How to get to Serengeti National Park?

How to get to Serengeti National Park? The Serengeti National Park is located in northern Tanzania and is truly vast, covering an area of about 5,700 square miles (14,763 sq km). Moreover, this stunning park is located in the eastern Mara Region and northeastern Simiyu Region and contains over 1.5 million ha of virgin savanna. Serengeti National Park is one of the most famous national parks in Africa and offers some of the best wildlife viewing in the world. The park fits well into most people’s dream of an African safari with its abundant wildlife, vast golden plains dotted with thorny umbrella acacia trees, kopjes, and sausage trees, and its crocodiles and hippos. The park can be easily accessed by two main transport means, either by road or air transport.

Getting to Serengeti National Park by Road

Getting to Serengeti National Park is commonly done by road, and it’s actually the most popular way to reach the park. Most people start this journey from Arusha town and typically spend about 7-8 hours driving on well-paved roads, with some shorter stretches of unpaved roads. Many travelers like to make the trip more enjoyable by stopping at other nearby attractions along the northern safari circuit, such as Tarangire National Park or the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. On the return journey, you can also take a break at Lake Manyara National Park, which is famous for the millions of pink flamingos and tree-climbing lions, among others. When you arrive at Serengeti, you can enter through various gates, including Klein’s Gate, Ndabaka Gate, Bologonya Gate, and Naabi Hill Gate.

Getting to Serengeti National Park by Air

If you want to avoid a long drive, flying is a great way to reach Serengeti National Park. The best place to start your journey is Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which you can reach from anywhere in the world. located between the towns of Moshi and Arusha. This airport is about 320km from the park.   There are several international airlines, such as KLM, Turkish Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines, that operate flights into the Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Once you arrive, you can either take a short flight to catch a connecting flight directly to one of the airstrips within Serengeti National Park. Various local airlines, like Flight Link, Coastal Aviation, and Grumeti Air, among others, do service the park. From the park, especially from the Seronera Airstrip, to any other destinations like Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, Dar es Salaam, as well as Zanzibar for Zanzibar holidays.

Wildlife in Serengeti National Park

 Serengeti National Park is famous around the world for its rich wildlife and diverse range of species. The park is particularly known for the Big Five, such as lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos—but it’s also home to many other animals. You can also spot Grant’s gazelle, huge groups of topi, and Coke’s hartebeest here too.  The park features Masai giraffes, waterbucks, impalas, warthogs, hippos, Nile crocodiles, and cheetahs. It’s a birdwatcher’s paradise with thousands of species, including jackals, African golden wolves, honey badgers, Masai ostriches, and secretary birds. Other notable birds are kori bustards, helmeted guineafowls, grey-breasted spurfowls, and different types of storks and cranes. Serengeti also has many reptiles and amphibians like the leopard tortoise, serrated hinged terrapin, rainbow agama, Nile monitor, and various snakes, including the black mamba and puff adder.

Best Things to Do in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania

Game drives

Take a long drive into the desert where you can admire the nearby mountains and craters. While on the game drive, you can see a variety of wildlife, such as wildebeests, elephants, buffalos, Masai giraffes, waterbucks, impalas, and warthogs, gathering around.  You can also embark on a night game drive. This remarkable opportunity allows you to get a unique opportunity to spot a number of nocturnal animals, such as civets, bush babies, nightjars, and aardvarks, and possibly even predators on the hunt. Sighting new animals is definitely a highlight of the evening game drives, but the evening game drive also gives you the unique chance to see your surroundings from a very different perspective.

Witness the wildebeest migration.

Experience the incredible wildebeest migration, which is one of the biggest draws for tourists in Serengeti National Park. Observing these animals is a must-do when you visit. During this time, the wildebeest gather in large numbers in the northern Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the southern part of the Serengeti to graze and give birth.

Visit a Maasai Village.

Take a visit to the Masai land, where you will be welcomed by the local Masai and learn about their customs, traditions, and lifestyle. You will be taken through different activities, and these include a brief dancing ceremony, a visit to the village school, and the opportunity to purchase handicrafts produced by members of the village.

Explore the Moru Kopjes.

these fascinating rock formations that stand tall in the heart of the Serengeti, resembling little mountains emerging from a vast sea of grass. These unique rocks offer shade, small water pools, and ideal spots for wildlife like lions, leopards, and cheetahs to seek refuge and watch their surroundings. Moru Kopjes attract the most visitors among these formations, some of which feature ancient rock paintings created by the Maasai cattle herders.

Hot air balloon experience

Experience the Serengeti from above by taking a breathtaking hot air balloon ride. To truly appreciate this stunning landscape, soar high in the sky for an hour at sunrise. As you float over the vast plains, you’ll be greeted by the beautiful colors of the morning sky. Then, descend to treetop height to spot wildlife as they go about their morning before finding shade from the midday sun. Once you land, you’ll get to enjoy a refreshing drink and a delicious English breakfast with other passengers from the flight.

Where to stay

Serengeti National Park offers a range of places to stay, including campgrounds, bandas, hostels, and rest houses. The campgrounds are divided into special campsites and public campsites. When it comes to lodges, visitors can choose from several options, such as Four Seasons Safari Lodge, Seronera Wildlife Lodge, Sopa Lodge, Serena Lodge, Lobo Wildlife Lodge, Mbalageti, Migration Camp, Mbuzi Mawe Camp, Serengeti Bushtop, Sayari, Singita Mara River Camp, Grumeti River Camp, and Serengeti Soroi Camp.

When is the best time to visit?

You can visit Serengeti National Park any time of year, but the best time to go is from mid-May to mid-October. The short rainy season happens from early November to December, followed by the long rainy season from January to March. During this time, the wildebeests give birth in the southern short grass plains.

Why choose us for your safari? Book with us for your safari in Serengeti National Park.

African Vacation Safaris has been providing incredible holiday experiences in Serengeti National Park and throughout Tanzania. Get in touch with us for great discounts on our packages, as well as custom trips for birding, cultural experiences, wildebeest migration safaris, Zanzibar Island safaris, hiking safaris, and wildlife viewing, among others. What sets us apart in creating authentic experiences is our dedicated team, which combines energetic young staff with seasoned experts who are passionate about their work.