Discover the wonders of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, renowned for wildlife viewing, including the wildebeest migration. The park's four sectors (North, West, East, and South) offer exceptional game drives. Stay in luxurious safari camps and lodges like Four Seasons Safari Lodge and Serena Safari Lodge to fully appreciate this ecosystem.
A visit to Serengeti and the nearby Ngorongoro Conservation Area, home to the famous Ngorongoro Crater, is essential for a complete Tanzania safari experience. Contact us directly or choose one of these recommended tour operators to plan your dream Serengeti safari tour and enjoy the best rates for your holiday adventure.
The Tanzania Safari Serengeti offers is unique. Below are some of our most popular Serengeti National Park safari tours, vacations and adventure holidays.
There is nothing as interesting as the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, a sanctuary for wildlife such as fauna (animal species like zebras, buffaloes, elephants, leopards, lions that take a nap on the Kopjes, the exposed granite protrusions in this national park, as well as zebras and antelopes).
Serengeti Video
Flora (this is the green cover like trees and grass, which act as shelter and food for the herbivores).
These two function together; the animals need oxygen, which plants provide, and plants get carbon dioxide from animals, with each being of great importance to the other.
History of Serengeti
The Australopithecus afarensis were the early inhabitants of the Serengeti land who lived there for almost four million years. However, they were later displaced.
Now, the occupants of the part of the land are the Masai people who strongly believe in their culture and worship Engai, a god referred to as the giver of all cattle, the creator of everything on earth, the sustainer, and a parent.
The Chaggas, a Bantu-speaking group, also occupy this region, using Swahili as their means of communication, which is Tanzania’s national language used in all institutions, with English just learned as a subsidiary.
The Serengeti National Park was formed in 1930 (as a game reserve) with two localities, the eastern and southern Serengeti, where sport hunting was introduced but later stopped to protect some scarce species from extinction.
The park was officially opened in 1951, covering parts of Ngorongoro Highlands. However, it was later split from Serengeti National Park to prevent protests from the Masai people who were complaining about being refused access to graze the land.
The government left the Ngorongoro land for the Masai people and protected Serengeti from their encroachment.
In 1965, the Lamai wedge was created between Mara River and the Kenyan border, which was added to the Serengeti land.
This created a permanent passage for animals from Masai Mara to Serengeti National Park, especially during the dry season when water and pasture are scarce.
Sectors of Serengeti
The Seronera Sector of Serengeti
The park has four regions: the western, central, southern, and northern regions. The northern region is hilly with kopjes and woodlands, while the western part is filled with broken savanna and whistling thorns.
However, when it’s dry, there is a risk of fire due to direct heat from the sun, given the park’s location in a dry area.
During the wet seasons when the vegetation is wet or the animals have consumed all the green cover, such risks are limited.
The southern region is the most visited because it’s where the migration occurs, with animals moving from Serengeti National Park to Masai Mara National Park.
The grassland park lacks trees due to a volcanic eruption that occurred many years ago, creating a rocky surface where roots cannot penetrate the soil.
So, a sizeable amount of grass grows between woods. Types of woodland include Terminalia mollis woodlands, which are in the northwest section, an area that receives at least some rainfall, allowing for proper growth of green vegetation.
Top Things to Do in Serengeti – Safari Activities
A Balloon Safari experience in Seronera, Serengeti
The activities that attract many tourists to this national park include:
Game Drives in Serengeti
The most popular activity done on any African safari. Get into your tour vehicle and set out into the park for a game viewing adventure.
You can drive to the different sectors of Serengeti National Park for a chance to see the animals and birds that call the vast grasslands home.
Be sure to spot the Big 5 animals, wildebeests, giraffes, gazelles, zebras, cheetahs, hippos, hyenas and hundreds of different bird species as you take in the beautiful and serene landscapes of the Serengeti.
Guided Nature Walks
Naabi Hill’s walking trail can be your first walking adventure of the safari grounds of Serengeti if you happen to enter the park from this entrance.
This hill has amazing views of the park.
Guided nature walks are also possible in the Grumeti Game Reserve in the Western region of the Serengeti.
A great chance for birders to spot some of the birds in the Serengeti, the woodlands and the Kopjes.
Hot Air Balloon Safari
Take flight in the hot air balloon over the vast Serengeti National Park.
With a bird’s eye view, you get a chance to see everything you would literally miss out while on ground.
Take to the skies for a chance to see the Great Migration from up above, see rows and rows of wildlife on the move, some prey-predator action while enjoying the sight of the different scenic landscapes of the Serengeti.
The Hot air balloon ride alone is a great adventure that you should put on your list of activities to do while on a safari in Serengeti National Park.
Visit to the Maasai Village
The Serengeti is not only home to wildlife but also to the Masai people of Tanzania.
A visit to one of the Maasai villages will give you a chance to get to know the ways of the Masai people.
They have maintained their values, norms and culture in this ever changing world. Take part in their traditional dance. See how high you can jump.
Charge your batteries, pack your camera and binoculars already, the wilderness awaits.
Camping
Many people adore camping, where families come together in the jungle, creating a tight bond among family members.
During camping in Serengeti, you can set up your own tent or pay for an already set-up tent with bedding.
Anything you choose is fine, but it’s advised not to leave anything outside, as animals may take them, risking the loss of important documents.
If going camping, you should pack the following:
First aid kit
Safari jackets
Drinking water
Long-sleeved shirts
Bird-watching
Photographers who love nature visit from their home countries to take photographs of landscapes, vegetation, fauna, birds, and water bodies.
The flying birds also relax the minds of troubled visitors who sit in the shade and observe birds of different colors.
It’s advised to have enough batteries and filming tapes for those who do documentaries, as well as sunglasses to shield from the direct rays of the sun.
Here are some things you shouldn’t do when near birds:
Do not use silver reflective tapes because they scare away birds.
Don’t eat pepper spices because it irritates the birds.
Making loud noises will make birds fly away from you.
Blessed by mother nature, Serengeti National Park habits the largest and highest concentration of mammals of the African Savannah making its diverse wildlife the main attraction that brings tourists to this vast park.
Once you journey on into the park, you have chances of seeing first of all the most sought after animals on any African safari, the Big Five animals which are; the lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and endangered rhinoceros.
Top that up with millions of wildebeests and other thousands of ungulates; zebras, gazelles, waterbucks, dik-dik, topis, common elands, bushbucks, giraffes, hippos, hundreds of different bird species, primates like colobuses, insects like dung beetles, ants, termites, butterflies, grasshoppers and thousands of predators including the cheetahs, spotted hyenas and Nile crocodiles.
The Great Wildlife Migration in Serengeti
One of the great wonders of the Natural World, the Great Wildebeest Migration is a major attraction of tourists to the Serengeti.
This phenomenal takes place annually with millions of wildebeests, thousands of zebras, hundreds of other hoofed animals like antelopes and gazelles walk on from one sector of the Serengeti to another in search of green fresh grass to graze on and fresh pools of water.
With the predators such as the lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas in sight waiting on a chance to pounce on the young and tired animals.
While the Nile crocodiles wait quietly in the Grumeti River is the Western sector of the Serengeti for when the animals are to encounter one of their big obstacle during the migration, crossing the crocodile infested river.
The Grumeti River
Located in the Western region of Serengeti National Park, the Grumeti River is renowned by the River crossing that takes place during the Great migration of the wildebeests and their companions.
This river possesses a great danger to the hooved animals but nevertheless, they still brave the threat posed by the presence of the large numbers of Nile crocodiles and cross the river to continue their journey. What a sight to see!
The Seronera River Valley
Located in the Central Serengeti region, the Seronera Valley teems with wildlife which is attracted by the Valleys’ river that provides water for the animals throughout the year and also maintains an ever green environment providing food for the herbivores.
Be sure to spot elephants, giraffes, gazelles, wildebeests, zebras, different antelopes on any given day in this Valley.
The presence of so much prey draws in a good population of predators to the area giving you a chance to spot the elusive leopards, lions, cheetahs and spotted hyenas.
The Moru Kopjes
Found in the Central region of Serengeti, the Moru Kopjes are a good place for you to have a chance to spot the rare and endangered Black Rhinos that call the Serengeti home.
The rocks in this area provide shade and hideouts for other animals.
So be sure to also spot the big cats (lions, leopards) and elephants in the area.
The Retina Hippo Pool
Just as the name suggests, you will find large schools of Hippos dipping in this pool.
Occasional fights Ahere and there as they are so many (roughly 200 hippos), they keep fighting for more space.
Found just North of the Seronera Valley in the Central Serengeti region.
Bird-life in Serengeti
The rich and diverse bird-life in Serengeti National Park is another tourist attraction that has attracted bird lovers (birders) to the famous park.
The Serengeti habits over 500 species of birds across its different regions / sectors.
The Maasai People of Serengeti
Aside from the wildlife, the Maasai people also call the Serengeti National Park their home. They have stuck to their traditional norms, values and practices.
Preserving their heritage in this ever changing world. Masai Villages in the Serengeti Park are an attraction worth your visit.
Promote cultural tourism in the Serengeti.
Olduvai Gorge in Ngorongoro
A historical attraction within the plains of Serengeti that is worth your visit. A million years ago, the oldest remains of early man where dug from the Olduvai Gorge.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Home to Ngorongoro Crater)
Although it is outside the Serengeti area, it is a nearby attraction that is a must visit.
Park Entry Fees
Any visitor is permitted to enter this national park after paying a fee of $70 for tourists above the age of 16 years.
Children below five years can enter for free, and children between 5-15 pay $20 per person.
Children (5 and 15 years): Tsh 2,000 (East African Citizens), USD 20 (Non EA Citizens ), USD 10 (Expatriates / TZ Residents)
Children below 5 years: Free
East African Citizens: Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi
Note:
Fees once paid are not refundable
All charges are exclusive of VAT (18%)
Payment can be done through TANAPA Online Reservation and or use Electronic Cards (VISA cards, Master Card)
Always carry your identification with you.
Getting There
The means of transport can be either road or air transport, depending on your comfort.
When traveling, you should book a visa with all the requirements needed for someone traveling.
A tourism visa is given to tourists who are not allowed to work but rather tour the country.
Air transport is the fastest, while road transport is flexible, allowing for many adventures as tourists make stopovers at market centers and take time to interact with the local people.
Best time to go
Most tourists visit the park starting from January to February and from June to October.
However, you can visit the park any month of the year since they are always ready to attend to you with the best services.
National parks don’t belong to one state or section but belong to all people.
So, you are free to come and relish the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
Where to Stay – Accommodation Options
Matawi Serengeti Camp – Photo by Dark-Q Photography
Serengeti National Park boasts elegant, posh, impressive, and fantastic hotels that range from luxury, mid-range, to budget. These include:
Home to Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Mount Kilimanjaro & Zanzibar Islands, Tanzania is a top-rated African safari destination that you should visit at all costs. Serengeti has one of the most population of wild cats; especially lions, cheetahs and leopards. In this same park, you will be able to witness the great annual wildebeest migration; one of the wonders of the world and a highly anticipated African safari activity. There is so much to do in Tanzania and we can show you some of these at the best cost and price. See Tanzania safaris
The Tanzania Safari Serengeti offers is unique. Below are some of our most popular Serengeti National Park safari tours, vacations and adventure holidays.
Your African safari holiday becomes complete when you visit Serengeti National Park in Tanzania for a wildlife tour experience. En-route to Serengeti, you can also visit Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Mount Kilimanjaro and the Ngorongoro Crater. Book your adventure now.
