Serengeti National Park
Endless plains, the Great Migration, and the densest population of big cats on Earth. The Serengeti is the safari that defines every other safari.
Size
14,750 km²
Established
1951 · UNESCO 1981
Best for
Great Migration · Big Five
Getting in
Fly-in or 4×4 from Arusha
About the park
Africa's wild heart, on a stage you can barely fathom
Stretching across nearly 15,000 square kilometres of northern Tanzania, the Serengeti is one of the oldest and most studied ecosystems on the planet. Its name comes from the Maasai siringet — the place where the land runs on forever — and the description still fits. Golden plains roll to a horizon broken only by acacia trees, granite kopjes and the silhouettes of wildebeest moving in their hundreds of thousands.
More than two million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles complete the Great Migration here each year — Earth's largest overland animal movement. They share the park with around 3,000 lions, healthy populations of leopards and cheetahs, and over 500 species of bird.
About the park
Best time: Jun–Oct (dry, crossings) · Jan–Mar (calving)
Stay: Mobile camps, tented lodges, luxury villas
Access: 1h flight or 7h drive from Arusha
Climate: 15–28°C, cool mornings on game drives
WHERE TO GO
Four regions, four very different safaris
The Serengeti is huge. Where you stay matters as much as when you visit — pick the region that matches what you most want to see.
Seronera (Central)
YEAR-AROUND GAME VIEWING
The beating heart of the Serengeti. Resident lions, leopards along the Seronera River and excellent cheetah sightings on the surrounding plains. A reliable choice in any month.
Western Corridor
MAY - JUL GRUMETI CROSSINGS
The Grumeti River runs west toward Lake Victoria. Migration herds funnel through here in early season — home to giant Nile crocodiles and dramatic river crossings.
Southern Plains & Ndutu
DEC - MAR CALVING SEASON
Short-grass plains where wildebeest gather to calve. Predator action peaks as lions, cheetahs and hyenas follow the newborns. Ndutu camps offer off-road game drives.
Northern Serengeti
AUG - OCT MARA CROSSINGS
Rolling hills and the legendary Mara River crossings. Quieter than Kenya's Maasai Mara side, with prime crossings at Kogatende and Lamai Wedge.
WHERE TO GO
Four regions, four very different safaris
The Serengeti is huge. Where you stay matters as much as when you visit — pick the region that matches what you most want to see.
Jan
Ndutu / Southern Plains
Calving begins
Apr
Central Serengeti
Long rains · green season
Jul
Northern Serengeti
Herds reach the north
Oct
Northern Serengeti
Late crossings · herds linger
Feb
Ndutu / Southern Plains
Peak calving · predators active
May
Western Corridor
Columns of herds heading west
Aug
Mara River
Mara crossings — peak drama
Nov
Central Serengeti
Short rains · herds move south
Mar
Southern Serengeti
Herds start moving north-west
Jun
Grumeti River
Grumeti crossings begin
Sep
Northern Serengeti
Crossings continue
Dec
Southern Plains
Herds return to Ndutu
WILDLIFE
The greatest concentration of predators in Africa
Lion
Highest density in Africa
Elephant
Large herds in the north
Leopard
Sausage trees along Seronera
Black Rhino
Columns of herds heading west
Cheetah
Open plains specialists
500+ bird species
Lilac-breasted roller, secretary bird
THINGS TO DO
Beyond the game drive
Hot-Air Balloon Safari
Lift off at dawn for a silent hour above the plains, followed by a champagne bush breakfast.
Walking Safaris
Track wildlife on foot with armed rangers in select northern and central concessions.
Private Mobile Camping
Follow the migration with a luxury tented camp that moves with the herds each season.
Common questions about the Serengeti
When is the best time to visit the Serengeti?
It depends on what you want to see. June–October is dry season with great general game viewing and Mara River crossings in the north. January–March brings the calving season in the southern plains with intense predator action.