Serengeti

About Serengeti

Tanzania's iconic Serengeti National Park covers nearly 6,000 square miles of Northern Tanzania up to the border with Kenya's Masai Mara. The topography of the park is generally flat, characterised by huge open grassland plains where the herds of wildebeest graze during the annual Great Migration. The Migration is what draws most visitors to the Serengeti and offers the chance to see herds of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest grazing and moving through the park as they search for fresh grasses. The fact that this is an annual cycle means that almost the Serengeti serves as a year-round safari destination and we can recommend the best camps to see the migration from depending on the time of year that you are visiting. 

Accommodation in the Serengeti is varied, comprising of permanent lodges such as Lemala Kuria Hills and Singita Sasakwa, which offer the very best in luxury accommodation. By their nature, the permanent lodges are best visited when the migration is in that specific area, however, if you visit out of season then there is an excellent resident game around such lodges and you do benefit from the areas being much quieter. There are also a number of fixed tented camps, which give a really authentic safari experience without compromising on comfort. Good examples of these would be Serengeti Pioneer Camp or Serengeti Kusini. These camps are very popular with visitors who want an authentic tented safari experience, but without compromising on the excellent food, great service and luxuries that have become associated with modern safaris. There are also a number of semi-permanent "mobile" camps which move 2 or 3 times a year to follow the migration. These are tented camps, but again, there is no compromise on luxury and they offer an excellent chance of seeing the migration no matter what time of year you visit them. Camps such as Olakira and Kimondo are great examples of these mobile camps and very popular with our clients.

Being a natural phenomenon, the Pattern of The Great Migration and where the herds will be at a particular time of year is difficult to predict but, broadly speaking, they move along the following lines. January to March they are in the Southern part of the Serengeti before moving North through April and May, although as this is the long rainy season many camps are closed. June and July sees many of the herds split up, with some heading through Seronera region of the Central Serengeti and others heading up through the Western Corridor and Grumeti Reserves. August and September tend to be the most popular months to see the migration in the Northern Serengeti (and also Kenya's Masai Mara) and this is when the iconic river crossings can be seen. October and November see the herds move through the Eastern part of the reserve before heading back towards the Southern area for December when the cycle starts all over again. Naturally, this is driven by the rains and availability of fresh grasses for the herds, but it is a good overview of where they will be at a given time.

For more information, why not speak to one of our experts on +44 (0) 20 7843 3500 or email info@africatravel.co.uk

Seasons

• June and July - The rains break and the plains become a spectacular carpet of green bringing all manner of wildlife and birdlife out to enjoy the lush grasses. Excellent for predator sightings as well. The Migration is moving through the Central and Western sectors of the park
• August and September - This is regarded as the peak time for the Serengeti as the herds congregate in the North of the park, crossing over into the Masai Mara and back. This is the best time of year to see the iconic river crossings. Warm days and cool nights are common and it tends to be very dry at this time of year
• October to December - Another good time of year for safari although there can be some rains in November however this does make the safaris after the rains very good

Wildlife

Lions spend 16-20 hours of the day sleeping or resting

Leopards can see seven times better in the dark than humans

The fastest land animal in the world, a cheetah can reach 70 miles per hour in 3 seconds

African elephants can currently be found in 37 African countries

The wildebeest weighs between 300 and 600 pounds

The pattern of a zebra's stripes are unique to each individual zebra

African Buffalos have a symbiotic relationship with many African birds such as the Oxpecker

Ostriches can sprint at over 70 km/hr

In The Know

• Singita Grumeti Reserves offers the chance to enjoy horseback safaris on their private concession, a wonderfully different way to enjoy your game viewing and see the Serengeti
• For close up, cheetah sightings head for a stay at Namiri Plains. This exclusive area has been closed to visitors for 20 years, recently re-opening as one of Africa's premier locations for cheetah sightings
• Although they can mean long days, driving safaris (with your own private guide) offer a chance to see the wonderfully varied landscapes of the Serengeti
• June is a fantastic time of year to enjoy the Serengeti, especially in the central region around the Moru Kopjes. Try a stay at Lemala Ewanjan Camp, a beautiful place to stay offering one of the best sundowner spots in Africa
• Mwiba Lodge is located in a private concession and is an ideal getaway for watching the wildebeest calving period from November to May