Serengeti Safari Tours: When to Go, Where to Stay and How Long You Need

Why a Serengeti safari is worth the journey

Three things set it apart: the sheer space, the number of predators and the migration. Even in a quiet month, the central Serengeti has plenty of lions, leopards and cheetahs. The park's scale also means you can often find a sighting with few other vehicles, once you get away from the main routes.

Where to go in the Serengeti: the park's main areas

Central Serengeti (Seronera)

Good wildlife all year, especially big cats. It is the easiest area to reach, and also the busiest.

Southern Serengeti and Ndutu

Calving takes place here from around January to March, drawing many predators.

Western Corridor (Grumeti)

Herds usually pass through around June and July, and they cross the Grumeti River.

Northern Serengeti (Kogatende)

Famous for Mara River crossings, usually from around July to October.

Serengeti safaris and prices

Prices are at mid-range level with two people sharing. Each trip can be changed to suit your dates and budget.

The Serengeti migration, month by month

These are typical patterns rather than promises. The herds follow rain and grass, and they can arrive weeks earlier or later than expected. Your guide will use the latest reports to find them.

How many days do you need in the Serengeti?

Two nights is a good minimum. One night gives you only a brief visit after a long drive. Three nights gives your guide time to look further, and to follow the wildlife. If the Mara River is your goal, add two more nights in the north, as on our 9-day safari.

Is a Serengeti balloon safari worth it?

A dawn balloon flight is an unforgettable way to see the plains, although it is a real extra cost. It is usually followed by a bush breakfast. Ask us for the current price, and we can add it to your quote.

Your guide and vehicle on a Serengeti safari

Your driver-guide is with you from the first morning to the last drive, and much of what you see depends on them. Our guides have worked on Tanzania tours for 7 years. They are graduates of the College of African Wildlife Management, Mweka, and the National College of Tourism, and they hold certification from those institutions.

You travel in a private 4WD Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, clear windows for wildlife viewing and comfortable seats. We run private safaris, so you choose your dates and share the vehicle only with your own group. If you are traveling alone and would like company to share the cost, ask us and we will check whether a suitable shared departure is available with a trusted partner company.

How to prepare for your Serengeti safari

Pack neutral clothing, warm layers for early mornings, a hat, sunscreen and binoculars, using our safari packing list. See a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you leave. Malaria is a risk in the safari parks, so ask about tablets and bring repellent. Travel insurance is not included, and we strongly recommend a policy that covers medical care and evacuation. Our safari cost guide shows what to budget beyond the safari price.

What wildlife can you see on a Serengeti safari?

The Serengeti is one of the best places in Africa for big cats. Lions are often seen on the kopjes of the central plains, leopards rest in sausage trees along the Seronera River, and cheetahs hunt on the open grassland. You can also expect elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, hyena and countless antelope. Black rhino live here in small numbers but are very hard to see, so for rhino, Ngorongoro Crater is a better bet.

Nobody can promise a sighting, and that is part of the appeal. A good guide knows where to look, and when to wait.

Where to stay on a Serengeti safari

Your choice of area should follow the season. From January to March, stay in the south or near Ndutu. From June to July, consider the Western Corridor, and from July to October, the north. The central Seronera area works all year. Staying inside the park saves you hours compared with driving in each day. We will suggest options for your dates in your written quote.

How to get to the Serengeti from Moshi

Most travelers drive, and the journey is a highlight in itself. You cross the Ngorongoro highlands with a view into the crater, drop to the plains and enter the park at Naabi Hill. It takes most of a day from Moshi, which is why our trips usually stop at Tarangire or Lake Manyara on the way. Small planes from Arusha can reach the park's airstrips in about an hour, at extra cost.

Which Serengeti safari is right for your travel month?

January to March

Head for the southern plains and Ndutu, where wildebeest give birth and predators follow them. Ask about a route that goes south.

April and May

The long rains make some roads difficult, but the park is green and quiet. Stay in the central area.

June and July

The herds are often in the Western Corridor, and they begin to move north. The central Serengeti is also excellent for cats.

August to October

The migration is usually in the north, near the Mara River. Our 9-day safari goes there.

November and December

The short rains bring the herds back south through the eastern and central areas. Fewer vehicles and green landscapes make this a good value time.

Mara River crossings: what to expect

A river crossing is one of the most dramatic things you can see in nature, with thousands of wildebeest plunging into the water as crocodiles wait. It is also unpredictable. The herds can gather on the bank for hours and then turn back. Some travelers see several crossings in a day, and others see none in a week. If this is your main goal, allow at least two or three nights in the north from about August to September, bring patience, and accept that nobody can promise you one.

Photography tips for your Serengeti safari

Start early, because the first two hours of light are the most beautiful, and predators are most active. A zoom lens of about 100 to 400 mm is very useful, and a bean bag helps to steady it on the vehicle. Dust is a constant problem in the dry months, so keep your gear covered between sightings. Ask your guide to turn off the engine when you take photos, because vibration can blur your shots.

How much does a Serengeti safari cost, and why?

The Serengeti adds cost because of its higher park fees, concession fees for nights inside the park and the long drive to reach it. That is why a trip with the Serengeti costs noticeably more than one with only Tarangire and the crater. Our 4-day trip starts from $2,610 per person, and our 7-day trip from $4,230, at mid-range level with two sharing. See our safari cost guide.

Common mistakes when planning a Serengeti safari

• Booking the wrong area for the month. A camp in the far north in February can be a long way from the herds.
• Staying only one night. After a long drive in, you need time to settle.
• Treating the migration as a fixed event. It follows rain, not a calendar.
• Skipping the central plains. Seronera has excellent cats, even when the herds are elsewhere.

Serengeti safaris: your questions answered

Plan your Serengeti safari around the season

Choose your month first, then the part of the park, then the number of nights. Send us your dates, and we will suggest the best route for that time of year.