SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

Located in the north of Tanzania, on the border with Kenya, Serengeti National Park is a veritable temple to safari. With its vast wilderness and abundant wildlife, Serengeti offers a glimpse of the wonderful natural landscapes for which Tanzania is famous.

The Serengeti National Park offers incredible biodiversity and is home to a high density of animals. It’s the ideal place to watch the great migration! This gigantic park is home to over 4,000 lions, more than 200 cheetahs, a thousand leopards and over 3,000 hyenas, giving you plenty of game to watch. The wild animals roam freely among 3 million mammals: elephants, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, antelope, hippopotamus, rhinoceros and primates!
The park is so unique in nature: mountains, savannah, forests, rivers… that it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Of course, it’s a protected area!

Discover the landscapes and ecosystems of the Serengeti

With its mythical landscapes and high animal density, Tanzania’s second largest national park invites you into the heart of a unique natural environment. Mountains, savannahs, forests, rivers – the Serengeti National Park stands out for the richness of its ecosystem.

• The vast plains that are emblematic of safari landscapes are found in the south of the Serengeti National Park. Here, the lions nap on their granite rocks called Kopjes while observing the immense herds of herbivores that populate the surrounding plains.
  
• The Seronera Valley in the centre of the Serengeti National Park is home to a high concentration of wild animals attracted by the river that runs through it.
  
• The Western Corridor, to the west of the park, is a key stop-off point during the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra. Crossing the crocodile-filled Grumeti River is one of the spectacular scenes to be seen as the herbivores move northwards through the park.
  
• The Namiri area to the east of the reserve offers similar scenery to that of the south, while offering an exclusive safari experience in the heart of an even wilder savannah

• The vast plains and wooded hills of the Kogatende region, through which the Mara River flows, in the north of the Serengeti National Park, are the scene of spectacular scenes during the Great Migration.

The great migration of animals in the Serengeti

The Serengeti National Park is home to one of the most beautiful spectacles in the world: the Great Migration. Every year, millions of wildebeest and zebra move with the seasons between Tanzania and Kenya in East Africa. It’s a migration characterised by spectacular scenes that vary completely depending on the time of year.

Every year, depending on the rains, tens of thousands of herbivores, mainly wildebeest (2 million) and zebra (300,000), cross the great plains between Kenya and Tanzania in search of new pastures.
The great migration starts in the south of the Serengeti (Tanzania) and takes place for much of the year in this park, moving between the south and the Ndutu region, the Western Corridor, Seronera in the centre and Lobo in the north. The Serengeti is therefore often considered a must-see on a Tanzanian safari.
Our experienced guides will know exactly where to take you to observe this migration! Our advice: contact an advisor for a tailor-made trip. He or she will know what type of tour to offer you, depending on your holiday period, so that you can be as close as possible to the great migration.

• From January to March, the herds gather in the Ndutu region in the south of the Serengeti National Park, on the border with the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This is where you can watch thousands of baby wildebeest being born.
• Between April and May, the herbivores migrate north through the Western Corridor. Crossing the Grumeti River, home to a large crocodile population, is an impressive sight.
• From June to September, wildebeest and zebra migrate towards the Mara River for a perilous crossing into Kenyan territory.
• From October to December, the animals begin a new journey towards the south of the Serengeti National Park.

The Serengeti Big Five

Behind this emblematic name are 5 animals that cannot be ignored on the African savannah: the lion, the leopard, the elephant, the buffalo and the rhinoceros. While this term is now used to describe the stars of a photographic safari in Tanzania, it used to refer to the 5 animals that were the hardest to find on a hunting safari. Massive hunting has led to the loss of a large part of the population of these majestic species. Today, the protection of the Serengeti National Park is helping to preserve and stabilise the members of the Big Five. The high animal density and rich biodiversity of the Serengeti make it the ideal place to observe these emblematic species.

The 4×4 safari experience in the heart of the Serengeti

Enjoy a tailor-made safari experience in the Serengeti National Park in an all-terrain vehicle specially designed for observing Tanzania’s wildlife. Let us guide you along the wild tracks of the reserve in search of the famous Big Five. Our safari vehicles ensure your comfort and safety for a total immersion in the heart of the Tanzanian savannah!

Accommodation in the Serengeti National Park

Tented camps are the best way to spend the night in the Serengeti National Park. Whether fixed or mobile to follow the Great Migration, these top-of-the-range camps, made up of comfortable safari tents, guarantee you a journey in total immersion with the wilderness. A moment of escape up close to the emblematic animals of the Tanzanian savannah awaits you! We’ll be able to suggest the lodge best suited to your budget and your desires, for a complete change of scenery in the heart of the Serengeti National Park.

The different predators of the Serengeti living together

The real stars of the African savannah, predators are among the most sought-after animals for travellers on safari in Tanzania. Emblems of the African bush, lions and leopards reign supreme in the Serengeti. But the famous members of the Big Five are not the only predators to have made their home in the wilds of the Serengeti National Park. Cheetahs, hyenas, jackals and crocodiles are also present. These flagship predators of the animal kingdom represent a danger to the many species that inhabit the park’s vast plains. Their cohabitation is essential for regulating herbivore populations and contributes to the balance of a unique ecosystem. The Serengeti National Park is the ideal place to observe hunting scenes during a safari in Tanzania because of its high concentration of predators.

Conservation and protection of endangered species in the Serengeti

Tanzania’s appeal is essentially based on the richness and beauty of its natural heritage. Preserving local biodiversity is therefore a major challenge for the country. Long threatened by hunters and poachers, the emblematic animals of the African savannah are now the focus of preservation and conservation initiatives. The Serengeti National Park is one of 14 national parks created to protect endangered species. All human activity, with the exception of tourism, is prohibited on the vast plains of the Serengeti. The very strict regulations governing these wild areas protect the animals from poaching and encourage the stabilisation and growth of endangered species such as lions and elephants. Raising awareness and educating local people who have been forced to leave the Serengeti is also crucial to preserving the local flora and fauna.

The impact of tourism on the Serengeti and eco-responsible initiatives

Created with the aim of preserving local flora and fauna, the Serengeti National Park plays a key role in protecting Tanzania’s biodiversity. Tourism is an essential source of revenue for financing the actions needed to conserve this fragile ecosystem. Despite its vital importance in preserving Tanzania’s emblematic animals, tourism has a significant environmental impact. More and more ecological initiatives are being launched to encourage the development of sustainable, eco-responsible tourism. The management of waste and natural resources is at the heart of the concerns of tourism operators committed to sustainable development. At Off Road, we do everything we can to offer you an authentic and more sustainable safari tour. This commitment translates into concrete actions: helping to educate local populations, raising travellers’ awareness, encouraging local employment, selecting partners committed to an eco-responsible approach.

The cultural richness and traditions of the local populations around the Serengeti

Exploring the Serengeti National Park is not just about seeing exceptional wildlife and breathtaking landscapes, it’s also about discovering the land of the Maasai. During your stay on the Serengeti trails, you’ll have the chance to get to know this emblematic people of semi-nomadic herders and warriors. When you meet a Maasai tribe, you’ll experience an authentic moment of sharing, you’ll meet fascinating people, and you’ll discover a way of life, a culture and traditions. The safari tours we organise in Tanzania encourage cultural exchange. We want you to discover this unique and authentic world on your tailor-made trip to the Serengeti National Park. Meeting local people is an integral part of the safari experience. A visit to a traditional village in the Serengeti will give you the opportunity to create special moments of exchange and sharing with the Maasai people. An encounter you won’t soon forget!

Must-sees on a Serengeti holiday with Off Road

Famous for its abundant wildlife, fantastic scenery and the impressive migration of millions of zebra and wildebeest, the Serengeti National Park offers a packed safari experience. The vast plains of this temple of safari are full of wonders.

Watch our off-track video on the Serengeti Reserve:

Here are our top 5 must-sees on a Serengeti safari:

• See the famous Big Five
• Witness hunting scenes
• Admire the Great Wildebeest Migration
• Fly over the savannah in a hot-air balloon
• Discover the local culture by visiting a Maasai village

How to prepare for your Serengeti safari with Off Road?

Would you like to discover this emblematic national park in Tanzania? Discover all our practical advice on how to prepare for your safari.

How do I get to Serengeti National Park?

The Serengeti National Park is accessible by car or plane.

• 8 hours’ drive from Arusha
• 3 hours’ drive from Ngorongoro
• 5 hours’ drive from Tarangire
• 1h45 flight from Arusha airport

To keep journey times to a minimum, it is advisable to visit the Serengeti National Park after a safari in Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire or the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

When should you go on safari in the Serengeti National Park?

Located in northern Tanzania, the Serengeti National Park enjoys a pleasant climate all year round. The two rainy seasons, from March to May and November to December, are not incompatible with a safari. Temperatures are mild and the rains are acceptable during this period. The dry season, from June to October, and the hot season, from late December to late February, offer more favourable conditions. Your choice of period will depend mainly on what you want to see during your safari in the Serengeti National Park. This emblematic nature reserve is the scene of a fascinating spectacle: the Great Migration. Many travellers plan their trip to Tanzania around this incredible phenomenon. Each part of the park has its own special season for observing this exceptional natural spectacle. Here are the key phases in the migration of millions of wildebeest between Tanzania and Kenya:

• December to March: birthing season in the Ndutu region in the south of the Serengeti National Park
• April – May: crossing of the western corridor to the north of the park
• July – August: wildebeest migration to the Masaï Mara National Park in Kenya. Impressive crossing of the Mara River.
• October to December: herds move to the southern plains of the Serengeti National Park.

Prices and regulations in the Serengeti National Park

Entrance fees to the Serengeti National Park vary according to age:

• uSD 60 for adults
• uSD 20 for children aged 5 to 15
• Free for children under 5

An additional fee will apply depending on the weight of the vehicle, and the guide’s fee is also payable by visitors. VAT of 18% will also be charged. If you choose to travel with Off Road, all these costs will be included in the price of your tailor-made safari in Tanzania.

A safari in the Serengeti National Park is subject to certain rules:

• Respect the fauna and flora
• Be accompanied by a guide
• Do not get out of the vehicle
• No smoking

100% personalised off-road travel offers via the Serengeti