If you are planning on going to a safari, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania should be on top of that list. Here is how you plan a perfect trip to Serengeti.
Planning a trip to Serengeti National Park can be as organized or as flexible as you want it to be. From group tours for all ages offering customizable multi-day packages to self-driving experiences for those who have been on a safari in Africa several times, Serengeti offers it all. Still, due to its massive size (Serengeti is almost as big as Slovenia) and large options for safari experiences, you will need some basic information on when in the year is the best time to go, what kind of experience are you looking for and of course, how much money are you planning to spend. These are my best tips on how to plan a trip to the Serengeti National Park.
Why Visit Serengeti National Park?
“There’s more to see than can ever be seen, more to do than can ever be done. This magnificent game park sprawls across 5,700 square miles of northern Tanzania in East Africa.
Within the boundaries of the Serengeti, you’ll hear thousands of animals: Hyenas cackle as elephants trample well-worn safari roads and hippos splash in watering holes. And at any given time, more than 2,000 lions are poised to pounce on unsuspecting prey, preparing to chase their unlucky target through the seemingly endless waves of golden grass.
The scenery rustles with the swift steps of loping giraffes, and tree branches shake with every monkey’s movement. But the most magical site you’ll behold is The Great Migration, during which White’s paradise is drowned by a sea of animals as more than one million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles traverse the Serengeti in search of greener pastures.
Best things to do in Serengeti:
The main attraction here is the wildlife. Serengeti National Park houses the highest concentration of large mammals in the world, so you’re bound to spot giraffes, elephants, hippos and, of course, lions. You’ll also come across more than 500 species of birds, including ostriches and flamingos.
But while seeing one or two animals at a time may be exciting, nothing beats seeing them in a pack. The Great Migration is the Serengeti’s main draw: This voyage of more than one million wildebeest, zebras and other hoofed animals is one of the world’s largest wildlife spectacles. When you tire of gazing at grazers, head to Moru Kopjes to mingle with rhinos or to the Retina Hippo Pool to watch these massive mammals splash about.
The primary reason to visit Serengeti National Park is to witness The Great Migration. Considered one of the world’s largest animal migrations, The Great Migration involves more than one million wildebeest, zebras, gazelles and a variety of other animals traversing the Serengeti annually in search of food and breeding grounds.
The top-rated hotels in Serengeti National Park are sorted by hotel class and then by user rating, as provided by TripAdvisor. The major distinction that needs to be made is the difference between mobile camps and permanent lodges. The mobile camps follow the migration throughout the year and have two or three ideal locations where they move to. The mobile camps are all tented and provide a more authentic and ‘real’ safari experience. Luxury is not compromised though and there is nothing better than opening the front of your luxury tent in the morning and stepping straight out onto the plains of the Serengeti.
Permanent camps on the other hand, do not move. They are in fixed locations throughout the year meaning that they might not be ideal if you want to witness the migration. The other animal population is so high in the Serengeti that although these camps may not have the migration near to them for a few months of the year, you can still expect to see plenty of predators and other plains game. It is definitely necessary to chat to one of our team to talk you through where the migration is and where the best camps are for the time of year you are looking to travel.
The lodges and camps in the Serengeti do vary in price considerably, ranging from more affordable camps to the highly luxurious and pricey lodges. No matter your budget, all of the camps we recommend for your every need. Below we have listed a few of our favourites:
What to eat in Serengeti?
Restaurants are few and far between in Serengeti National Park, but if you want to enjoy a sit-down meal, you’re in luck – several of the park’s lodges feature one or more on-site restaurants. Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, for example, has an eatery that specializes in buffet-style meals with traditional safari and Tanzanian fare, such as locally sourced coffee and tea, nyama choma (grilled meats) and ugali (a maize dish that has a porridge-like consistency). And at the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, three dining venues are available, including an outdoor terrace with pizza and African-inspired tapas and an indoor buffet with various African and international dishes. Boma Grill, the property’s third restaurant, seats guests around an open-air fire pit as they savor African dishes and watch the Masai perform a traditional dance. Many Serengeti lodges will also offer bush dining experiences, where diners can enjoy a private meal in the wild.
However, most travelers opt to go on safari (most of which cover all meals in tour rates) or purchase food at one of the park’s convenience stores to prepare at a campsite. Safari tour operators that provide meals at a lodge or boxed to enjoy picnic-style include Trip Insight Tanzania . Keep in mind that some companies charge an additional fee for soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. For budget-conscious travelers, the park sells drinks, snacks and raw meat for grilling at convenience stores in the Seronera River Valley and Naabi Hill.
Best time to Visit Serengeti National Park:
The best times to visit Serengeti National Park are from January to February or from June through September, although you should plan your trip around the movement of The Great Migration.
For example, winter is the best time to see the herd in Southern Serengeti, while the Western Corridor and Northern Serengeti are the best places to spend the summer and autumn months. Most safari operators will have a good idea of where the animals are headed and when, and most will adjust their itineraries based on the herd’s movement.
Temperatures remain relatively constant with daytime highs resting in the 80s. You’ll find cooler weather in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area due to its higher elevation. April and May see the most rainfall, and many lodges and camps close for this slower season.
Getting Around Serengeti National Park
The best way to get around Serengeti National Park is by safari. Safari guides know how to best navigate the park’s dirt roads and how to find the most fascinating wildlife. Many safari packages also cover transportation to and from the airstrips, food and lodging. If you prefer to travel on your own, you can rent a car (and even hire a driver) at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is located about 190 miles east of the park’s main entrance, Naabi Hill Gate. Additionally, all five regions of the Serengeti – Northern Serengeti, the Western Corridor, Eastern Serengeti, Central Serengeti and Southern Serengeti – are accessible by air through several regional carriers and nine internal airstrips.
SafariTo make the most of your visit to Serengeti National Park, consider booking a safari tour. Knowledgeable guides can provide a wealth of information on the park’s regions and wildlife. Some tour operators offer a variety of ways to get around, including hiking and driving. You can even see a bird’s-eye view of the park on a hot air balloon safari. To save money, consider booking a safari package, which are offered by companies like African Dream Safaris and Serengeti Select Safaris and include transportation, lodging, food and so much more. | PlaneThough the only options for getting around the park are to travel by safari tour or car, visitors can get to and from Serengeti National Park by plane. There are nine airstrips found inside the park. The Seronera airstrip serves Central Serengeti; the Lobo, Kleins and Kogatende airstrips provide access to the north; the Grumeti, Kirawira and Sasakwa airstrips offer service to the Western Corridor; and the Kusini and Ndutu airstrips are situated in Southern Serengeti. Round-trip flights generally cost between $396 and $435 per person. |
Map of Serengeti National Park
Entering Serengeti by road
Most travellers enter the Serengeti National Park through the Naabi Hill Gate. It is located in the southeastern part of the park and it will be your obligatory stop, if you were to drive straight through from Arusha.
Furthermore, in order to enter the Serengeti National Park from Arusha, travelers would have to drive through Ngorongoro Conservation Area and still pay a transit fee. The drive from Arusha takes around 7 to 8 hours and is simply a full day of continuous driving and barely time for a stop.
The drive is long and exhausting. That is why most tour operators offer a combination of the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and the Tarangire National Park in a single tour.
Additionally, there is no public transportation connecting Serengeti to the nearby towns, but don’t worry. Most tour operators will include the drive from Arusha or the nearby airports in your tour package
How expensive is to visit Serengeti
Unlike other national parks in eastern and southern Africa, where entrance fees and transfer costs are low, a visit to Serengeti is a big expense for anyone traveling on a budget. Transfers, transit fees, game drives, park fees and accommodation fees add up very quickly. Also, with a wide range of customizable safari options available, figuring out an average cost without taking into consideration what exactly you would like to do is a little bit pointless
There are big budget-influencing factors that can help you determine how expensive your visit to Serengeti can be. Before you contact tour operators or start planning your own independent trip, ask yourself following questions:
What level of comfort would you like to have for accommodation?
self-camping, budget camp, tented lodge or an all-inclusive lodge, among others
NOTE: You have to sleep inside the national park. Even though costs are higher, distances are way to far for you to enter the national park every day and see the most of it.
What time of year are you planning to visit Serengeti?
July to October is considered the high season while November to December & April to May are low season. December to March is considered calving season, which is one of the most popular times to visit Serengeti – also quite expensive.
What kind of activities do you want to add to your itinerary?
Are you interested in doing several days of game drives around the park, cultural tours that get you more in contact with the Maasai ethnic group or simply several days of relaxation.
How are you planning to get to Serengeti?
Driving or flying? This is probably the most influential factor in determining your budget. While driving is obviously cheaper, you will end up spending at least 1,5 days in a vehicle. On the other hand, flying will increase your budget significantly, but will give you more time to spend inside the park – especially if you are planning a trip for just a few days.
To give you an estimate of the potential cost of a safari in Serengeti. If you decide to do self-camping, private driver safari with 2 game drives, and cook meals by yourself, expect to spend around 200-250 EUR per day.
“If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa” – John Hemingway – Writer.
Entering Serengeti by air
For those traveling with a higher budget and less time, there are several airstrips throughout the park, allowing visitors to fly within easy reach of whichever camp or lodge they have booked.
Kusini and Ndutu airstrips are located in the south and serve mostly luxurious tented camps, while Seronera airstrip is located in the heart of the park and serves most travelers entering by air.
Other airstrips are Lobo, Kleins, and Kogatende in the north; and Grumeti and Sasakwa airstrips in the west side of the country. These are also airstrips mostly used by guests staying at any of the luxury camps in those areas.
Flights from Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, or Ngorongoro start at 200 EUR for a round trip and they can be arranged through the tour operator or directly with the lodge you are staying.
Serengeti in High Season or Low Season?
“For travelers looking to visit Serengeti or Masai Mara, the beginning of November is probably the best time to visit. Prices are low because the low season began, the chances of rain might be low and the possibility of seeing large concentrations of wildebeest are still high at the border between Masai Mara and Serengeti.“
Self-driving in Serengeti
This is probably one of the most searched questions for road trip lovers and the simple answer is – yes, you can self-drive and camp at Serengeti National Park. However, entrance fees are higher for self-drivers and you need proper off-road driving skills in certain situations.
Furthermore, you need to understand basic safari etiquette when it comes to observing animals from a distance, know the rules of the national park and be ready for any inconvenience you will find along the way.
Extra tanks with gasoline, basic knowledge on how to repair a vehicle and proper maps are essential to avoid any bad experience.
“self-driving in Serengeti is a magical experience. However, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone without the proper experience. Self-driving makes way more difficult to find animals in the wild. At the same time, we have lots of inconveniences with travelers getting lost or stuck. It happens more than you think and its expensive, annoying and frustrating for anyone encountering this situation.” – Serengeti Ranger.
