Tanzania Safari Destination
Serengeti National Park
Endless plains, big cats and the great migration. Explore Tanzania’s most celebrated wilderness.
Location
Mara and Simiyu, Tanzania
Size
About 14,750 sq km
Ideal stay
3 to 4 days
Best time
June to October
Famous for
The great migration
Tanzania, Northern Circuit
Tanzania's most celebrated wilderness
Serengeti National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose name comes from the Maasai word for endless plains. Huge herds of wildebeest and zebra move through it all year, following the rains in a great circle that crosses into Kenya’s Maasai Mara.
Resident lion, leopard and cheetah make game viewing excellent in every season. Calving season fills the southern plains early in the year, and the dramatic river crossings happen in the north from around July.
Why the Serengeti belongs on your Tanzania itinerary
Six reasons this park earns its place on a Kenya safari.
The great migration
Huge herds of wildebeest and zebra on the move all year.
Big cats
Some of Africa’s highest densities of lion, leopard and cheetah.
The Big Five
All five can be found, with rhino in protected areas.
Endless plains
Golden grassland stretching to every horizon.
Balloon safaris
Drift over the plains at sunrise.
Great all year
Resident wildlife means excellent game viewing in every season.
When to visit Serengeti
The herds move all year, so the best time depends on what you want to see.
June to October
Dry season and crossings
Easy game viewing, with river crossings in the north from around July.
December to March
Calving season
The herds gather on the southern plains to give birth.
November
Short rains
The herds head south, with fewer vehicles on the tracks.
April to May
Long rains
Green landscapes, fewer visitors and the best rates.
Wildlife you can expect to see
Predators and plains game in extraordinary numbers.
Lion
Large prides across the plains and kopjes.
Leopard
Often found in trees along the Seronera River.
Cheetah
Hunting on the open short-grass plains.
Elephant
Herds in the woodland and along the rivers.
Wildebeest
The heart of the migration, in their hundreds of thousands.
Hyena
Common on the plains and never far from a kill.
Things to do in the Serengeti
Game drives are the heart of it, with plenty more to add.
Guided game drives
Follow the herds and predators with an experienced guide.
Hot air balloon safaris
Rise above the plains at sunrise.
River crossings
Wait for the herds to brave the river in the north.
Walking safaris
Explore the bush on foot with an armed ranger.
Big cat tracking
Spend time with lion prides and cheetah families.
Sundowners
Watch the sky turn gold over the plains.
Planning your trip to Serengeti
Practical details to help you decide how to get there and where to stay.
Getting to the Serengeti
- By air: light-aircraft flights from Arusha reach the park’s airstrips in about an hour.
- By road: a full day from Arusha, usually via Ngorongoro.
- Combined routes: pairs with Ngorongoro, Tarangire and the Maasai Mara.
Where to stay
- Inside the park: lodges and tented camps across the central, northern and southern Serengeti.
- Nearby: mobile camps that move with the migration.
- Every budget: from comfortable mid-range camps to luxury lodges.
Serengeti safari tours
Itineraries that include the Serengeti, from short group safaris to combined Kenya and Tanzania circuits.
- Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Arusha
- 5 Days 4 Nights
- Arusha, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tarangire
- 8 Days 7 Nights
- Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tarangire, Arusha
- 7 Days 6 Nights
- Serengeti, Ngorongoro
- 3 Days 2 Nights
- Lake Nakuru, Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Arusha, Amboseli
- 10 Days 9 Nights
- Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro
- 7 Days 6 Nights
Good to know
Serengeti questions, answered
Still wondering about something? Ask our Nairobi team any time on WhatsApp.
Where is the Serengeti?
Serengeti National Park is in northern Tanzania, bordering Kenya's Maasai Mara to the north.
When is the best time to see the migration?
The herds are in the southern Serengeti for calving from about December to March, and in the north for river crossings from around July to October.
How many days do you need in the Serengeti?
Three to four days is ideal, giving time to find the herds and the big cats.
Can you see the Big Five in the Serengeti?
Yes. Lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo are common, while rhino are rare and easier to see in Ngorongoro Crater.
What is the difference between the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara?
They are one ecosystem split by the border. The Serengeti is much larger, while the Mara is smaller and easier to reach from Nairobi.
Can the Serengeti be combined with other parks?
Yes. It pairs naturally with Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Lake Manyara, or with the Maasai Mara on a combined safari.
Start Planning Your Serengeti Safari
Tell us your travel dates and we will time your Serengeti route to the herds and the experiences you want most.