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Serengeti National Park

Where two million wildebeest redraw the map of Africa every year.

14,763 km²
Park Area
1951
Established
UNESCO
World Heritage
Big 5
All Present

About Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti is not the largest national park in Tanzania, but it is the one that changed how the world thinks about African wildlife. Fourteen thousand square kilometres of open savanna, acacia woodland, and riverine forest support the densest concentration of large predators on the continent. Three thousand lions. A thousand leopards. Cheetah hunting across plains so flat you can watch the chase from start to finish. What defines the Serengeti is movement. The Great Migration — roughly two million wildebeest, half a million zebra, and hundreds of thousands of gazelle — follows a continuous, clockwise loop through the ecosystem. There is no start point and no finish. The herds are always somewhere in the Serengeti, and the predators follow. This single ecological event supports the largest concentration of predator-prey interactions anywhere on earth. For visitors, the Serengeti delivers consistently across all twelve months. The southern plains host the calving season from January to March. The western corridor sees river crossings from June. The northern Serengeti — the dramatic Mara River crossings — peaks from July through September. In my experience, the question is not whether the Serengeti is worth visiting. The question is which part, and when.

Quick Facts

LocationNorthern Tanzania
Size14,763 km²
Altitude920–1,850m
Established1951
UNESCO StatusWorld Heritage
Nearest CityArusha (335km)
Nearest AirstripSeronera & Kogatende

Serengeti Wildlife

The densest concentration of large predators in Africa, alongside the world's greatest terrestrial migration.

African Lion

The Serengeti supports approximately 3,000 lions. This represents the largest population of any park in Africa. Prides are resident year-round in the Seronera valley, and predator action intensifies around the calving herds from January to March.

High LikelihoodFind out more

African Elephant

Between 8,000 and 10,000 elephants move through the Serengeti ecosystem. Herds concentrate near the Grumeti and Mara rivers during the dry season, often in family groups of twenty or more.

High LikelihoodFind out more

Wildebeest

Two million wildebeest drive the Great Migration — the largest movement of land mammals on earth. Calving peaks in February on the southern plains. River crossings run from June through October.

High LikelihoodFind out more

Leopard

An estimated 1,000 leopards inhabit the Serengeti, favouring the kopje-studded central plains and riverine woodland. The Seronera valley is one of the most reliable places in Africa to spot leopard in daylight.

Medium LikelihoodFind out more

Black Rhinoceros

Around 160 black rhinos survive in protected zones within the Serengeti. Sightings are uncommon but possible in the Moru kopjes area, where dedicated anti-poaching units guard the population.

Rare SightingFind out more

Cheetah

The open short-grass plains of the southern and central Serengeti are textbook cheetah habitat. Hunts play out across flat, unobstructed terrain. The viewing opportunities rank among the best anywhere in East Africa.

Medium LikelihoodFind out more

Hippopotamus

The Grumeti and Mara rivers support large hippo populations. Pods are easily viewed at established pools, and their presence adds a layer of drama during wildebeest river crossings.

High LikelihoodFind out more

African Buffalo

Roughly 50,000 buffalo roam the Serengeti in herds that can number several hundred. They favour the wetter grasslands and woodland edges, often found near water sources during the dry months.

High LikelihoodFind out more

When to Visit The Serengeti

Click on a month to explore weather, wildlife events, and what to expect

Peak Season
Shoulder Season
Rainy Season

January

Peak Season
28°C
Avg. High
50mm
Rainfall
Med
Crowd Level

What to Expect

The southern plains come alive. Over 500,000 wildebeest calves are born between January and March, with peak births averaging 8,000 per day in February. Predator activity around the calving herds is relentless; lions, cheetahs, and hyenas shadow the newborns. Warm days with occasional short showers. The Ndutu area is the place to be.

Wildlife Highlights

  • Wildebeest calving season in the southern plains
  • High predator activity around calving herds
  • Excellent birdwatching — migratory species present

Legend's Tip

Book accommodation in the southern Serengeti or Ndutu for front-row seats. Morning drives are best — predators hunt at dawn.

Things to Do in The Serengeti

From dawn game drives to sunrise balloon flights, how to experience the Serengeti.

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Game Drives

The core Serengeti experience. Morning and late-afternoon drives with Legend guides cover the park's prime zones — from the predator-rich Seronera valley to wherever the migration is moving. Full-day drives with bush lunch are available for serious wildlife enthusiasts.

3–6 hrsAll ages

Walking Safaris

Guided bush walks with armed rangers in designated areas. A completely different perspective — you notice tracks, dung beetles, birdsong, the things a vehicle drives past. Best in the western corridor and northern Serengeti.

2–4 hrs16+

Balloon Safaris

A hot-air balloon lifts off at dawn, drifting silently over the plains as the sun rises. Below, herds move through golden light. The flight ends with a champagne breakfast in the bush. One of those mornings that stays with you.

3 hrs7+

Cultural Visits

Meet Maasai communities on the Serengeti's eastern boundary. Learn traditional cattle-herding practices, see how bomas are constructed, and understand how pastoralism coexists with conservation. Visits directly support community income.

2–3 hrsAll ages

Photography Safaris

Dedicated photography vehicles positioned for optimal light and composition. Legend guides understand animal behaviour — they know where to be before the action unfolds. Beanbag supports and roof hatches for stable shooting.

Full dayAll ages
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Plan Your Visit to The Serengeti

Everything you need to know before you go

Getting There
What to Pack
Health & Safety

By Air

Most visitors fly to Seronera Airstrip from Arusha on a light aircraft. The flight takes roughly 90 minutes. Seasonal airstrips at Grumeti, Lobo, and Kogatende serve the western corridor and northern Serengeti. Daily flights during peak season.

By Road

The drive from Arusha is 335 km and takes six to seven hours. You enter through the Naabi Hill gate in the south. The route passes through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which is worth seeing anyway. Road quality is mixed: tarmac to Karatu, then gravel and dirt.

Via Legend Expeditions

We handle everything. Airport collection from Kilimanjaro International or Arusha, inter-park transfers in our own vehicles, or domestic flights booked and confirmed before you arrive. No guesswork.

Combining Parks

The Serengeti works naturally with Ngorongoro (three hours south). It fits well as the final leg of a northern circuit starting from Tarangire and Lake Manyara. A seven-day northern circuit covers all four parks without rushing. We also like clients to either fly in or fly out to minimise driving time.

Serengeti Lodges

A good safari camp does more than shelter you. It positions you. The right lodge puts you on the migration route, beside the river, or deep in predator country when it counts. At Legend we believe exceptional safari accommodation doesn't have to come with an exceptional price tag. We specialise in finding camps and lodges that deliver outstanding quality and location without the luxury markup, so more of your budget goes on time in the field, not thread counts. These are the properties we recommend across our Tanzania safaris, chosen for where they sit, what they deliver, and the kind of experience that stays with you long after you get home.

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Luxury

Conserve Safari Lodge - Serengeti

Positioned on the edge of the Ikoma corridor in the western Serengeti, Conserve Safari offers elevated luxury tents with private verandas overlooking open plains where elephants and buffalo move freely. A committed conservation ethos runs through everything here. From solar-powered facilities to community partnerships that make every stay count beyond the camp boundary.

Mid-Range

Mawe Gnu Migration Camp

Set in the northern Serengeti's Kogatende area, just minutes from the Mara River, Gnu Migration Camp by Mawe Lodges puts you at the centre of the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth from June through November. Eight intimate tents with en-suite facilities and a riverside bar mean you can watch wildebeest crossings from camp before the rest of the world wakes up.

Luxury

Mara Under Canvas

One of the most strategically positioned camps in the northern Serengeti, Mara Under Canvas sits within striking distance of the Mara River where the Great Migration reaches its dramatic peak between June and November. Ten spacious tents, solar power, and a fuss-free philosophy put the focus firmly where it belongs, on the wildlife beyond the canvas walls.

Budget

Serengeti Kati Kati Camp

A mobile camp at the heart of the Serengeti plains, Kati Kati moves with the seasons to keep guests in the thick of the action year-round. Solar-powered, low-impact, and authentically wild. This is the Tanganyika Wilderness Camps philosophy distilled into ten canvas tents tucked into the acacia treeline.

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Plan Your Safari

Ready to See the Serengeti

Every Legend itinerary is built from scratch. Tell us when you want to travel, what matters most, and we handle the rest. No templates, no group tours.

320+
Safaris Led
5/5
TripAdvisor
24hr
Response Time

Request a Custom Itinerary

Tell us your dates and interests. We build it from there.

Speak to Jack Directly

Have questions? Book a quick call with no pressure.

Message on WhatsApp

Quick answers, travel advice, or just say hello.

Plan Your Safari

Ready to See the Serengeti

Every Legend itinerary is built from scratch. Tell us when you want to travel, what matters most, and we handle the rest. No templates, no group tours.

320+
Safaris Led
5/5
TripAdvisor
24hr
Response Time

Request a Custom Itinerary

Tell us your dates and interests. We build it from there.

Speak to Jack Directly

Have questions? Book a quick call with no pressure.

Message on WhatsApp

Quick answers, travel advice, or just say hello.

Explore More Parks

Other northern circuit destinations that pair perfectly with this park

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National Park

Ngorongoro

Learn More
National Park

Tarangire

Learn More
National Park

Lake Manyara

Learn More
National Park

Arusha

Learn More
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