Serengeti Safari Tours
The Serengeti is the most famous safari destination in the world, and many travellers say it is the finest. Endless plains, granite kopjes, acacia woodland and rivers shelter lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes and over a million wildebeest on their annual migration.
The Serengeti is the most famous safari destination in the world, and many travellers say it is the finest. Endless plains, granite kopjes, acacia woodland and rivers shelter lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes and over a million wildebeest on their annual migration.
Golden Memories Safaris runs Serengeti tours from Arusha by road and by air, with prices from USD 750 per person. Every trip uses a private 4x4, a driver-guide who knows the park and camps in the right area for your month.
How to get to the Serengeti
There are two ways. The road from Arusha passes Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro and takes about eight hours, with a stop at the crater rim, so most itineraries break the journey. The flight from Arusha to a Serengeti airstrip takes about an hour and a half, and your guide meets you on landing. Fly-in itineraries cost more, but they save a day of driving and give you more time in the park.
The regions of the Serengeti
Central Serengeti (Seronera)
The best area for resident wildlife all year, with a high density of lions, leopards and cheetahs. It is the home of the hot air balloon safaris and the best for 2 and 3 day trips.
Southern Serengeti and Ndutu
The calving grounds from January to March, with plains of wildebeest and zebra and the predators that follow them. Quiet outside the season.
Western corridor and the Grumeti
Crocodile-filled rivers and forest, with the migration passing in May to July.
Northern Serengeti (Kogatende)
The Mara River crossings from July to October, and a quieter part of the park with fewer vehicles.
How many days do you need?
Two days in the Serengeti is the minimum we recommend, and three or four days lets you see the park properly. A common plan is a 5 or 7 day safari with two or three nights in the park, followed by a morning in the Ngorongoro Crater. If you want to follow the Great Migration, add a night in a second area. See our 5 day and 7 day safari pages.
Hot air balloon safari
A sunrise balloon flight over the central Serengeti lasts about an hour and ends with a champagne breakfast on the plains. It is a highlight for many guests. The flights run from the Seronera area and need to be booked in advance, because they sell out.
Accommodation in the Serengeti
Choose between public campsites, simple lodges, midrange tented camps and luxury camps, and between permanent properties and seasonal camps that move with the herds. We select camps by location first, because a camp in the right area saves hours of driving each day.
A day on a Serengeti safari
You wake before dawn, with coffee and rusks at the camp, and leave as the sky lightens. The early drive is the best time for predators, and you may find lions on a kill or a leopard in a tree. After a bush breakfast you continue until the heat builds, then rest at camp. The afternoon drive starts around four o’clock, with the golden light that photographers love, and returns at dusk. Dinner is under the stars, with the sounds of hyenas and lions in the dark.
Big cats of the Serengeti
The Serengeti has one of the largest lion populations in Africa, estimated at several thousand animals. Cheetahs hunt on the open plains, and leopards live in the acacia trees along the rivers and among the kopjes. Seronera in the central Serengeti is famous for leopard sightings, and the southern plains are good for cheetahs. Spotted hyenas, jackals and wild dogs complete the picture.
Walking and night activities
Walking and night drives are restricted inside the national park, but they are possible in selected areas on the park’s edges, such as Loliondo and Grumeti. They add a different view of the bush, and we can include them if you are interested. They are not available in every camp, and they need a special licence.
Sustainable safari practice
The Serengeti is protected by park fees, community partnerships and responsible operators. Choose camps that use solar power, recycle water and employ local people. Keep to the tracks, keep a safe distance from animals and follow your guide. Your fees and choices help to protect one of the last great wildernesses.
Serengeti safari packages
- 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.
- 10 Day Great Wildebeest Migration, Cultural & Soda Lake Safari (10 Days / 9 Nights, from USD 3,750 per person) A private 10 day lodge safari: Lake Natron, Northern and Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Eyasi cultures and the Kilimanjaro foothills.
- 5 Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Classic Mid Range Safari (5 Days / 4 Nights, from USD 1,950 per person) A private 5 day mid range safari to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, with a chance to witness the Great Migration in season.
- 4 Day Luxury Tanzania Safari (4 Days / 3 Nights, from USD 3,000 per person) A 4 Day luxury northern-circuit safari: Arusha, a full day in Tarangire, the Serengeti, and a scenic flight back to Arusha, USD 3,000 per person.
- 5 Day Luxury Wildebeest Migration Safari (Serengeti Focus) (5 Days / 4 Nights, from USD 4,500 per person) A 5 Day luxury migration safari from Kilimanjaro Airport: Tarangire, three Serengeti nights, and Ngorongoro Crater, USD 4,500 per person.
- 7 Day Luxury Big Five & Wildebeest Migration Safari (From Arusha) (7 Days / 6 Nights, from USD 5,900 per person) A 7 Day luxury safari from Arusha: Tarangire, three Serengeti nights, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara, USD 5,900 per person.
- 4 Day Luxury Serengeti Hot Air Balloon Safari (2026–2027) (4 Days / 3 Nights, from USD 3,500 per person) A 4 Day luxury Serengeti safari with a sunrise hot air balloon flight, champagne bush breakfast, and Ngorongoro Crater, USD 3,500 per person.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Serengeti safari cost?
Our Serengeti safaris start from USD 750 per person. Prices depend on the length, the style of lodge and the season.
How long is the drive from Arusha to the Serengeti?
About eight hours by road including the Ngorongoro highlands, or about 1.5 hours by plane.
What is the best time for a Serengeti safari?
June to October is the dry season, with the best wildlife viewing. July to October is the Mara River crossing season in the north. January to March is the calving season in the south.
Can I do a Serengeti safari in two days?
Yes, with a flight, which allows two full days in the park.
Do I need to book a balloon safari in advance?
Yes. The flights are limited and often sell out weeks ahead in the high season.
How many days do I need for the Serengeti?
We recommend at least three nights to see the park properly, and four if you want to visit two areas.
Can I go to the Serengeti in the rainy season?
Yes. The green season is quieter and cheaper, with calves in the south in January to March and fewer vehicles in April and May.