Serengeti never fails to surprise…

Rated as the most exciting up-and-coming wildlife location in the world, Serengeti (derived from the word “seringit” in the Maasai language, Maa, meaning “endless plains”) is like being in the middle of a National Geographic wildlife special!

The Serengeti eco-system of approximately 30,000 km² (12,000 sq mi) is made up of the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

“Africa – You can see a sunset and believe you have witnessed the Hand of God. You watch the slope lope of a lioness and forget to breathe. You marvel at the tripod of a giraffe bent to water. In Africa, there are iridescent blues on the wings of birds that you do not see anywhere else in nature. In Africa, in the midday heart, you can see blisters in the atmosphere. When you are in Africa, you feel primordial, rocked in the cradle of the world.”

Jodi Picoult (American author) Tweet

Serengeti National Park is famous for

Its circular migration of especially wildebeest and zebras!

Around October/November they cross through the Mara river towards Kenya, and again back north around July/August. These months are pure estimations because nobody knows for sure when the migration will take place. It depends on the rain and of course the more than 1.6 million herbivores.

Also depending on which area they migrate to, times may differ.

For instance, on the western corridor migration usually takes place from May to July.
The wildebeest on the endless southern grasslands of the Serengeti breeds from December to May and usually migrate only after the breeding season.
From the almost treeless grasslands in the south, you have open woodlands and hills in the north, stretching from the south of Seronera to the Mara River. Migration in this bushy savannah usually takes place around July/August and again in November.

They don’t migrate in one group but split up into groups of hundreds at a time.

In a nutshell, the viewing of the migration is an experience of a lifetime.

Serengeti National Park: Balloon Safari at Dawn

Marvel at the dawn colors and Tanzania's wildlife during the flight before enjoying a delicious outdoor breakfast.

Click here for more information.

Wildlife in the Serengeti National Park

Like South Africa, Tanzania also has the “Big Five”.

The park is known to have the largest lion population in Africa, namely more than 3,000 of these tawny hunters.
Up north, you’ll spot the gracious elephants, recovering from a poaching spell in the 1980s.
Another animal that suffered poaching is the black rhinoceros. The result is that their numbers are very few. They can usually be seen in the center of the park.
There are about 1,000 African leopards throughout the park, as well as an abundance of the African buffalo.

Serengeti National Park entrances

There are four entrances to Serengeti. The last entry is usually by 16h00.

Klein’s Gate on the far north-eastern side.
Naabi Hill Gate is about 45 km from Seronera.
Ndabaka Gate on the western corridor. It lies 145 km from Seronera, and about 90-minutes by road from Mwanza.

Entrance fees are usually included when you book an organized package, which is highly recommended. There is much to see and do, but without an organized safari package you’ll miss most of the animal sightings. The guides are experienced and they know exactly where to go and when.

How to get to Serengeti National Park

Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in northern Tanzania.
Then, you can either drive to Arusha or take a regional flight to Arusha Airport (ARK).
From Arusha you can either drive to your destination in Serengeti or, you can book a short and very scenic shuttle flight to one of the Serengeti airstrips, as below.

The Seronera (SEU) airstrip allows access to the following lodges (featured on the side strip of our article):

Four Seasons
Siringit Camp, Banagi
One Nature Nyaruswiga, Banagi

The Kogatende (KOG) airstrip allows access Lemala Kuria Hills Lodge.

The Sasawka (SSK) airstrip allows access to Grumeti Migration Camp.

Lobo (LOB) airstrip allows access to:

Beyond Klein’s Camp,
Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas
Taasa Lodge

Ndutu (NDT) airstrip allows access to Sanctuary Kusini Camp.

Flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport

How many days in Serengeti?

No less than 4 days / 5 nights. This way you get to see most of the park as you have 8 game drives to enjoy the beauty of the wildlife and see the most.

Is Serengeti safe to travel to?

Definitely. If you continue to take your normal safety precautions which you do, as a rule anyway, you should be just fine.

Travel Tips

Some lodges include the shuttle flights into their prices. Check when making your booking.
We’ve included a range of hand-picked lodging options in the Serengeti. Check with the lodge you’re booking with, which airstrip is the nearest to them.
Book early, especially if you want to see the Zebra or Wildebeest Migration. Serengeti is a highly sought-after safari destination. The better-located camps such as we’ve discussed, are usually booked out a year in advance. So, plan your trip to Serengeti for next year to get the best accommodation.
If you use a shuttle flight, baggage restrictions of 15 kg per person apply, in a soft duffel-bag type.
The 15 kg restriction includes hand baggage and camera equipment!

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Some two to three million years ago a massive volcano erupted in Tanzania leaving behind a floor that today spans 260 km² (100 sq mi), and 610 m (2,000 ft) deep. It’s estimated that the original volcano was between 4,500 m (15,000 ft) and 5,800 m (19,000 ft) high.

The crater, with an estimated 25,000 animals, is home to the “Big Five” and most wildlife except the crocodile, giraffe, and impala. For giraffe sightings, you should book a few nights inside the Serengeti National Park (see above accommodation options in the Serengeti National Park), especially on the eastern side.