Serengeti National Park

The sheer scale of the park makes it impossible to do in a day. Serengeti National Park tours generally start or end in Arusha and arrive from as far as neighboring Kenya. 

Tented camp and safari lodge accommodation is available in the park. Tours generally include lodging, game drives, vehicle entrance fees, and Serengeti National Park tickets. Hot-air balloon safaris are a particularly enchanting way to take in the scenery.

Serengeti National Park often features on safari packages that include stops at other game reserves in the area. These include Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Travelers with mobility restrictions should contact their tour provider to confirm access arrangements.

• The Tanzania National Park Authority enforces strict rules about when and where to drive.

• Tipping, while not compulsory, is common practice on safari tours, for both the guide and chef. You only need to tip at the end of your experience.

• Flushable toilets and Wi-Fi are available in the park's luxury lodges.

The easiest way to visit the park is by joining a tour that includes round-trip transportation. The drive from Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport takes around 8 hours. However, tours often stop at other parks along the way. You can also take a charter plane directly from Arusha’s domestic airport to the park.

The Serengeti is famous for its annual great wildebeest migration. During this annual event, around 2 million wildebeest, 500,000 gazelle, and 250,000 zebra move en masse along the Serengeti Plain, across the Mara River, on their way to Kenya’s Maasai Mara. The annual migration takes place on a year-round cycle, so you have a good chance of seeing the travelers between November and June. The calving months of February and March are best for seeing newborns—and predators.

Serengeti National Park's northern reaches share a continuous border with Kenya's Maasai Mara National Reserve, making it easy to see both on a multi-day tour. The Maasai Mara takes its name from the indigenous communities that live in the region. It's a must-see for anyone interested in East Africa's natural and cultural heritage.

July is the best month to visit Serengeti National Park. It’s the peak month of the great migration in the park, during which wildebeest and zebras set off toward Maasai Mara in Kenya in search of prime grazing lands. July also falls during the dry season, which means pleasant weather for safaris and camping.

You should spend at least two full days in Serengeti National Park, or even three, if you really want to maximize your experience. The park is massive, with a lot of ground to cover, so with multiple days, you can do numerous game drives, increasing your chances of seeing wildlife.

Yes, it is safe to visit Serengeti National Park. Tanzania has excellent national park infrastructure, with highly skilled and trained rangers and guides taking charge of safaris. Plenty of rules are in place to keep humans safe from wild animals and vice versa—just don't leave your vehicle without your guide’s permission.

Yes, there is mobile network coverage in parts of Serengeti National Park, but other parts have limited or no coverage. Most lodges have Wi-Fi for guests, and safari guides have long-distance radios that they can use to communicate with rangers and other drivers in case of emergency.

Yes, malaria is an issue in Serengeti National Park. Although the chances of contracting the disease are lower than in some other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, taking precautions is still a good idea. Most travelers take malaria prophylactics. It’s prudent to consult with your doctor or a travel clinic well before your trip.

The best way to experience Serengeti National Park is by joining a safari tour. Many options are available, from quick visits to the park to multi-night tours that include game drives at other parks, such as the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Tarangire National Park.