Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park is one of Tanzania's most renowned destinations, celebrated globally for its annual wildebeest migration. Covering vast plains, rolling hills, and dramatic landscapes, the Serengeti is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including the Big Five. Visitors can witness predators such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs stalking prey in open grasslands, while elephants and giraffes roam the savannas. With luxury lodges and tented camps offering close proximity to wildlife, Serengeti provides both adventure and comfort. Its changing seasons bring unique experiences, from calving in the south to river crossings in the north.

When to visit

The Serengeti rewards a visit at any time of year, but the wildebeest migration moves through it in a broad, weather-driven loop. Roughly December to March the herds are on the southern short-grass plains around Ndutu, where around half a million calves are born in a few weeks in late January and February. Through April and May they drift north-west through the Western Corridor, and from around July to October the dramatic Mara and Grumeti river crossings take place in the north. November's short rains draw the herds south again. The dry months of late June to October give the easiest general game viewing across the park, while the green season is quieter, cheaper and excellent for predators and newborns.

Getting there

Most visitors combine the Serengeti with Tarangire and Ngorongoro on the Northern Circuit. By road it is a scenic full day from Arusha, entering via Ngorongoro and the Naabi Hill gate. Light aircraft fly daily from Arusha to airstrips across the park — Seronera for the central area, plus northern and southern strips — which is the quickest way to reach the migration wherever it happens to be.

What you'll see

Central Seronera holds resident wildlife year-round, including strong lion prides, leopards along the river courses and cheetahs on the open plains. Elephant, giraffe, buffalo, hippo, and large numbers of plains game are widespread, and the park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. Beyond the migration spectacle, the Serengeti's appeal is its sheer scale — grassland that runs unbroken to the horizon under enormous skies.

Good to know

• Plan three to four days here to move with the wildlife rather than chase it.
• Balloon safaris over the plains launch at dawn from the central and western areas.
• The north (Kogatende) is best for river crossings; the south (Ndutu) for calving season.
• It pairs naturally with Ngorongoro Crater, usually visited on the way in or out.