Welcome to Serengeti National Park Tanzania, the most famous wildlife destination on earth. Located in northern Tanzania, this UNESCO World Heritage Site protects endless savanna plains that support the greatest concentration of large mammals on the planet. The annual Great Migration of over 1.5 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras is the most spectacular wildlife event in Africa.
Bwindi Primate Safaris offers game drives, hot air balloon safaris, and migration viewing tours in Serengeti National Park Tanzania. The park is easily combined with gorilla trekking in Bwindi or Volcanoes National Park for the ultimate East African safari experience.
Serengeti National Park Tanzania covers nearly 15,000 square kilometers, making it one of the largest protected areas in Africa. The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai word meaning endless plains. From any high point, you see grasslands stretching to the horizon in every direction. This is classic Africa. This is what you dreamed of when you first imagined a safari.
What makes Serengeti National Park Tanzania truly unique is the abundance of wildlife. Over 4,000 lions live here. More than 1,000 leopards. Thousands of elephants. Millions of wildebeest and zebras. The density of animals is overwhelming. In the central Seronera region, you cannot drive for five minutes without seeing something remarkable.
The Great Migration is the annual movement of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles across Serengeti National Park Tanzania and into Kenya’s Maasai Mara. The animals move in a clockwise circle, following the rains and fresh grass. The total distance covered is over 800 kilometers. The migration never stops. There is always a herd moving somewhere in the ecosystem.
The most dramatic moments of the migration happen at the river crossings. The Grumeti River in western Serengeti National Park Tanzania is the first major obstacle. The Mara River in the north is the most famous. Thousands of wildebeest gather on the riverbanks, hesitating. Then one animal jumps. The rest follow. Crocodiles wait below. The water churns with bodies. Some animals drown. Others are taken by crocodiles. Most make it across. The crossings happen between June and October.
The timing of the migration depends on the rains. No one can predict exactly when the crossings will happen. Your Bwindi Primate Safaris guide will take you to the right region based on the current location of the herds. The best strategy is to spend at least three to four days in Serengeti National Park Tanzania to maximize your chances of seeing a crossing.
Combine the Great Migration with gorilla trekking by booking our combined Tanzania and Uganda safari tour.
Serengeti National Park Tanzania is one of the best places in Africa to see the Big Five. Lions are everywhere. The Seronera region has the highest density of lions in Africa. You will see them sleeping under trees, hunting on the plains, and raising their cubs on rocky outcrops called kopjes.
Leopards are shyer but common in Serengeti National Park Tanzania. Look for them resting in the branches of sausage trees along the rivers. Elephants are widespread, especially in the northern and western regions. Large tusked bulls are common. Buffalo gather in huge herds of several hundred animals. Black rhinos are rare and mostly found in the remote eastern region of the park. Sightings are not guaranteed, but your guide will try.
A hot air balloon safari over Serengeti National Park Tanzania is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You wake before dawn and drive to the launch site. As the sun rises, the balloon inflates. You climb into the basket. The burner fires, and you lift off. The ground falls away. The plains spread out below you. Animals scatter as your shadow passes over them.
The balloon drifts with the wind, moving slowly across Serengeti National Park Tanzania. Your pilot points out herds of wildebeest, families of elephants, and lions stalking their prey. The silence is remarkable. No engine noise. Just the occasional blast of the burner. The flight lasts one hour. You land somewhere on the plains, where a champagne breakfast awaits you. Tables are set with white tablecloths. Cooks prepare hot food. You eat surrounded by wildlife.
Hot air balloon safaris in Serengeti National Park Tanzania are expensive, but worth every dollar. Book well in advance, as spaces fill up quickly during peak season.
Serengeti National Park Tanzania is divided into five regions, each with different habitats and wildlife.
The Seronera region in the center is the best for Big Five viewing year round. The river systems attract wildlife even during the dry season. Most lodges and camps are located here.
The Western Corridor follows the Grumeti River. This is where the migration crosses between May and July. The crocodiles here are enormous. The landscape is more wooded than the central plains.
The Northern Serengeti is remote and wild. This is where the migration crosses the Mara River between August and October. The crossings here are the most dramatic. Accommodation is more expensive and must be booked far in advance.
The Eastern Serengeti has volcanic soils that produce short grass. The migration calves here between January and March. Over 8,000 wildebeest are born every day during this period. The predator action is intense.
The Southern Plains are similar to the east. This is calving country. The landscape is open and flat, with scattered kopjes. Cheetahs are common here.
The best time to visit Serengeti National Park Tanzania depends on what you want to see. For the river crossings, visit between June and October. For the calving season, visit between January and March. For general game viewing year round, the Seronera region is excellent at any time.
The dry season from June to October is the most popular time to visit Serengeti National Park Tanzania. The weather is pleasant, with warm days and cool nights. Wildlife gathers around water sources. The roads are in good condition. However, this is also the busiest season. Lodges are full. Prices are high.
The wet season from November to May has advantages too. The landscape is green and beautiful. The crowds are smaller. Lodges offer lower rates. The calving season happens during the wet season, offering incredible predator action. However, some roads become muddy and difficult to navigate.
Accommodation in Serengeti National Park Tanzania ranges from mobile camps that follow the migration to permanent luxury lodges. For luxury travelers, Singita Sasakwa Lodge and Four Seasons Serengeti offer the highest level of service. For mid-range travelers, Serengeti Serena Lodge and Kubu Kubu Tented Camp offer comfortable rooms and good food. For budget travelers, the park has several public campsites with basic facilities.
Bwindi Primate Safaris can arrange accommodation in any of these properties as part of your custom safari itinerary. We recommend staying in mobile camps during the migration season to be as close as possible to the river crossings.
Most travelers fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport. From there, you can take a small plane to one of the many airstrips inside Serengeti National Park Tanzania. The flight takes about one hour. This is the most efficient way to reach the park.
You can also drive from Arusha to Serengeti National Park Tanzania. The drive takes eight to ten hours, passing through Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater. Most travelers break the journey with overnight stops. The drive is long, but the scenery is beautiful.
Many travelers combine Serengeti National Park Tanzania with gorilla trekking in Bwindi. You fly from Kilimanjaro to Entebbe, then to Kigali or directly to Bwindi. This is a longer trip, requiring at least ten to fourteen days. For a complete itinerary, explore our combined East Africa safari tours.
Serengeti National Park Tanzania offers the most spectacular wildlife experience in Africa. The Great Migration, the Big Five, the endless plains. This is the safari of your dreams. When combined with gorilla trekking in Bwindi, you have the ultimate East African adventure that includes both forest primates and savanna giants.
Contact Us today to start planning your trip to Serengeti National Park Tanzania. Our expert guides will ensure you witness the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth.
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