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Serengeti National Park

Northern Tanzania

Serengeti National Park

Few places on earth hold your attention the way the Serengeti does: horizon-to-horizon grassland, lion prides asleep under acacia shade, and a migration that moves like weather across the plains.

Overview

The Serengeti is Tanzania's most famous national park and the heart of an ecosystem that stretches north into Kenya's Masai Mara. Its short-grass southern plains, central Seronera valley, western corridor and remote northern reaches each offer a different safari.

Because the park is so large, where you stay matters as much as when you travel. We position your camps and lodges around the wildlife you most want to see, rather than moving you through the park on a fixed circuit.

Why Visit

  • Outstanding year-round big cat viewing, particularly lion and cheetah
  • The Great Migration passes through different parts of the park through the year
  • Hot air balloon flights over the plains at first light
  • Remote northern and western areas where vehicle numbers stay low

Wildlife

LionLeopardCheetahElephantBuffaloSpotted hyenaWildebeest and zebraGiraffeTopi and elandOver 500 bird species

Best Time to Visit

Jan – Mar

Calving season on the southern short-grass plains; excellent predator action.

Apr – May

Green season. Lush landscapes, fewer vehicles, occasional heavy afternoon rain.

Jun

Herds begin moving through the western corridor.

Jul – Oct

Dry season. Northern Serengeti and river crossing season.

Nov – Dec

Short rains and the return south; quieter camps and good value.

Things to Do

  • • Full-day game drives with a picnic lunch on the plains
  • • Hot air balloon safari followed by a bush breakfast
  • • Walking safari in designated wilderness areas
  • • Photography-focused drives timed for first and last light
  • • Sundowners overlooking a kopje

Where to Stay

  • • Classic mobile tented camps that follow the migration
  • • Permanent tented camps in Seronera and the north
  • • Comfortable mid-range lodges near the central park
  • • Small luxury camps with private guiding

Getting There

Most journeys begin in Arusha, either driving via Ngorongoro or flying into one of the Serengeti's airstrips. Light aircraft transfers save several hours and are easy to combine with a driving safari.

Frequently Asked Questions

The herds move within the wider Serengeti-Mara ecosystem throughout the year, so their location changes month by month and varies from year to year. We plan your camps around the most likely position for your dates, but wildlife movement can never be guaranteed.

Three nights allows for unhurried game drives and time in more than one area. Two nights is possible on shorter itineraries, especially when flying in.

Itineraries

Safaris Including Serengeti