Serengeti National Park

Tanzania's Endless Plain

The Serengeti is Tanzania's most famous park, boasting the largest concentration of migratory game animals in the world. Nearly 500 species of birds and 35 species of large plains animals can be found here. It is also famous for its huge lion population—one of the best places on the continent to see them—and cheetah are also often seen. The word "Serengeti" is derived from the Maasai language and appropriately means "endless plain." The park's 5,700-square-miles (14,763-km²) make it larger than the state of Connecticut, with altitudes varying from 3,120 to 6,070 feet (950 to 1,850 m).

A UNESCO World Heritage Ecosystem

The park comprises most of the Serengeti ecosystem, the primary migration route of the wildebeest. It is bordered by Kenya's Maasai Mara to the north, Loliondo to the northeast, Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the southeast, Maswa Game Reserve to the southwest, and the Grumeti and Ikorongo areas to the northwest. The "Western Corridor" comes within 5 miles (8 km) of Lake Victoria. Most of the terrain consists of vast, open plains broken by rocky outcrops (kopjes), alongside acacia savannah, woodland, riverine forests, swamps, and small lakes.

The Great Migration Dynamics

This "Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth" involves up to 1.3 million wildebeest, 400,000 zebra, and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle covering a 600-mile (1,000 km) circuit. It follows a "rainfall gradient," moving from lower rainfall in the southeast (short-grass plains) to higher rainfall in the northwest. The migration moves south toward Ngorongoro when the short rains begin (October/November) and moves northwest toward permanent water in April or May once the plains dry out.

Seasonal Concentrations and Calving

From December to April, herds concentrate on the treeless short-grass plains of the southeastern Serengeti and western Ngorongoro near Lake Ndutu. The wildebeest rut occurs over three weeks in late April, May, or June. After an 8.5-month gestation, 90% of pregnant cows give birth within a six-week window in late January and February. Zebra calving is spread over most of the year, with a higher rate from December through March.

The Three Migration Splits (June)

By June, the migration progresses west of Seronera and splits into three:
1. West through the corridor toward Lake Victoria before heading northeast.
2. Due north, reaching the Maasai Mara in July.
3. Northward between the other two to a region west of Lobo Lodge, where the group disperses. From July through October, the highest concentration is in the extreme north, returning south in late October.

The Seronera Valley and Central Plains

The Seronera Valley is located in the center of the park, characterized by large umbrella thorn trees. The area is famous for lion and leopard, along with hyena, jackal, topi, Maasai giraffe, and Thomson's gazelle. The region to the east was a restricted cheetah conservation area; it now has the highest concentration of lion in the park, often found on the rock kopjes. Further south, the plains change to medium and long-grass around Simba Kopjes north of Naabi Hill Gate. Topi, elephant, bat-eared fox, and warthog are often seen here, alongside two saline lakes, Lake Masek and Lake Lagaja, known for flamingos.

The Northern Frontier: Lobo and the Mara

Banagi Hill, 11 miles north of Seronera, is good for giraffe, buffalo, and impala, with a hippo pool on the Orangi River. From Banagi to Lobo and Bologonja Gate, you find rolling uplands, woodlands, and magnificent kopjes—the best area to see elephant. Forests of mahogany and fig trees house kingfishers, fish eagles, and turacos. The extreme north offers spectacular viewing from July to October, with tens of thousands of animals gathering to cross the Mara River. The Lemai Wedge is a special, uncrowded area of acacia forest and large plains bordering Kenya.

The Western Corridor: Giants of the Grumeti

The Western Corridor road passes over the Grumeti River. For the migration, it is best in June, July, and late October to December. It features extensive black cotton soil, which makes rainy season travel difficult. The area is known for massive crocodiles reaching 20 feet (6 m) and colobus monkeys in riverine areas. Granite kopjes here are home to rock hyrax, Kirk’s dik-dik, and klipspringer.

Wildlife & Birdlife Highlights

Unique Experiences and Logistics

Balloon Safaris: Flights last about an hour, flying from yards above the ground to over 1,000 feet, followed by a champagne breakfast. Launch sites are in the south, center, north, and Western Corridor.
Travel Rules: Travel is allowed from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Visitors can get out of vehicles in open areas if no animals are present, but must stay close and keep a lookout. Night drives are not allowed.
Flights: Scheduled charter flights run between the northern Serengeti and Maasai Mara (via Tarime and Migori) in high season.

Luxury Accommodation Guide