TZ · Mara and Simiyu Regions · 2.40°S 34.60°E

serengeti national park

Wide savannah, lions on rocky kopjes and wildebeest herds moving with the rains.

Best time
June–October is the dry season, with river crossings in the north from about July. December–March brings the herds to the southern plains to calve, around Ndutu just outside the park; April–May is the long rains, and some camps close.
How long
3–4 nights, within a longer safari
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Kilimanjaro airport, usually via Addis Ababa, Doha or Dubai, about 14–18 hours all in. Small planes from Arusha or Kilimanjaro reach the Serengeti airstrips in 1–2 hours; by road it's a long day from Arusha via Ngorongoro.
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TZ · Mara and Simiyu Regionsserengeti national park2.40°S 34.60°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Wide savannah, lions on rocky kopjes and wildebeest herds moving with the rains.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingSerengeti National ParkTZ, Mara and Simiyu Regions
KLserengeti national park
≈ 7,482 km from KL, as the crow flies
A fairly typical example of the scenery in Serengeti National Park in western Tanzania. The plains are wide and full of grass, with trees, mainly acacias, dotted around the landscape.

Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

The Serengeti is vast, so choosing where to stay matters as much as choosing the month. Lions, leopards and plenty else live here all year, while the migrating herds follow the rain and the fresh grass.

Makan

  1. Ugali with stewMaize porridge with beans, vegetables or meat.Map ↗
  2. PilauSpiced rice, the local option alongside international camp meals.Map ↗
  3. ChapatiFlaky flatbread with breakfast or a bean stew.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. SeroneraThe central river valleys, rich in big cats all year and a good base for a first safari.Map ↗
  2. KopjesGranite outcrops rising from the plains, where lions lounge and watch for prey.Map ↗
  3. The migrationMore than a million wildebeest and zebra on the move, followed by a guide who knows where they are this week.Map ↗
  4. Balloon safariDawn flights that show just how endless the plains are.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Sleep where the herds are: a central camp is a very long drive from the northern river crossings.
  • Tanzanian safari operators arrange halal meals and packed lunches readily; mention it when you book.
  • Bush planes allow about 15 kg each, in soft bags.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.