About Serengeti
Legend has it that the name “Serengeti” originates from the Maasai people who have inhabited this untouched land for centuries. Roughly translated, it means “the endless plains” or “the place where the land runs on forever.”
Established in 1952 and spanning 14,763 km² (5,700 sq mi)—an area larger than Connecticut or Montenegro—Serengeti National Park is a globally revered wildlife sanctuary, located in the eastern Mara Region of northern Tanzania. It is celebrated by nature enthusiasts as one of the most wildlife-rich destinations on Earth.
The park extends north into Kenya and borders Lake Victoria to the west, encompassing diverse habitats that are ideal for a wide variety of species, both large and small. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Serengeti is not only valued for its rich wildlife but also for its abundant relics of prehistoric mankind.
True to its name, the Serengeti leaves visitors with an overwhelming sense of vast, open spaces, characterized by sprawling grasslands, flat-topped acacia trees, and scattered granite kopjes (rock outcrops). Only two permanent rivers flow through the park, but numerous gullies spring to life after good rains.
As you close your eyes, the serenade of nature calms the primal mind, while her diverse scents further awaken your senses.
Beyond its near-pristine wilderness, Serengeti National Park is renowned for its abundant wildlife that roams these ancient plains. Vast herds of plains game, estimated at around 2 million ungulates, traverse the varied landscapes, grazing, browsing, and enriching the soil as they move.
This immense herbivorous biomass, in turn, creates plentiful hunting opportunities for Africa’s iconic large predators, sustaining the relentless cycle of life and death on the African plains. Visitors to the Serengeti are also treated to an extraordinary array of bird species and plant life, each contributing to the wonder of nature’s complexity and diversity.
By road, the Serengeti National Park is located 335 km (208 mi) from Tanzania’s safari hub, Arusha. For those traveling by air, seven airstrips serve different regions of the park, making it accessible from multiple points.
Regions of the Serengeti
Central Serengeti (Seronera)
Also known as the Seronera Valley, this area of the Serengeti hosts many of the park’s permanent lodges and serves as the main airstrip. Consequently, it can become quite crowded, especially during peak season, which may affect game viewing. Despite this, the valley is usually bustling with wildlife, including large herds of zebra, wildebeest, various antelope species, and abundant elephants. This high density of game increases the likelihood of spotting the park’s large predators, such as lions, cheetahs, and spotted hyenas.
Often referred to as Africa’s Big Cat Capital, the Seronera region is considered one of the best places in the Serengeti to see elusive leopards. The landscape features gently rolling acacia savanna (Vachellia sp.), providing excellent visibility for game viewing. The Great Migration typically passes through this area from April to June and again from October to December.
Western Corridor and Grumeti
Renowned as one of the premier locations in the Serengeti for witnessing the drama of the Great Migration, the Western Corridor is situated in the Kirawira region, where the Grumeti River flows. This river is a significant obstacle along the migration route, typically crossed between May and July as the herds seek better grazing grounds. During this period, the river’s swift currents can carry away the weaker animals, and the waters are teeming with large crocodiles ready to feast. Even after crossing, dangers persist as land predators lie in wait.
Outside the migration season, the Western Corridor is a relatively tranquil part of the park. Its diverse landscapes include riverine areas, floodplains, woodlands, and savanna, extending towards Lake Victoria. This region is unique in the Serengeti for viewing colobus monkeys and kongoni antelope, and is characterized by dense forests and thickets.
Northern Serengeti
Nestled between Seronera and Kenya’s Masai Mara, this lesser-visited region offers an escape from the crowds, with minimal infrastructure and services. For those seeking solitude, it’s a worthwhile destination. The landscape features the classic rolling grasslands of the Serengeti, with wildlife as plentiful as in other parts of the park. The Great Migration passes through this area around June/July and again from September to November, with dramatic river crossings at the Mara River showcasing the perilous journey of the herds.
The Lobo Valley is known for its healthy predator population and is frequented by giraffes, elephants, topi antelope, and more. The area is best explored during the dry season when wildlife is concentrated around Bologonja Springs and the nearby salt lick, as animals tend to disperse with the rains.
Southern Serengeti
From December to May, the vast mixed herds of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope pause in their continuous search for grazing, marking the start of the calving season on the plains south of Seronera, near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Typically peaking in February, the plains come alive with the bleating of thousands of newborn calves, who are able to stand within minutes and join the herd within hours. These young calves must quickly gain strength, as the dry season approaches and the massive herd will once again migrate north in search of new grazing grounds. This surge in vulnerable young attracts predators, who are ever-present and fiercely competing for an easy meal.
Activities
Activities
Game Drives
Setting out in the cooler hours of the day when the wildlife is most active, you will travel in a customized safari vehicle with an experienced guide in search of Africa’s big game. Full-day options are also available.
Bird Watching
There are 542 recorded species, of which 11 are endemic. Migrant species are present from November to April.
Hot Air Balloon Trips
In the early morning, when conditions are most favourable, you can drift in near silence above the wildlife dotting the expansive plains.
Wild Life
Great Migration: World’s Greatest Wildlife Event
The Great Migration truly deserves its title as “The Greatest Show on Earth.” This awe-inspiring event features a massive herd of over a million wildebeest, 400,000 zebras, and various antelope species, including eland and Thomson’s gazelle. Outside the migration periods, wildlife disperses and mingles with other herbivores such as kudu, impala, giraffe, topi, Cape buffalo, and warthogs. Additionally, the rivers and water holes teem with hippos and crocodiles, enriching the park’s diverse ecosystem.
Abundant Wildlife
The Serengeti is home to a variety of primate species, including olive baboons, vervet monkeys, and colobus monkeys. Among the smaller mammals, aardvarks and porcupines are present but are rarely seen during the day.
Large predators are particularly abundant in the Serengeti, with lions and spotted hyenas dominating as the apex predators of the plains. Their social nature provides them with a distinct advantage over solitary predators like cheetahs and leopards. Cheetahs, seeking to avoid competition, hunt during the day, while leopards often hoist their kills into the trees to evade confrontation. African hunting dogs were reintroduced to the reserve, but their sightings are rare due to the high numbers of lions and hyenas. Smaller predators, such as the African wildcat, serval, caracal, various mongoose species, and jackals, are all present in significant numbers.
For the Bird Enthusiasts
Well over 500 species of birds have been recorded in the Serengeti, ranging from waterfowl that frequent the rivers, waterholes and marshes, to seed-eaters, and an amazing diversity of birds of prey. The skies are often filled with circling vultures, constantly on the lookout for carcasses from which to scavenge.
Landscape
The Serengeti National Park is renowned for its iconic vast grassland plains, often referred to as the savanna. These nutrient-rich expanses are interspersed with sparse woodlands, where the distinctive umbrella thorn tree with its flat canopy is a prominent feature among the larger tree species. This landscape is characteristic of the Seronera, eastern, and southern plains.
In the northern region, the terrain is defined by rocky hills and numerous granite outcrops known as kopjes. The Western Corridor and Grumeti areas are distinguished by a network of valleys with seasonal watercourses that support thickets and forest habitats, alongside patches of savanna grassland.
