In the Maasai language, its name is Siringit “the place where the land runs on forever.” It’s a name that perfectly captures the spirit of the Serengeti. This is not just a national park; it’s a primordial landscape of immense scale, a functioning ecosystem that feels as ancient as the continent itself.
Located in northern Tanzania, the Serengeti’s vast, sun-drenched plains are the stage for one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth: the Great Wildebeest Migration. But beyond this famous drama, the Serengeti is a year-round sanctuary for one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. It is a land of acacia-dotted horizons, legendary big cats, and a profound sense of wildness that stays with you long after you’ve left.
The migration is not a single event but a continuous, clockwise cycle driven by the rains. Understanding its rhythm is key to planning your trip.
While the migration is spectacular, the Serengeti offers phenomenal game viewing at any time of year. The park’s sheer size means it has distinct regions, each with its own character.
They are two parts of the same incredible ecosystem. The Serengeti is much larger, offering a sense of immense scale and the chance to follow the Great Migration for most of the year, including the calving season. The Masai Mara is more compact, with a very high density of predators, and is the stage for the famous river crossings from roughly July to October. Many epic safaris include both.
The dramatic Mara River crossings in the northern Serengeti are most likely to occur between late July and October. However, this is a natural event, and the exact timing is unpredictable.
Due to its vast size, we recommend a minimum of three to four nights. This allows you to explore one or two different regions (like the Seronera and the North/West) and gives you enough time to truly immerse yourself in the landscape and have multiple chances for incredible sightings.
Absolutely. The Serengeti has one of the largest concentrations of resident wildlife in the world. Even when the great herds are elsewhere, the central Seronera region, for example, is teeming with lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, and giraffes.
The South is classic, open plains, ideal for the calving season. The Central (Seronera) is famous for its rivers and is the best year-round area for big cats. The West has thicker woodlands and the Grumeti River, while the North is more rugged and the stage for the Mara River crossings.
It’s a significant investment, but most people who do it consider it a highlight of their entire trip. The peacefulness, the unique perspective of the vast plains, and the magic of a champagne breakfast in the bush make it an unforgettable experience.
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