Serengeti National Park

The Maasai translation of Serengeti is Siringet, meaning endless plains. This is where the infinite horizon of moving plains meets the interminable sky, watching over Africa's most iconic wildlife destination: Serengeti National Park. Located in northern Tanzania, the large ecosystem spans ±11,583 square miles (±30,000 km²) and is home to the great migration of over 2 million blue wildebeest, 900,000 Thomson gazelle, 300,000 zebras, and their predators. The great savanna plains of the Serengeti also host the largest population of lions, estimated at over 3,000.

At a Glance

Must See Tourist Attractions

• Annual migration of blue wildebeest
• Wildebeest birthing season
• African Big 5 (Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant, Rhino)
• Bird photography with over 500 species
• Photo opportunities of the landscape and magical sunsets
• Retina hippo pools
• Lobo Valley
• Olduvai Gorge
• Moru Kopjes

Size

±10,424 square miles (±27,000 km²)

Landscape

Tropical and subtropical grasslands, rolling hills, woodlands, riverine forests, and wetlands

Recommended tour Itinerary

Great Rift Valley Luxury Safari

12 days / 11 nights days

Explore this tour

Main Species

Lions, cheetahs, leopards, spotted hyenas, blue wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, impalas, topi, elephants, black rhinoceros, hippopotamus, giraffes, crocodiles, warthogs, jackals, African buffaloes, ostriches, and baboons.

The Wonder of the Wild & Surrounds

Serengeti National Park is famous for its breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity, making it Tanzania's crown jewel.

Laying at the heart of the greater ecosystem, the Serengeti National Park spans a massive 5,700 square miles (14,763 km²) surrounded by seven other nature reserves and conservation areas:

• Liliondo game conservation area to the east covers 1,738 square miles (4,500 km²)
• Ngorongoro conservation area to the southeast covers 3,202 square miles (8,292 km²)
• Maswa Game Reserve to the southwest covers 850 square miles (2,200 km²)
• Grumeti Game Reserve to the northwest covers 159 square miles (411 km²)
• Ikorongo Game Reserve to the northwest covers 232 square miles (602 km²)
• Maasai Mara National Reserve to the north of the Tanzanian and Kenyan border covers 583 square miles (1,510 km²)
• Lake Natron game-controlled area bordering the Liliondo game conservation area covers 1,158 square miles (3,000 km²)
    

Whatever time of year you visit, every corner of the park is uniquely striking, a true spectacle of nature, and Tanzania Safari makes each visit memorable.

The greater Serengeti is Africa's most iconic wildlife destination. It is renowned for its vast savannas, abundant wildlife, dramatic landscape, and, let's not forget, the incredible great migration marathon of over two million animals in the fight for survival.

It's an ecosystem that thrives day and night with the sound of the wild — the distant roar of lions, the gentle rustling of grass, and the calls of savanna birds. The fields are alive with the slow movement of wildebeests and zebras grazing across the plains.

The backdrop of the Serengeti's magical sunsets transforms the land into a vast canvas of orange, pink, and purple hues as a stage to the silhouettes of acacia trees that mesmerize you with the natural beauty of this land.

The Diverse Geography

The park is divided into three regions through which the migration moves:

• Serengeti Plains
• Western Corridor
• Northern Serengeti

The land is characterized by a mix of landscapes, from the endless golden grass plains to woodlands dotted with acacia trees and lush riverine forests thriving with birdlife.

Kopjes (isolated rock hills) scattered the landscape across the Serengeti, and ancient granite rock formations create the perfect outlook for predators scanning the horizon for their next opportunity at a hunt.

The lakes and rivers offer an oasis to resident and migratory wildlife, especially during the dry season, where these wells of life attract thirsty animals from miles around.

The varied landscapes offer a rich habitat that sustains one of the richest concentrations of animals on the planet. The rich and varied vegetation is home to diverse grazers, providing a niche food supply for these different animals, including the hippo that lives in its salad bowl.

The Majestic Wildlife

No videos or photos offer the same experience as witnessing the great migration in person. Our tour packages provide a bucket-list experience for every nature enthusiast.

The great migration is a journey over 621 miles (1,000 km) in a circular trek across two countries: northern Tanzania and southwestern Kenya. The spectacle of millions of hooves on a voyage across the plains to find grazing with the promise of rain is a journey of survival.

The sights and sounds are overwhelming. Through the dusty cloud, the ground vibrates with the sound of a distant drum. The guttural grunts of wildebeests, the braying of zebras, and the distant roar of lions that lie in wait is a symphony of nature for a fight of life and death.

The Serengeti is thriving with endemic and migratory bird life. Over 1,000 bird species are found in the diverse landscape, from the ostrich, the largest bird on earth, strutting across the plains, to the martial eagle soaring the skies and the pink-backed pelican fishing for a meal.

Another captivating site to behold is the flocks of flamingos that paint the waters of Lake Natron with a pink blanket of honking flamingos as they nest and mate from September to December.

The park's diverse habitats provide birdwatchers plenty of opportunities to be enthralled by the variety of bird species, all showing off their vibrant plumage and unique mating rituals.

Approximately 70 species of mammals reside in the Serengeti National Park. The more common ungulated species are blue wildebeest, buffalo, impala, topi, gazelle, zebras, antelopes, and dik-diks. Elephants, black rhinos, and hippos impose their size as the giants of the park.

Predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs have no malice in this ecosystem but hunt to feed their own. So, the great circle of life continues to sustain the ecosystem of one of the seven world wonders.

Culture and History

The Serengeti Safari Park was designated a game reserve in 1930 and officially declared a national park in 1940. It is one of the last remaining untouched wildernesses, forming the world's largest and most protected ecosystem, acknowledged by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 1979.

Before it was a national park, ethnic groups like the Maasai Mara inhabited the Serengeti, which lived harmoniously with the wildlife.

The region holds a profound cultural and historical importance, offering a different viewing experience from the wildlife. Several cultural sites provide a glimpse into the area's ancient human history, tribal traditions, and spiritual heritage.

Here are some of the more notable sites to see:

1. Olduvia Gorge — Cradle of Mankind showcases fossils, artifacts, and information about human evolution.
2. Laetoli Footprints — This site is famous for its 3.6-million-year-old fossilized footprints.
3. Kondoa rock art — These are rock shelters adorned with ancient paintings dating back 2,000 years.
4. Gong Rocks — Also known as the Moru Kopjes, are famous for their distinctive rock formations and ancient Maasai rock paintings.
    

Tribes

The coexistence of nature and traditions shows the delicate balance between the Serengeti and the different indigenous tribes that call the plains their home, the most iconic of which is the Maasai tribe.

These proud, semi-nomadic people believe their cattle are a divine gift. The towering people of the Maasai tribes distinctively cloak themselves in traditional red, vibrant shuka cloths and adorn themselves with intricate beadwork.

Soaked in traditional ways, their famous adumu, or the energetic jumping dance, is a symbol of strength and unity, performed during rites of passage and celebrations.

Apart from the Maasai tribe, there are also 120 distinct ethnic groups in Tanzania, this includes:

• Hadzabe
• Sukume
• Iraqw
• Sonjo
• Datogo
• Chagga
   

Best Time To Visit the Serengeti

Each season has its unique charm, and we know how to tailor each tour to give you the best experience at any time of year.

The best time to visit the Serengeti is from June to October during the dry season. There are plenty of opportunities to view wildlife and the Mara River crossing.

From November to May, the wet season transforms the wilderness into a lush canopy of greenery, making it the best time for phenomenal bird watching. January to March is truly special as this period coincides with the calving of about 500,000 wildebeest calves.

Getting There

Traveling to the Serengeti is an adventure in itself. The closest city to the Serengeti with an international airport, Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), is the regional capital of the Arusha District, Arusha.

The quickest way to Serengeti is by booking a domestic flight to one of the Serengeti airstrips, which takes about 1 - 1½ hours:

• Seronera (Central Serengeti)
• Kusini (South Serengeti)
• Lobo (East Serengeti)
• Kiawira (West Serengeti)
• Kogatende and Lamia (North Serengeti)

Tourists with a safari tour package are picked up by their tour operators, creating a more immersive trip to their final destination.

The most common route is via Arusha — Lake Manyara — Ngorongoro Crater — Serengeti. The distance from Arusha to the Serengeti is about 236 miles (350 km), and due to road conditions, it can take 7 - 9 hours.

You can access the park by road through these six gates:

• Naabi Hill Gate (main gate on the eastern side of the park)
• Handajega Gate (southwest edge of the park)
• Fort Ikoma Gate (northwestern boundary)
• Bologonja Gate (between north Serengeti and Maasai Mara National Reserve)
• Ndabaka Gate (northwestern part of the park)
• Kleins Gate (northeastern side)

Attractions Near the Serengeti National Park

• Lake Manyara National Park
• Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Tarangire National Park
• Arusha National Park

Deciding between Tanzania and Kenya? See our Serengeti vs Masai Mara comparison.

Recommended Accommodation

Serengeti Bushtops

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