Serengeti National Park is found in northern Tanzania, next to the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Together, they form the larger Serengeti ecosystem, which is known for the yearly Great Wildebeest Migration. This migration is one of the main reasons why Serengeti National Park is famous around the world.
The park was created in 1951 and covers an area of 5,700 square miles (14,763 square kilometers). In 1981, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. We offer some of the best helicopter safaris to Serengeti National Park.
Location and Accessibility
Serengeti National Park is located in northern Tanzania, just south of Kenya and northwest of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You can get there by road from Arusha or Moshi, or you can take a small charter plane that lands at one of the airstrips inside the park.
The Great Wildebeest Migration
This event is the main highlight of the park and attracts many visitors every year. It begins in the southern part of Serengeti with the calving season (January to February), when many wildebeest calves are born each day. Millions of wildebeests, along with hundreds of thousands of zebras, gazelles, and other animals, move across the plains following the rain as they look for green grass and water.
The African Big Five
In Serengeti, you have a chance to see the most famous animals in Africa’s wild areas. The park is home to all five members of the Big Five: lions, leopards, buffalos, elephants, and black rhinos. These animals are found in good numbers in different parts of the park.
Besides the Big Five, Serengeti is also home to many other animals. You may see wildebeests, zebras, antelopes (including waterbucks, dik-diks, elands, gazelles, impalas, bushbucks, oribis, topis, and more), baboons, Nile crocodiles, warthogs, hippos, cheetahs, jackals, hyenas, hyraxes, bat-eared foxes, giraffes, and many others. The park also has over 500 types of birds.
Activities in Serengeti National Park
- Game drives in different parts of the park
- Watching the Great Migration from December to July
- Visiting local Masai communities
- Guided nature walks and walking safaris
- Hot air balloon rides over the plains
- Visiting the Moru Kopjes to try and spot black rhinos
- Visiting the Olduvai Gorge, an important historical site
Best Time to Visit Serengeti National Park
The dry season from June to September is the best time for game drives. During this time, the grass is short, making it easier to see animals. Many animals also gather near the remaining water sources, which gives you a better chance to see predator and prey activity.
To watch the Great Migration, the best time to visit is from December to July. If you love birds, come during the wet season from October to April. This is when many migratory birds arrive and mix with the birds that live in the park all year.
In short, Serengeti National Park is open for visits all year round. Every season offers something special.
