Serengeti National Park is one of the two most visited Big 5 destinations in East Africa, and with good reason. Almost from the moment you set foot in it, variety of wildlife surrounds you in astonishing numbers, together with an incomparable sense of space.
Its headline event is the annual wildebeest migration, a wildlife spectacle that presents a great opportunity to encounter high density of predators at a very close range, inclusive of lions. For better sightings of cheetahs, a visit to its southern plains won’t disappoint you. On the other hand, leopards can typically be found lazing in one of the big trees along the Seronera River.
In terms of scenery, the national park is the mirror image of Kenya’s Masai Mara. It is richly endowed with endless rolling bleached grasslands with scattered flat-topped acacia trees. It is largely dominated by a savannah except for its western corridor, a humid, fairly wet stretch of land that almost touches Lake Victoria, Africa’s biggest freshwater lake.
Although the park’s friendly weather makes it an ideal destination to visit anytime of the year, late-October and early June is worth a star recommendation. During this time, Serengeti is home to over a million wildebeest and thousands of other grazers.
In contrast, the months from June to October are less preferred because majority of those animals migrate in massive numbers to Masai Mara. Having spent over a decade bringing tourists here, our driver guides know which spots to give more attention during game drives so as to increase your chances of encountering wildlife.
Among the different parts of the park, central Seronera zone is the busiest as it has the easiest access and highest concentration of camps and lodges. If you want to get a great slice of the Serengeti to yourself, the far northwest of the park doesn’t disappoint. During your time here, you might not actually see another safari vehicle for three days.
By the same token, the far east of the Serengeti National Park is also a quiet haven, especially the Namiri Plains which until very recently was restricted to all except for park staff and scientists. If you are looking for the most pleasant area in the park to walk, this is it! Namiri has a wealth of birds and nature-filled stillness. Similarly, all of the Big Five are present here.
Most of the accommodation where our clients stay during their visit to Serengeti are located at areas where absolute solitude is almost a given. As such, there’s a better than average chance of hearing deep throaty roars of lions. Its quite nerve wracking the first few times but it soon quickly becomes a noise you’ll relish.
Whenever you visit the Serengeti, you’re guaranteed a lifetime of memories.
Being a national park, off-road driving is forbidden here but thankfully, walking safaris aren’t. A great alternative for anyone who wishes to as close as possible to wildlife.