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Serengeti National Park
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Serengeti National Park, Tanzania: experience the Great Migration, open savannahs, iconic wildlife, safari camps and Maasai heritage on a memorable safari.

A Vast East African Wilderness

Serengeti National Park occupies approximately 14,750 square kilometres of northern Tanzania, forming the central and largest part of the wider Serengeti ecosystem. Its name derives from the Maasai expression siringit, commonly translated as “the place where the land runs on for ever”, an apt description of its open grasslands, scattered acacia and extensive horizons. The park stretches from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the south towards Lake Victoria and the Kenyan border, with riverine woodland, kopjes, seasonal watercourses and western woodlands adding variety to the dominant plains.
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Wildlife and the Great Migration

Serengeti is globally associated with the annual movement of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle between the southern plains, the western corridor and the northern Serengeti, although the timing and routes vary with rainfall. Predators including lions, cheetahs, leopards, spotted hyenas and African wild dogs may be encountered, while elephants, giraffes, hippopotamuses, crocodiles and many bird species occupy different habitats. Sightings are never guaranteed, and the park’s appeal lies as much in its scale, light and changing landscapes as in individual animals.

Exploring the Park

Safaris are usually organised from lodges, tented camps or seasonal camps within the park, or from gateway areas such as Seronera, the western corridor and the northern Serengeti. Game drives remain the principal way to explore, with walking and balloon experiences available only in particular areas and through authorised operators. The park is remote and distances are substantial, so visitors generally plan around a specific region rather than attempting to cover the whole reserve in a short stay. Alongside wildlife, the experience encompasses conservation, pastoral history and the continuing importance of the wider ecosystem to neighbouring communities.

When is the best time to visit Serengeti National Park?

Best: June–August · 33–34°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)
January35
February36
March36
April35
May35
June (best)34
July (best)33
August (best)34
September35
October36
November36
December36

Getting to and around Serengeti National Park

How to get there

Most international visitors reach the Serengeti through Arusha, which is the principal safari base for northern Tanzania, or via Kilimanjaro International Airport near Arusha. Safari vehicles commonly enter through approaches from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara region or the western side of the ecosystem, depending on the itinerary. Scheduled and chartered light aircraft also connect Arusha and other safari areas with airstrips in or near the Serengeti, including the Seronera area and northern and western sectors. Access arrangements vary by season and operator, so confirm the route, park entry point and baggage limits before departure.

Transportation

Inside the Serengeti, visitors normally travel in a safari vehicle with a trained guide, either on an organised itinerary or as part of a lodge or camp arrangement. Roads are largely unsealed, distances are long and conditions can change after rain, making a suitable four-wheel-drive vehicle important for overland travel. Small aircraft reduce transfer times between regions but do not remove the need for ground transport at the destination airstrip. Walking, ballooning and other activities are restricted to particular areas and authorised providers; visitors should not leave roads or vehicles independently.

Best attractions in Serengeti National Park

Serengeti’s principal attraction is its changing wildlife spectacle across a vast mosaic of plains, woodland, rivers and rocky kopjes. The Seronera Valley is a popular central safari area, with permanent water supporting wildlife through drier periods, while the southern plains are associated with the annual wildebeest calving season when conditions are favourable. In the west, the Grumeti River and surrounding woodlands create a contrasting landscape, and the northern Serengeti becomes hillier and more remote towards the Mara River and the Kenyan border. Lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles and an extensive range of birds may be seen, although sightings depend on season and chance. Guided game drives are the main way to explore; authorised walking safaris and balloon flights operate only in selected areas and should be arranged through recognised providers.

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Best landmarks in Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti’s defining landmarks are largely natural: the endless short-grass plains of the south, the Seronera Valley, the wooded Grumeti corridor and the rocky kopjes scattered across the grasslands. Kopjes are weathered granite outcrops that rise above the surrounding plain, providing shelter, elevated viewpoints and distinctive geological texture; some have long-standing associations with wildlife observation. The Grumeti and Mara rivers are important features within the wider ecosystem, supporting riverine habitat and, seasonally, dramatic crossings by migrating animals, although crossings are unpredictable and should never be treated as guaranteed events. The park’s boundary with the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and its proximity to Kenya’s Maasai Mara underline its place within a much larger ecological system. Rather than monuments or historic buildings, these landforms, watercourses and habitats give Serengeti its enduring geographical identity.

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Explore Serengeti National Park on the map

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Best restaurants in Serengeti National Park

Dining in the Serengeti is centred on lodges, tented camps and safari camps rather than independent restaurants. Meals are generally arranged as part of accommodation or an organised safari, with menus shaped by Tanzanian produce and international dishes suitable for visitors spending long days in the field. Breakfasts and packed lunches are often planned around early game drives, while evening meals may be served in a dining tent, lodge restaurant or designated outdoor setting under staff supervision. Vegetarian and other dietary requirements can usually be discussed with an operator in advance, but remote kitchens need notice and supplies are brought in over long distances. More varied restaurant choices are available in gateway towns such as Arusha and in settlements outside the park, while roadside stops on overland journeys depend on the itinerary rather than a permanent dining scene.

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Best bars in Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti has no conventional nightlife districts or nightclub scene. Evening life is concentrated in lodge bars, camp dining areas and communal fire settings, where visitors may discuss the day’s sightings, listen to local staff and guides, or enjoy a quiet drink before retiring early for a pre-dawn drive. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are commonly available through safari accommodation, but choices and service arrangements differ between properties. Darkness, wildlife and remote conditions mean that guests should follow camp instructions and avoid walking alone after sunset. For busier bars, live entertainment and urban evening options, visitors need to remain in or return to towns such as Arusha, which lie outside Serengeti National Park.

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Best nightclubs in Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti has no conventional nightlife districts or nightclub scene. Evening life is concentrated in lodge bars, camp dining areas and communal fire settings, where visitors may discuss the day’s sightings, listen to local staff and guides, or enjoy a quiet drink before retiring early for a pre-dawn drive. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are commonly available through safari accommodation, but choices and service arrangements differ between properties. Darkness, wildlife and remote conditions mean that guests should follow camp instructions and avoid walking alone after sunset. For busier bars, live entertainment and urban evening options, visitors need to remain in or return to towns such as Arusha, which lie outside Serengeti National Park.

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Best shops in Serengeti National Park

Shopping opportunities inside Serengeti National Park are limited to the small retail selections associated with some lodges, camps and safari operations, so visitors should obtain essentials before entering the wilderness. Gateway towns and villages outside the park provide more practical places to buy toiletries, snacks, outdoor supplies and locally made goods. Tanzanian handicrafts may include carved wood, woven items, beadwork, paintings and textiles, with styles and quality varying between sellers and regions. Purchases made through reputable community or artisan outlets can provide a more direct connection with local producers than hastily acquired roadside souvenirs. Ask about the origin and materials of wildlife-related products, avoid anything made from protected species, and remember that export and customs rules may restrict the removal of certain natural or cultural objects.

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Serengeti National Park essentials

Currency and Payment
Tanzania’s currency is the Tanzanian shilling, abbreviated TZS, although safari accommodation and operators commonly quote charges in US dollars. Cards may be accepted by established lodges, camps and tour companies, but connectivity and payment facilities are less dependable in remote parts of the park. Carrying some Tanzanian shillings and a reserve of widely accepted foreign currency can be useful for smaller purchases, tips and unforeseen needs, while cash machines are generally found in towns outside the park rather than in the wilderness itself. Confirm inclusions and payment arrangements before entering the Serengeti.
Safety
Serengeti is a remote protected area where safety depends on following your guide’s instructions. Never approach, feed or attempt to attract wildlife, and remain in the vehicle unless an authorised activity specifically permits walking. Heat, sun exposure, dust, rough roads and cool early mornings are common practical considerations. Keep food secured and do not wander around camps after dark without an escort, as wild animals may pass through accommodation areas. Roads and river crossings can become difficult after heavy rain, and mobile coverage is not universal, so itineraries should allow for changing conditions.
Emergency Situations
For urgent assistance in Tanzania, dial 112 where available and state clearly whether police, fire or medical help is required; travellers should also follow their operator’s emergency procedures. In the Serengeti, response times can be affected by distance, weather and limited communications, so carry your accommodation or driver’s contact details and remember the name of the nearest camp, airstrip or track. Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is especially important for remote safari itineraries. For immediate wildlife danger, remain inside the vehicle or secure camp structure and alert staff rather than attempting to respond independently.
Do's and Don'ts
Respect park regulations, wildlife and local communities by keeping to authorised routes, observing distance requirements and taking all rubbish away. Do not touch animals, use loud music or shout to provoke a sighting, and do not remove plants, rocks or other natural objects. Ask before photographing local people, guides or community activities, and dress respectfully when visiting settlements outside the park. Follow guidance on tipping, camp etiquette and water use, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas. Rules can differ between the national park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and neighbouring reserves, so check locally rather than assuming they are identical.
Local Tips
Plan the safari around the landscape you most want to experience: Seronera is a central base, the western corridor is associated with seasonal movement towards the Grumeti area, and the northern Serengeti offers a different setting near the Kenyan border. The migration is seasonal and rainfall-dependent rather than guaranteed on a particular date. Combining a few nights in different regions is often more rewarding than relying on one camp for the entire park. Early drives provide cooler conditions and active wildlife, while a good pair of binoculars and a camera with a suitable telephoto lens improve observation without disturbing animals.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloJambo[jahm-boh]
GoodbyeKwaheri[kwah-heh-ree]
YesNdio[n-dee-oh]
NoHapana[hah-pah-nah]
Please/You're welcomeTafadhali[tah-fah-dah-lee]
Thank youAsante[ah-sahn-teh]
Excuse me/SorrySamahani[sah-mah-hah-nee]
How are you?U hali gani?[oo hah-lee gah-nee]
Fine. And you?Salama. Na wewe?[sah-lah-mah. nah weh-weh]
Do you speak English?Unasema Kiingereza?[oo-nah-seh-mah kee-een-geh-reh-zah]
I don't understandSielewi[see-eh-leh-wee]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseNingependa kuona menyu, tafadhali[nee-ngeh-pehn-dah kwoh-nah meh-nyoo, tah-fah-dah-lee]
I don't eat meatSili nyama[see-lee nyah-mah]
Cheers!Kwa afya![kwah ahf-yah]
I would like to pay, pleaseNingependa kulipa, tafadhali[nee-ngeh-pehn-dah koo-lee-pah, tah-fah-dah-lee]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Msaada![msah-ah-dah]
Go away!Nenda zako![nen-dah zah-koh]
Call the Police!Piga simu polisi![pee-gah see-moo poh-lee-see]
Call a doctor!Piga simu daktari![pee-gah see-moo dahk-tah-ree]
I'm lostNimepotea[nee-meh-poh-teh-ah]
I'm illNinaumwa[nee-nah-oom-wah]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Ningependa kununua...[nee-ngeh-pehn-dah koo-noo-noo-ah]
I'm just lookingNinatazama tu[nee-nah-tah-zah-mah too]
How much is it?Ni bei gani?[nee beh-ee gah-nee]
That's too expensiveHiyo ni ghali mno[hee-yoh nee gah-lee m-noh]
Can you lower the price?Unaweza kupunguza bei?[oo-nah-weh-zah koo-poon-goo-zah beh-ee]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Saa ngapi?[sah ah-ngah-pee]
It's one o'clockNi saa moja[nee sah moh-jah]
Half past (10)Saa moja na nusu[sah moh-jah nah noo-soo]
MorningAsubuhi[ah-soo-boo-hee]
AfternoonMchana[m-chah-nah]
EveningJioni[joh-nee]
YesterdayJana[jah-nah]
TodayLeo[leh-oh]
TomorrowKesho[keh-shoh]
1Moja[moh-jah]
2Mbili[m-bee-lee]
3Tatu[tah-too]
4Nne[nn-neh]
5Tano[tah-noh]
6Sita[see-tah]
7Saba[sah-bah]
8Nane[nah-neh]
9Tisa[tee-sah]
10Kumi[koo-mee]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Iko wapi...?[ee-koh wah-pee]
What's the address?Anwani ni gani?[ahn-wah-nee nee gah-nee]
Can you show me (on the map)?Unaweza kunionyesha (kwenye ramani)?[oo-nah-weh-zah koo-nee-oh-nyeh-shah (kweh-neh rah-mah-nee)]
When's the next (bus)?Basi lifuataje?[bah-see lee-foo-ah-tah-jeh]
A ticket (to ....)Tiketi (kwenda ...)[tee-keh-tee (kwehn-dah)]

History of Serengeti National Park

A Landscape Shaped by Earth and Rain

The Serengeti’s character reflects long geological and climatic processes, including uplift, erosion, volcanic activity in the wider Rift Valley region and the development of grasslands on fertile plains. Seasonal rainfall continues to determine the growth of vegetation and the movement of grazing animals. The southern Serengeti plains are particularly important calving grounds because nutritious short grass appears after the rains, while woodland, rivers and rocky kopjes provide different habitats elsewhere. This ecological rhythm, rather than a fixed route, underpins the migration associated with the park today.

Pastoral Communities and Early Exploration

Pastoral peoples, including Maasai communities, have long used the wider Serengeti region, moving livestock through a landscape also occupied by farmers, hunters and other communities. Their knowledge, place names and seasonal relationship with grazing land remain part of the region’s cultural setting, although settlement and land-use regulations differ inside the national park and in neighbouring conservation areas. European explorers and hunters entered the region during the nineteenth century, followed by colonial mapping and administration, which increasingly recast a lived landscape as a destination for wildlife observation and hunting.

From Game Reserve to National Park

A game reserve was established in the Serengeti in 1921 during the British colonial period, partly in response to concerns about wildlife depletion. Serengeti National Park was formally created in 1951, making it one of Tanzania’s earliest and most significant protected areas. The designation restricted permanent human settlement and hunting within the park, while also contributing to a longer-term shift towards photographic tourism and wildlife conservation. These changes protected important habitats but affected established patterns of land use and remain part of the complex history of conservation in northern Tanzania.

The Ngorongoro Division and Wider Ecosystem

In 1959, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area was established to the east and south of the park, separating the crater highlands and adjoining plains from the national park’s administration. Unlike a national park, the conservation area was designed to accommodate both wildlife and resident Maasai pastoralists under a different management model. The distinction is important for travellers: the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and surrounding wildlife areas form a connected ecological region, but they are separate protected landscapes with different rules, landscapes and visitor arrangements.

Conservation and International Recognition

Modern Serengeti conservation has focused on protecting migratory routes, river systems, grasslands and predator populations while managing tourism and pressure from the wider region. The park became part of the Serengeti-Ngorongoro Biosphere Reserve in 1981, and Serengeti National Park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the same year for its ecological importance and spectacular wildlife concentrations. Conservation remains a balancing exercise involving habitat protection, tourism revenue, scientific monitoring and the interests of communities living around the protected area.

Serengeti National Park in Photos

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