Best Time to visit Serengeti National Park

Best Time to visit Serengeti

Serengeti National Park is the oldest and largest of the parks in Tanzania’s northern region, with a total area of about 14,750 square kilometres.

Any month of the year is a good time to visit Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, which is one of the country’s most well-liked safari locations. The scenery of the park, known as Serengeti, consists of huge savannah plains, acacia trees, and rock outcrops.

Activities which are carried out around Serengeti national park include morning and afternoon game drives, hot air balloon safaris, guided nature walks and also community tours.

Wildlife species which can be seen during a safari in Serengeti national park include the big 5 such as elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos. Other wildlife species in the national park include giraffes, cheetahs, zebras, impalas, hippos, wildebeests, gazelles among others.

Serengeti national park in the dry season

The dry season, which includes the months of June, July, August, September, and October, is the greatest time to visit Serengeti National Park since it offers the best animal watching and draws the most tourists. Tanzania offers excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing in January, February, and December.

In Tanzania’s dry season, wildlife species congregate near water sources to drink, making it easy to spot them. When visiting Serengeti National Park, it is also easier to see wildlife species because the vegetation is thinner in the dry season.

There are various aspects to take into account when deciding when season is appropriate for a trip of the Serengeti National Park, including the tour’s unique focus, which may be participating in a certain activity or going on a safari to see a particular species.

Budget-conscious tourists might be better served visiting Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park during off-peak hours than those with a higher travel budget.

The wildebeest migration in Serengeti national park takes place in different parts of the national park including the north, central, west and southern parts of the destination during specific months of the year.

Serengeti national park in the low season

Although the rainy season is a good time to see wildlife on a safari, it may not be the best time to visit a safari destination like Serengeti National Park.

Tanzania’s low season, also known as the “green season,” lasts from March through May and also into November. During this time, fewer travellers go on safari than they do during the high season when they visit the Serengeti National Park and other tourist destinations in Tanzania.

In addition to the few visitors who go on safari in the Serengeti National Park and the rains, the low season is distinguished by cheaper safari rates as well as green and lush vegetation.

Bird watching safaris in Serengeti national park are also best done during the months of November to April. Some of the bird species found in the national park include kori bustard, rufous tailed weavers, African fish eagle, southern ground hornbill, secretary birds and many others.

Best time for the wildebeest migration in Serengeti national park

Along with zebras and gazelles, the wildebeest migration involves the annual movement of over 2 million wildebeests. Tourists can take safaris across the various regions of the Serengeti National Park at various times of the year to view the wildebeest migration.

Serengeti wildebeest safari in the south:

It is possible to witness the wildebeest migration in the southern Serengeti National Park in the months of January, February, and March, which coincide with Tanzania’s calving season.

The calving season occurs in the Ndutu region, which is a component of the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Over 8,000 wildebeest calves are born every day in the savannah plains during the calving season.

During safaris in the southern part of Serengeti national park, many predators can also be seen including lions.

Serengeti wildebeest safari in the central;

The Serengeti’s central region, commonly known as the Seronera Region, is where the wildebeest migration takes place in the months of April and May.

This region of the Serengeti National Park is also home to numerous wildlife species, including lions, leopards, and cheetahs, which are popular with tourists going on safari.

Serengeti wildebeest safari in the west;

Around May and June, the wildebeest migration occurs in the western Serengeti National Park. The wildebeests cross the Grumeti River at this time of year, and safaris allow visitors to see a variety of other animals, including elephants, giraffes, hippos, and antelopes.

There are savannah plains, woodlands and floodplains which can be seen during safaris in the western part of Serengeti national park.

Serengeti wildebeest safari in the north;

The wildebeest migration in the northern part of Serengeti national park can be seen during the months of July and August.

Wildebeest crossings on the Mara river can be seen during the wildebeest migration in the northern part of Serengeti national park. Many other wildlife species which can be seen in this part of the national park include elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes and many others.

From the Mara river, the herds of wildebeests cross from Serengeti national park to Masai Mara reserve in Kenya and later in the month of November, the wildebeest migration returns to Tanzania.

How to get to Serengeti national park

Serengeti national park is located in northern Tanzania and can be accessed by flight and by road.

There are different airline companies which operate flights to the different airstrips in Serengeti national park and they include Seronera airstrip, Kogatende airstrip, Grumeti airstrip, Ndutu airstrip, Kirawira airstrip among others.

Alternatively driving to Serengeti national park is another experience to take part in when visiting Tanzania. The drive from Arusha to Serengeti national park takes about 7 hours.

When visiting Serengeti national park there are different lodges and tented camps which provide accommodation and they include luxury, midrange and budget lodges. Some of the lodges in Serengeti national park include Serengeti Serena lodge, Singita camp, Mara river tented camp, Kiota camp, Faru Faru lodge, Melia Serengeti lodge, Angata Serengeti camp and many others.

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