Serengeti National Park

📍 Location

  • Country: Tanzania

  • Region: Northern Tanzania

  • Nearest Towns: Arusha, Karatu

  • Bordering: Maasai Mara (Kenya), Ngorongoro Conservation Area

🌍 Overview

  • Size: ~14,750 km² (5,700 mi²)

  • Established: 1951

  • UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981

  • Managed by: TANAPA (Tanzania National Parks Authority)

  • Part of the Greater Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem (~30,000 km²)

🌟 Why It’s Famous

  • Home of the Great Migration – one of the “7 Natural Wonders of Africa”

  • Massive populations of big cats, elephants, and herbivores

  • Classic African savanna landscape – endless plains, kopjes, and acacia trees

  • World-class photographic safaris, luxury camps, and dramatic wildlife scenes

🐾 Wildlife

Serengeti is home to more than 2 million animals, including:

🦓 The Great Migration

  • ~1.5 million wildebeest

  • ~300,000 zebras

  • ~500,000 Thomson’s gazelles

  • Follow rainfall in a constant circular movement across Serengeti and Maasai Mara

🦁 Predators

  • Lions: ~3,000 (largest population in Africa)

  • Leopards, cheetahs, servals

  • Hyenas, jackals

🐘 Other Wildlife

  • Elephants, giraffes, hippos, buffaloes

  • Eland, topi, hartebeest, dik-dik

  • Crocodiles (especially in Grumeti & Mara rivers)

🐦 Birds

  • Over 500 species, including ostriches, secretary birds, vultures, eagles, and lilac-breasted rollers

📅 Best Time to Visit

Season Months Highlights
Dry Season June – October Best for general wildlife viewing
Green Season November – May Lush landscapes, calving season (Feb)
Calving Season January – March Southern Serengeti – wildebeest births & predator action
River Crossings June – August (Grumeti), July – Sept (Mara) Dramatic migration events

🗺️ Regions of the Serengeti

1. Central Serengeti (Seronera)

  • Most popular & accessible area

  • Year-round wildlife, especially big cats

2. Southern Serengeti (Ndutu)

  • Best from Dec – March (calving season)

  • Borders Ngorongoro Conservation Area

3. Western Corridor

  • Best in May – July during migration

  • Grumeti River crossings

4. Northern Serengeti

  • Best in July – October

  • Wildebeest Mara River crossings into Kenya

🚗 Getting There

🛫 By Air:

  • Seronera Airstrip (main one), plus many others in the park

  • Flights from:

    • Arusha

    • Zanzibar

    • Dar es Salaam

    • Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

🚗 By Road:

  • From Arusha: ~7–8 hours drive

  • Usually done as part of a northern safari circuit (Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Tarangire)

🛏️ Where to Stay

🏕️ Luxury Camps & Lodges

  • &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas

  • Four Seasons Safari Lodge

  • Singita Mara River Camp

  • Lemala Kuria Hills

  • Sayari Camp (Asilia)

🏨 Mid-Range Options

  • Serengeti Serena Lodge

  • Kubu Kubu Tented Camp

  • Mbalageti Safari Camp

🏕️ Budget Options

  • Public campsites

  • Mobile tented camps

  • Budget lodges near park borders

💰 Park Fees (as of 2024)

Visitor Type Entry Fee (24 hrs)
Foreign Adult ~$70 USD
Vehicle Fee Based on size/type
Camping Fees Extra if staying in public campsites

Fees vary by location and season – always confirm via TANAPA

🦓 Sample Safari Itinerary Idea

7-Day Northern Circuit Safari:

  • Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire

  • Day 2: Lake Manyara or cultural visit

  • Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater

  • Days 4–6: Serengeti (Central + Northern or Southern, depending on season)

  • Day 7: Fly back or drive to Arusha

🎯 Why Visit Serengeti?

  • Arguably Africa’s most famous park

  • Home to epic wildlife spectacles and timeless scenery

  • Excellent for photography, honeymooners, families, and nature lovers

  • Can be combined with:

    • Zanzibar (beach)

    • Mount Kilimanjaro (hiking)

    • Ngorongoro (crater safari)

    • Ruaha or Selous (for off-the-beaten-path experiences)