping in public campsites is the way to go. Lobo Public Campsite, located at the foot of a kopje, provides excellent views over the plains to the east. Meanwhile, the Seronera Public Campsites offer five separate campgrounds with their own bathroom and a fenced-off kitchen and dining area.

Overall, no matter what type of Serengeti safari you choose, taking the time to select the right accommodation will help ensure an unforgettable experience.

Explore Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park

If you’re looking for an awe-inspiring adventure, the Serengeti National Park is a must-visit destination. Named after the Maasai word for ‘land of endless plains’, the Serengeti is home to a diverse range of wildlife and the semi-nomadic Maasai people, known for their cattle herding and warrior skills.

To make the most of your Serengeti tour, it’s important to choose the right section of the park and the right time of year for the best wildlife encounters.

• Central and Southern Serengeti are the most visited areas of the park, and the action mainly takes place in Seronera. This part of the Serengeti is easily accessible by road and has the most lodging in the park. Meanwhile, south-east of Seronera is the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where you’ll find lake Ndutu, a prime base for Serengeti Safari packages. During the wet season (December to April), when wildebeests are in high concentration here, you’ll also have the chance to spot lions and leopards, particularly around the Moru Kopjes area.
• The more hilly and heavily-vegetated Northern Serengeti is less visited, making it a great base for Serengeti Safari holidays from August to October, when the wildebeest migration passes through.
• In Western Serengeti, most budget accommodation options are located here (mostly out of the park), making it a great base for a budget Serengeti safari tour. Grumeti river is a landmark that is a reliable spot for wildlife-viewing throughout the year. During July to September, large herds of wildebeest cross between the banks of the Grumenti and Mara rivers.

Among the various activities that you’ll want to include in your Serengeti tour is wildlife drives. Many visitors view these drives as the main reason to go on an African safari. To spot elusive animals like leopards and black rhinos, it’s worthwhile spending two to three days on safari with the help of an experienced guide. Lion, elephant, and Cape buffalo are in strong numbers throughout the park, and the Serengeti also boasts the highest population of lions in Africa.

Walking safaris are a newly introduced way to explore the Serengeti. Multi-day camping trips for walking safaris are available around the Moru Kopjes, Kogatende and other parts of the Serengeti, and shorter custom-made trips from 2 hours can be arranged as add-ons for your Serengeti safari holidays.

Lastly, no Serengeti trip is complete without a hot air balloon ride. The experience takes you floating over the vast plains for an hour, providing you with amazing aerial views of the park’s wildlife. Be sure to reserve in advance to guarantee your spot.

Best Time to Visit Serengeti National Park

If you are planning Serengeti National Park trips, the best time to visit is between December and June when wildlife concentrations are at their highest. However, the park can be visited all year round, so travelers can plan their visit based on their preferences. April to December is a good time for those interested in witnessing the wildebeest migration, with the Seronera Area or the Southern part of the park being the best base. The western corridor of the park, where the Grumeti River crossing takes place, is worth visiting between May and July. The best base during the dry season, particularly in August, is the Northern Serengeti.

Explore the Serengeti Migration

The Serengeti is world-renowned for its annual migration, which covers a distance of over 800km and involves over 2.5 million animals. This is the largest mammalian migration on earth and attracts safari enthusiasts from all over the world. The migration is a continuous, milling mass of almost two million wildebeest and close to a million other animals. Predators like lions, cheetahs, African hunting dogs and spotted hyenas play a vital role in this event.

River crossings are a major obstacle, especially the Grumeti in Serengeti and the Mara along the Kenya border in the north. These crossings can be scenes of true carnage, as panicked herds struggle across the raging flows in a writhing mass of bodies while crocodiles and lions pick off the weak, injured or careless animals.

The migration’s ceaseless movement is based on a seasonal search for fresh water and pasture dictated by the rains, moving in a roughly clockwise direction. The migration concentrates in the national park from April to June when the long rains are ending. Then it goes northward towards Kenya’s Maasai Mara Game Reserve, where it reaches in August. By September and October, the migration is concentrated in Maasai Mara.

The bulk of the migration then turns back towards northern and eastern Serengeti, following the fresh grass brought by the short rains. In this period, the migration is widely spread out, and a large part of it circles through Loliondo and into Ngorongoro beyond the Serengeti’s eastern border.

From December to March, the migration settles in the Serengeti Plains and western Ngorongoro, where it remains until the onset of the long rains. During this time, the wildebeest give birth to half a million calves, especially from late January to mid-March. The timing of this mass birthing provides security in numbers, as predators will eat their fill. However, only one in three calves make it back next year, despite being much stronger and able to outrun their pursuers.

The exact time and location of the migration can vary annually due to the rains and other factors, so there is no guarantee of coinciding with it. As a general rule, the best months to plan your Serengeti safari with an interest in seeing the migration are from December to July, especially February and March when the wildebeest herds are dotted with newborn, or April to June when animal concentrations are at their highest.

The best time to catch the migration’s perilous crossing of the Grumeti River is in June, while the spectacular Mara River crossing is best seen in July and August, which is also the peak tourist season. The dry months of June and July and usually January are probably the most favorable months to visit for your Serengeti safari.

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FAQS About Safari in Serengeti National Park

Why do animals migrate in the Serengeti?

Understanding the migration patterns of the Serengeti’s wildlife is fascinating. The animals follow the rainfall gradient across the ecosystem, moving from the north to the southern plains when the rains begin, then back to the north once the grass in the south dries out.

What time of the year is the migration in Serengeti?

The best time to witness the migration in the Serengeti is from December to April when the herds are concentrated on the treeless short grass plains in the south. From June to July, a fraction of the migration crosses into the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

How long is the Serengeti Migration?

The Serengeti Migration happens year-round, except for December to April when the migrating herds are settled in the southern plains and July to early October when a portion of the migration heads to the Masai Mara. Book an all-inclusive package that includes airfare and other parks to make the most out of your Serengeti safari tour. A reputable Serengeti tour operator can help make all of the arrangements for you, ensuring a memorable experience.

Why Should you Visit the Serengeti?

The Serengeti is a must-visit destination in Africa due to its title as the best national park on the continent, boasting the highest concentration of migratory game animals globally. The great migration, the world’s most significant animal migration, is a massive annual event that takes place here, making it an enchanting experience for any visitor. Furthermore, the Serengeti has a vast lion population, making it one of the best places to see them up close in their natural habitat.

How many days is enough for Serengeti?

If you plan on visiting the Serengeti, a minimum of three days and two nights is recommended to experience the park in the shortest time possible. The Serengeti has three different sectors to visit, southern, central, and western, where the migration is primarily found, and a week-long stay with two nights in each sector is ideal for maximum exploration.

How much is a Serengeti safari tour?

The park fees to enter the Serengeti National Park are $70.80 per adult and $23.60 for each child, payable at the gates. The cost of a private safari varies based on your preferred camp, lodge, and vehicle choices, as well as party size. It’s advisable to contact a reputable safari operator to get the most out of your trip and cost.

How do you visit Serengeti on a budget?

If you’re on a tight budget, you can still visit the Serengeti without compromising on comfort and style. A self-drive safari is an option that costs less than a fully inclusive private safari, but it comes with risks, such as lack of knowledge, support, and possible stranded travel. To manage such risks, hiring a guide within the park is a recommendation for safety and assistance in identifying animals. Additionally, it’s cost-effective to stay outside the park as the price to stay in the park is higher. Opting for other accommodation options in the western corridor or public campsites within the park where you pitch your own tent and cook can also save you some money.

Is it safe to go on a Serengeti safari?

Yes, as long as you follow the park rules and do not interfere with the natural processes of wildlife in their habitat. Misbehaviors such as feeding wildlife or trying to pose with animals for photos have led to accidents in the park. The preservation of this spectacular wildlife kingdom depends on us to leave no impact on their ecosystem for future generations to marvel at.

In conclusion, a visit to the Serengeti is an unforgettable experience with diverse options for visitors with different budgets and preferences. Contact a reputable safari operator to help you plan your trip and adhere to park rules to enjoy a safe and fulfilling journey.

Do you need Malaria pills for Serengeti?

If you’re planning a trip to the Serengeti, it’s important to know what to pack and what precautions to take to avoid malaria. Malaria pills and insect repellent should be at the top of your packing list. Seeking advice from your Serengeti Safari Operator on how to stay healthy during your safari is highly recommended.

What is so special about Serengeti National Park?

The Serengeti National Park is renowned for its abundance of wildlife, but what truly sets it apart is the annual migration of approximately 1.5 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra, and 350,000 antelope. Witnessing this migration firsthand is an unforgettable experience that every traveler should consider.

How do you fly to get to Serengeti?

Getting to the Serengeti is easy with scheduled and chartered flights connecting to the park from various locations. A number of airstrips are available within reach of most lodges and camps. Flight aggregators such as Regional Air, Precision Air, Coastal Air, and Flight Link are popular options. It’s important to note that luggage restrictions may apply, but excess luggage can typically be stored by your Serengeti Safari operator.