Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park Safari | Great Migration & Big Cats in Tanzania

Serengeti National Park Safari

Tanzania's Endless Plains

Serengeti National Park is Tanzania's most famous safari destination, a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering roughly 14,750 square kilometres of savannah, woodland, rivers, and rocky outcrops.

It is home to the Great Wildebeest Migration and to lions, leopards, elephants, and buffalo, along with cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, and hundreds of bird species.

From the Seronera plains to the Western Corridor, the Mara River in the north, and the calving grounds of the south, each region offers a different safari experience.

Lions, elephants and wildebeest on the Serengeti plains

Why visit Serengeti National Park?

The Serengeti offers wildlife viewing on a scale few places in the world can match.

Its open landscapes make animals easier to spot, and its different regions mean your safari can be designed around the experiences you want most. Whatever your travel dates, there is always wildlife to see.

The Serengeti offers:

๐Ÿฆ Excellent lion and big cat viewing๐Ÿ† Leopards in acacia trees and kopjes๐Ÿ˜ Elephants๐Ÿƒ African buffalo๐Ÿฆ“ The Great Wildebeest Migration๐Ÿฆ’ Giraffes, zebras and antelope๐Ÿฆ… Hundreds of bird species๐ŸŒ„ Endless plains and dramatic skies๐ŸŽˆ Hot-air balloon safaris๐Ÿงญ Expert-guided game drives๐Ÿ•๏ธ Luxury lodges and tented camps๐ŸŒ UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Great Wildebeest Migration

The Serengeti is best known for one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth.

Each year, more than a million wildebeest, together with zebras and gazelles, travel a continuous loop through the Serengeti ecosystem in search of fresh grazing and water.

The herds move with the rains, so their exact location changes from year to year. Careful planning helps put you in the right area for your dates.

Predators follow the herds, creating dramatic encounters between predator and prey.

Central Serengeti and Seronera

The Seronera area is the Serengeti's most accessible and reliably rewarding region.

Rocky outcrops called kopjes, river valleys, and open plains support resident lions, leopards, cheetahs, and large numbers of plains game throughout the year.

Seronera is a fine place to begin a Serengeti safari, with wildlife to see in almost every season.

Southern Serengeti and Ndutu

The southern plains come alive when the herds arrive for calving season.

From roughly January to March, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest calves are born here, drawing lions, hyenas, and cheetahs.

The short-grass plains offer wide views, and the nearby Ndutu area is a popular base during this period.

Calving season is one of the Serengeti's most dramatic and photogenic times.

Western Corridor and Grumeti

The Western Corridor follows the Grumeti River through woodland and floodplains.

Herds often pass through this region around June and July, and crocodiles wait at the river crossings.

Riverine forest also brings colobus monkeys, hippos, and a good range of birdlife.

The Grumeti is a rewarding region for travellers who enjoy river scenery and a different safari setting.

Northern Serengeti and the Mara River

The north is wilder and quieter, stretching toward the Kenyan border.

From roughly July to October, herds often gather at the Mara River, where dramatic crossings take place.

Even outside the crossing season, the north offers excellent wildlife and a quieter feel.

Mara River crossings are among the most thrilling sights in African wildlife.

Best time to visit the Serengeti

The Serengeti can be visited all year, and the best time depends on what you want to see.

June to October is the dry season, when wildlife gathers near water and animals are easier to see.

November to May is the green season, with lush scenery, newborn animals, and migrant birds.

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Janโ€“Mar: calving season in the south๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Aprโ€“May: long rains and green landscapes๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Junโ€“Jul: Western Corridor and Grumeti๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Julโ€“Oct: Mara River in the north๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Novโ€“Dec: herds return to the south

Timings change with the rains from year to year, so these are approximate.

Tell us your dates and we will plan around the herds.

More than game drives

A Serengeti safari can include much more than wildlife viewing.

Depending on your itinerary, you can enjoy a sunrise hot-air balloon flight, cultural visits, photography, and time at Ngorongoro Crater or Tarangire National Park.

You can also extend your journey with a relaxing Zanzibar beach holiday, or combine your safari with a Kilimanjaro climb.

Explore Our Serengeti Safaris

Choose a Tanzania safari from 3 to 6 days that includes the Serengeti. Every trip can be adjusted to your dates, pace and interests.

3 Days Tanzania Safari

3 Days in Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater

4 Days Tanzania Safari

4 Days in Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater

5 Days Tanzania Safari

5 Days in Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro

6 Days Tanzania Safari

6 Days in Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti & Lake Manyara

Need more inspiration?

Tell us your dates and how you imagine your Serengeti safari, and weโ€™ll design a journey around you.

A Serengeti safari designed around you

Every traveller has different priorities.

Some want to follow the Great Migration. Others are drawn to big cats, photography, hot-air balloon flights, or simply the beauty of the open plains.

A private Serengeti safari lets your itinerary be shaped around your interests, travel dates, preferred accommodation, and desired pace.

Talk to a Tanzania safari expert โ†’

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the questions travellers ask most about Serengeti safaris.

What is Serengeti National Park known for?

The Serengeti is known for its vast plains, abundant wildlife, and the Great Wildebeest Migration. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa's most celebrated safari destinations, with excellent opportunities to see lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, cheetahs, and many other animals.

When is the best time to visit the Serengeti?

The Serengeti can be visited all year. June to October is the dry season, when wildlife gathers near water and is easier to spot. November to May is greener, with newborn animals and fewer visitors in some areas. The best time depends on what you most want to see.

Where is the Great Migration during the year?

Timings vary with the rains, but the herds are often in the southern plains for calving from about January to March, move through the central and western areas in the following months, and reach the northern Serengeti and Mara River from roughly July to October. We plan your dates around the herds' typical movements.

Can we see the Big Five in the Serengeti?

Lions, leopards, elephants, and buffalo are all found in the Serengeti. Rhinoceros are very rare here and sightings are uncommon. Wildlife is wild and sightings can never be guaranteed, so travellers wanting the best chance of rhinos often add Ngorongoro Crater to their itinerary.

How many days do we need in the Serengeti?

Many travellers spend two to four nights in the park, often combined with Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire. A longer stay lets you explore more than one region and gives you more chances to see the herds and big cats. We can suggest a length that fits your dates and interests.

How do we get to the Serengeti?

Most visitors travel from Arusha, either by road, often combined with a stop at Ngorongoro Crater, or by a scheduled light aircraft flight to an airstrip inside the park. Your itinerary can be planned around the option that suits your time and comfort.

Which part of the Serengeti should we choose?

It depends on your travel dates and interests. Central Serengeti and Seronera suit year-round big cat viewing, the south and Ndutu suit calving season, the Western Corridor suits river scenery, and the north suits Mara River crossings. We can combine regions in one journey.

Can we take a hot-air balloon safari?

Yes. Hot-air balloon flights over the Serengeti plains can be arranged as an optional extra on many itineraries. They usually take place at sunrise and offer a quiet bird's-eye view of the landscape and wildlife.

Can we combine the Serengeti with Ngorongoro, Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar?

Yes. The Serengeti is often combined with Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara. You can also climb Kilimanjaro before your safari or finish with a Zanzibar beach holiday, creating a complete Tanzanian journey.

How do we plan and book a Serengeti safari?

Share your preferred travel dates, number of travellers, parks of interest, accommodation style, and budget. Your safari can then be designed around your priorities, whether you are planning a short wildlife escape or a longer journey across Tanzania.

Plan your Serengeti safari

The more we know, the better the itinerary.