THE SERENGETI
One of world's most famous game reserves and reputedly home to the densest population of large mammals on the African continent. The Serengeti is located in north-western Tanzania, where it shares a border with the equally famous Masai Mara, which is the same ecosystem, but located in Kenya.
How to get there
The Serengeti is serviced by a number of airstrips and the easiest way to get there is to fly from Arusha, so it is easy to build it into a flying safari circuit or to just visit the Serengeti on its own.
It is also often built into a driven circuit from Arusha, including other wildlife hotspots in the region, notably the Ngorongoro Crater, the Highlands, and Tarangire National Park. Longer trips can also include Lake Manyara National Park or Lake Natron.
The Wildebeest Migration
The Serengeti is most famous for the annual migration, where over one million wildebeest, half a million zebra, and several hundreds of thousands of Grant's and Thomson's gazelles migrate in a circulatory 800km route into the Maasai Mara and then back into the Serengeti. Many people don't realise that due its size and distance, the migration is actually a full-year spectacle, the result of animals following the seasons to find the best grazing areas in their fight for survival.
Different seasons bring different spectacles; January to March see the migration in the southern Serengeti and around Ndutu, where up to 8,000 young wildebeest and zebra are born every day, much to the delight of the predators, just lying in wait as hundreds of wildebeest run past them, seemingly oblivious to the danger. The predators in the Serengeti truly are spoilt for choice.
April and May see the herds moving around the central Seronera area, where some will stay most of the year, whilst the majority move on, looking for fresh pasture.
June is rutting season, when the noise is incredible, as males fight for the right to mate with the females. The wildebeest is not a good looking animal by any stretch of the imagination and seeing the males trying to convince the females that they are worthy mates is an amusing sight. At this time of year, herds cross the Grumeti River in the Western Corridor section of the Serengeti.
July to October is peak season as everyone comes to view the famous river crossings as the wildebeest move across the rivers in the northern and eastern Serengeti into Kenya's Maasai Mara, and then back again in November. Not all of the animals make it across the rivers; it's a perilous endeavour running the gauntlet of crocodiles in the water, with lions on the bank looking to prey on the most fatigued individuals.
Planning a trip to the Serengeti requires some expertise, as It is a massive area and the migration is not as predictable as some people like to think. It is often a good idea to break your Serengeti safari into two parts, especially if your goal is to see the migration.
How to get there
The Serengeti is serviced by a number of airstrips and the easiest way to get there is to fly from Arusha, so it is easy to build it into a flying safari circuit or to just visit the Serengeti on its own.
It is also often built into a driven circuit from Arusha, including other wildlife hotspots in the region, notably the Ngorongoro Crater, the Highlands, and Tarangire National Park. Longer trips can also include Lake Manyara National Park or Lake Natron.
The Wildebeest Migration
The Serengeti is most famous for the annual migration, where over one million wildebeest, half a million zebra, and several hundreds of thousands of Grant's and Thomson's gazelles migrate in a circulatory 800km route into the Maasai Mara and then back into the Serengeti. Many people don't realise that due its size and distance, the migration is actually a full-year spectacle, the result of animals following the seasons to find the best grazing areas in their fight for survival.
Different seasons bring different spectacles; January to March see the migration in the southern Serengeti and around Ndutu, where up to 8,000 young wildebeest and zebra are born every day, much to the delight of the predators, just lying in wait as hundreds of wildebeest run past them, seemingly oblivious to the danger. The predators in the Serengeti truly are spoilt for choice.
April and May see the herds moving around the central Seronera area, where some will stay most of the year, whilst the majority move on, looking for fresh pasture.
June is rutting season, when the noise is incredible, as males fight for the right to mate with the females. The wildebeest is not a good looking animal by any stretch of the imagination and seeing the males trying to convince the females that they are worthy mates is an amusing sight. At this time of year, herds cross the Grumeti River in the Western Corridor section of the Serengeti.
July to October is peak season as everyone comes to view the famous river crossings as the wildebeest move across the rivers in the northern and eastern Serengeti into Kenya's Maasai Mara, and then back again in November. Not all of the animals make it across the rivers; it's a perilous endeavour running the gauntlet of crocodiles in the water, with lions on the bank looking to prey on the most fatigued individuals.
Planning a trip to the Serengeti requires some expertise, as It is a massive area and the migration is not as predictable as some people like to think. It is often a good idea to break your Serengeti safari into two parts, especially if your goal is to see the migration.
where to stay
From our visits to the Serengeti, we have first-hand knowledge of the best camps and lodges in different price ranges. Below you can find the ones we most commonly use. These establishments include our favourites sorted from low-key to deluxe, which are usually smaller lodges and tented camps with very personalised service, but also some bigger places, if they are the best or only option available. Don't be fooled by the words "tented camp", these are sometimes among the most luxurious options.
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camps that move with
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NASIKIA MOBILE MIGRATION CAMP
ang'aTa migration camp
lemala ndutu
kIRURUMU MIGRATION CAMP
UBUNTU MIGRATION CAMP
SERENGETI SAFARI CAMP
KIMONDO MIGRATION CAMP
SERENGETI MIGRATION CAMP
OLAKIRA MIGRATION CAMP
SERENGETI UNDER CANVAS
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Southern Serengeti |
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NDUTU KATI KATI TENTED CAMP
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Western, central &
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KATI KATI TENTED CAMP
SERENGETI SERENA SAFARI LODGE
MBUZI MAWE SERENA CAMP
ang'ata serengeti
KUBU KUBU TENTED LODGE
KIRAWIRA SERENA CAMP
LEMALA EWANJAN TENTED CAMP
NAONA MORU CAMP
Olmara CAMP
DUNIA CAMP
SERENGETI PIONEERS CAMP
LEMALA NANYUKIE TENTED LODGE
GRUMETI SERENGETI TENTED CAMP
NAMIRI PLAINS CAMP
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Northern Serengeti |
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MARA KATI KATI TENTED CAMP
KASKAZ MARA CAMP
MARA MARA TENTED LODGE
LEMALA KURIA HILLS LODGE
KLEIN'S CAMP
LAMAI SERENGETI
SAYARI CAMP
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