Serengeti National Park takes its name from the Maasai word for “endless plains”, and standing on its southern grasslands it is easy to see why. The park is the heart of an ecosystem that supports around 1.5 million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle, followed by the highest concentration of large predators in Africa.
The park has distinct regions. The central Seronera valley offers year-round resident game and excellent leopard sightings. The southern plains and Ndutu host the calving season. The western corridor sees the herds cross the Grumeti River, and the northern Serengeti provides dramatic Mara River crossings from July to October.
Granite kopjes rise from the grass like islands, providing lookouts for lions and shelter for hyrax and klipspringer. A dawn balloon flight over the plains is an unforgettable way to take in the scale of the landscape.
Highlights
- Following the Great Migration
- Leopards in the Seronera valley
- Mara River crossings in the north
- Balloon safari over the plains
- Lion prides on the granite kopjes
Wildlife & what you'll see
- Wildebeest, zebra and Thomson's gazelle
- Lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena
- Elephant, giraffe and buffalo
- Hippo and crocodile
- Over 500 bird species
Things to do
- Game drives
- Hot-air balloon safari
- Walking safaris in concession areas
- Picnic lunches on the plains
Best time to visit
Year-round, with location chosen by season: December–March in the south for calving; June–July in the west; July–October in the north for river crossings; Seronera is good at any time.
Getting there
Drive from Arusha via the Ngorongoro highlands (a full day with game viewing), or fly to Seronera, Kogatende or Ndutu airstrips.
Experiences in Serengeti
FAQs about Serengeti
How many nights do I need in the Serengeti?
At least two, ideally three or more. The park is vast, and more time lets you explore different areas and follow the herds.
Is the migration in the Serengeti or the Maasai Mara?
Both. The herds spend around nine months of the year in the Serengeti and cross into the Maasai Mara from roughly July to October.
Gallery
Open image: Endless plains of Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Open image: Acacia-dotted grassland in the Serengeti
Open image: Zebra and wildebeest during the Serengeti migration
Open image: Young leopard in a tree, Serengeti
Open image: Masai giraffe in the Serengeti
Open image: Lion pride resting in the Maasai Mara
Open image: Wildebeest crossing the Mara River during the Great Migration
