The Luxury Serengeti Safaris (Things to Do & Why Visit?)

The Luxury Serengeti Safaris (Things to Do & Why visit the Serengeti?). Travellers visiting East Africa go to the Serengeti to witness the Wildebeest Migration, an event that no nature lover should miss. There is something fresh to see and do in the Serengeti every time you go, whether you’re a seasoned traveler or this is your first safari.

Honeymoons, engagements, and birthdays are just a few of the memorable occasions that inspire many people to book a safari in the Serengeti. You can also combine a safari with a beach vacation on one of the surrounding tropical islands in the Indian Ocean, such as Zanzibar, Mauritius, or the Seychelles.

There is a wide variety of Serengeti safaris available to suit the needs of any tourist, so you may fit as many animal experiences as you can into your vacation. While some itineraries incorporate visits to the Serengeti within broader itineraries, others devote their whole attention to the park and its inhabitants. Safaris to the Serengeti are more economical when booked in advance, and many of these itineraries also stop at the neighbouring Ngorongoro Crater or the Masai Mara in Kenya.

Get in contact with one of our Africa Safari Experts or peruse our suggested Serengeti safari ideas below for assistance in creating a personalised Serengeti itinerary that fits your needs and budget:

Recommended Serengeti Tours & Safari Holidays

Serengeti Safaris

From the Wildebeest Migration to Year-round Game Viewing

Serengeti National Park is the crown jewel of Tanzania’s conservation efforts, hosting the Great Wildebeest Migration and housing an unparalleled concentration of species. It is an absolute must-visit for both seasoned safari travellers and those experiencing the park for the first time.

The Serengeti, meaning “the land that moves on forever” in Maa, is a place of breathtaking openness and vastness that transports visitors to another planet. Though it is well-known for being home to millions of wildebeest, the area also supports substantial populations of zebra, buffalo, elephant, giraffe, gazelle, and antelope. Predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs will undoubtedly follow an abundance of plains wildlife.

Some of our favourite things about a Serengeti safari include seeing the wildebeest migration and the amazing wildlife you may see at any time of year:

1. Witness the Annual Wildebeest Migration

One of the few remaining major terrestrial animal migrations, the Great Wildebeest Migration is the primary attraction for many wildlife enthusiasts to the Serengeti, particularly during the middle of the year. Seeing massive herds of cattle graze across the plains is an emotional experience like no other. One of the most magnificent natural wonders, indeed! Predators such as Africa’s big cats and the infamously large crocodiles that wait at river crossing places pose constant threats to the herds as they migrate from one area to another.

  • Mobile camps move regularly to stay as close to the herds as possible.
  • Some accommodations offer easy access to river crossing points.
  • Calving season (February to March) delivers plenty of bittersweet predator action.

2. Excellent Year-round Game Viewing

The Serengeti is home to an abundance of wildlife year-round, making it an ideal location for a breathtaking safari. Not all antelope, wildebeest, or zebra herds migrate to new pastures, and no predators accompany the herds either. Because of the mild climate, expansive meadows, and broad plains, it is almost never too rainy to go on a walk, and the flora is seldom too dense to see animals.

  • Safari high season (about July to October) delivers unbeatable game viewing – the Serengeti is one of the best places to observe lions in the wild.
  • The low or Green Season (about November to March) is much quieter and calmer, giving you much more space and time to absorb the beauty of the rain-replenished landscape.
  • The dramatic Migration river crossings run from about May to August.

3. A Safari for Every Traveller

For many people visiting East Africa for the first time, seeing the Serengeti is an absolute must. Even for people who have been to Africa multiple times, the safari destination is perfect because of the amazing variety of animals and the luxurious lodgings. Africa is a fantastic destination for honeymoons, with private and romantic camps providing unforgettable experiences, and family-friendly lodges providing exciting safari activities suited to children of all ages. To cater to guests with specific dietary needs, an increasing number of lodges are now providing vegetarian and vegan options. Mountain biking, horseback riding, and archery are a some of the additional safari activities that many lodges are starting to offer.

Where to Go in the Serengeti

The Best Safari Areas in the Serengeti

At approximately 15 000 square kilometres (5 790 square miles), the Serengeti is a huge park with numerous sections that each offer a different wildlife viewing experience. You will need to choose carefully where and when to go on a safari in the Serengeti, especially if you want to observe the annual Wildebeest Migration. Seasons, water availability, and new grassland areas determine where the herds congregate as they make their way clockwise around the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, which is about the size of South Carolina.

1. Southern Serengeti

The Serengeti National Park’s most accessible section, with its characteristic rolling grassy plains and tree-studded landscape, can grow quite crowded during the peak season (about July to October).

In the southern Serengeti, massive herds of gazelle, wildebeest, and zebras come to graze on new grass and give birth between the months of November and March. Hunting easy prey is a priority for predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs.

2. Central Serengeti

There is a wide variety of safari camps and lodges located in the Serengeti National Park’s central region, which offers excellent game viewing all year round. Because of the abundance of plains game, leopard, cheetah, and lion, as well as the excellent access to all of the migration hubs, this location is ideal for wildlife viewing.

It is one of the Serengeti’s most diverse ecosystems, thanks to the Seronera River Valley, which serves as a natural border between the southern grasslands and the northern wooded hills. Here you can frequently see lions, cheetahs, and leopards.

3. Eastern Serengeti

The Eastern Serengeti is a favourite rest stop for many people during the Wildebeest Migration, which occurs between February and March. The region is known for its different habitats and rich species. You should expect better big animal sightings, particularly cheetah, and less tourists in this area compared to the rest of the park.

4. Western Serengeti

Huge hippos and Nile crocodiles call the Grumeti River, which cuts through the western Serengeti Corridor, home. In the months of May and June, wildebeest caravans begin to gather along the Grumeti River in preparation for the most dangerous part of the migration: crossing the river.

Seeing the courageous wildebeest caught by ravenous crocodiles is one of the most exciting (and tragic) natural phenomena one may see.

5. Grumeti Reserves

We suggest the privately owned Grumeti Reserve if you want excellent year-round game viewing together with upscale lodging away from the crowds. It provides you with front-row seats to all the excitement since it is situated precisely on the line of the Wildebeest Migration and borders the western Serengeti. There aren’t many safari camps or hotels in this peaceful reserve, but there are many of plains animals and predators including lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, and crocodiles.

The Grumeti region is also a fantastic place to go birdwatching, with over 400 species documented. You can see colobus monkeys in its riverine woodland. Additionally, because Grumeti is a private reserve, guests staying at the lodges there are permitted to participate in nighttime game drives and guided nature walks, which are not often permitted in the Serengeti National Park.

6. Northern Serengeti

The park’s northern region, which is less populated than the rest of the Serengeti, is distinguished by lush, undulating hills and densely forested granite outcrops, or kopjes. In addition to providing excellent year-round wildlife watching, the area prepares for the July or August Wildebeest Migration crossings of the Mara River.

Tens of thousands of animals leap into the river in a frantic attempt to cross before massive crocodiles attack them, resulting in dramatic scenes. To ensure ringside seats, book your accommodations well in advance. It’s also a terrific spot to observe elephants and giraffes, and a hot-air balloon safari is a great way to get a bird’s-eye perspective of the wildebeest herds.

The Best Time to Visit the Serengeti

When is the Best Time to Go to the Serengeti?

January through February or June through October are the ideal times of year to explore the Serengeti. But regardless of the season, the Serengeti’s abundance of wildlife makes for an amazing safari experience. The two brief rainy seasons in the area, which occur from November to December and March to April, are rarely too unpleasant, and the park’s broad plains and temperate climate ensure that the flora is never too dense to observe wildlife.

Month by Month Guide for Travelling to the Serengeti:

Visiting the Serengeti from January to March

In January, you can see more wildlife than any other month, the dust is at its lowest, and the Serengeti’s undulating plains are a verdant shade of green. During this time, many visitors flock to the Ndutu Plains, a region known for its verdant vegetation and abundance of resident animals (including elephants, giraffes, and antelopes) that remain throughout the year.

February is the perfect time to go on a safari in the Serengeti since that’s when the wildebeests give birth to their offspring. You may see hundreds of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles as they make their yearly migration through Serengeti National Park.

The ‘long rains’ start in March, signalling the end of the green season. During the Serengeti’s low season, fewer safari goers descend into the plains and the migratory herds start making their way westward from the southern Ndutu region. March is when you may get the greatest deals on Serengeti accommodations, but the humidity is at its worst.

Travelling to the Serengeti from April to June

Due mostly to the high heat and rainy season in April, the Serengeti begins to experience a decline in tourist numbers around this time. Although it’s not the most popular season to visit the Serengeti, it might be perfect for exploring the park’s less visited areas.

While the Serengeti camps and lodges are rather quiet in May, there is extremely severe rains during the month. Unless you want to go on a safari to see the Great Migration in action, now is not the time to go to the Serengeti.

If you want to visit the Serengeti before the prime safari season begins, June is the month to go. That’s when the popular dry season begins. The Great Migration begins its northward trek at this time, and the weather is dry with a remote possibility of afternoon thunderstorms.

Visiting the Serengeti from July to September

From July to September, a large number of tourists travel to the Serengeti to see the Great Migration. During these months, river crossings are a spectacle; frequently, herds experience panic as crocodiles that are ready to pounce try to catch them as they cross. During this time of year, the Serengeti National Park has more safari vehicles than at any other time.

The spectacular river crossings from the northern Serengeti into the Masai Mara are usually best seen in August, which is peak season. Because the herds are easy to identify and there are many of predators about, this is the ideal time of year to visit the Serengeti for abundant wildlife encounters. You may even catch a glimpse of some of Africa’s largest cats hunting!

Since the herds of animals cross the Mara River in smaller groups, September is still a very busy month for tourists visiting the Serengeti National Park, particularly around the Kenyan and Tanzanian borders. September is a quieter month in the park’s southern sections.

Travelling to the Serengeti from October to December

Even though the Serengeti grasslands are mostly dry by October, the dry season is almost over. Even though the herds of the Wildebeest Migration have arrived in Kenya, the Serengeti National Park continues to offer breathtaking wildlife viewing.

In the Serengeti National Park, the “short rains” arrive in November, signalling the beginning of a calmer, lower season. The southern regions get new pastures to graze on after the rains, and now is a great time to take advantage of the reduced rates.

The landscape shifts from dry, dusty plains to rolling meadows as the rains persist. In December, the Serengeti hosts the continuation of the Great Migration traker. In order to get ready for mating season, the herds migrate to the southern plains of the Ndutu region. As we approach the rainiest part of summer, the mercury and humidity levels start to climb. You should book your accommodation ahead of time during the holiday season because it might get very busy.

Serengeti Travel Advice

Tips for Planning Your Serengeti Safari

  1. Be very precise with your scheduling if you would like to witness the Wildebeest Migration‘s river crossings during your safari.
  2. In order to secure a seat at one of the most popular viewing areas for the Wildebeest Migration, it is recommended to make your reservation at least one year in advance.
  3. Morning and afternoon wildlife drives are the norm, but some lodges also provide hot-air balloon safaris, so you can really customise your experience. Certain places do not permit activities such as guided bush walks or night wildlife drives.
  4. Although the Serengeti as a whole remains mostly desert throughout the year, the months of May through August see an influx of tourists eager to see the Wildebeest Migration’s highlights, including as the crossings of the Mara and Grumeti rivers. Get away from the throng and experience the mega-herds of the Migration by going during the low or Green Season, which is around November to March.
  5. If you’re looking for a more intimate experience in the Serengeti, one option is to visit one of the reserves. As with the main park, the lodging is first-rate, and guests have the option to partake in additional safari activities (see to point 3).

Flights & Getting Around

Several national parks, including Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and Arusha, may be reached from that airport. Although it is situated outside of Arusha itself, getting there requires a diversion via Kilimanjaro International Airport, which is around 50 km (31 miles) distant. From the Masai Mara, Lake Manyara, Arusha, or Kilimanjaro, visitors can reach one of the numerous airstrips scattered across Serengeti National Park.

Note: The Serengeti is best reached via charter flight the following morning after an overnight stay in Arusha, as foreign planes frequently land at Kilimanjaro foreign Airport late at night.

Safari Vehicles

Due to the large road networks in most Tanzanian safari areas, closed vehicles are typically used for long-distance transports between airstrips, camps, and hotels. It is common for closed 4×4 game drive vehicles to have three rows of seats and to have a roof hatch that can be raised to watch the animals and take pictures.

Common open-sided 4x4s seen on game drives in the Serengeti and its private regions have canvas roofs and retractable window flaps.