There are a few destinations as exceptional as Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Just by mentioning Serengeti National Park, a lot runs through the back of your mind, knowing how great this destination is. Serengeti remains exceptional from the rest of the Parks in the whole of Tanzania. Superfine Safaris Limited is your ultimate guide to explore and enjoy the gem in Serengeti National Park on your Tanzania wildlife safari.  To have a deep insight into Serengeti, here is a complete guide to help you plan a remarkable wilderness trip in Tanzania’s iconic destination. This travel guide to the Serengeti is ideal for both first-time and repeat travelers on a Tanzania safari.

Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s leading wilderness holiday destination, home to all the Big 5 and the Great Migration. This Park features among the very few that have been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It takes its name from the Maasai word “Siringet,” meaning the endless plains.  Serengeti National Park is geographically located in the Northern tourist circuit of Tanzania. As a National Park, it was established in 1952, and in 1978 it was declared a UNESCO Site. In 1981, it was listed among the International Biosphere Reserves. Serengeti stretches up to about 14,763 sq. km with its borders extending Northwards to Kenya and westwards, Lake Victoria.

Serengeti remains a strong ecosystem, hosting a range of mammal species and birdlife. On a Tanzania safari, visitor can begin their expedition in the Park’s key sectors, including the Seronera –the Central Serengeti area, Western Corridor, Southern area, and Northern section.

The Main in Serengeti National Park

Wildlife to see

When it comes to huge concentrations of wildlife, no destination can beat the Serengeti. The park is home to diverse small and large mammals, plus lots of reptiles. Key wildlife species of Serengeti National Park include the Big 5: Buffaloes, elephant, Lions, Rhinos,

and Leopards. These live together with other animals such as cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, banded mongoose, bat-eared fox, hippos, crocodiles, side-striped jackals, impalas, elands, oribis, African hare, spotted hyenas, wildebeest, warthogs, Thompson’s gazelles, vervet monkeys, klipspringers, and topis.

Birds in Serengeti National park

Serengeti supports an estimate of about 500 species of birds. These diverse avian life range in the varying habitats in the Park making it an ideal birding destination. The birds to spot on Serengeti safari include tropical boubou, superb starling, African fish eagle, Kori bustards, common ostriches, Egyptian goose, fulvous whistling ducks, hottentot teal, Eurasian wigeon, white-faced whistling duck, helmeted guineafowl, crested guineafowl, spur-winged goose, Northern pintail, common quail, wattled starling, violet-backed starling, black-headed tchagra, black-backed puff-back, grey-headed bush shrike, African penduline, Sulphur-breasted bush shrike, Ashy starling, Rupell’s long-tailed starling, red-billed oxpeckers, Kenya violet-backed sunbird, black-headed oriole, crested francolin, Hildebrandt’s francolin, harlequin quail, red-winged francolin, Shelley’s francolin, Coqui francolin, lesser and greater flamingo.

Serengeti National Park also offers refuge to avian species such as bearded vultures, saddle-billed storks, yellow-billed storks, grey-headed social weaver bird, Holub’s golden weaver bird, buffalo weaver bird, speckled-fronted weaver bird, rufous sparrow, lappet-faced vultures, brown snake-eagles, pallid harriers, bat hawks, afep pigeon, dusky turtle dove, mourning collared dove, little grebe, slender-tailed nightjars, Sombre nightjar, European nightjars, Mozambique nightjars, swamp nightjars, fiery-necked nightjars, plain nightjar, freckled nightjar, pennant-winged nightjars, African palm swift, scarce swift, mottled spine-tailed swift, alpine swift, white-rumped swift, Horus swift, and African harrier hawks.

You may also come across birds such as lesser spotted eagles, African cuckoo hawks, Diederik cuckoos, Jacobin cuckoo, African black coucal, white-browed coucal, blue-headed coucal, black cuckoo, Klaas’s cuckoos, great spotted cuckoos, Levaillant’s cuckoos, African crake, common moorhen, red-knobbed coot, Allen’s gallinule, corncrake, purple-crested turacos, eastern grey plantain-eaters, shallow’s turacos, and more.

5 Top Things to do in Serengeti National Park

Guided Game Drives

Serengeti is a premier destination in Tanzania when it comes to game drive experiences. The park offers action-packed game viewing excursions allowing you to explore its diverse wildlife in a 4×4 safari vehicle. A game drive in Serengeti means a great opportunity for you to look for the Big 5 game, diverse antelope families, plus other wildlife.

Birding excursions

Serengeti offers amazing birding experiences in the varying spots. A total population of about 500 birds live in this scenic park alone. On a birding tour, you can spot birds such as ostriches, pelicans, flamingos, African barbets, francolins, vultures, yellow-billed storks, woodpeckers, hornbills, woolly-bill storks, hammerkop, Abdim’s storks, African open bill, Terek sandpiper, little stint, temminck’s stint, broad-billed sandpiper, spotted redshanks, Madagascar pratincole, bronze-winged courser, Heuglin’s courser, African skimmer, lesser black-backed gull, gull-billed tern, secretary birds, and others.

Witness the Wildebeest Migration 

Nothing leaves memories like embarking on a journey to witness the Great Migration in Serengeti National Park. This world spectacle occurs once a year, and Serengeti is the right place to witness it. During the Great Migration, millions of wildebeest cross from the Serengeti western plains and the Grumeti River. They embark on extensive movement in search of pasture and water. The ideal time to witness the Serengeti Great Migration is from July to August where you can experience it at the Grumeti River. From August to September, you can get the best of the Serengeti-Mara migration. Besides the normal migration, you can also enjoy the birthing events of wildebeest often occurring from January to early March. During calving season, a total population of about 8000 calves are born.

Balloon excursions

Aerial game viewing experiences are guaranteed on balloon tours in Serengeti National Park. This can be during the morning session or afternoon/sunset –each session having its unique memories to reward you.

Cultural/Community visits

Cultural visits are the best option to spice up your vacation in the Serengeti. The park is surrounded by the Maasai people, who are known for their exceptional cultures, traditions, and traditional dances.

Best time to Serengeti National park

Safaris to Serengeti are best enjoyed during the peak dry seasons/months, that is, from June to October. The dry months offer unmatched game viewing opportunities with the possibility for you to encounter the Big 5 and also witness the Great Migration. The peak migration starts from June to July. To witness the wildebeest calving events, the best time to get there is from January to February.

The accommodation options for you to stay

Serengeti is a destination with varying accommodation options which makes it a favorable place for all categories to enjoy their vacation. Budget, midrange, and luxury lodges all exist in Serengeti including Serengeti Simba, Lobo Wildlife Lodge, Kati-Kati Tented Camp, Ikoma Tented Camp, Grumeti Migration Camp, and more (Budget options).

Serengeti Serena Lodge, Melia Serengeti Lodge, and Serengeti Sopa Lodge- these offer mid-range accommodation services. Luxury lodges include the Siringit Serengeti Camp, Lemala Nanyukie Tented Lodge, Singita Mara Camp, Four Seasons Safari Lodge, Roving Bushtop Camp, and Sayari Camp.

Access to the Serengeti from Arusha town

By road: Tourists can set off from Arusha for about 6-7 hours and get to the Serengeti. The available access gates to Serengeti National Park include Ndabaka and Naabi Hill Gates –these are the main gates to Serengeti. If you are interested in the western corridor, then travel through the Grumeti or Western corridor gate. The northern gates include Bologonya and Klein gates. Serengeti also has additional entry gates like Handajega, Fork Ikoma, and Seronera.

By air: Book a domestic flight and depart from Arusha to Serengeti in the shortest time. The key airstrips that serve Serengeti include Sasakwa Airstrip, Kirawira, Lobo, Kogatende, and Seronera Airstrip.