Serengeti National Park Travel Guide
The Serengeti National Park is one of the most famous safari destinations in the world. Home to the Great Migration, hundreds of thousands of people visit the Serengeti every year. Without question, witnessing millions of wildebeest and zebra move along ancient migration routes is an experience of a lifetime. However, there so many things that the Serengeti an unforgettable safari destination.
Translated to mean 'endless plains', the Serengeti lives up to its name with many areas of expansive grasslands stretching all the way to the horizon. That said, the national park has a range of diverse ecosystems and exquisite landscapes to take in. This quick guide takes you through some of the most important information about the Serengeti National Park and help you plan your next Tanzania safari.
Where is Serengeti National Park?
Serengeti National Park Wildlife
What To Pack for a Serengeti Safari
The Best Time to Visit the Serengeti
Where is Serengeti National Park?
Serengeti National Park is in northern Tanzania. The Serengeti National Park forms part of the broader Serengeti Ecosystem, which covers around 18 500 square miles of unfenced, protected land - allowing for the free movement of game in an area that includes the natural corridor of the Lemai Wedge into the Maasai Mara in Kenya, as well as Olduvai Gorge in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Serengeti Safari Areas
The Serengeti is generally divided into four major safari areas. Each offers unique landscapes and appeal for different safari-goers.
Northern Serengeti
The northern Serengeti connects the park with the Mara ecosystem in Kenya - an essential corridor for conservation. This area tends to be quieter than the hustle and bustle of Seronera and Central Serengeti, but is the location of some of the Migration's most dramatic scenes: the crossing of the Mara River. When the Migration is in the area, game viewers tend to congregate near the river, waiting for crossings. Whether you are there in peak season or not, we recommend taking the opportunity to explore beyond the river. This gives you the chance of being almost completely alone in exquisite landscape, with the chance to see a wide range of wildlife and birds.
Central Serengeti and Seronera
The Central Serengeti and Seronera are famous for having an abundance of wildlife and a high chance of predator activity. This means it is also a busy part of the park, especially during peak season. There is a range of accommodation available in the area, including a cluster of campsites that buzz with mobile operators. However, this is a beautiful section of the park, with astounding huge flat plains, weaving riverscapes, and remarkable kopjes.
Grumeti Reserve and the Western Corridor
The Western Corridor follows the Grumeti River, with Lake Victoria over the horizon. While Grumeti River crossings may not be as well-known as Mara River crossings, the Migration moves through this area of the park with leviathan crocodiles to contend with. There is also a variety of landscapes in this area - from mountainous flanks to vast grasslands and pockets of woodland - and great game-viewing potential. Grumeti Game Reserve runs alongside this portion of the park, preserving the annual migration route and vital habitat for wildlife conservation.
Ndutu and Southern Serengeti
Calving season of the Great Migration takes place in the Southern Serengeti, stretching across to Ndutu and the greater Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Wildlife numbers reach their peak between December and April, as calving season coincides with the rains. However, excellent game-viewing is possible all year round.
The Great Migration
The Great Wildebeest Migration is one of the world's most sought-after experiences for wildlife enthusiasts. Over a million wildebeest and zebra migrate across around 500 miles of the Serengeti-Mara eco-system in a cycle that repeats itself every year. This means there is no one best time to see the migration. Calving starts in the south of the Serengeti around Ndutu. The timing of this generally aligns with the short rains at the end of the year.
After that, the wildebeest move with the more sporadic rains - following the best grazing. From the south, the herds generally move in a clockwise direction towards the Maasai Mara in Kenya, although their course cannot be outlined with 100% certainty. From on-land predators to dramatic river crossings of the Mara and Grumeti Rivers, this is a perilous passage for these huge herds.
Serengeti National Park Wildlife
The Serengeti is one of the world's most famous wildlife destinations. While the Great Migration has an undeniable pull, we urge you to look beyond this, with world-class game-viewing opportunities across the park. This includes high-profile species - 'the Big Five' including lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and black rhino. The park is home to amazing wildlife including cheetah, giraffe, eland, topi, kongoni, hyena, and Grant's gazelle.
What To Do in the Serengeti
Game Drives
Guided game drives are one of the main activities on offer for visitors to Serengeti National Park. Whether you are sitting in wait for wild river crossings of the Great Migration or are exploring the area, the local knowledge and expertise of your guides and trackers add to the wildlife experience and provide incredible insight into this wildlife area.
To the Great Migration and Beyond
Wherever you go, whatever time of year you choose to visit, our recommendation is to make it about more than the Migration. We get that it's big on the checklist of safari-lovers, but we broke away from the herds and the crowds on our visit and were richly rewarded with amazing sightings. Many predators are territorial, so the opportunity to spot them remains the same in every area even after the herds have left. We have also seen large herds of wildebeest and zebra far distances away from the main herds, so allow yourself to shift focus to off-the-beaten-track areas.
Hot Air Balloon Safari
Undeniably, a hot air balloon safari is one of the best safari experiences. Balloon operators are located throughout the park, offering balloon flights and bush breakfasts. Floating above the Serengeti - game-viewing from the air - is an unforgettable experience and gives every guest a unique view of this incredible landscape.
Serengeti Walking Safaris
If you have the opportunity to do a bush walk, take it! While the Serengeti has a good road network, there is also extensive wilderness to be explored. On foot in this wildlife area, the senses awaken, with the chance to track, smell, listen, and watch wildlife and birds at a different pace and away from the crowds. Walking safaris are guided only and are exclusively offered by a handful of operators, so find out about availability before booking.
Serengeti Birdwatching
With over 500 species, Serengeti National Park is a prime birdwatching destination. Whether you are bird-spotting on safari or a serious twitcher, birdwatching is a peaceful (sometimes even competitive) pastime - a wonderful, colorful way to fill the hours. The Serengeti also has a number of endemic species, which are special on the lifelist of every birder.
What To Pack for a Serengeti Safari
Serengeti National Park has mostly moderate conditions. At an elevation of nearly 5000 feet, strategic packing for the Serengeti ensures you're comfortable across a range of conditions. Follow these quick tips and click through to read our full Serengeti safari packing advice.
- Dress in Layers. Conditions can change dramatically throughout the day on safari in the Serengeti - especially because of the elevation, which makes for sometimes cold mornings and evenings and intense sun. Make sure you pack a warm layer for reliable insulation. Lightweight safari clothes including convertible pants and long-sleeved shirts with roll-up sleeve tabs make your safari outfit adaptable to conditions as they change.
- Choose Safari-Friendly Colors. Always pack clothing in neutral shades of khaki and olive green to blend in with your environment. The Serengeti has pockets of tsetse flies, so try to stay away from dark colors. Shop Men's Safari Clothes | Shop Women's Safari Clothes
- Pack Light. Light aircraft transfers and mobile safari operators may impose strict luggage restrictions around weight and dimensions of your luggage. Pick clever, lightweight safari clothing that dries fast and has features for versatility.
- Take a Soft Duffel Bag. Many airlines and mobile operators cannot accommodate hard-sided suitcases as bags need to be squashed into the holds of small planes or in trailers with limited space. Safari luggage is soft, squashable, and strong for the rigors of African travel.
- Sun Protection. The high elevation of the Serengeti intensifies the effect of the sun, which makes sun protection a top priority. The best way to protect yourself from the sun is to cover up in UPF50+ sun protective clothing and accessories. Our lightweight, wicking BUGTech+ safari clothing is the coolest way to cover up in warm weather. Pack a wide-brim hat and accessories like the Vintage Print Head&Neck Scarf for extra protection around the face and neck. Always apply sunscreen for all-round protection - especially to exposed skin.
- Bug Protection. No-one wants buzzing, biting, stinging bugs to be part of their Serengeti memories. The BUGTech+ collection of safari clothes has built-in insect defence, powered by InsectShield. This repels mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and midges. Always back up your bug protection strategy with a reliable bug spray. As there are pockets of tsetse flies in the Serengeti, we recommend a DEET-based repellent for best results. Shop Men's BUGTech+ | Shop Women's BUGTech+
- High-Quality Binoculars. Good binoculars are our number one safari essential. The Serengeti plains cover sometimes huge distances, so the right optics are a must for the best game-viewing. Take in the sights in detail and without disturbing natural behavior by packing one pair of binoculars per person. Quality matters - blurry, low-quality imaging is as good as having no binoculars at all, which makes choosing binoculars from a reliable brand like Vortex very important.
- A Flashlight for Night Safety. We always recommend packing a compact, rechargeable flashlight for nighttime - especially in unfenced camps. While many lodges provide escorts with lanterns at night, having your own ensures you always have a night light.
When is the Best Time to Visit Serengeti National Park?
Most travelers to the Serengeti choose to go in the dry season (from the end of June to October). This is because of the more moderate temperatures, dry conditions, and the chance of seeing Mara River crossings in the north of the park as the Great Migration follows the rains. That said, the Serengeti has plenty on offer all year round. We've broken up peak and off-peak seasons with some tips around both below:
- In June, conditions in the park are still green and clear, with the dry season starting to take hold in the second half of the month. Peak season in the Serengeti runs from July to October. This time of year is lauded for having the best game-viewing conditions and mild days on safari. As this falls within the dry season, game congregates around available water sources and vegetation thins for better visibility. This is the busiest time of year in Serengeti National Park. Traveling to the Serengeti during peak season means higher pricing and it is recommended that you book in advance. It is also likely that sightings will be busy. Afternoon rains are a regular occurrence into October.
- November and December, April and May are low season in Serengeti National Park. The short rains typically begin in mid-November, lasting until the middle of December. The days are hot, sunny, and clear with occasional showers into January. The quality of game-viewing remains excellent - particularly around the calving wildebeest herds of the Great Migration in the southern Serengeti and Ndutu. Less tourists and off-peak rates are also on the cards if you travel at this time of year.
February to May in the Serengeti - The long rains start around March - a time of heavy rainfall that lasts into the middle of May. Many camps close during this time and the wildebeest herds of the Great Migration disperse. However, for adventurous travelers, this is a chance to explore in relative solitude and generally at lower rates. This is also a great time for migrant birds.
Serengeti National Park FAQs
When is the Best Month to See the Great Migration?
The Great Migration is happening all the time. Seeing the Great Migration involves planning where to go that will give you the best chance of seeing the herds according to the time of year. While the herds operate on cycles that take them around the park, there are no hard and fast rules and there is an element of the unknown. The following is a seasonal guide, although there is no way to predict this with 100% certainty:
- April to end June: From calving in the south, the herds start moving north via the Western Corridor, following good grazing.
- July to August: The herds start crossing into the Maasai Mara. They will move back and forth between Kenya and the Serengeti into September, crossing the Mara River.
- October to December: With the short rains, the herds start the trek south again.
- Late December to March: The herds congregate in the south for calving.
How Long Should I Spend in the Serengeti?
Four days is considered the shortest time one should spend on a trip to the Serengeti. While many visitors rush between the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and other parks and attractions, staying longer certainly isn't a bad idea. With nearly 10 000 square miles of park to explore, there is plenty to see and different ecosystems to discover by staying in different areas of the park.
How Many Animals are in the Great Migration, Serengeti?
There are around a million wildebeest and 300 000 zebras in the Great Migration. Zebras are pioneering, leading the herds to fresh grazing and eating the longer, tougher grasses with a memory of the route. Grant's gazelles also move with the rains and so join the herds for a time, but their movements are much shorter than the animals in the Great Migration.
Is There Malaria in Serengeti National Park?
The Serengeti has a relatively low risk of malaria, although there are seasonal spikes in infection. Our advice is to always prioritize bug protection by wearing BUGTech+ safari clothes and regularly applying a reliable bug spray throughout the day and in the evenings. Always consult with your doctor before traveling.
Planning a Safari to Serengeti National Park? We're Here to Help You Prepare
Whether your travel plans include a Tanzania safari circuit or focuses on the wonders of Serengeti National Park, our safari packing experts are here to help you prepare. Follow our comprehensive Serengeti safari packing advice or contact us for a tailored safari packing list and advice.
