Serengeti National Park

Best Time to Visit

822 Serengeti Safaris

Expert

By Philip Briggs

Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook to Tanzania.

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Wildlife viewing in Serengeti National Park is good throughout the year, but certain areas are better at specific times. The Dry season (from late June to October) offers the best wildlife viewing in general – with the wildebeest migration as its absolute highlight. The timing of the migration varies every year (the best chance of seeing it is during June and July) while the wildebeest calving is from late January to February.

Best Time January-February for the wildebeest calving; June-September for general wildlife viewing with a chance of seeing the wildebeest crossing of the Grumeti River (June-July) or the Mara River (September)

High Season Most of the year – July to March (The Serengeti will be crowded around the Seronera area)

Low Season April and May (Lower rated may apply)

Best Weather June to October (Little to no rainfall)

Worst Weather March and April (Peak of Wet season)

June to October –Dry Season

June and July are the best months to see the wildebeest migration in the western corridor and August to September in the north of the park
Animals are easier to spot since they concentrate around waterholes and rivers and the vegetation is less thick
It is mostly sunny and there is very little rain
There are very few mosquitoes and the chance of contracting malaria is minimal
The park gets quite crowded around the Seronera area
Mornings and nights get cold – warm clothing is recommended for early morning game drives from June to August

Wildlife Photos

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November to May –Wet Season

Late January to February is the time to see the calving in the southern Serengeti – this is an excellent time to see predator action
The scenery is lush
April and May are low season, so it's usually less crowded and rates might be lower
Although wildlife is easier to spot in the Dry season, the Serengeti offers good wildlife viewing throughout the year
Migratory birds are present and bird-watching is at its best
Except for March, April and May, rains are mostly short afternoon storms and seldom interfere with your trip
March to May is the peak of the Wet season