Wildlife safari in Serengeti national park is an experience which involves exploring the plains of the national park in search of the different wildlife species at the destination. Serengeti national park is a safari destination located in the northern part of Tanzania which is home to numerous wildlife species. The national park is vast and covers about 14750 square kilometres. The national park is also among the oldest national parks of Tanzania. Serengeti national park is home to wildlife species including the big 5 such as elephants, lions, buffalos, leopards and rhinos.

Wildlife safari in Serengeti national park

Many other wildlife species can also be seen during a wildlife safari in Serengeti national park and they include giraffes, hippos, zebras, elands, topi, gazelles, cheetahs, wildebeests, hyenas, impalas, dik dik, waterbucks, warthogs, duikers, oribi among others. Wildlife species in Serengeti national park can be spotted around the savannah plains, the woodlands, riverine forest area among other places which make up the national park and act as habitat for the animals during the year.

Predators from the Serengeti, like cheetahs, hyenas, lions, and leopards, can be seen in some parts of the national park, like the plains. Predators like lions can be seen while on a safari around the national park when driving around kopjes like the Simba kopjes, Moru kopjes, or Gol kopjes, especially lions that are known to rest among the rocks or lying low in the grass. Around two or three prides of lions can be seen in this area of Serengeti national park. During a tour of the Serengeti national park, leopards can be spotted in areas like the Seronera valley. There are over 1000 leopards found in the national park and they are known for their stealth nature and ability to camouflage in the surroundings of the national park. During wildlife safaris in Serengeti national park, cheetahs can also be spotted in parts of the park such as the central area or seronera area and also around Ndutu in the southern part of the national park. Hyenas have been sighted in both the woodlands and the plains during a safari in the Serengeti National Park. They can be seen in groups on the open grass plains, but they are solitary in woodland environments. During safaris in the Serengeti National Park, wildlife species like golden jackals and bat-eared foxes can be seen in large numbers in areas like the lobo region and Seronera. When visiting the Serengeti National Park, animal predators such civets, wildcats, serval cats, and wild dogs can be seen at dark or dawn. They are visible in the eastern portion of the park as well as the area surrounding Loliondo. Rich, fertile soils, abundant rainfall, a variety of flora types, and habitats like riverine forests, lowland forests, and plains are a few of the factors that enable wildlife species survive in Serengeti National Park.

Where to do wildlife safaris in Serengeti national park

There are different parts of Serengeti national park where wildlife safaris can be carried out during the year and they include the following;

Northern Serengeti 

The northern part of Serengeti national park can be visited at any time of the year and from June to August the wildebeest migration can be seen in this part of the national park. The wildebeest herds cross to northern Serengeti from western Serengeti and river crossings take place along the Grumeti river as well as the Mara river. 

Central Serengeti

The central part of Serengeti national park is popular during safaris and during the wildebeest migration in Tanzania, the wildebeests can be seen around April and May which is part of the rainy season. 

Western Serengeti 

The western part of Serengeti national park is known for river crossings along the Grumeti river during the wildebeest migration in Tanzania.

Southern Serengeti 

During wildlife safaris in southern Serengeti, the calving season can be seen around December to March when about 8000 wildebeest calves are born daily. During this time many predators like lions, cheetahs, leopards among others can also be spotted while on safari.  The great wildebeest migration is another amazing experience that tourists can enjoy during safaris in Serengeti national park where large herds of wildebeest can be seen roaming the park’s plains.  Throughout the year, over 2 million wildebeests, 200,000 zebras, and 500,000 gazelles move through the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. This migration takes place in different parts of Serengeti national park during the year and is a great tourist attraction in Tanzania.

Activities to do during wildlife safaris in Serengeti national park 

There are a number of things to do during wildlife safaris in Serengeti national park and they include game drives, guided nature walks and also hot air balloon safaris.

Game drives

Game drives in Serengeti national park are carried out in the morning, afternoon and evening times of day. This activity can also be carried out for the whole day during safaris in Tanzania. The type of vehicles used during game drives in the national park are 4×4 safari vehicles. During game drives in Serengeti national park, different tracks are followed when searching for wildlife species in the savannah plains such as elephants, buffalos, cheetahs, hippos, giraffes, impalas, waterbucks, kudu, zebras among others.

Hot air balloon safaris 

Another activity which is done during wildlife safaris in Serengeti national park is hot air balloon safaris. This activity provides an aerial view of surroundings in Serengeti national park and is usually carried out around 05:00 am in the morning. Hot air balloon rides take one hour and is a unique experience which starts with briefing at the landing site and costs about 600 USD per person.  Hot air balloon safaris are carried out in different parts of Serengeti national park and also involve bush breakfasts in the wild as well as pick up and drop off after the activity.

Guided nature walks

When visiting Serengeti national park for wildlife safaris, guided nature walks can also be carried out. The guided nature walks involve searching for the wildlife species in Serengeti national park on foot with an armed ranger guide.

Best time for wildlife safaris in Serengeti national park

The best time for wildlife safaris in Serengeti national park is the dry season around June, July, August, September and October and also around December to February. During these months, wildlife species are easy to spot in the savannah and also around the water points in the national park. Wildlife safaris can also be done in the rainy season which takes place in March to May. These months are part of the low season and few tourists can be seen on safari in Serengeti national park.

Where to stay during wildlife safaris in Serengeti national park

There are different lodges found around Serengeti national park where tourists can stay during wildlife safaris and they include luxury, midrange and budget lodges such as Serengeti Serena safari lodge, Lobo wildlife lodge, Melia Serengeti lodge, Mbalageti Serengeti lodge, Seronera wildlife lodge, Singita Mara river camp, Singita Sasakwa lodge, Namiri plains, Sanctuary Kichakani camp, Angata Serengeti camp, Kiota camp, andbeyond kleins camp, Four seasons safari lodge among others. Visit Serengeti national park and enjoy amazing wildlife viewing throughout the year during a wildlife safari.