A Complete Guide For Travelers To Visit Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Written By
African Scenic Safaris
18/08/2022
Safaris
Last updated on April 13th, 2023 at 01:20 pm
The Serengeti National Park is the best destination in the world, which provides a perfect picture of the African wilderness. It is Tanzania’s oldest park and a Unesco World Heritage Site. It is home to the spectacular Wildebeest Migration and offers top-class wildlife viewing throughout the year.
The vast savannah and rolling grasslands make Serengeti Park in Tanzania an awe-inspiring safari destination. On a Safari adventure in Serengeti, you can witness a diverse wildlife population and watch the Wildebeest Migration.
Where Is Serengeti National Park Located In Tanzania?
One of the best national parks in Tanzania, Serengeti, lies in the northwestern corner of the country. The Tanzanian National Park borders Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve to the north. The Serengeti and Masai Mara Ecosystem is well protected and preserved to host the Wildebeest Migration every year.
Things to Know About Serengeti National Park
If you’re embarking on a safari for the first time or it’s your first time to this wildlife-rich reserve, then some facts to know about the Serengeti National Park:
The meaning of Serengeti is derived from the Maasai language and means “endless plains.”
This Tanzania National Park has one of the largest dense populations of wildlife in the world.
Serengeti Safari Park is famous for its annual wildlife spectacle called Wildebeest Migration.
This Tanzanian National Park is the best place to watch the lions in their natural habitat.
Herds of giraffes and elephants are seen in the Northern Serengeti’s open woodlands.
Disney’s Lion King Movie is inspired by Serengeti Park’s southern plains.
Serengeti has stunning biodiversity and a significant ecosystem. This Tanzania National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Masai tribe’s people stayed in harmony with the wildlife and herded cattle for thousands of years.
Since the 1960s, the migration event in Serengeti Park has continued.
Seronera River Valley is a must-visit destination in Serengeti Park. Here you can find the best wildlife and bird species.
You can start planning your trip! Tourism is a crucial tool in conserving wonderful wild places like the Serengeti.
Reaching Serengeti National Park
Arusha and Mwanza are the closest towns to Serengeti National Park, of which Arusha is more suitable as other Northern Parks are closer to her. Arusha City does not have an international airport. If you want to fly close to Serengeti Park, consider landing at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Moshi. Kilimanjaro International Airport is about 31 miles (50 kilometers) away from Arusha city.
International flights at Kilimanjaro often arrive late at night! You can stay overnight in Arusha before flying via a charter flight to reach Serengeti.
Travelers from the US
A few airlines operate between the US cities and Kilimanjaro International Airport! Also, you can check with the airlines like Swiss, Ethiopia, Qatar, and KLM to book your flight tickets.
You have also flown to Tanzania’s travel hub- Dar es Salaam via other airlines. You will take a domestic flight to Arusha Domestic Airport from Dar es Salaam. It will land you closer to Serengeti National Park than Kilimanjaro Airport, but the journey can be long and tiring.
Travelers from Europe
The simple route is to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport. KLM. You can find a direct flight from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro International Airport for 8 hours. There are many flights from big cities in Europe like London and Frankfurt. KLM, Qatar, British Airways, and Kenya Airways operate with one transit in Amsterdam, Doha, and Nairobi.
Travelers from Asia
You can fly from a big city in Asia to Kilimanjaro International Airport via Qatar with one transit in Doha. Your journey will be approx. of 17 hours.
Flying into Dar es Salaam and catching a domestic flight to Arusha is another option for Asian travelers.
Travelers from Africa
Travelers from Africa can get to Serengeti by flying to Kilimanjaro Airport. Ethiopia and Kenya airlines operate a direct route from their headquarters city to Kilimanjaro Airport.
When To Visit Serengeti National Park?
You can enjoy a spectacular Safari In Serengeti regardless of the time of the year you visit. Only the fresh grazing wildebeest and other animals participate in the wildebeest migration. The Serengeti National Park has a dense population of wildlife to explore on a safari game drive.
The Best Time To Visit Serengeti National Park is during the dry season- June or July to October. During this period, animals congregate around water holes. It makes to spot wildlife. The dry season leads to fewer mosquitoes and helps reduce the chance of contracting malaria.
Visiting Serengeti for a safari during the low season can give you a unique experience. Witnessing the lush green savannahs where animals roam freely can leave you less worried about the sporadic rain. Serengeti Plains November to May is lush green and quieter.
You can visit Serengeti National Park all year round to enjoy a memorable Tanzania Safari. Serengeti in each season has something to offer the visitors!
High/ Peak Season in Serengeti National Park is experienced in the period of-June to March and offers:
High rates
Cool and dry weather
More crowded
Great photography conditions
Witness the Great Migration
Low or Green Season in Serengeti National Park is experienced in April and May and offers:
Low rates
Hot and wet weather
Birds and baby animals around
Less crowded
Best photography conditions
Best time to See Serengeti Migration
The Great Wildebeest Migration is one of the Tanzania Safari highlights in Serengeti. Every year around June and July, millions of animals like wildebeests and zebras migrate across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.
With millions of animals moving from plain to rivers, you can see a lot of actions during the Serengeti migration. On a Serengeti National Park Safari, you can witness the great migration. The Wildebeest Migration event is a once-in-a-lifetime annual wildlife spectacle to never miss when visiting Serengeti National Park.
The Best Time For Serengeti Migration is from June to October and December to March. From December to March, you can experience the Great Migration in their calving season. June to October is great to watch the river crossing spectacle.
The highlight of your Safari In Serengeti is from June to October. It can help you with 1.7 million wildebeests and other wildlife traveling in search of fresh water and grazing grounds. The sight and sound of the migratory animals can leave you stunned and speechless.
Late December to March is the calving season. The Grumeti River and Mara River crossing happens by June. During the low season, the wildebeest reach the Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya.
How to Witness the Wildebeest Migration
Serengeti National Park is an excellent habitat for wildlife and the one & only National Park in Tanzania experiencing the Wildebeest Migration. Here below are some guidelines to see the Wildebeest Migration:
Calving or Birthing Season- December to March- Southern Serengeti
High Drama with the Predator in Action- December to March- Southern Serengeti
Mating Season- April to May- Western & Central Serengeti
River Crossings- May to June- Western Serengeti (Grumeti)
Mara River Crossings- July to September- Northern Serengeti
In Transit- October to December – Northern to Southern Serengeti
Arguably the Serengeti’s biggest draw, the Great Wildebeest Migration is spectacular.
What Animals Can You See In The Serengeti National Park?
The Serengeti has a great variety of animals because it’s a unique transition area. Serengeti National Park animals include:
Elephants
Lions
Giraffes
Buffalo
Rhinos
Leopards
Hippos
Zebras and more
The Serengeti is inarguably Tanzania’s best national park when it comes to wildlife; abundant with our planet’s most exotic animals.
The Serengeti National Park Areas
The word Serengeti means endless plains as per the Masai Culture.
Serengeti Park is a vast grassland area in Tanzania located west of the Great Rift Valley. It was created in 1951 to protect the zebras, wildebeests, and Thomson’s gazelles.
The Serengeti Park ecosystem has stunning biodiversity.
The Tanzanian National Park is 14,750 square kilometers vast, like the size of Northern Ireland. Serengeti National Park has four main areas: Western Corridor, Central (Seronera), Northern, and Southern.
1. Central Part of Serengeti
If you want to make the most of your short Serengeti safari trip, consider visiting the central park area. It maximizes your chance to spot the best wildlife in a short time. Here you can explore the Seronera area, which has the highest population of African leopards. Seronera River has water year-round and is the best place for wildlife and birdlife viewing. The central area of the Serengeti is the busiest park area with many safari camps and lodges.
2. Western Corridor of Serengeti
The Western Corridor of Serengeti National Park is a remote area. The western part of Serengeti Park is best known for the Grumeti River. You can witness the scene of many wildebeest crossings of the Grumeti River during the Great Migration.
It gives a thrilling scene of witnessing thousands of wildebeest, gazelle, and zebras across the crocodile-infested Grumeti River waters. After the Grumeti River crossings, the animals reach the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Late May to the End of June is the best time to see the river crossings in Serengeti’s Western Corridor!
3. Northern Serengeti
The Northern Serengeti is the least busy area, which bustles with visitors from July to October. During this time, visitors can watch the dramatic wildebeest Mara river crossings. Northern Serengeti is the best place for game driving or a walking safari.
4. Southern Serengeti
The Southern Serengeti is the place for the calving season. From December to March, thousands of calves are born over three weeks. The endless stretch of southern Serengeti has short grass plains, including the Ngorongoro Conservation and the Southern Seronera. It is the best place for game viewing during the migration season.
Top Activities To Do In The Serengeti National Park
Witness The Great Wildebeest Migration
Safari or travel enthusiasts and wildlife lovers visit the Serengeti to see The Great Wildebeest Migration. You can witness an epic migration in Serengeti with a well-planned Tanzania Safari Tour.
Explore The Olduvai Gorge
Olduvai Gorge is 300 miles long. You can spot it in the middle of Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. It is the site where Mary Leakey discovered two million-year-old fossils. Here you can find the Olduvai Museum too!
Make Your Way to The Moru Kopjes
Visiting the Moru Kopjes is a thrilling adventure! Moru Kopjes are a stunning rock formation that rises high in the center of the Serengeti plains. It proves the best animal viewing area to spot predators like cheetahs, leopards, and lions.
Learn About The Maasai Culture and Life
Maasai People are a semi-nomadic tribe living in Tanzania and Kenya since ancient times. On visiting the Maasai village, you can experience their way of life. Maasai people are hospitable and friendly to sharing information about their customs, traditions, and lifestyle.
WHAT DO TRAVELERS SAY ABOUT SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK?
A dream came true
I have booked a 4 days Safari for me and my two adult daughters. Since I was a child I wanted to see the Serengeti and now my wish came true. I am so happy that we booked with African Scenic Safari. Everything was well organized. Emmanuel was the best guide ever. He knew everything about every animal we have seen and we have seen a lot of animals. We had three nights in tented camps in Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro. The tented camps were amazing. We could hear the animals (even lions) at night but we had a very comfortable tent with real beds and a very good bathroom. Breakfast and Dinner have been wonderful and the staff in every camp was so nice and we felt very safe.
Booking one of the best Serengeti Safari Packages is the best way for travelers to get around and have the utmost fun. Your safari tour operator can handle the logistics to help you focus on watching the animals. Tailor-made Serengeti safari packages cover the park entry fees, accommodation, food, and transport.
How Much Does A Serengeti Safari Package Cost?
There are some budget-influencing factors:
Consider your preferred accommodation.
Look for the time of year.
Book a flying or driving safari. Flying safari is expensive but gives you more time on safari. Driving allows you to get close to the action and build a good rapport with your driver cum guide throughout the trip.
Choose extra safari activities like cultural tours, guided walks, spa treatments, and hot-air balloon safaris.
Guide for Serengeti Safari Budgets
4-Star Comfort
– Low Season: $500 – $675
– High Season- $550 – $725
4-Star Luxury
– Low Season: $800 – $1,200
– High Season: $950 – $1,350
5-Star Luxury
– Low Season: $1,250 and above
– High Season: $1,850 and above
If you want information about Serengeti National Park safari packages, contact our safari specialist at +255 (0) 784 413 801 or email: info@africanscenicsafaris.com!
Conclusion
Are you excited to enjoy the Serengeti National Park safari in Tanzania? So many attractions and beautiful sights are awaiting you! Consider booking a customized tour with a reliable tour operator- African Scenic Safaris! We can help you witness the best of a Serengeti Safari beyond the hustle and bustle amidst diverse wildlife.
