Part of Tanzania
Quick answer
Reviewed · 4 min read
The Serengeti is Tanzania’s flagship park and home to the Great Migration for most of the year. The key is matching your camp to the season: the southern plains for calving around February, the Western Corridor around June, the north for Mara River crossings from roughly July to October, and central Seronera year-round. Plan four to six nights across two areas.
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- Country
- Tanzania (northern safari circuit)
- Best for
- The Great Migration, calving season, lions and cheetahs
- Best time
- Late January–March (calving); June–October (dry season, crossings)
- Getting there
- Light aircraft from Arusha or Kilimanjaro (JRO); or a full day’s drive via Ngorongoro
- Ideal stay
- 4–6 nights, split between two areas
- Malaria
- Yes — CDC recommends prevention for Tanzania below 1,800 m
Why is the Serengeti different from other safari parks?
Few places match the Serengeti’s scale. Its plains, granite kopjes and riverine woodland cover nearly 15,000 square kilometers (about 5,700 square miles), at the heart of an ecosystem that extends into Kenya’s Maasai Mara and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Because the migrating herds — well over a million wildebeest with zebra and gazelle — circulate through the ecosystem all year, there is almost always somewhere in the Serengeti to find them. That makes it more flexible than the Mara, which hosts the herds for only a few months. Our Tanzania guide shows how it fits the wider northern circuit.
Where is the migration in the Serengeti, month by month?
Timing shifts with the rains each year, so treat this as a guide, not a timetable.
- December–March, southern plains and Ndutu: the herds graze short-grass plains on both sides of the Ngorongoro boundary; calving peaks around February, drawing lions, cheetahs and hyenas.
- April–May, central Serengeti: the long rains arrive and the herds begin moving north-west; some camps close, others offer green-season rates.
- June–July, Western Corridor: the herds gather near the Grumeti River, where crossings sometimes happen.
- July–October, northern Serengeti: Mara River crossings around Kogatende and the Lamai Triangle, a remote corner of the park.
- November, heading south: the short rains draw the herds back toward the southern plains.
Where should you stay in the Serengeti?
Accommodation falls into three broad styles. Permanent lodges and camps stay open most of the year. Mobile or seasonal camps relocate to follow the herds, putting you close to the action in calving or crossing season. Private reserves bordering the park add exclusivity and activities, such as walking, that the national park itself restricts.
Long-established names include Singita Sasakwa Lodge in the Grumeti reserves on the western edge and Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti in the central Serengeti, north of Seronera. For calving season, book a camp near Ndutu or the southern plains a year or more ahead. Compare styles in lodge vs tented camp.
How do you get to the Serengeti, and what do you combine it with?
Most travelers fly. Scheduled light aircraft link Arusha and Kilimanjaro International Airport with airstrips such as Seronera, Kogatende and those near Ndutu and the Western Corridor, typically in one to two hours with stops. Driving from Arusha takes most of a day but lets you visit the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire on the way.
A classic northern-circuit trip moves from Tarangire to the Ngorongoro highlands and then two Serengeti areas, finishing on Zanzibar. To compare with Kenya’s side of the ecosystem, read Serengeti vs Maasai Mara.
What are the Serengeti’s park rules?
Inside the national park, vehicles must keep to designated roads, game drives run during daylight hours, and you stay in the vehicle except at designated sites such as picnic areas. Park fees are charged per person per 24 hours by Tanzania National Parks and change periodically, so confirm current rates as of 2026.
At crossing points, ask your guide to keep a respectful distance; vehicles crowding the bank can turn the herds away.
Serengeti highlights
Calving season
Southern plains & Ndutu · around February
Thousands of calves are born daily at the peak, and predators follow.
ExploreNorthern river crossings
Kogatende & Lamai · roughly July–October
The Tanzanian side of the famous Mara River crossings, in remote country that often sees fewer vehicles.
Seronera’s big cats
Central Serengeti · year-round
Leopards draped in riverine trees, lions on granite kopjes and cheetahs hunting across open plains.
Balloon over the plains
Central, western & northern Serengeti
A sunrise flight above the herds, followed by a bush breakfast.
Explore
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit the Serengeti?
Where is the best place to stay in the Serengeti?
How long should you spend in the Serengeti?
Can you see river crossings in the Serengeti?
Is the Serengeti good for a first safari?
Official sources
Rules, fees and schedules change — confirm the latest details at the source before you travel.