Welcome to the Great Serengeti Ecosystem

Imagine the major wildlife reserve in the world, envision a crater with he densest population of mammalian predators in Africa, picture a sanctuary stretching around the gleaming waters of a flamingo-sprinkled lake.

Widely recognised as the major wildlife reserve in the world, the Serengeti National Park is, simply put, a vast natural paradise. The park itself covers an area of almost 15,000 square kilometres, equal in size to Northern Ireland, while the greater Serengeti ecosystem encompasses 30,000 square kilometres, the area of Belgium, and includes, besides the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Maswa Game Reserve, the Loliondo, Grumeti and Ikorongo Controlled Areas in Tanzania, and the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Actually the second is a more appropriate figure to consider, as there are no fences along the different park borders, and animals can freely move from one to another.

One of the world’s last great wildlife refuges, it’s name derives from the Maasai word Siringet, that means “endless plains”. Over 90,000 tourists visit the Serengeti National Park each year to appreciate it’s fabulous wildlife, one of the finest in the world. Its extensive grassland plains spotted with acacia trees are home to the largest herds of migrating ungulates and (as an obvious consequence) the highest concentrations of large predators in the world.

The National Park is broadly divided into three different areas. The Seronera Valley and Seronera River, in the centre of the park, is probably the most popular area (and most easily visited, through the Park’s Southern entrance, the Naabi Hill Gate). This area is characterised by wide open grasslands and rock kopjes, with several perennial rivers (Seronera, Nyamanje, Wandamu, Ngare Nanyuki) running through it, ensuring year-round water supplies and enabling many resident animals to thrive year round. The Western Corridor, crossed lengthwise by the Grumeti River, is a regular setting for drama, as year after year the wildebeest cross the crocodile-infested river during the Great Migration, in their attempt to reach the northern plains. Finally, the Northern Lobo are, extending northwards to join the Maasai Mara, offers a change to see plentiful game during the dry season.

Protected area since 1940, the Serengeti gained national park status in 1951 with extensive boundary modifications in 1959. It was internationally recognised as part of Serengeti-Ngorongoro Biosphere Reserve (with the adjoining Maswa Game Reserve) under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme in 1981 and inscribed on the World Heritage List in the same year.

Serengeti Highlights

Klein’s Camp is the only lodge in the Serengeti region to offer night game drives.

The Ngorongoro crater is one of the best places in Africa to spot the endangered and amazing Black Rhino in the natural habitat.

The Great Migration: witness the dramatic migration of millions of ungulates -in their annual and circular quest for survival- as they travel from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara, and back again.

Established in the early 20s as a coffee farm, Gibb’s Farm offers charming accommodation in the Ngorongoro highlands.

Things to Do in Serengeti National Park

• Game Drives, explore the park’s diverse wildlife and ecosystems on self-driven or guided tours, witnessing the Great Migration (seasonal) and spotting the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo).
• Serengeti Balloon rides, experience a unique perspective on the park’s landscape and wildlife.
• Walking Safaris and Bush Walks, embark on a self-guided walks to explore the park’s terrain, getting up close to nature and spotting smaller wildlife.
• Wildlife Viewing, observe and photograph the park’s incredible wildlife, including predators, herbivores, and over 500 bird species.
• Scenic Drives, take in the stunning landscapes, from open plains to rocky outcrops and rivers.
• Birdwatching, discover the Serengeti’s vast array of birdlife.

Please take note of,

The main activity is daytime game drives. No night safaris are permitted inside the National Park, but there are a number of lodges in the reserves adjacent to the Serengeti where night driving is available. Most notable are Singita’s Grumeti Reserves, in which Sasakwa, Faru Faru and Sabora all offer night drives, as well as Klein’s Camp and others located in the adjacent Loliondo reserve. There are no boating safaris in the area. Walking is possible outside the park, and a couple of camps in the far north of the park allow walking within the park boundaries. Alex Walker’s Serian is the only camp in Southern Serengeti area where walking is permitted.

Best Time to Visit Serengeti National Park

You can visit Serengeti National Park at any time of the year and have an epic safari. The park is a rich ecosystem with millions of large animals, so you don’t have to worry that you’ll somehow ‘miss’ the animals! That said, peak seasons in the Serengeti are January to March and late June to October, for different reasons.

How Long Should I Stay in the Serengeti

The Serengeti has wide plains and a vast diversity of wildlife. At least a full four days on a game drive will allow you to watch and observe the animals without the experience being rushed.

How to Get to Serengeti National Park

One of the most popular ways to reach the Serengeti National Park is by flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) which is located about 50km away from Arusha. Other options to reach Arusha include flying in from Julius Nyerere International in Dar es Salaam (DAR), or Zanzibar (ZNZ), and landing at Arusha Airport which services domestic flights in Tanzania. Arusha is the gateway to Tanzania’s northern safari circuit, and the nearest town to the Serengeti, thus by;

Road: It can be accessed from all towns and cities to the present entry or exit points/gates namely Naabi Hill, Seronera, Ndutu, Kusini, Kirawira, Handajega, Ikoma, Tabora ‘B’, Lamai, Lobo, Ndabaka, Machochwe and Kleins.

Air: There are all weather airstrips in the center of the park (Seronera), in the South (Kusini), in the East (Lobo), in the West (Kirawira) and in the North (Kogatende & Lamai). There are scheduled and private charters from Arusha, Mwanza, Kilimanjaro, Musoma, Dar es salaam and Zanzibar.

Best Places to Stay at Serengeti National Park

There’s a wide variety of accommodation available, from luxury lodges to mobile camps, options are many from extreme air-conditioned luxury to simple camps, lodges and camping sites. During migration season there are also mobile camps known as Great Migration camps. These are moving campsites that follow the movements of the wildebeests. Such setups essentially guarantee guests that they’ll enjoy multiple herd sightings. Great Migration camps are understandably more expensive than stationary camps, and cost around 400USD per person per night. Options like,