Serengeti
Open plains, big cats and the wildebeest herds for most of the year. We place you in the part of the park that suits your dates.
Overview
The Serengeti covers nearly 15,000 square kilometres of plains, woodland and river country, and the wildebeest herds spend most of the year inside it. It suits travellers who want big cats, the migration and a longer, more remote safari.
Because the park is large and the herds move, the region you stay in matters more than almost anything else. We match your camp and airstrip to where the herds usually are for your dates. Most travellers fly in from Arusha or Kilimanjaro; road trips are cheaper and pass the Ngorongoro Crater.
Sample itinerary
Day 01Kilimanjaro or Arusha → Serengeti
- Fly from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro, or overnight in Arusha the night before.
- Light-aircraft flight to the airstrip nearest your camp.
- Afternoon game drive.
Meals: lunch · dinner
Day 02Full day in the Serengeti
- Early start, with a packed breakfast if the herds are some distance away.
- Game drives through the day with your guide.
- Optional hot-air balloon flight at dawn, booked in advance.
Meals: breakfast · lunch · dinner
Day 03Full day in the Serengeti
- Another full day, following the herds or the resident wildlife.
- Picnic lunch in the field where it makes sense.
Meals: breakfast · lunch · dinner
Day 04Serengeti → Kilimanjaro · onward
- Morning game drive on the way to the airstrip.
- Fly back to Arusha or Kilimanjaro, then home to Nairobi or on to Zanzibar.
Meals: breakfast
Which region?
Central (Seronera): resident wildlife all year; good for shorter stays.
Northern (Kogatende, Lobo): the herds are usually here from about July to October.
Southern (Ndutu): calving season, roughly January to March.
Western corridor (Grumeti): herds often pass through around May to July.
This is a sample. By road, the same trip usually adds the Ngorongoro Crater and a night in Karatu or on the crater rim.
Experiences
Game drives
Full days on the plains with a professional guide, following the herds or the resident wildlife.
The Great Migration
The herds follow the rains in a loop through the Serengeti. River crossings happen when the animals decide and can’t be promised.
Hot-air balloon
A dawn flight over the plains, usually followed by breakfast. Book well ahead.
Add Ngorongoro or Zanzibar
The crater on the way in by road, or a few nights on the beach afterwards.
What you might see
- Lion
- Leopard
- Cheetah
- Wildebeest
- Plains zebra
- Elephant
- Buffalo
- Giraffe
- Hippo
- Nile crocodile · rivers
- Spotted hyena
Wildlife movement varies by season and year. No sighting or river crossing can be guaranteed.
Where you'll stay
Choose a level and we match properties with availability in the right region for your dates.
Simpler tented camps
Comfortable tented camps, mostly in the central Serengeti, usually full board.
Established lodges
Larger lodges in the central and northern Serengeti with pools and good access to game-viewing areas.
Seasonal camps
Camps that relocate during the year to stay close to the herds.
Exclusive camps and lodges
Small camps and lodges, including in private concessions next to the park, with more private guiding.
When to go
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
- Best period
- Good / shoulder
- Quieter or wetter
Herds usually gather on the southern plains around Ndutu to give birth.
The wettest months. Some camps close or reduce rates, and roads can be slow.
Herds move north through the western corridor and usually reach the northern Serengeti from about July.
Herds start moving south. Late December is a peak holiday period.
Migration timing shifts with rainfall every year, so we plan the region around your dates rather than a fixed calendar.
Getting there
Light-aircraft flights
Scheduled flights from Arusha or Kilimanjaro to Serengeti airstrips such as Seronera and Kogatende, often with stops on the way.
- Saves most of a day each way
- Baggage usually 15–20 kg in soft bags
4x4 from Arusha
A full day’s drive via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the central Serengeti.
- Lower cost, especially for groups
- Combines naturally with Ngorongoro and Tarangire
Ask us to compare fly-in and road options for your dates.
What's included
Usually included
- Accommodation for the nights booked
- Meals according to the board basis
- Game drives with a professional guide
- Park and concession fees, where included in the quotation
- Safari flights or road transport, as quoted
Not included
- International flights to Tanzania
- Visa and Tanzania inbound insurance
- Travel insurance
- Balloon flights and optional activities
- Tips and personal expenses
Inclusions vary by package. Your written quotation defines exactly what is and isn’t included.
Gallery
Where you'll be
The Serengeti lies in northern Tanzania, west of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and south of Kenya’s Maasai Mara.
Pricing
What changes the price
- Travel dates
- Region
- Accommodation level
- Fly-in or road
- Number of nights
- Number of travellers
- Residency
Published park fees
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Serengeti entry | USD 82.60 | Per non-resident adult per 24 hours, including 18% VAT |
| Children aged 5–15 | USD 23.60 | Per 24 hours, including VAT |
| Concession fee | Per night | Charged for camps and lodges inside the park; usually in the camp quotation |
Published 2026 Tanzania National Parks rates, checked September 2026. East African citizens pay TZS rates.
Final pricing depends on dates, traveller numbers, accommodation and availability.
Interested in Serengeti?
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. A consultant will come back to you with options and a firm quotation.
- Only name and email are required
- No obligation; a travel advisor replies, not an automated sequence
- Flights, hotels, transfers and visa guidance handled together
Prefer to talk it through? Talk to a travel advisor on +254 727 443840 or email travel@travellifectm.com.
Serengeti: good to know
How many days do I need?
Three to five nights. Four days is a good minimum for a fly-in safari; road trips need more time.
How do I get there from Nairobi?
Fly to Kilimanjaro in about an hour, then take a light-aircraft flight to the park, or drive from Arusha via Ngorongoro.
When can I see the migration?
The herds are in the Serengeti most of the year, but in different regions. We match your camp to where they usually are for your dates.
Will I see a river crossing?
Possibly, from about July to October in the north, but crossings can’t be scheduled or promised.
Can I combine it with Zanzibar?
Yes. Many travellers fly from the Serengeti to Zanzibar for a few nights on the beach.
Can Travel Life Africa arrange the flights?
Yes. International, regional and safari flights are booked with your camps and park fees.
Other places to explore.
Photos via Unsplash (Unsplash Licence). Images show the type of place and experience and are not from a specific Travel Life Africa trip or property.