Serengeti National Park

Northern Zone, Tanzania

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The World’s Most Famous Wildlife Sanctuary

Serengeti National Park is a key natural treasure in Tanzania, covering an expansive area of 14,763 square kilometers. The park features diverse landscapes, including vast plains, acacia woodlands, and rocky outcrops. It is renowned for the Great Migration, a remarkable event where approximately 1.5 million wildebeest and zebras travel across the savanna. This annual phenomenon, along with other wildlife activities, ensures that the Serengeti provides exceptional opportunities for wildlife viewing throughout the year.

What You’ll Love About the Serengeti

  • The Great Migration – Witness river crossings (Jul-Oct) and calving season (Jan-Mar)
  • Big Cat Capital – The highest density of lions, leopards, and cheetahs in Africa
  • Vast, Untouched Wilderness – Few fences, pure nature
  • Diverse Landscapes – From kopjes to riverine forests
  • Year-Round Game Viewing – Animals don’t migrate, predators stay

Full Destination Details

Location & Landscape

The Serengeti ecosystem stretches across northern Tanzania, bordering Kenya’s Maasai Mara. The park is divided into key regions:

  • Southern Plains (Ndutu) – Calving grounds (Jan-Mar) where wildebeest give birth to over 500,000 calves in 3 weeks. The short grass plains provide perfect visibility for predators.
  • Central Seronera – Year-round wildlife, ideal for first-time visitors. The Seronera River valley supports permanent water sources that attract resident game.
  • Western Corridor – Grumeti River crossings (May-Jul) where crocodiles up to 6m long wait for migrating herds. Dense riverine forests shelter rare patas monkeys.
  • Northern Serengeti – Mara River crossings (Aug-Oct) create dramatic scenes as herds brave strong currents and waiting predators. The remote Lamai Wedge offers exclusive safari experiences.

Highlights to Look for in Serengeti

The predator and prey interactions in the Serengeti are like nothing else out there.

Great Migration

  • Wildebeest (1.5 million) – The migration drivers that follow ancient rainfall patterns.
  • Zebras (300,000) – Navigate using memory and serve as the “brains” of the migration.
  • Gazelles – Follow the rains and provide alternative prey for predators.

Big Cats & Predators

  • Lions (3,000+) – The largest population in Africa, including famous tree-climbing lions in the south.
  • Leopards – Often seen in sausage trees along river courses, especially the Seronera River.
  • Cheetahs – Hunt on open plains, particularly in the southeastern short-grass plains.
  • Hyenas – Highly intelligent hunters that form clans of up to 80 members.

Resident Wildlife (Non-Migratory)

  • Elephants: Large bulls in woodlands, with some herds showing increasing tusk sizes due to conservation efforts.
  • Giraffes: Masai subspecies dominate, browsing acacia trees in family groups.
  • Buffalo: Massive herds in swamps that form defensive circles against lions.

Best Time to Visit

SeasonHighlightsConsiderations
Calving (Jan-Mar)Baby wildebeest, predator action in Southern PlainsCrowded in Ndutu, occasional rain showers
River Crossings (Jul-Oct)Dramatic Mara River scenes in Northern SerengetiPeak season pricing, limited lodge availability
Shoulder Seasons (Apr-Jun, Nov-Dec)Fewer tourists, lower rates, beautiful green landscapesSome areas inaccessible due to rain, migration moving between zones

Guide Tip: “Late February offers the best balance, newborns but thinning crowds as the migration starts moving north.”

Optional Activities

Trip inspiration

I can recommend this to everyone!

My first safari was an experience i will remember for a long time. We saw so many animals and our guide Shine was very kind, i learned a lot about the animals and tansania. I can recommend this to everyone!

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