"The Serengeti is the place that makes you understand what the world looked like before us."
The Serengeti National Park covers 14,750 square kilometres of open savanna in northern Tanzania — one of the oldest and most ecologically intact ecosystems on earth. The name comes from the Maasai word siringet, meaning "endless plains," and the description is apt. The horizon here is unbroken in every direction, and the scale of the wildlife — not just the Great Migration, but the resident populations of lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, and giraffe — is humbling.
The Serengeti rewards investment. A private vehicle, an expert guide, and a luxury tented camp positioned in the right location at the right time of year will give you an experience that no shared safari can match. The difference between a good Serengeti trip and a great one is almost entirely about the quality of the guide.
"A hot air balloon at dawn — watching two million wildebeest move below you."
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At a Glance
What Not to Miss
The Great Migration
Two million wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle moving in a continuous circuit between the Serengeti and Kenya's Masai Mara — the largest overland migration of animals on earth. The river crossings, where the herds plunge into crocodile-filled waters, are among the most dramatic wildlife spectacles in the world. Time your visit for July–September for the northern crossings.
Dawn Game Drive
The Serengeti at first light — when the lions are still active, the light is golden, and the plains are quiet — is one of the most beautiful experiences in Africa. A private vehicle with an expert guide is worth every penny; the difference between a shared vehicle and a private one is the difference between watching wildlife and understanding it.
Hot Air Balloon Safari
Drifting over the Serengeti at dawn in a hot air balloon — watching the herds move below, the acacia trees casting long shadows, the Mara River glinting in the distance — is one of the great travel experiences. The champagne breakfast in the bush that follows is a fine bonus.
Walking Safari
Leaving the vehicle and walking the plains with an armed ranger and a Maasai guide changes your relationship with the landscape entirely. You notice things you never would from a Land Cruiser — tracks, dung, insects, the smell of the grass. Humbling and extraordinary.
Ngorongoro Crater Day Trip
The world's largest intact volcanic caldera, 20 kilometres across and home to the densest concentration of wildlife in Africa. A day trip from the Serengeti is one of the finest wildlife experiences on the continent — lions, elephants, rhinos, and flamingos in a single bowl.
Sundowner on the Plains
Every luxury camp offers sundowners — drinks served in the bush as the sun sets over the Serengeti. It is a ritual that never loses its power, no matter how many times you do it.
Where to Stay
Singita Grumeti
Ultra-LuxuryThe finest safari experience in the Serengeti — a private concession the size of a small country, with three extraordinary camps and a conservation program that is transforming the ecosystem. The most exclusive address in East Africa.
Four Seasons Safari Lodge
LuxuryA permanent lodge on the edge of a waterhole in the central Serengeti, with a pool that overlooks the plains and rooms that open directly onto the bush. The best value luxury option in the park.
Nomad Serengeti Safari Camp
Tented CampA mobile tented camp that follows the migration — positioned in the best location for wildlife viewing at each time of year. The most authentic way to experience the Serengeti.
The Verdict
The world's greatest wildlife destination — invest in a private vehicle, an expert guide, and the right camp.