The best locations for safari in Serengeti
Serengeti
is divided into eight
very seasonal sub-areas
Serengeti key locations …
Serengeti Mara is the prime area for migration herds and river crossings during the Jul-Nov dry season and a wonderful quiet backwater at other times, with guest accommodation in around 30 small lodges and camps, offering a good range of safari experiences. Slight traffic issues in peak migration months.
prime area for migration river crossings
At 1600 square kilometres, Serengeti Mara is an absolutely superb sector of this fabulous national park.
It is contiguous with the Maasai Mara in Kenya, the border being open to animals but closed to people and vehicles.
The main feature is crocodile rich Mara River, a formidable barrier for the migration herds.
South of the river the landscape is a mix of grass and acacia covered hills.
North of the river the landscape is largely comprised of beautiful open plains.
Serengeti has rich and varied resident wildlife year round.
Predators include loads of lions, plus cheetahs, leopards and spotted hyenas.
For many people the main event is the wildebeest and zebra migration, which is usually here during the Jul-Nov dry season.
Migration river crossings are widely considered to be a safari highlight.
Unusually for this region, a few camps are able to offer walking safari inside the park.
This is also a major location for balloon safari during the migration season.
The area has a really good range of small lodges and authentic mobile tented camps.
Explore our comprehensive listing of lodges for this area …
Serengeti Mara is usually accessed as part of a 7 to 12 night overland expedition through the greater Serengeti region.
The area can also be accessed by air from Kigali, Nairobi, Arusha and Dar es Salaam.
Serengeti North is something of a transit area through which the migration herds pass Jun-Jul and Nov-Dec, with guest accommodation in only a modest selection of lodges.
a less interesting transit area
At 1600 square kilometres, Serengeti North is a large but surprisingly modest sector of this great reserve.
The main reason is that the vast majority of the area is comprised of inaccessible forested hills with low wildlife densities.
The main area of interest is the broad Lobo Valley, flanked by very impressive granite kopjes.
A small river here ensures that there is a good range of resident wildlife.
In fact this is one of the very best parts of the park for breeding herds of elephants.
There are lions and leopards in the area, but they can be quite elusive.
The migration herds pass through northbound in May-Jun and southbound in Nov-Dec.
But the herds tend to disperse amongst the acacia woodland, greatly diminishing the spectacle.
The area has only a small collection of accommodation options.
Serengeti Mara is usually accessed as part of a 7 to 12 night overland expedition through the greater Serengeti region.
Serengeti Central is the heart of this remarkable reserve, with guest accommodation in around 25 camps and lodges, offering prodigious wildlife viewing year round. But with serious potential for traffic problems.
the busy heart of the reserve
At 3600 square kilometres, Serengeti Central is vast portion of this fabulous national park.
The landscapes comprise broad grassy valleys and light acacia forests, backed by granite hills.
To the southeast lie the main Serengeti Plains.
Strangely these iconic flats remain difficult to access and can feel surprisingly remote and peaceful.
Critically this area contains permanent water sources, which has a big effect on the movement of wildlife.
The Seronera area has rich and varied resident wildlife year round.
The main wildebeest and zebra herds tend to pass through northbound in Apr-Jun and southbound Oct-Dec.
These are not prime times for migration action, but the herds do certainly add extra interest.
Of more immediate interest in this particular area is the antelope migration.
During the Jun-Oct dry season the various antelopes converge on the water sources of central areas .
They are followed in by large numbers of lions, cheetahs and spotted hyenas.
During Jul-Oct this area has the highest densities of these predators of anywhere in Africa.
It is not unusual to see over 100 lions and over 20 cheetahs in a single day.
This is also a major location for balloon safari.
The area contains a vast range of accommodation including cool tented camps to large motel hotels and public campgrounds.
The key issue when choosing where to stay is vehicle traffic, which can be really serious in this area.
But the area is huge and the camps around the edges are easily able to deliver really high quality safari experiences.
Serengeti Central is usually accessed as part of a 7 to 12 night overland expedition through the greater Serengeti region.
Serengeti Grumeti is a prime private safari area adjoining the main reserve, with great scenery, rich wildlife and a small collection of very high quality camps which are free to offer an unusually wide range of safari experiences.
blissfully quiet private reserves
At 800 square kilometres, Serengeti Grumeti is a prime private safari area.
The area was converted from hunting to photographic safari as recently as 2009, making it a great example of positive impact tourism.
The area is very similar to the main Serengeti reserve, being very much an extension of same ecosystem.
There is good resident wildlife year round, including giraffes, zebras, impalas and elephants.
Predators include lots of lions, plus cheetahs, leopards and spotted hyenas.
The main migration herds tend to pass through northbound in Apr-Jun and southbound Oct-Dec.
These are not prime times for migration action, but the herds do certainly add extra interest.
The camps in Grumeti offer walking safari to various levels.
Unsually, balloon safari is not usually available in this area.
The area is divided into two very different sectors …
The western half is the extremely upmarket Singita Grumeti Reserve, with a collection of very elegant camps.
The eastern half is the Grumeti Sector, which is licensed to several different operators and as a more eclectic range of lodges.
Serengeti Grumeti is usually accessed as part of a 7 to 12 night overland expedition through the greater Serengeti region.
The area can also be accessed by air from Kigali, Nairobi, Arusha and Dar es Salaam.
Serengeti West is a major area for migration action during the Apr-Jun rutting season and of lesser interest at other times, with guest accommodation in a handful of permanent and seasonal camps.
rutting herds heading north
At 1600 square kilometres, the ‘Western Corridor’ of Serengeti leads 100km out from central areas to almost reach Lake Victoria.
The broad valley is larger comprised of sweeping grasslands backed by acacia-covered hills and granite mountains.
The area has reasonable resident wildlife, including giraffes, zebras, topis and elephants.
The area also predators including lions, cheetahs and spotted hyenas.
The main event in Serengeti West is Apr-Jun, when the main migration herds pass through on their way north.
From the middle of May the herds start crossing the Grumeti Stream, a dress rehearsal for crossings on the Mara River Jul-Oct.
Unfortunately Serengeti stops just 3km short of the sandy beaches of Lake Victoria.
How magical it would be to have the migration herds mass down at the lake instead of cattle.
The area has a handful of permanent lodges, supplemented by several mobile camps during the migration season.
It is also possible to stay in Serengeti Central and visit the area on day trips.
High-end visitors may well be better off at the adjacent Singita Grumeti Reserve.
Serengeti West is usually accessed as part of a 5 to 12 night overland expedition through the greater Serengeti region.
Serengeti Southwest is the main area for migration action during the key Dec-Apr calving season and a peaceful backwater at other times, with guest accommodation in around 30 small lodges and camps, offering a good range of safari experiences. Traffic issues in peak migration months.
epic migration calving scenes
At 3200 square kilometres, the Southwest sector of Serengeti is a vast wilderness centred on an extensive area of wide open plains.
Central to these plains are the critically important Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek.
Around the periphery of the plains lie extensive wooded valleys and granite mountains.
Throughout the long May-Nov dry season this area is a quiet backwater.
There is still good resident wildlife, we would still expect to see lions almost daily, but it can get very dry and dusty.
This is a time for experiences safari travellers , who will most appreciate the complete lack of traffic.
But the area really comes into its own during the converse Dec-Apr green season.
At this time light rain showers completely transform the place.
It is now that the migration herds arrive to take advantage of that super-nutritious short grass.
This wildebeest calving season is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on the planet.
The herds move back and forth between short and long grass areas as the showers come and go.
The calving attracts huge numbers of predators including lions, cheetahs, and spotted hyenas.
In fact this is one of the best areas in Africa for viewing hunts.
Unusually for Serengeti, wild-dogs are also often seen in more southerly areas.
Ndutu is also a major location for balloon safari during the migration season.
And in most of the top camps walking safari can also be a major component.
Accommodation is ranged across four very different areas …
The core areas for migration action are around Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek.
During the migration season around thirty tented camps are deployed into this Ndutu area.
These camps supplement the three permanent lodges around the lakes.
All of which means that Ndutu can experience some significant traffic issues.
Around 30km west, the pretty Kusini area feels a good deal more remote.
There is one permanent camp in Kusini, plus a handful of seasonal mobile operations.
Around 50km south the Kakessio area is much more remote and tends to offer more serious walking.
Only one or two seasonal mobile camps tend to move into this Kakessio area, which makes it feel very remote indeed.
To the west lies the enormous Maswa Reserve, a very high-end private safari area.
Maswa contains a collection of high quality tented camps and the extraordinary Mwiba Lodge.
You choice of area and camp will have a profound effect on the style, tonality and quality of your safari.
During the migration season it is ideal to split a week between 2 or 3 camps in these various parts of the southern plains.
Serengeti Southwest is usually accessed as part of a 5 to 12 night overland expedition through the greater Serengeti region.
Serengeti Southcentral is one of the most magical parts of the park, with migration calving Dec-Mar, superb Maasai interaction, incredible palaeontology and just two rather cool mid-priced camps.
a magical but much-overlooked area
At 800 square kilometres, Serengeti Southcentral is a large sector of the main Short Grass Plains.
The area is bisected by the main transit road between Ngorongoro and Central Serengeti.
So most people simply shoot through without stopping to appreciate this wonderful place.
During the May-Nov dry season this area is an arid semi-desert with very low wildlife densities.
But even during this period it remains one of the best places in Africa for approaching giraffes on foot.
And there are cheetahs here year round, preying on the few remaining gazelles.
The calving attracts huge numbers of predators including lions, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and wild-dogs.
During the Dec-Apr green season the area completely transforms.
The migration herds arrive to take advantage of that super-nutritious short grass.
This wildebeest calving season is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on the planet.
This area is also particularly strong for authentic Maasai interaction.
It is a mixed use sector which permits local herders to live alongside the wildlife.
Walking is freely permitted and is the best way to enjoy the elegant company of your hosts.
Olduvai Gorge is the site of the historic palaeontological excavations by the Leakey family.
Here they uncovered an extraordinary range of proto mammal and human remains dating back three million years.
A small museum has some modest displays and offers interesting short talks.
It is also possible to do a bit of digging of your own, there are remarkable fossils all over the place.
Another minor attraction is the rather bizarre Shifting Sands, an isolated dune which wanders the plains.
The only lodge here is the extremely cool Olduvai Camp and its smaller annex Olduvai Ndogo.
Serengeti Southcentral is usually accessed as part of a 5 to 12 night overland expedition through the greater Serengeti region.
Serengeti Southeast is one of the least visited parts of the park, an awesome empty place which features migration calving Dec-Mar and superb Maasai interaction year round, but with no permanent camps.
an amazingly quiet backwater
If you ever hear anyone say that Serengeti is too busy then you can be sure they haven’t been to this area.
Serengeti Southeast is a very little-visited area of short grass plains and granite mountains.
This is Maasailand, with seasonal villages and domestic herds sharing the area with the wildlife.
During the May-Nov dry season this area is an arid semi-desert with very low wildlife densities.
But there are still some cheetahs around, preying on the few remaining gazelles.
Unusually for Serengeti, wild-dogs are sighted in these Gol Mountains with some regularlity.
During the Dec-Apr green season the area completely transforms.
The migration herds arrive to take advantage of that super-nutritious short grass.
This wildebeest calving season is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on the planet.
The calving attracts huge numbers of predators including lions, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and wild-dogs.
Encountering the herds out in this remote area is not that reliable, but is a real jackpot moment when it works out.
Another highlight is Olkarien Gorge, an impressive defile which can be easily hiked.
It is from their roost here in the gorge that many of the region’s vultures and eagles commute to work.
The area has no lodges, only simple mobiles bivouacs.
Another option is to stay at Olduvai Camp and journey out here on day trips.
Serengeti Southcentral is usually accessed as part of a 5 to 12 night overland expedition through the greater Serengeti region.
Further reading
- Safari in Serengeti
- The best ways to experience the Serengeti migration
- The best balloon safari in Serengeti
- The best ways to avoid traffic in Serengeti
- The best time of year for safari in Serengeti
- The best locations for safari in Serengeti
- Safari in Serengeti Central
- Safari in Serengeti Grumeti
- Safari in Serengeti Mara
- Safari in Serengeti North
- Safari in Serengeti Southcentral
- Safari in Serengeti Southeast
- Safari in Serengeti Southwest
- Safari in Serengeti West
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