Covering approximately 14,750 square kilometers (5,700 square miles) in northern Tanzania, Serengeti National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's premier wildlife destinations. Derived from the Maasai word Siringet meaning "the place where the land runs on forever" the park is globally renowned for hosting the Great Migration, supporting the continent’s highest concentration of apex predators, and offering year-round game viewing across diverse ecosystems.
The Great Wildebeest Migration
The Great Migration is an ongoing, year-round circular movement of over 1.5 million wildebeest, 250,000 zebras, and hundreds of thousands of gazelles across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. The herds follow seasonal rainfall patterns to find fresh grazing and water.
- Calving Season (January – March): The herds congregate in the Southern Serengeti and Ndutu plains. Around 8,000 wildebeest calves are born daily during the February peak, triggering intense predator activity from lions, cheetahs, and hyenas.
- The Movement North (April – June): As the southern plains dry out, the herds shift northwest through the Central Serengeti into the Western Corridor, braving early river crossings.
- River Crossings (July – October): The most dramatic phase occurs in the Northern Serengeti along the Mara and Grumeti Rivers. Herds face massive Nile crocodiles and steep embankments as they cross into Kenya's Maasai Mara before returning south.
- The Return South (November – December): Short rains draw the herds back down through the eastern and central regions toward the southern short-grass plains, completing the cycle.
Safari Regions Within the Serengeti
The park splits into four key geographical sectors, each offering distinct landscapes and wildlife concentrations:
- Central Serengeti (Seronera): The heart of the park, dominated by acacia-spotted savannas, the Seronera River valley, and granite outcroppings known as kopjes (such as Moru Kopjes). It features abundant resident game year-round, including high densities of lions and leopards.
- Western Corridor: Defined by the Grumeti and Mbalageti Rivers, this region consists of dense riverine forests and open floodplains. It is home to giant Nile crocodiles, hippos, and patas monkeys.
- Northern Serengeti (Kogatende & Lobo): Characterized by rolling hills, open woodlands, and granite ridges. It offers prime access to the Mara River crossings and hosts resident herds of elephants, giraffes, and elusive black rhinos.
- Southern Serengeti: Vast, treeless short-grass plains enriched by volcanic ash from the nearby Ngorongoro Highlands. It serves as the primary nursery ground for the Great Migration during the wet season.
Wildlife Profile: Beyond the Migration
While the migration draws global attention, the Serengeti maintains massive populations of resident wildlife throughout the year:
- The Big Five: Lions (over 3,000 individuals), African bush elephants, leopards, African buffalo, and endangered Eastern black rhinos.
- Predators: The park boasts Africa's highest density of large carnivores, including cheetahs, spotted hyenas, black-backed jackals, and wild dogs.
- Herbivores & Primates: Giraffes, topis, elands, impalas, warthogs, hippos, olive baboons, and vervet monkeys.
- Birdlife: Over 500 recorded bird species, including Maasai ostriches, secretarybirds, kori bustards, crowned cranes, and endemic grey-breasted spurfowl.
Best Time to Visit
- Dry Season (June to October): Best overall time for general game viewing and witnessing the Northern Mara River crossings. Animals concentrate around permanent water sources, and vegetation is thin, making wildlife easier to spot.
- Wet Season (November to May): Ideal for birdwatching, lush landscapes, and witnessing the southern calving season (January -February). April and May bring heavy rains, offering lower rates and fewer safari vehicles.
Logistical Essentials
- Getting There: Accessible by a 7-to-8-hour drive from Arusha via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, or via daily domestic flights connecting Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Arusha (ARK) to airstrips such as Seronera, Kogatende, Grumeti, and Ndutu.
- Popular Activities: Game drives, hot air balloon safaris over the plains at dawn, guided walking safaris in designated wilderness zones, and cultural visits to neighboring Maasai bomas.
