The Serengeti
Serengeti National Park is a large national park in northern Tanzania that stretches over 14,763 km2 (5,700 sq mi). It is located in eastern Mara Region and northeastern Simiyu Region and contains over 1,500,000 hectares (3,700,000 acres) of virgin savanna. The park was established in 1940.
Serengeti is derived from the Maasai word siringet, which means “the place where the land runs on forever”. Indeed, Serengeti offers endless views of rolling grasslands, acacia woodlands, rocky outcrops (kopjes), and the Serengeti Plains. Serengeti is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.
Serengeti is best known for hosting the Great Migration, a spectacular phenomenon that involves over 1.5 million blue wildebeest and 250,000 zebra along with smaller herds of Thomson’s gazelle and eland.
These animals move across the park in search of fresh grass and water, following seasonal patterns and facing predators along the way. The Great Migration is considered one of the most impressive natural events on Earth.
The Serengeti is divided into various parts and it each section of the part rewards differently at a certain time of the year. Ensuring you are placed the right place for a Serengeti safari of your dreams at the right time of the year is a major key to the best wildlife encounters for your Serengeti tour.
Central and Southern Serengeti
Central Serengeti is the most visited area of the park, this section is easily accessed by road from both Arusha and from Mwanza via the Western corridor. The main action area is Seronera, it is also the part with the major lodging in the park. Southeast of Seronera is the Ngorongoro Conservation Area boundary and lake Ndutu is a prime base for arranged Serengeti Safari packages during December to April wet season as wildlife is in high concentration here when it is full of wildebeests. In addition to the wildebeests, it is also notable for its lion and leopard sightings, especially around the Moru Kopjes area, which has a substantial resident wildlife population year round.
Northern Serengeti
This is the most remote and least visited part of the park, where you can find the Mara River, another obstacle for the migrating herds. Northern Serengeti is also home to some of the largest elephant populations in the park, as well as giraffes, leopards, lions, and hyenas. Serengeti safari to the northern section takes you to the hilly and more heavily vegetated part of The Serengeti. Northern Serengeti receives less visitors, but makes a fine base for Serengeti Safari holidays in between August and October, when the wildebeest migration passes through.
Western Serengeti
This is a narrow strip of land that follows the Grumeti River towards Lake Victoria. This area is good for basing a budget Serengeti safari tour as most budget accommodation options are located here (mostly out of the park).
Western Serengeti has a seasonal proximity to the wildebeest migration as the herds pass through the area from around May or June. Western Serengeti offers the forest fringed Grumeti river, a landmark to explore on your Serengeti safari tour as it rewards reliable all year round wildlife viewing. Along the banks of Grumeti River, you will find hippos and giant Crocodiles.
Game viewing on your Serengeti safari tour here is good throughout the year, but it peaks from july to september, when the migration stalls in the vicinity of the mara, and large herds of wildebeest regularly cross between the banks of the Grumenti and Mara rivers.
The area is favoured by buffalo and elephants, and the hills host several large lion prides. cheetahs and bat-eared foxes are also quite common, while the rocks provide refuge to the localised klipspringer antelope, and the spectacular black (verreaux’s) eagle. the wildebeest migration usually passes through in July
The Best Time to Visit Serengeti National Park
The best time for your Serengeti safari tour depends on what you want to see and do. Generally speaking, the dry season (June to October) is ideal for wildlife viewing, as the animals congregate around water sources and are easier to spot. The wet season (November to May) is better for birdwatching, as many migratory species arrive and breed. The wet season is also when the wildebeest calve in the southern plains and when the greenery is more lush and scenic.
Wildlife concentrations are greatest between December and June which makes it the best time for a Serengeti Safari Tour, although the Serengeti can be visited rewardingly any time of the year. If you are keenly interested in the wildebeest migration, the best base for your Serengeti tour is about April to December is Seronera Area or the Southern part of the park.
The migration river crossing at Grumeti River runs through the parks western corridor, usually happens between May and July, although the viewing window can be quite short. In particularly dry years, the migrating herds tend to move northwards sooner, avoiding or skirting the western corridor. Northern Serengeti is a good base during the dry season, particularly between August
Wildlife and Biodiversity
Serengeti National Park is home to an incredible diversity of wildlife, including over 70 large mammal species and over 500 bird species. Some of the main attractions include:
- The Big Five: Serengeti boasts one of the largest lion populations in Africa, with over 3,000 individuals. You can also find leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinoceroses in different parts of the park.
- Cheetahs: Serengeti is one of the best places to see cheetahs in action, as they hunt on the open plains and use the kopjes as lookout points.
- Zebras: Serengeti has the largest population of zebras in the world, with over 200,000 individuals. Zebras are an essential part of the Great Migration, as they help the wildebeest find water and grass by using their keen sense of smell and memory.
- Wildebeests: Serengeti is the epicenter of the Great Migration, which involves over 1.5 million wildebeest moving across the park in a clockwise direction. Wildebeest are also known as gnus, and they are related to antelopes.
- Giraffes: Serengeti has a healthy population of giraffes, the tallest land animals in the world. They can reach up to 6 meters (20 feet) in height and weigh up to 1,800 kilograms (4,000 pounds). They feed on acacia leaves and can go for weeks without drinking water.
- Hippos: Serengeti has several hippo pools, where you can see these massive animals lounging in the water and occasionally emerging to graze on land. Hippos are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa, as they are very territorial and aggressive.
- Crocodiles: Serengeti has some of the largest crocodiles in Africa, which can grow up to 6 meters (20 feet) in length and weigh up to 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds). They prey on the migrating animals that cross the rivers, especially during the dry season.
- Birds: Serengeti has a rich birdlife, with over 500 species recorded. Some of the most notable ones include ostriches, secretary birds, kori bustards, crowned cranes, marabou storks, vultures, eagles, flamingos, and lilac-breasted rollers.
Accommodations in Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti is served by a number of lodges and camps ranging from small lower scale to high end accommodations to fit any budget for Safari in Serengeti. Seronera is the busiest area for tourists, with heavy safari vehicle traffic, while the northern Serengeti is much quieter.
The choice of your camp or lodge in Serengeti must ultimately be led by the Migration timing. There is no point in being in the Western Corridor if the animals are on the southern plains, or booking a Serengeti tour in the south when the animals are crossing the Mara River in the north.
The unpredictability of the rains makes it impossible to guarantee that you’ll be in the midst of the Migration for your Serengeti safari tour, but with a good ground Serengeti safari operator, you should be within striking distance.
Alternatively, if you can afford the luxury price then book your Serengeti safari tour with one of the camps that set up mobile luxury camps in locations that follow the seasonal migration of Serengeti’s super herds.
There is simply no better way to experience a Serengeti National Park safari than to book a few nights in one of the luxury tented camps that move, following the general pattern of the Migration.
Most of these camps are set up in the northern Serengeti from June and July to October and November, and move south to the short-grass plains around Ndutu from December to March, after which they close down for tent maintenance and upgrades during April and May.
Book your accommodation early, particularly if your choice is likely to be close to the migration. Places outside the park’s western boundary, including some on the shore of Lake Victoria, are cheaper for a Serengeti safari, but – with the exception of those just outside Ikoma Gate – see next to no plains game.
You are welcome to drop in for lunch at some of the lodges – Lobo Wildlife Lodge, Serengeti Sopa Lodge and Seronera Wildlife Lodge are particularly recommended, not so much for their cuisine, which is buffet style ($30 per person), but for the amazing views.
Much cheaper meals can be had at several hotels near the Visitor Centre in Seronera, mainly used by park staff.
Camping in The Serengeti
The most atmospheric (and nerve-jangling) Serengeti safari holidays are camping safaris which overnight to camp at one of several public campsites in The Serengeti. More remote are a scatter of special campsites, which have no facilities whatsoever. Reservations for special campsites are handled by the park headquarters, or by TANAPA headquarters in Arusha, though they are very difficult to book in advance by yourself – you may strike lucky if you enquire at the park gate on arrival. If you’re self-driving, the car hire company should be able to find out what’s available, and may even book it for you.
Lobo Public Campsite
Located at the foot of a kopje, with fantastic views over the plains to the east, 76km north of Seronera, 300m northeast of Lobo Wildlife Lodge is Lobo Public Campsite. There are decent bathrooms at the camp, but the showers are cold, and nights are chilly at 1800m above sea level. You can pop over to Lobo Wildlife Lodge, on top of the next kopje 300m southwest, for lunch or drinks.
Seronera Public Campsites
Located 6–7km northeast of Seronera Visitor Centre by road is the Seronera public Campsite. There are five campsites in two clusters: Dikdik and Pimbi in the west, Nyani, Ngiri and Tumbili in the east. Each has its own bathroom with good showers, and a fenced-off kitchen and dining banda, but the campsites themselves are not fenced so wildlife including lions comes and goes. Exceptionally (driving is normally forbidden after 7pm), campers are allowed to drive to Seronera Wildlife Lodge for dinner ($30), but have to be back by 10pm.
Getting to Serengeti National Park
Getting to Serengeti National Park, you can choose from tow transportation options, depending on your preferences, budget, and travel time. Whether you opt for air travel or embark on a road drive, each method has its own advantages.
By Air
If you prefer a quicker and more convenient way to reach Serengeti, flying directly to one of its nearby airstrips is an excellent option. Kilimanjaro International Airport is a major hub with international connections, and from there, you can board a domestic flight to Seronera or other airstrips located within the park. Alternatively, you can fly into Arusha Airport, which is closer to Serengeti, and then take a connecting flight to your chosen airstrip within the park.
By Road
Embarking on a road drive to Serengeti National Park offers a chance to immerse yourself in the stunning landscapes of Tanzania. Several Tanzania reputable tour companies offer overland Serengeti safaris, allowing you to travel comfortably between various points of interest. Starting your journey from Arusha or Moshi, you will traverse scenic routes, such as Ngorongoro Crater, before arriving at Serengeti National Park.
Conservation and Research
Serengeti National Park is not only a tourist attraction but also a conservation area that aims to protect its wildlife and ecosystems. The park faces several threats such as poaching, human-wildlife conflict, habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species.
To address these challenges, Serengeti National Park works with various partners such as Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), and others.
Some of the ongoing conservation and research projects in Serengeti include:
- The Serengeti Lion Project: This is one of the longest-running studies of wild lions in Africa, started in 1966 by George Schaller and continued by Craig Packer and his team. The project monitors over 3,000 lions.