Serengeti National Park Guide
Serengeti National Park covers about 14,750 square kilometres of northern Tanzania, bordering Kenya’s Maasai Mara. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the heart of an ecosystem that supports the largest land migration on earth. The name comes from the Maasai word for “endless plains”.
Serengeti National Park covers about 14,750 square kilometres of northern Tanzania, bordering Kenya’s Maasai Mara. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the heart of an ecosystem that supports the largest land migration on earth. The name comes from the Maasai word for “endless plains”.
This guide covers where the park is, what lives there, how it is organised, when to go and what a visit involves. For ready-to-book trips see our Serengeti safari page.
Where is the Serengeti and how big is it?
The park lies in northwestern Tanzania, between Lake Victoria and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. At roughly 14,750 square kilometres, it is larger than Northern Ireland or Connecticut. Its landscape changes from the short-grass southern plains to the acacia savannah of the centre and the hills and woodland of the north.
Wildlife of the Serengeti
The Serengeti has all of the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and black rhinos, though rhinos are rare and live in the kopjes. Lions are common, and cheetahs hunt the open plains. Giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, jackals, warthogs and more than 500 bird species live in the park. The famous migration brings about 1.5 million wildebeest along with zebras and gazelles.
Seasons in the Serengeti
Dry season: June to October
The best time for viewing resident wildlife. Animals gather at rivers, the grass is short and the roads are good. Mara River crossings in the north.
Short rains: November and December
Green and quiet, with the herds moving south, and good prices.
January to March
Warm, with the calving season on the southern plains and good predator action.
Long rains: April and May
The wettest period, with fewer visitors, lower prices and green landscapes.
Getting around and rules
You explore in a 4x4 safari vehicle with a licensed guide. Off-road driving is not allowed, and you must stay in the vehicle except at designated places. Entry is by gate, with Naabi Hill, Ndabaka, Klein’s and Lobo gates being the main ones. Walking safaris are limited to selected areas with an armed ranger.
Planning your visit
Allow at least three days to see the park well. Choose your area by season, book camps early and consider a balloon flight over the plains. Our private safari page explains how we plan trips, and our best time guide has monthly detail.
The history of the Serengeti
The Serengeti has been a protected area since the 1920s and a national park since 1951. UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site in 1981 and it is also a Biosphere Reserve. Researchers have studied its wildlife for over sixty years, and its ecosystem is among the best understood in Africa. The park is managed by Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), and surrounding areas such as Ngorongoro, Maswa and Grumeti form a larger ecosystem.
Birds and smaller animals
More than 500 species of birds have been recorded in the Serengeti, from the ostrich and the secretary bird to the lilac-breasted roller and the African fish eagle. The kopjes shelter rock hyraxes and dwarf mongooses, and the rivers have crocodiles and hippos. Keen bird watchers should ask us for a guide with an ear for bird calls.
Accommodation types
In the park you choose between public campsites, lodges, permanent tented camps and mobile camps that move with the migration. Luxury lodges and small camps are spread across the regions. We pick the area first and the property second, because a camp in the right place saves hours of driving each day.
Visit the Serengeti with us
- 5 Day Shared Group Camping Safari (5 Days, from USD 1,250 per person) Five days on the Northern Circuit with public-campsite nights: Tarangire, two nights in the Serengeti, a crater-rim night at Simba, then Ngorongoro Crater befor
- 3 Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Joining Safari (3 Days, from USD 750 per person) A short joining safari for travellers who want Serengeti and Ngorongoro without a private vehicle. Two nights in the Serengeti, a full day on the plains, then t
- 7 Day Northern Tanzania Midrange Safari (7 Days / 6 Nights, from USD 2,800 per person) The classic Northern Circuit in 7 days: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, two nights in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, staying in mid range lodges and tented c
- 7 Day Northern Circuit Luxury Tanzania Safari: Drive to Serengeti & Fly Out (7 Days / 6 Nights, from USD 5,300 per person) A private 7 day luxury Northern Circuit safari: drive through Tarangire, Manyara and Ngorongoro to the Serengeti, then fly out from Seronera Airstrip.
- 6 Day Northern Tanzania Midrange Safari to Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara (6 Days / 5 Nights, from USD 2,300 per person) A private 6 day midrange safari through Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater in a 4×4 jeep with pop-up roof.
- 6 Day Tanzania Budget Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro (6 Days / 5 Nights, from USD 2,800 per person) A 6 day budget camping safari to Tarangire, two days in the Serengeti and a Ngorongoro Crater game drive.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Serengeti National Park?
About 14,750 square kilometres.
Where are the Serengeti gates?
The main gates include Naabi Hill (the southern entrance from Ngorongoro), Ndabaka (the western gate), Klein’s in the north and Lobo in the northeast.
Can you see the Big Five in the Serengeti?
Yes, though black rhinos are rare and hard to find. Lions, elephants, buffalo and leopards are seen regularly.
What is the best month to visit?
June to October for the dry-season wildlife, and January to March for calving season.
How do I get to the Serengeti?
By road from Arusha in about eight hours, or by a scheduled or chartered flight to a park airstrip.
Who manages the Serengeti?
Tanzania National Parks manages the national park, together with partners and neighbouring conservation areas.