Serengeti National Park
Tanzania’s oldest and most popular national park is The Serengeti NP. It is a world heritage site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The Serengeti is arguably the most scintillating game-viewing sites in all of Africa, including big mammals and cats and an amazing variety of herbaceous and carnivorous animals. It is also the native lands of the Maasai who have lived there for millennia herding their cattle.
How the Serengeti as Formed
Tanzania’s Serengeti ecosystem includes the Maasai Mara in Kenya. 75% of this unique ecosystem is in Tanzania. Its lush green ocean of green grasses is 5,700 sq miles (14,750 sq km). These grasses are the result of volcanic eruptions in the Ngorongoro area 3 million years ago. It spread volcanic ashes throughout the wide area now known as the Serengeti plains. These ashes had high concentrations of phosphorous creating the mineral rich fertile soils covering a vast area growing short green grasses that support millions of wildlife. The Serengeti Supports Huge Numbers of Wildlife.
The Great Migration
The bulk of the 3 million animal herd participating in the Great Migration are wildebeest. Wildebeest thrive on the short grasses with high concentrations of phosphorous as every cell of their body contains phosphorous. The Great Migration also includes zebras, antelopes and other species that circulate in a clockwise direction following water sources on an 1,800 mile annually trek. During the fall rains is calving season when 250,000 wildebeest calves are born over a 3-week period in the southern Serengeti. They graze on these grasses in preparation for the next stage of their migration to the northwest Serengeti that begins in the early spring.
serengeti-migration-circleGreat Migration Cycle
The migration is making its way from the Maasai Mara in the northern Serengeti region to southern Serengeti along its eastern border formed by the Great Rift Valley escarpment to begin its calving season. Once the herd arrives in the southwestern Serengeti,“calving season” begins when the wildebeest give birth to a quarter million newborns during a three-week period. It is a great time to see the drama of the hunt, as predatory animals seek their babies. The short rains occur from November-December. Kusini Camp is on the wildebeest migration path where they congregate on Kusini’s grassy plains during calving season. The southern Serengeti has specific areas that provide exceptional views of the Great Migration such as the Moru Kopjes where the rare black rhino migrate this time of year and see Maasai rock paintings. It is also an exceptional location for viewing cheetahs, as is Gol Kopjes where fresh green grasses attract cheetahs. Lake Ndutu, one of the Rift Valley’s soda lakes, attracts flamingos that nest in its waters. It also has stunning acacia woodlands where a variety of animal species hunt within this eco-system.
During this time of year, the Great Migration is scattered between southern Serengeti and Ndutu in the Ngorongoro side. This time of the year is also a calving season where by the wildebeests give birth.
This period includes the long heavy rainy season when many camps are closed in the southwestern and central Serengeti. In the central Serengeti, the Great Migration must defend itself against large prides of lions, leopards, and cheetahs located in this area.
Around 800,000 zebras along with antelopes in the western Serengeti region join the Great Migration of about 1.8 million wildebeest. This is one of the most exciting and breathtaking times to view the Great Migration, as the massive herds of animals attempt to cross the Grumeti River that is filled with hungry crocodiles. As the baby wildebeest and zebras are still young, they make easy prey for the huge crocodiles that waiting in the Grumeti River’s turbulent rushing waters. Many animals drown as they cross the Grumeti, getting pulled downstream by rushing currents heading westward towards Lake Victoria.
During these months, the migration has made its way to the northwestern region of the Serengeti located in southwestern Kenya called the “Maasai Mara.” It is an amazingly beautiful sight at to see the migration cross the famous Mara River.
Other Wildlife Species in the Serengeti
The Serengeti is the natural habitat of the Big Five (rhino, elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard), giraffe, 400 species of birds, hippos, gazelle, jackal, hare, dik-dik , mongoose, warthog, hedgehog, cheetah, waterbuck, hartebeest,ostrich and crocodile.
Where the southern Serengeti plains meet the central Serengeti woodlands are a mixture of diverse species. This includes predatory carnivorous animals, big cats and hyenas. The Seronera River in the central region is the habitat of the famous tree lion, tree climbing leopards and prides of lions. All of these animals have their own natural predators and prey.
lion-serengetiThe Serengeti Food Chain
The food chain in the Serengeti works like this : The lion is “king” as it is stronger and it’s teeth are sharper than its competitors or prey. If a cougar or a leopard are having a one-on-one face off the lion, the wins. Because of this, these carnivores hunt lions in teams. The individual lion is not king over the elephant. It is afraid of the elephant because of its the overwhelmingly size, weight and elephant tusks can spear or throw a lion though the air. The only way lions can kill an elephant is by hunting strategically in teams. The collective weight of several lions can bring down an elephant. Lions treat the giraffe with deference as a giraffe kick can kill any animal. Due to the individual strengths, sizes and abilities of the various big mammal species in the Serengeti, each has a cautionary respect for the other. Because of this, these varieties of animals live in relative harmony with one another and even share the same water holes, except when they are hungry.
Serengeti High Seasons
The Serengeti is inviting to visitors all year long. Even during its short rainy season (November-December) and long rainy season (March-May), it provides the opportunity to see spectacular views of the Big Five and the annual Great Migration. Throughout the year, visitors will enjoy vast majestic scenic landscapes and the tribal peoples who consider the Serengeti their home.
Kopjes
The Moru Kopjes in the Central Serengeti are rocky outcroppings used by lions and other predatory animals as look out points to locate game. The Kopjes are piles of ancient granite rocks that have been poking through the flat Serengeti surface for over 500 million years.
Ndutu
Ndutu, in the southeastern part of the Serengeti ecosystem is known for having all six species of big cats year round: Lion, Serval, Cheetah, African Wildcat, Leopard and Caracal. It’s a great place for big cat lovers . Just 18 km from Olduvai Gorge, Ndutu is the location where Mary Leakey located the oldest complete human skeleton dating back 1.8 million years ago.
Ngong Rock
The Ngong Rock is a white rock made of a completely different geological material than others in the area. The rock may be a meteorite from a comet. Located on one of the Serengeti’s Kopjes, it is the world’s oldest musical instrument. It has a metallic sounding ping when tapped on. This sound travels long distances. The Maasai have used the Ngong Rock since ancient times to communicate with other Maasai in locations far away. It has pitted with indentations on it showing how early man communicated with one another and created music playing simple melodies.
Maasai Rock Paintings
In the central Serengeti are a series of natural rocky shelters that protect ancient paintings. These paintings depict the people, animals, symbols and Maasai rituals painted with red ochre, black or white kaolin based paint.
Activities
In the southern Serengeti region, visitors can explore the endless Serengeti Plain watching the calving of the wildebeest, visit Olduvai Gorge: archeological site of Louis and Mary Leakey, see the Moru Kopjes famous for the endangered black rhino and Maasai rock paintings. In the western region, Lake Victoria invites exploration and fishing. One of the greatest natural spectacles on earth occurs in the western Serengeti June-July when the Great Migration crosses the Grumeti and Kirawira Rivers that are filled with hungry crocodiles as the migration follows its northern to northwestern course. From the northern highlands of the Serengeti guests will see the famous Mara River and its huge crocodiles. In the northwest, Ikoma, the visitors can enjoy the walking safari and night game drive. Serengeti NP also offers Balloon Safari throughout the year.
Will we see the Big 5 in the Serengeti?
Lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo. In times gone by, hunters ranked African animals as to how dangerous they were and how difficult to hunt on foot. Happily, these magnificent creatures are now celebrated by guests excited to capture them on camera, rather than returning with their head on top of the safari vehicle!
There are some exceptional Tanzania Safaris that will offer you opportunities of seeing the Big 5 in just a few days. For the best chance, we would recommend a safari that includes Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, for example (6-Day Highlights Tanzania Safari). You will almost definitely see lions, elephant and buffalo in the Serengeti. Leopards are harder to spot. There are Black Rhinos in the Serengeti, but your best chance of seeing the Black Rhino is in Ngorongoro Crater.
How much does a safari in the Serengeti cost?
A Tanzania Safari is a lifelong dream for many people and those privileged to experience this are never the same again. If you are reading this, it could be one of the first steps in making your dream a reality. But how much is it going to cost?
The costs involved in a Tanzanian Safari vary hugely, but it is not going to be cheap. Tanzanian Safaris are a significant investment.
The nature of Safaris can be quite adventurous and Lion King’s number one priority at all times is your safety. This requires significant financial investment, including our staff and fleet of vehicles. Lion King is a local, family owned Tour Operator and all our staff have become extended family members.
If you find a safari price that is significantly lower than others, something (or someone) is undoubtedly being compromised.
Approximate Daily costs of doing a Tanzania Safari
| Type of Safari | Cost (per person per day) |
| Basic Camping (in tents on the ground) | U$D 200 |
| Mid-range (lodges and tented camps) | U$D 350 |
| Luxury (lodges and tented camps) | U$D 500 |
The above information gives you a rough idea of the costs involved e.g. a 5 day Mid-Range Safari will cost you somewhere in the region of 5 x U$D 350 = U$D 1,750 per person.
At Lion King, we are honest and transparent about our pricing. We feel it’s important for you to understand how we arrive at the final price and the different factors that can influence this.
If you would like to learn more please read our blog How much does a safari cost in Tanzania?
How do you visit the Serengeti on a budget?
When visiting the Serengeti, the majority of our guests stay inside the Park. Accommodation is more expensive inside the Serengeti than other Parks, so the best way to keep the costs low is to do one of our basic camping safaris. Guests sleep in small private tents in designated campsites inside the Park. Our safari crew sets up the camp every evening and prepares all your meals. Facilities at the campsites are basic. They include shared washrooms and showers.
How many days do you need in the Serengeti?
The Serengeti is an ecosystem in Africa that spans 14,760 km² (5,700 square miles). It is immense. The park is rich with wildlife including over 4,000 lions, 1,000 leopards, 550 cheetahs and over 500 species of birds.
It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the Serengeti, due to its impressive size and changing patterns of the Migration.
The following information should help you plan when you might like to come to the Serengeti and how many days you should spend there. Please do discuss with your Lion King Tour Consultant for further information.
| Month | Days? | Location of migration | Additional Info
|
| Jan | 3 | Southern / Ndutu | Late January / early February is the best time to see the Wildebeest calving |
| Feb | 3 | ||
| March | 3 | ‘Long rains’
| |
| April | 3 | Central / Western Corridor | |
| May | 3 | ||
| June | 3 | Best chance of seeing the migration cross the Grumeti River in the Western Corridor
| |
| July | 3 | Western Corridor | |
| Aug | 4 | North / Central | Best chance of seeing the migration crossing the Mara River in the Northern Serengeti |
| Sep | 4 | ||
| Oct | 3 |
| |
| Nov | 3 | Central / Southern & Ndutu | ‘Short rains’ |
| Dec | 3 |
Please note, the drive from Arusha to the Southern Serengeti is at least 6 hours. The Serengeti is enormous, so distances and drive times can be significant. It is also possible to fly in and out of the Serengeti using light aircraft. Example flights include Arusha (ARK) to Serona (SEU) which takes approximately 90 minutes.
Typically, our guests visit the Serengeti as well as other National Parks in Tanzania (Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater).
Is it worth going to the Serengeti?
Yes, yes and yes! The Serengeti is spectacular. If you are coming to Tanzania, you MUST visit the Serengeti. Everyone who returns from the Serengeti has eyes the size of saucers, wide grins and unique tales to tell.
Here are our favourite reasons you should visit the Serengeti:
1. Incredible Wilderness. ‘Serengeti’ is derived from Maa (the language of the Maasai people) and means ‘Endless Plains’. In today’s world, it is nearly impossible to be alone. Whilst you will encounter other guests, there will be many opportunities throughout your visit when you feel truly alone in nature. The Serengeti is a feast for your senses and touches your heart.
2. Wildlife. The Serengeti is famous for its predators. You can expect excellent lion and cheetah sightings (and exciting lion kills), and leopards can also be spotted. For birders, there are more than 500 species in the park, including a few Tanzanian endemic species, such as Fischer’s lovebird and rufous-tailed weaver. Every game drive will be different and you will return full of wonder.
3. Accommodation. The majority of our guests stay inside the Serengeti National Park, inside Tented Camps. The Camps provide many of the comforts of a lodge within private, spacious canvas tents. The appeal of these camps and ‘safari tents’ is that you can experience sleeping under canvas in the wilderness, whilst still maintaining a high level of comfort.
4. The Great Migration: Whilst the Serengeti boasts abundant wildlife, it is perhaps best known for the annual Great Migration. Vast numbers of wildebeest, zebra and antelope move in an annual pattern, constantly seeking fresh grazing. This mass movement of animals is accompanied by predators picking off their kills, while the dangerous crossings of the mighty Mara River make for dramatic scenes of struggle and survival as animals battle strong current and attacks by enormous Nile crocodiles.
Tanzania Safari Tours through Serengeti National Park
5-Day Best of Tanzania Safari Northern Circuit
6 Day Ndutu Calving season Serengeti Migration
From January to April
7 day Western-corridor Wildebeest Migration Safari
8 Day Ndutu Calving season Serengeti Migration from January to April
Serengeti Migration Footsteps 9 Days / 8 Nights
10 days great wildebeest Mara river crossing
From August to October