Serengeti National Park | Tanzania Safari

The ultimate big name safari! Find out more about the different regions of the park, hot air balloon safaris, the Great Migration, and packing and travel tips.

Famous Safaris: Serengeti National Park

In the world of big name safaris, Serengeti National Park must be one of the most famous of them all. The Great Migration, serene balloon safaris, dramatic river crossings, and game drives through exquisite plains of the Serengeti are known to most of us through safari media and wildlife documentaries. This national park is the poster child for safari. In many ways, its fame has shaped the very idea of safari.

Spanning nearly 15 000 square kilometres, the Serengeti is a World Heritage Site and spectacular natural wonder. It is home to millions of wildebeest, which move with the seasons in a great current of animals. There is an abundance of wildlife around them, with scenes of tranquillity and drama playing out everyday on the expansive flat plains and among the kopjes of this incredible park.

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Wildebeest Migration, Serengeti National Park - by The Safari Store

Planning a safari to one of the top wildlife destinations in the world? Start here.

Serengeti National Park’s fame makes it a popular destination for both first-time safari-goers and bucket list seeking safari-lovers. There is a wide range of accommodation options available – from high-end opulence to package tours, ground camping and mobile options, and self-drive spots. It is at the top of the list for any Tanzania safari.

The Serengeti gets its name from the Maasai, who called it ‘siringit’ or the land of endless plains – ‘the place where the land runs on forever’. It is a place that throbs with varying landscapes and ecosystems. What a lovely thought: the idea that this wild place has forever, endlessness, infinity stitched into its meaning. And there is certainly an agelessness to the place when one considers that sections of this preserved area rest on volcanic rock and ash in a place close to where hominid remains whisper about our origins millions of years ago. It is a wonder in every respect.

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Serengeti National Park, Tanzania - by The Safari Store

Aerial View of Great Migration, Serengeti National Park - by The Safari Store

Northern Serengeti

The Northern Serengeti borders with the Masai Mara in Kenya and is a drawcard for the drama of its Mara River crossings when the Great Migration heads to this area in September and October. The Northern Serengeti is comparatively remote. While the Kogatenda air strip buzzes with activity and there can be some traffic when crossings are taking place, this area is far quieter than the central and southern parts of the park. We also proved that, if you are willing to pull yourself from the river, the reward is the incredible chance to explore vast tracts of the park in almost complete isolation.

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Lions, Northern Serengeti National Park - by The Safari Store

Central Serengeti: Seronera and Grumeti

The Central Serengeti – and specifically the Seronera Valley – is the most popular part of the park. The Great Migration moves through this region between April and June, but the area is renowned for game viewing all year round. It is an area famous for predator sightings. The Seronera River flows throughout the year and many game drive circuits will almost certainly include trailing the river in search of thirsty cats.

There is a wealth of landscapes to explore in the central region, including beautiful kopjes that are often shelter to sleeping lions. ‘If you want to see lions, go to the rocks,’ we were told – and we were so richly rewarded! The Maasai kopjes in the Seronera area are also remarkable natural features dotted throughout vast plains. This is the place to look for cheetah on termite mounds, with the luxury of being able to watch them until they disappear into the horizon.

We also spent one night under canvas overlooking the Grumeti – an extension of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem in the remote western part of the park. This quiet corner of the park is relatively exclusive, with equally excellent game-viewing opportunities, including the drama of Grumeti River crossings of the Great Migration.

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Buffalo, Central Serengeti National Park, Seronera - by The Safari Store

Southern Serengeti and Ndutu

From late December to early April, the Great Migration tends to be in the southern Serengeti for calving season. This marks the peak of activity in this perennially wildlife-rich part of the national park. This area extends into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and connects the Serengeti with the Ngorongoro Crater, via the buttes and canyons of Oldupai (Olduvai) Gorge – a site of paleoanthropological importance that connects us to the origins of man.

Standing at the gate at Naabi Hill, the view is of the most outstanding flatness. We watched game viewers head into the distance as tiny puffs of dust. Beyond the gate and in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the flatness was replaced with undulating panoramas and Maasai villages led the way to the Ngorongoro Crater via exquisite pastoral scenes and incredible landscape.

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Southern Serengeti National Park, Ndutu - by The Safari Store

The Great Migration

The movement of more than two million wildebeest, zebra, and antelope across the Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara is one of the world’s great natural spectacles. The high drama of continuous cycle of life and death follows the course of these animals as they move with the rains on a route of up to 1000 kilometres per animal until they return to the original areas for the next calving season. Dramatic river crossings, incredible predator interactions, and the sheer awe of wildlife in such vast numbers make the Great Migration high on the list of experiences for any wildlife-lover.

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Great Migration, Serengeti National Park - by The Safari Store

Serengeti Hot Air Balloon Safari

At The Safari Store, we passionately encourage our clients to experience Africa in as many ways as possible. A hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti is a truly astounding experience. Floating above the herds in one of the most famous safari destinations in the world adds yet another dimension to the magic of the Serengeti.

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Serengeti Balloon Safari - by The Safari Store

What To Pack For Serengeti National Park

Whether you are visiting the Serengeti as part of a Tanzania and East African bush and beach adventure or are exclusively visiting the different areas of the park, what you put in your suitcase makes a difference to your experience. Get expert advice on what to pack for your Serengeti and East African safari and customise your safari packing list with our online packing list tool.

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What to Wear on a Safari to Serengeti National Park - by The Safari Store

Serengeti National Park Quick Safari Travel Tips

What to know before you go. Get quick travel tips and answers to frequently asked questions about Serenget National Park and its different regions.

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Travel to Serengeti National Park, Tanzania - by The Safari Store

Mara River, Serengeti National Park aerial - by The Safari Store

Preparing For Your Tanzania Safari. Travel Tips and Packing Advice For Serengeti National Park

Get destination inspiration with our stories. Serengeti Balloon Safari | The Great Wildebeest Migration | Serengeti National Park Overview | Southern Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Ndutu, and Olduvai | Central Serengeti, Seronera, and Grumeti | Northern Serengeti, Kogatende, and the Mara River | Quick Travel Tips For Serengeti National Park | What To Pack For a Serengeti Safari and get your comprehensive safari packing list here.

A Quick Travel Guide to Ngorongoro Crater

Balloon Safari: Serengeti from the Air