The Serengeti is the safari against which all others are measured. Nearly 15,000 square kilometers of open grassland, kopjes and riverine forest hold Africa’s densest lion population and the full cast of the Great Migration, which never actually leaves the ecosystem — it just moves.
That movement is the key to planning. The herds calve in the south around Ndutu in late January and February, push through the Western Corridor in May and June, and mass on the Mara River in the north from July to October. We place your camp where the action is, not where the crowds are. Our guide to the best time to visit Tanzania sets out where the herds are in every month of the year.
Highlights of Serengeti National Park
The Great Migration
Follow the herds — calving season in the south, river crossings in the north.
Explore The Great Migration →Big cats of Seronera
The central valley is famous for leopard along the river lines and prides of twenty-plus lion.
Kopjes & the northern woodlands
Granite outcrops sheltering lion and klipspringer, and the quiet, beautiful north beyond the crossings.
Balloon safaris
Dawn over the plains by hot-air balloon, ending with a champagne bush breakfast.
Know before you go
The practical details we handle for you — flights, entry, health and money — summarized here so nothing surprises you. Requirements can change, so we confirm everything when you book.
Getting there from the USA
Fly into Kilimanjaro (JRO) — one stop from the US via Amsterdam, Doha or Addis Ababa. A 45-minute drive reaches Arusha’s garden lodges, and bush flights to the Serengeti’s airstrips leave from Arusha the next morning.
Visas & entry
US citizens need Tanzania’s $100 multiple-entry e-visa, applied for online before travel — allow two to four weeks. Passports need six months’ validity beyond your trip.
Health
See a travel clinic 6–8 weeks out: malaria prophylaxis is standard for the Serengeti, and a yellow fever certificate is required only if you arrive from a country where the disease is present — a long layover can count. Camps supply nets and repellent.
Luggage & bush flights
Light aircraft to the airstrips take soft duffel bags only, with strict weight limits — we confirm your exact allowance with your flight tickets and help you plan around it.
Recommended lodges & camps in Serengeti National Park
Where you stay shapes your whole safari. These are properties we know personally and return to again and again — chosen for their location, their guiding and the way they make you feel. Tell us which appeal and we'll build your journey around them.
These are a few of our favorites — we work with many more across every price point. Have a specific lodge in mind? Tell us in your enquiry and we'll secure it.
Best time to visit
Calving season around Ndutu — half a million wildebeest born in weeks, and predators everywhere.
The dry season. Crossings on the Grumeti, then the Mara River in the north from July.
Short rains green the plains as the herds return south. Quiet and beautiful.
In the rainy months many of these same camps drop their rates by 20–40% — emerald landscapes, newborn wildlife, superb birding and far fewer vehicles. Peak season isn't the only great season: tell us your budget and we'll show you what the green season buys.
Planning & cost
Fully tailor-made — priced privately to your camps, season and travel style. No fixed packages.
Every journey is private and tailor-made — your own guide and vehicle, the finest lodges, and a specialist on call throughout.
Everything else,
answered before you ask
The practical details that apply to every safari we plan — so this page is the only one you need.
Money & tipping
US dollars are accepted at virtually every camp, and cards work at lodges and city hotels. Your trip is fully inclusive, so cash is mainly for tips: plan on roughly $10–20 per guest per day for your guide and $10–15 for camp staff, handed over at the end of each stay. We send exact guidance with your final documents.
Health & safety
See a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before departure for routine shots and malaria advice (most safari regions require prophylaxis; parts of South Africa are malaria-free). Camps are remote but professionally run, with radio contact and evacuation cover — we require travel insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation.
Staying connected
Nearly all lodges have Wi-Fi in the main areas (often in-tent too), and an eSIM from your US carrier covers the cities. Expect to be offline on game drives — most guests come to see that as the point. Family back home can always reach you through us, day or night.
What to pack
Soft duffel bags only (light aircraft cap luggage around 33 lb / 15 kg), neutral-colored layers for cold mornings and warm afternoons, and binoculars. Laundry is included at almost every camp, so pack for 4–5 days no matter the trip length.
Full packing list →Continue exploring
Tanzania
The Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Zanzibar.
Explore → ExperienceThe Great Migration
Two million wildebeest on the move between the Serengeti and the Mara.
Explore → TanzaniaNgorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Crater — the Big Five inside a collapsed volcano, some of the densest game viewing in Africa.
Explore → RegionEastern Africa
The Great Migration, the Rift Valley and the gorillas — Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.
Explore →Serengeti National Park FAQs
Getting to Tanzania — flights, visas and health
Current at the time of writing. We re-confirm every requirement for your exact routing before you travel — and we will tell you what to apply for, and when.
Let's design your Serengeti National Park journey.
Tell us how you like to travel and our experts will craft your private, tailor-made itinerary — no obligation.
Enquire now