Tanzania
Serengeti National Park Overview
Witness two million wildebeest cross a river you will never forget.
January to February and June to October (Different areas are best at different times)
July to March (The Seronera area is crowded)
14,763km² / 5,700mi²
1,140-2,099m / 3,740-6,886ft
The Serengeti is not a place you visit - it is a place that changes you. Fourteen thousand square kilometres of grassland stretching to every horizon, broken only by kopjes and the occasional acacia. This is where the Great Migration happens. This is where lions hunt in broad daylight. This is where you understand what wild actually means.
The Great Migration
Two million wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle move in a continuous loop across the Serengeti and into Kenya's Masai Mara. River crossings are the raw spectacle - thousands of animals plunging into crocodile-filled waters. Timing depends on the season, and we know exactly where to position you.
Big Five Territory
Lions are everywhere - the Serengeti has the highest concentration of lions in Africa. Leopards drape themselves across sausage trees. Elephants cross the southern plains. Buffalo herds number in the hundreds. Black rhino sightings are rare but possible in the northern sector.
Endless Space
The southern Serengeti plains are some of the last truly open landscapes on Earth. No fences, no boundaries - just grassland and sky. In the calving season (January-February), the plains come alive with newborn wildebeest and the predators that follow them.
Experience Designer
Brighton Mboya
Regions of Speciality:
Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda
Trip Designer
Brighton has spent the last decade building safaris across the East African circuit, from the Serengeti's migration corridors to the misty volcanoes of Rwanda and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. He started out guiding walking safaris in Tarangire, then moved into gorilla and chimp trekking after years escorting researchers through the Albertine Rift. His itineraries turn on the small details most operators skip: the right camp on the right night of the migration, a permit window that lines up with the gorilla family closest to your lodge, a quiet bush airstrip that saves a full day on transfer.
Trip Inspiration
Snapshot of a Day
Dawn breaks over the Seronera Valley. Your guide spots dust on the horizon - a column of wildebeest stretching to the edge of sight. You drive alongside them for an hour before breakfast, watching zebra foals keep pace with the herd.
Trip Inspiration
Migration & Crater Safari
Follow the Great Migration through the central Serengeti, then descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a day of Big Five sightings in the world's largest intact caldera. This is the classic Tanzania safari - and for good reason.
Recommended Duration: 7 days
Best Time To Go: June - October
Things to See & Do: Game drives, Migration tracking, Ngorongoro Crater descent, sundowner
Don't Miss Out On: River crossing, Crater floor, Seronera lion prides
Snapshot of a Day
A cheetah crouches fifty metres from the Land Cruiser. In the distance, a sea of wildebeest dots the Ndutu plains. The cheetah launches. Your guide holds steady. The chase lasts seven seconds.
Trip Inspiration
Southern Serengeti Calving Season
January and February bring the calving season to the southern Serengeti plains. Up to 8,000 wildebeest are born every day. Predators are everywhere. This is wildlife filmmaking come to life - and you are in the front row.
Recommended Duration: 5 days
Best Time To Go: January - February
Things to See & Do: Calving season drives, predator-prey encounters, Ndutu area, photography
Don't Miss Out On: Newborn wildebeest, cheetah hunts, Ndutu plains at sunrise
Featured stays
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Location: Central Serengeti, Seronera
Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
Location: Central Serengeti
Lahia Tented Lodge
Location: Northern Serengeti, Kogatende
Testimonials
“We watched a river crossing for three hours. Nobody spoke. Nobody needed to.”
Our guide Joseph positioned us at the Mara River two hours before the first wildebeest appeared on the opposite bank. When they finally crossed - thousands of them, with crocodiles waiting - it was the most extraordinary thing I have ever witnessed. Joseph knew exactly where to park for the best angle without disturbing the animals.
— David & Emma R. - London, UK
Process
Step 1
Let's connect
Whether you have a specific trip in mind or are looking for inspiration, get in touch with your travel preferences, and one of our specialists will kick off the planning.
Step 2
Detailed Brief
After a conversation to learn more about your trip, you will receive details on an adventure with us, including activities and accommodation options in the destinations.
Step 3
Customized Itinerary and Confirmation
Collaborate with your specialist to adjust and finalize the itinerary. A per-person trip cost is presented once the itinerary is confirmed.
Step 4
Support, Start to Finish
From the moment you arrive until your trip ends, our team is with you. Experienced guides, porters, and a 24/7 support line ensure your safety and enjoyment.
Good to know
Migration Timing
The Migration moves year-round. December-March: calving on the southern plains. April-May: herds move northwest. June-July: Grumeti River crossings. August-October: Mara River crossings in the north. November: herds return south. We track herd locations weekly and adjust your itinerary accordingly.
Getting There
The Serengeti is a 7-8 hour drive from Arusha or a 90-minute bush flight. We strongly recommend flying - it saves a full day of driving and the aerial views are spectacular. Flights depart daily from Arusha, Kilimanjaro Airport, and other parks.
What to Expect
Game drives start at 6:30am when predators are most active. Midday returns to camp for lunch and rest. Afternoon drives run until sunset. Your vehicle is a custom 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof, charging ports, and a cool box. Expect 4-6 hours of driving per day.
Serengeti safaris
4-Day Safari in Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangrire NP
You will embark on a journey to Tarangire, the perfect locale for exploring Tanzania's diverse bird species and great African elephants. You'll explore the Serengeti, the nation's oldest, largest, and world heritage national park. Then venture into the renowned Ngorongoro Crater, often referred to as "Africa's Garden of Eden." This friendly tour promises awe-inspiring views, guiding you through the wonders of Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro.
2-Day Safari from Z'Bar to Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater
On this Serengeti safari departing from Zanzibar, you will be able to visit Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in a short time. The park offers the best wildlife viewing and has an abundant amount of wildlife, including Africa's Big Five animals. This package includes a domestic flight from Zanzibar to Serengeti and a return flight from Arusha to Zanzibar. You'll be picked up and dropped off at your hotel in Zanzibar with accommodation, an expert guide, a 4x4 private safari vehicle, and more.
4-Day Tanzania Northern Circuit Experience
On this four-day lodge safari, you will visit Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti National Park. The seasonal sight of thousands of wildebeests and zebras crossing the grassland savannah is something to behold and is surely one of Africa’s natural wonders. You will be rewarded with beautiful landscapes, an animal-filled crater, and thousands of flamingos on this tour.
4-Day Private Safari Migration Spot Northern Serengeti
This four-day safari offers a chance to explore the beauty of the bush and see the Big Five and the Great Migration near the Mara River. A tour operator from Arusha will organize everything for you. The package includes full-board accommodation, a private 4x4 jeep, an experienced English-speaking guide, mineral water, snacks, and power sockets.
5-Day Budget-Private Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire
On this most in-demand safari offered by top rated tour operator, you will visit the great Serengeti National Park. Lake Manyara National Park, a national park in Tanzania situated in the Rift Valley region, is known to have amazing tree-climbing lions. You will also visit Tarangire National Park, famous for its herds of elephants and baobab trees. Finally, you will visit Ngorongoro, one of the main attractions of an African safari.
3-Day Tanzania Mid-Range Honeymooners Fly-in Safari
This safari starts and ends in Zanzibar! On this tour of 3-day Serengeti and Ngorongoro Fly-in lodge safari from Zanzibar, you have a 3-day tour package taking you through Zanzibar, Tanzania, and 3 other destinations in Tanzania. This 3-day Serengeti and Ngorongoro fly-in lodge safari from Zanzibar includes accommodation, flights, an expert guide, meals, and transport.
Wildlife in Serengeti
Frequently Asked Questions
The dry season (June-October) offers the best game viewing as animals gather around water sources. For the calving season, visit January-February on the southern plains. River crossings happen July-October in the north.
A mid-range 5-day Serengeti safari costs approximately ,800-2,800 per person, including park fees, accommodation, meals, game drives, and transfers from Arusha.
Yes. The herds are always moving. The key is knowing where they are each month. We track herd locations weekly and position our camps to match the migration pattern.
Flying saves a full day (90 minutes vs 7-8 hours driving from Arusha). We recommend flying if your budget allows. The aerial views of the park are spectacular.
A minimum of 3 days allows you to see the key areas. 5-7 days is ideal for covering both central and northern Serengeti, especially during migration season.
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