Serengeti National Park — Simba Pride Safaris

Overview

The Serengeti is not one place but a system. Short-grass plains in the south, acacia woodland and rivers in the centre, the Grumeti forest to the west and the hilly, wetter north along the Mara. The herds move through all of it in a clockwise loop, and the cats stay put and wait.

Wildlife highlights

Wildebeest
Zebra
Lion
Cheetah
Leopard
Elephant
Hyena
Crocodile
Serval
Secretary bird

The migration

Two million on the move

Wildebeest, zebra and gazelle follow the rain all year. Calving in the south, crossings in the north, and predators every step of the way.

Big cats

Lions by the hundred

Around 3,000 lions live here, plus the densest cheetah population in East Africa and a leopard along most rivers.

Scale

Bigger than some countries

You can drive for a day and cross one corner. The reward is emptiness, silence and sightings you share with no one.

Migration calendar

Where the herds usually are, month by month. They follow rain, not dates, so we confirm the latest sightings before you fix your route.

South & NdutuCalving on the short-grass plainsDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNov

Central SeroneraMoving north, long rainsDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNov

Western corridorGrumeti River crossingsDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNov

Northern SerengetiMara River crossings, into KenyaDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNov

Resident game, the cats especially, is excellent in the central Serengeti in every month. The calendar only tells you where the herds are.

Areas of the park

Seronera, central

The hub. Rivers lined with leopard trees, lion prides on every kopje, the most lodges and the most vehicles. Best year-round base.

Best: any month

Southern plains & Ndutu

Short grass and huge skies. The herds calve here from late January, and the cheetahs and hyenas follow. Mobile camps only.

Best: Dec to Mar

Western corridor & Grumeti

Forest and river, giant crocodiles, and the first crossings of the year. Fewer visitors than the centre.

Best: Jun to Jul

Northern Serengeti & Kogatende

Hilly, green and dramatic. The Mara River crossings happen here from July to October, with camps on both banks.

Best: Jul to Oct

Lobo & the east

Quiet valleys and rocky hills between the centre and the north. Resident elephant and lion, and a road the herds use in both directions.

Best: Jun to Nov

Things to do

Game drivesDawn and late-afternoon drives from camp, or full days with a picnic when the herds are moving.
Hot-air balloonLaunch at first light over the plains, then a champagne breakfast under an acacia. About US$599.
River-crossing daysPark at a crossing point and wait. Sometimes an hour, sometimes a day. Always worth it.
Walking safariRanger-led walks from selected camps in the west and north, tracking on foot.
Kopje picnicsLunch on a granite island with the plains all round and a lion's-eye view.
PhotographyPrivate vehicle, bean bags, charging points and longer stops. Ask for a photographic guide.
Olduvai GorgeThe cradle of mankind museum and dig site, on the road in from Ngorongoro.
Maasai visitsVillages on the park edge, arranged with families our guides know.
Night drivesAvailable in the private concessions bordering the park, not inside it.

Where to stay

BudgetPublic campsites at Seronera and Lobo with our crew cooking, or simple bandas. Cold showers, hot food, hyenas at night. From US$40 p.p.

Mid-rangePermanent tented camps and lodges around Seronera and the western corridor. En-suite tents, a pool at some. US$250 to 450 p.p.

LuxurySeasonal mobile camps that move with the herds, and small exclusive lodges in the north and Grumeti. US$600 and up.

By area

Central: the widest choice, from campsites to large lodges. Best for first visits and any month.
North: mobile and permanent camps near the Mara River, Jul to Oct. Book six to nine months ahead.
South: mobile camps around Ndutu, Dec to Mar. Nothing permanent, which is the point.
West: a handful of lodges and camps along the Grumeti, quietest of all.

Indicative per-person high-season rates. We hold provisional space at a shortlist of camps in each tier and book the one that fits your route.

Getting there & around

By road from Arusha

Six to seven hours through Ngorongoro, which is how most itineraries arrive: crater floor in the morning, Naabi Hill gate by mid-afternoon, game viewing to camp.

By air

Daily light aircraft from Arusha to Seronera, Kogatende, Grumeti and Ndutu airstrips in 1 to 1.5 hours. Direct flights to Zanzibar from Seronera.

Inside the park

Distances are big. Seronera to the Mara River is a full day's drive with sightings. We move camp rather than commute.

The smart combination

Drive in through the crater, fly out at the end. It saves a bumpy day and lands you in Arusha or Zanzibar by lunchtime.

Trips that include the Serengeti

7 days · 7 daysThe Great Migration ClassicFrom $1,890 p.p.

6 days · 6 daysSerengeti Under CanvasFrom $2,450 p.p.

10 days · 10 daysSafari & Beach HoneymoonFrom $3,400 p.p.

7 days · 7 daysCalving Season SafariFrom $1,890 p.p.

Best time to visit

Best months

JFMAMJJASOND

Jun to OctDry, cool mornings, thin grass. River crossings in the west then north. Peak prices and the most vehicles at Seronera.

Jan to MarCalving in the south. Newborns, predators, green plains and dramatic skies. Warm, with short storms.

Apr to MayLong rains. Some camps close, roads soften, prices drop by a third. The centre still delivers cats.

Nov to DecShort rains. Herds heading south, dust settled, birds arriving. Good value before Christmas.

Practical notes

Park fees: about US$70 per adult per 24 hours plus tax, and camp concession fees. All included in our prices.
Tsetse flies: present in wooded areas. Wear neutral colours, avoid dark blue and black.
Malaria: take prophylaxis, use the nets, cover up at dusk.
Flights: 15 kg soft-bag limit on light aircraft. We store extra luggage in Arusha.
Signal: patchy on the plains, Wi-Fi in most camp lounges. Tell people you will be quiet for a few days.
Pack: fleece for mornings, hat and factor 50, binoculars, a 200 to 400 mm lens if you have one.
Cash: a little for tips and the balloon. Cards work at larger lodges.

Serengeti questions

When exactly is the migration?

All year, somewhere. South Dec to Mar, centre Apr to May, west Jun to Jul, north Aug to Oct, moving south again in November. Crossings are the big spectacle, calving is the intimate one.

Will I definitely see a river crossing?

No one can promise one. In the right months and with patience at the right points, most guests staying three nights in the north see at least one.

How many nights do I need?

Three minimum. Four lets you stay in two areas, say the centre and the north, and follow the herds rather than chase them.

Is the Serengeti crowded?

Seronera in peak season can be. The south, west and north are far quieter, and a good guide knows where to be at dawn before anyone else.

Should I fly or drive?

Drive in, fly out. You see the crater and the plains on the way in and skip the long return.

Is it good for children?

Yes from about six, with a private vehicle and shorter drive days. Some camps have minimum ages, we pick family-friendly ones.

Can I combine it with Zanzibar?

Easily. A direct flight from Seronera puts you on the beach by early afternoon.