Safari in Serengeti
Safari in Serengeti
When To Go, What To See, Where to Stay
Safari in Serengeti : is one of the most visited and popular safari destinations in the wild and is on the bucket list of most travelers, there is no better way of enjoying adventure and experiencing an authentic African adventure in the world than visiting and exploring Serengeti national park on a Serengeti Safari.
Serengeti national park lies in the ultimate location for an unparalleled Africa getaway, the park is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its incredible density of predators, rich variety of wildlife and the Great Migration of over 2 million wildebeests and ten thousands of gazelles, elands and zebras and the oldest ecosystem in the world known as the Mara – Serengeti Ecosystem.
As an adventure lover, you wouldn’t want to miss visiting Serengeti national park once in a life, here are some of the most things you need to know Serengeti national park and the main reasons to why it is a must to visit this amazing Africa safari destination.
Where is the Serengeti?
Serengeti national park
Most safaris in Serengeti national park start from Arusha and the popular way to get there is flying to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and then either take a domestic flight to a designated airstrip in Serengeti national park or take a road. Using land cruisers, you will drive for about 8 hours (325 kilometers) to get to one of the park’s entrance gates.
Another option is to take a connecting flight from your departure country to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam Airports, which ever route you choose to take, a breath taking landscape and unmatched adventure awaits you.
Understanding Serengeti Regions
Serengeti national park has a massive land area spanning 14,750 square kilometers, the park is divided into regions with each region presenting a distinct feature and spectacular highlight relating to the milestones of the Great Migration.
Central Seronera
The Central region of Serengeti national park also knowns as Seronera features 4,662 square kilometers of long grass plains, open savannah, riverine areas, lakes and scattered granite kopjes.
The Seronera area is best known for
- The legendary Seronera Valley
- Excellent game sightings all year-round
- The incredible diversity of resident wildlife including lions, cheetahs, and leopards
- Hot air balloon safari
Best time to visit the Seronera area
Seronera Area provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities at any time of the year as many animals reside in this area, but migratory herds are mostly seen between April and October.
Common Animal Sightings in Seronera Area
- Cheetah
- Lion
- Leopard
- Hyena
- Bat-eared Fox
- Reedbuck
- Giraffe
- Elephant
- Hippo
- Rhino
- Warthog
Getting There
By Air – charter flights to Seronera Airstrip
By road – 5 to 7 hours from Arusha
Southern Serengeti
Southern Serengeti is a widely popular area of Serengeti national park which is most often frequented by many travelers and photographers, the area cover 4,921 square kilometers of short grass plains dotted with granite Kopjes, some lakes, valleys and depressions along with some small hills.
The Southern Serengeti is best known for
- Wildebeest calving season
- Intense predator interactions including lion cubs being trained to hunt by adult lions
- Stunning landscapes, making it a photographer’s paradise
Best time to visit the Southern Serengeti
The best time to visit the Southern Serengeti for a Serengeti safari is December through March.
Common Animal Sightings in Southern Serengeti
- Wildebeest
- Zebra
- Eland
- Lion
- Leopard
- Cheetah
- Giraffe
- Elephant
- Caracal
- Hyena
- Jackal
Getting there
By air: Charter flights to Ndutu airstrip
By road: 5 to 6 hours’ drive from Arusha, and 1.5 to 2 hours away from Central Seronera.
Western Corridor
The western Corridor of Serengeti national park is best known for wildebeest calving season and intense predators including lion cubs being trained to hunt by adult lions, stunning landscapes making the area a photographer’s paradise.
Best time to visit
December through March
Common Animal Sightings in Western Corridor
- Wildebeest
- Zebra
- Eland
- Lion
- Leopard
- Cheetah
- Giraffe
- Elephant
- Caracal
- Hyena
- Jackal
Getting there
By air: Charter flights to Ndutu airstrip
By road: 5 to 6 hours drive from Arusha, and 1.5 to 2 hours away from Central Seronera.
Northern Serengeti
Northern Serengeti also known as the quietest region of Serengeti national park encompasses of Lobo and Kogatende areas, the northernmost parts of this region was once inaccessible and are, until being frequently visited by tourists.
The region features 5,698 square kilometers of savannas, open woodlands, riverine areas, hills and valleys, the area is also in a setting to one of the most important wildlife events on the planet.
Northern Serengeti is best known for
- The intense Mara River crossing often called the “World Cup of Wildlife” and the “greatest show on earth”
- Rare oribi antelope & black rhino
- Big cat viewing in ancient Lobo Valley
Best time to visit: August to October
Common Animal Sightings in Northern Serengeti
- Wildebeest
- Zebra
- Eland
- Lion
- Leopard
- Cheetah
- Oribi
- Giraffe
- Elephant
- Rhino
- Hippo
- Crocodile
Getting there
By air: Charter flights to either Lobo or Kogatende airstrips.
By road: 7 to 8 hours’ drive from Arusha.
What is The Great Migration?
The Great Migration also known as the World Cup of Wildlife and deemed as the 7th natural wonder of the world, is the annual pilgrimage of millions of wildebeests accompanied by ten thousands of zebras, elands, gazelles and other antelopes across the plains of Mara- Serengeti ecosystem in quest for better grazing green pasture and water.
The animals move from Serengeti national park to Masai Mara national reserve chasing the rains in a race for their lives, the migration moves in a clockwise direction from the Serengeti plains in Tanzania to Masai Mara in Kenya and then back to Serengeti national park.
In addition to the spectacular views of the African plains and the massive herds of migrants that attract predators like lions, leopards and other big cats, the rivers are also plagued with hippos and Nile crocodiles waiting to prey on the migrants. Can you imagine all this action unfold before your very eyes, this is a truly an incomparable experience and one of the greatest spectacle of nature.
In January, the herds start moving to the Southern part of Serengeti as the rain starts to fall, this is also the inception of the calving season so as a traveler expect to see a lot of newborns. Although this is very cute to watch, anticipate a lot of heartbreak because little animals naturally attract predators who look forward to feasting on them. The clockwise movement of the wildebeests in search for better grazing continues throughout the year until the herds move back to this area where the cycle begins again.
If you are looking for a once in a lifetime African safari experience in Serengeti national park, scheduling your safari during the Great Migration makes it an even more exciting trip. Also, Serengeti national park would be the perfect location for an – all-in-one African adventure. This is because the migration mostly happens around the Serengeti plains, safari enthusiasts often refer to Serengeti national park as the “Perfect Place to see the Lion King come to life”. A Serengeti safari is relatively bigger than any other safaris around the area offering you exclusivity and more personalized trip.
When is the best time to visit?
Serengeti national park can be visited all year round as wildlife viewing is excellent all through, however the best time to go for a Serengeti safari is between late June and October. During these months the weather is at its best as there will be little to no rainfall and temperatures can go as high as 86°F and as low as 59°F.
These months you get a chance to witness the spectacular Wildebeest River Crossing, with sparse vegetation and an open horizon you will have uninterrupted and easier viewing.
What to expect in the Serengeti?
Serengeti’s landscape is a picture perfect, far – reaching visita that easily takes your breath away, the endless plains, lone trees, riverine, rising mountains, woodlands, grasslands, watercolor sky and a variety of animals walking either in groups, pairs or alone is a sight to see and memory to keep. In addition to observing the animals, you will also have a close encounter with the animals which is compared to living in a fairy land.
Aside from the wildebeests, gazelles, zebras, elands and topis that migrate each year, you can also find spotted hyenas, cheetahs, giraffes and the world- famous big Five – lions, elephants, leopards, African buffaloes and rhinos are some of the over 60 other mammal species in Serengeti national park.
Serengeti national park is also known to hosting one of the most spectacular wildlife concertation and diversity in the world, the park is a haven for Africa’s largest lion population along with about a hundred variety of dung beetle and over 500 bird species including black eagles, ostriches and raptors. Being in Serengeti national park is a real – life Lion King Scenery.
In conclusion
A safari in Serengeti national park “Serengeti Safari” is a truly unrivaled must-have experience, regardless of the month you choose to go. Serengeti national park always has something for you and it will always have an overwhelming concertation of wildlife in almost every corner.
A safari in Serengeti national park is a guarantee for an Africa adventure that is one for the books and you will always have millions of memories to come back with.
