Serengeti National Park Safaris- Game drives & best time

Serengeti National Park safaris are very popular when it comes to Tanzania wildlife safaris because of the great sightings of numerous wildlife. Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park is known for a large concentration of wildlife including the great wildebeest migration which includes about two million wildebeest. Serengeti is also sometimes referred to as almost endless grassy plains covering about 14,750 square kilometers with the oldest ecology in the country. This is the second largest protected area in Tanzania after Selous Game Reserve.

The park is located in the northern corridor, 7 hours’ drive from the tourist city of Arusha. You will drive through the Lake Manyara region, Ngorongoro Conservation Area before you reach Serengeti National Park. You also go through the Maasai warrior manyatas where cultural tourism is done. From the kopjes in the north to the acacia dotted endless plains to the south a stay in Serengeti is amazing as you can spend time in different points of the park and feel like it’s all a new experience.

Serengeti National Park borders the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the south and the Masai Mara National Reserve in the North. The area between is where the wildebeest roam. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area has open plains with little dotted trees which attracts highly nutritious grass which attracts wildebeest especially in January for the calving season which takes about 2 months then after migrate back to the central Serengeti area when the newly born have the strength to walk for long distances.

Serengeti Wildlife safari game drives

The park is home to large herds of wildlife like Buffaloes, gazelles, waterbucks, topis, oribi, zebras, wildebeest, dik-dik and many others. Serengeti National Park ecosystem inhabits the largest number of lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas in Tanzania.

Many buffaloes and elephants are found in the North West that is covered by terminalia-combretum woodlands replaced the acacia woodlands. To best see all the wildlife in the park, you have to take game drives at least two to enjoy seeing the wildlife.

Serengeti game drives offer great opportunities to see lots of wildlife in an open roof safari vehicle. However, with the vastness of the park, tourists should be specific of where they want to visit such that game drives are planned for that side of the park. For great experiences, at least spend 2 days on game drives within the park or a minimum of 2 game drives. Our 4 days Serengeti national park tour comes in handy for a great experience.

tanzania safari

Sunset game drive Serengeti

The other way of enjoying seeing wildlife in Serengeti is by taking a hot air balloon which is very amazing and offers a perfect ariel view of the park.

Wildebeest

The Great Wildebeest Migration is an annual migration of giant herds of animals all through from Northern Tanzania to Kenya. Each wildebeest migration constitutes of over two million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles moving from Serengeti National Park of Tanzania and Masai Mara National Park of Kenya.

Wildebeest migration occurs in a regular pattern as thousands of the wildebeest, zebras and gazelles move through the Serengeti Masai Mara eco system in search of green pasture. With these large herds, this is the largest wildlife group you may ever see on an African safari, this is why it is one of the natural world greatest wonders.

The Great Tanzania-Kenya Wildebeest Migration

Wildebeest Migration at the Grumeti River

Best Time for Serengeti National Park safaris

February is the perfect month when the wildebeest can be seen in large herds altogether for the calving season. This is a highlight of the wildebeest migration along with the dramatic crossings of the Mara River.

The best time for wildlife safaris in Tanzania to these parks is during the two dry seasons. The dry season months are June – September and December – February. During this time the rains are less and at the same time photography is clear.

Choosing wildlife tours, beach holidays, chimpanzee trekking and cultural tours are activities that shouldn’t miss out on your Tanzania itinerary. Wondering how to arrange a well tailor made itinerary to suit all of your requests, then contact Acacia safaris for all queries.

With the introduction of flights within the region, you can also tailor your tour with a Uganda wildlife safari, Kenya safari or Rwanda gorilla tour.