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Serengeti National Park covers a vast area of grassland, acacia woodland and granite outcrops in northern Tanzania, bordering Kenya's Maasai Mara. It is best known for the Great Migration, the year-round movement of huge herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle following rain and fresh grass. Predators follow the herds, and the park's resident wildlife is abundant even when the migration is elsewhere. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The central Seronera River valley is often the first stop, with year-round water that attracts lions, leopards and cheetahs. The Retima Hippo Pool holds large numbers of hippos, and the Serengeti Visitor Centre offers an introduction to the ecosystem. At dawn, hot air balloon safaris drift over the plains. Rocky kopjes punctuate the grassland, and Moru Kopjes and Gol Kopjes are known for big cats and ancient rock features. In the southern plains around Ndutu, wildebeest gather to give birth early in the year, drawing predators in large numbers.
The migration shapes when and where to go. The herds move through the Grumeti River and the Western Corridor around midyear, and later reach the Mara River near Kogatende, where dramatic river crossings take place. Naabi Hill Gate marks the main southern entrance. Most visitors combine the Serengeti with the Ngorongoro Crater.
WiserMap travel guideSerengeti National Park Tanzania Great Migration SafariPlan a Serengeti safari: Seronera, Moru and Gol Kopjes, Ndutu calving grounds, Grumeti and Mara river crossings, plus when to go, where to stay and how to get i...Read the guide
The heart of the central Serengeti, where the Seronera River keeps water and game in the area all year. Sausage trees and acacias along the banks are known for leopards resting in branches, and lion prides hunt the surrounding plains. It is a reliable area for game drives in any month.
A river pool north of Seronera where large numbers of hippos crowd together, grunting, splashing and resting in the water through the day. Crocodiles and water birds are also common here. Visit during a morning game drive, and keep your distance from the banks as hippos can be aggressive.
The Western Corridor stretches toward Lake Victoria, with the Grumeti River running through woodland and plains. Around May to July the migration crosses the Grumeti, where very large crocodiles wait in the water. Outside migration season it is a quieter area with resident game and few vehicles.
A scenic area in the northeast of the park with rolling hills, granite kopjes and seasonal streams. Elephants, lions and buffalo live here year-round, and it sees far fewer vehicles than the center. It makes a peaceful stop on the way between the central and northern Serengeti.
An information center at Seronera with displays on the Serengeti ecosystem, the great migration and the park's history. A short self-guided trail circles a rocky kopje where rock hyraxes and lizards live, and there is a shaded picnic area. It is a good midday stop between morning and afternoon drives.
A steep ravine in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, along the road to the Serengeti, where the Leakey family found some of the most important early human fossils and stone tools. A museum on the rim explains the finds and displays casts of the Laetoli footprints. Guides give short talks overlooking the gorge.
Dawn balloon flights drift low over the plains for about an hour, giving a quiet view of herds, river valleys and kopjes from above. Most flights launch in the central Serengeti, and some operate in other areas in season. Trips end with a bush breakfast. Book well ahead, as places are limited and pricey.
A cluster of large granite outcrops in the southwest of central Serengeti, surrounded by open grassland. They shelter lions, leopards and other wildlife, and Gong Rock and a rock shelter with old Maasai paintings can be visited. The area is quieter than Seronera and especially good when the migration passes through.
Rocky outcrops scattered across the eastern short-grass plains, where cheetahs and lions use the boulders as lookouts. During the rainy season the area fills with wildebeest, zebra and gazelle. Some parts need special permission from park authorities, so ask your guide about access before going.
The Ndutu area on the southern edge of the Serengeti hosts the wildebeest calving season, usually from about January to March, when hundreds of thousands of calves are born. Predators follow the herds closely. Lodges and camps book up early for February, which is the peak time to visit.
In the far north of the Serengeti near the Kenyan border, the Mara River is where the famous wildebeest river crossings take place, usually from about July to October. Herds can wait for hours before plunging in. Stay at a northern camp so you can wait at crossing points without long drives.
The main southeastern entrance to the park for visitors coming from Ngorongoro and Arusha. While guides process permits, you can walk a short path up the hill for views over the endless plains, look at information boards and use the picnic sites. Expect a wait here at busy times of day.
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