There are some truly unforgettable travel experiences that you can enjoy throughout the Globe, but visiting Tanzania and going on a Serengeti safari is one of the most phenomenal and exhilarating experiences that only a few travelers are fortunate enough to enjoy. Watching one of the Earth’s most dramatic wildlife spectacles- the Great wildebeest Migration is something every wildlife enthusiast needs to experience first-hand to appreciate.

Serengeti National Park (History, Location, and size)

Serengeti, which sits in the North of Tanzania (particularly in the Simiyu and Mara regions), officially became a National Park in 1952. For decades, it has been one of Africa’s best safari destinations, with even Hollywood stars (such as Will Smith, Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie) paying a visit to this incredible safari destination, and it is easy to see why.

The National Park is vast, extending for 14763 square kilometers (equivalent to the size of Montenegro, or the US States of Maryland or South Carolina) and features a large variety of natural habitats, including dry savannah, woodlands, and wetlands.  This UNESCO World Heritage Site is also comprised of several regions/areas that include the Central (also known as Seronera), the Northern area, the Western corridor, and the Southern sector. Thanks to its location and wildlife concentrations, the central/Seronera is the most popular one among visitors.

The Western Corridor (also comprising Grumeti), typically stretching towards Lake Victoria, is the remotest and least-visited part of the Park. Interestingly, the Grumeti River is one of the areas where visitors can observe the Great wildebeest Migration, especially during river crossings.

Also, remotely located in the least busy place is the Northern corridor, which is a preferred spot for witnessing the Great wildebeest Migration in July, August, and September.

In the southern Serengeti is Ndutu, known as the calving area during the Great Wildebeest Migration. This typically starts in December and ends in March. These are therefore the best months to explore the Ndutu region in Serengeti National Park.

Top things to see in Serengeti National Park

Wildlife

Wildlife spotting will not be a challenge on a Serengeti safari in Tanzania. Thankfully, there are over 70 mammal species in this Park, and when it comes to safari bucket lists, this destination has it all. From the Big Five Game (Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Rhinos, and Buffaloes), to antelopes, Serengeti has it all.

There are great opportunities to get up close with bathing Hippos, drinking Zebras, seeing Masai giraffes, wildebeests, Yellow baboons, impalas, spotted hyenas, cheetahs, and Thompson’s gazelles, among others.

Additionally, there are Genets, Grant’s gazelles, mongoose, duikers, aardwolf, hartebeest, bat-eared fox, caracals, hares, bushbucks, monitor lizards, hyrax, to mention but a few.

Birdlife

With over 500 bird species, Serengeti National Park is also a birdwatcher’s Paradise. Some of the species you should look out for include the African pygmy goose, African swamp hen, Egyptian goose, the black storks, African black ducks, helmeted guinea fowl, African emerald cuckoos, African palm swift, crested guinea fowl, greater painted snipe, Usambiro barbet, Namaqua dove, black-crowned night herons, bare-faced go-away bird, African skimmers, African crakes, yellow-billed stork, Eastern plantain eater, white-fronted plover, Schawlow’s Turacos, African open bill, southern ground hornbills, secretary birds, black-headed gonoleks, Northern shovelers, and many others.

Birding tours in Serengeti National Park also introduce avifauna enthusiasts to sights of Hartlaub’s Turacos, Northern shovelers, gray hooded gull, Southern pochard, Hottentot teal, Squacco herons, spur-winged goose, Schawlow’s Turacos, Rufous-tailed weaver bird, slender-tailed nightjars, Egyptian goose, Fischer’s lovebird, fulvous whistling ducks, green-backed woodpeckers, knob-billed ducks, Kori bustards, purple herons, square-tailed nightjars, Schawlow’s Turacos, mourning collared doves, pied cuckoos, yellow-billed ducks, lesser moorhen, and many others.

What Serengeti safari Activities can you do?

One of the reasons a Serengeti Safari is the ideal choice for an unforgettable wildlife encounter is that there is so much to do. From witnessing the Great wildebeest Migration, game drives, to walking safaris.

Experiencing the Great Wildebeest Migration

One of the reasons why you need to book your Serengeti safari soon is that you have a chance to witness the awe-inspiring Great Wildebeest Migration between this Park and Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve. This is one of the most thrilling natural phenomena on Earth. This breathtaking journey, often spanning thousands of kilometers, involves over 1.5 million wildebeests, alongside hundreds of thousands of zebras, gazelles, and Topis moving between the Serengeti-Maasai Mara ecosystems. This activity has always been a subject of interest to researchers and wildlife enthusiasts, and you will be among the few lucky ones to experience it.

Guided Game Drives

Game drives, done in open-roof 4X4 Safari vehicles, are an excellent way to see Serengeti wildlife up close. Some of the animals sighted during these morning, afternoon, or full-day game drives include the Big Five Game, cheetahs, Masai giraffes, spotted hyenas, impalas, Topis, Baboons, zebras, servals, bushbucks, and many others.

Hot Air balloon tours

Have a different perspective on enjoying the natural beauty and wildlife of Serengeti National Park. These adventures are safe and allow visitors to ride in a hot air balloon with a team of experienced pilots and guides to provide information on everything, from the history to the animals.

Guided walking safaris

Guided walking safaris in Serengeti National Park allow visitors to connect with Mother Nature more intimately. On foot, you get the chance to explore areas not accessible by safari vehicle, providing a phenomenal angle on the Protected Area’s ecosystem. Led by experienced guides, you will get an explanation of plants, tracks, birds, and animal behavior.

Bird watching

Birding, done through nature walks, game drives, and even the hot air balloon tour, introduces bird enthusiasts to at least 100 of the 500 bird species that call Serengeti National Park home. The various natural habitats- dry savannahs, river banks, wetlands, and woodlands are teeming with birdlife, including African skimmers, African crakes, black-crowned night herons, bare-faced go-away bird, Eastern plantain eater, greater painted snipe, Usambiro barbet, Namaqua dove, yellow-billed stork, white-fronted plover, and many others.

Village/Cultural tours

Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Masai culture by touring a Masai Village tour, that is one with Mother Nature. During these adventures, technology takes a back seat, hence allowing visitors to focus on the richness of Nature at its best as the locals showcase how it was/is done. Take guided tours through their Bomas, have a taste of their meals, and be treated to an invigorating cultural dance.

When is the best time for a Serengeti safari?

Serengeti safaris are possible all year round. When you decide to go is greatly influenced by what you hope to achieve from your trip.

The dry season is the most popular time to visit Serengeti, and it is for a good reason. As many water sources dry due to reduced rainfall levels and increased temperatures, the few permanent water sources, such as the River Grumeti, don’t dry up. For this reason, large numbers of animals move to these places for freshwater and green pastures, making this reason perfect for wildlife viewing.

When it comes to witnessing the Great wildebeest migration, you will mostly enjoy river crossings in July, August, and September. However, the dry season is the peak tourist season, thus prices for accommodations are quite high.

For quieter visitor experiences, target to visit Serengeti in March, April, May, October, and November. This is, however, the wet season, marked by increased rainfall, thus muddy game tracks and park roads, overgrown vegetation, hence makes it difficult to sight the animals. The months of January through March are marked as the calving season, hence you can explore the Ndutu areas during the Great wildebeest Migration.

Where to stay

Where you stay depends on the Serengeti area you are visiting. Popular accommodation options for this Park include Namiri Plains Lodge, Four Seasons Safari Lodge, Siringit Serengeti Camp, Entara Olmara Camp, One Nature Nyaruswiga, Lemala Ewanjan Tented Camp, and Dunia Camp in Central Serengeti.

There is also Singita Mara River Tented Camp, Serengeti Bushtops Camp, Nomad Lamai Serengeti, and Lemala Kuria Hills Tented Lodge in the Serengeti Mara area

Popular options in the migration area are the Olakira Migration camp, Nomad Serengeti Safari Camp, Roving Bushtops, &Beyond Serengeti under Canvas.

Southern corridor accommodations include Kusini Safari camp and many others.

In the western corridor, you will find Mbali Mbali Soroi Serengeti lodge, Mbalageti Serengeti Lodge, Kirawira Serena Camp, and many others.

Others are &Beyond Klein’s Camp, Singita Sasakwa Lodge in Grumeti Reserve, Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge, Sayari Camp, &Beyond Grumeti River Lodge in the western corridor, Taasa Lodge in the Northern corridor, Mwiba Lodge in the southwestern Plains, Nomad Serengeti Camp,  Sabora Tented Camp in Grumeti Reserve, Lemala Nanyukie Tented Lodge, Serengeti Sopa Lodge, and Singita Mara Camp,

Getting there

There are two ways of getting to Serengeti National Park- by road and air. Whether you wish to fly or drive to this incredible safari destination, Alba Wonders Africa will get you there.

There are five airstrips serving Serengeti National Park, and you can land at any of them depending on the area you are visiting- Kogatende Airstrip (Northern Serengeti), Lobo Airstrip (Northeastern), Kusini Airstrip (southern Serengeti), Fort Ikoma Airstrip (Northwestern Serengeti), and Kirawira B Airstrip (western corridor/Grumeti).

For road transport, expect 6-7 hours from the heart of Arusha in a 4×4 safari Vehicle, and the gates include Bologonya gate (leading to Northern Serengeti), Ndabaka gate (the main entrance and leads to the western corridor), Klein’s gate (for accessing the northeastern side of Serengeti), and the Naabi Hill gate, which is 45 km from Seronera.