Serengeti National Park

Best park of our safari!

Three friends & I booked a private safari and visited the Masai Mara (3 days), the Serengeti (3 days -- 1 in the western area & 2 in central area), Ngorongoro Crater (1 day), and Tarangire (2 days). Without a doubt, our favorite area was the Central Serengeti -- although it didn't have the masses of wildebeest and zebra as the Masai Mara (since the Great Migration was in the Mara during that time), the sheer variety of wildlife and animal interactions in the central Serengeti was astounding.

In our two days in the central Serengeti, we saw two cheetah hunts (both unsuccessful), five leopards (including a mother with two teenage cubs in a tree), ostrich dancing & mating (not to be missed), hippos fighting in the Retina hippo pool, and so much more. The other safari areas were wondeful as well, but the central Serengeti was the real highlight and highly recommended, any time of the year. However make sure you have a great guide as our Tanzanian guide had so much more bird & wildlife knowledge than our Kenyan guide, and that made a huge difference in the enjoyment of our trip.

Serengeti, Lake Manayara & Ngorongoro Safari experience within budget.

It wasn't the way we had envisaged going on safari when we originally decided to go, but a camping safari was definitely the best we have experienced to date. Previously we have stayed at lodges in safari parks, and they have been very good. This time we were working to a budget and had to go during peak times so we had to look for alternatives. We booked a package directly with the tour operator based in Arusha and gave them details of what we wanted to see and do, they arranged everything: pick-up at the coach station, car, driver, cook, sleeping bags, tent, food. The tour guide/driver knew exactly which camping sites to stay at, the amount ot time needed to view the wildlife and also specifics about the wildlife. This allowed us plenty of time to see and enjoy the beautiful national parks (Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti). Once you arrive in Arusha it takes a couple of hours to get to Lake Mayara and the road is good. Getting to Ngorongoro takes a further 3 hours, but to get to Serengeti you have to go through Ngorongoro and it takes a good few hours, and be prepared for a rough ride, as the road is not smooth. But the whole experience was fantastic. Apart from the amazing wildlife the experience of staying in tented camps was graet. One night was spent in the middle of the Serengeti, where we could hear wildlife around at night and when we woke up we were a facing a glorious sunrise and giraffes and zebra roaming within a few hundred metres. Another night was a freezing cold night at the top of Ngorongoro Crater, but where you could see the stars so clearly that you felt you could touch them. Generally, the washroom facilities in these camps weren't great but the were usable. And having a cook travelling with us was great, he provided breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. All-in-all this was a great adventure holiday for the family (2 adults and 2 boys) which we will never forget and which will provide us with stories to tell.

Serengeti during the dry season is the image the people have when they think safari. It is The Lion King brought to life. Brown grasses as far as the eye can see, sometimes with a tree breaking the monotony.
We decided to spend a morning viewing the Serengeti from a hot-air balloon. It was expensive, but well worth the money we spent for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Everyone’s experience in the Serengeti will be different. Some will see a kill. Others may see a stampede, or a display of dominance, or a cheetah running, or a lion cub playing. We saw a juvenile elephant discover three lions stalking him, and then turn the tables on them. But everyone will see something that few other people in the world have seen, and that’s what makes Serengeti so fascinating.

If you have ever seen a documentary on the Serengeti....it is nothing compared to the real thing!!

I was somewhat concerned about going in May, as it is the end of the rainy season. We could not have asked for a better trip though. No rain, temperature was about 80 during the day, the Park was not too crowded and it was baby time in the park (which was awesome to see). I stayed 2 nights at the Serena Serengeti Lodge and really enjoyed the accommodations and especially the thrill of staying right in the park. Our guide Justin (Ranger Safaris) was terrific. He knew exactly where to go and always made sure we got our "shot". We were sad to leave him at the end of our trip. He really took care of us. Highlights were the Hippo Pool, seeing a pride of lions on a large rock and spotting a leopard and it's kill in a tree. We also did a hot air balloon ride. The scenery was beyond words and eating breakfast under a huge tree in the park made me feel like I was in a brochure. Words cannot describe the beauty here.

Beaten track, but beaten for a reason.

Unfortunately we missed the migration at the park, but it was still busy with tourists. The landscape is open and expansive, meaning you're not constantly surrounded by other vehicles - unless you come across a pride of lions, in which case expect a steady build up of tourists.

There's a great number of animals to be seen at the park, and you'd have to be pretty unlucky not to come away with several decent sightings. Being driven around certainly makes for a relaxing tour, and there are plenty of extras to consider including camping or staying at a hotel within the park and balloon tours.

Our guide was interesting, we really liked him though I would imagine more professional ones are available. He was good at spotting wildlife but wasn't overly knowledgeable about each species. He compensated for this by being a fun and hardworking guide. The food provided was ok - not exactly fine dining, but we weren't expecting that anyway.

The weather during our time there was good - hot but not too hot, and sometimes cloudy. It didn't rain.

The highlight was probably the lions, as we saw them close up and with the male, who came and lay down right next to our vehicle. Just as we were about to leave a female arrived and called to her cubs, who arrived through the long grass. They were very cute. I also loved the hippo pool, where there was loads of activity.

All in all we had a fantastic time at the park, and would thoroughly recommend it to others who have an interest in wildlife.

Best of the best. It´s a must. No other place on earth has more wildlife than Serengeti. Been there a lot of times and if there is one place I want to get back to before I die it´s Serengeti. But leave the place from May - November when the migration is too far north and weather can be really wet.

In my opinion this is the grandest of all parks. It is huge and contains all the big cats and many smaller ones. Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs are all here. The scenery can be awesome with hills and vast savannahs. I am about to make my 10th visit to the Serengeti. I have been on 25 safaris and the Serengeti is my favorite. It changes with the seasons and the Wildebeest and Zebras are in a perpetual migration year round. Accommodations are diverse and outstanding.

The Safari was memorable but the park is expansive and one needs more than a few days there.

The wildlife was great with a spectacular number of wildebeast and zebra. There were many lions as well but they all seemed pretty content just lazing around. Didn't see many young, but we may be early in the season. The scenery was ok, but it's mainly just plains. The weather was almost perfect....not too hot, not too cold. The camps are varied in services and amenities so make sure you do your homework. They range from camps with no running water to the Four Seasons.

Serengeti National Park: Tanzania's gift to the world

The people of the planet owe a debt to Tanzania for preserving the Serengeti National Park, and other amazing parks in the country. These beautiful ancient places are a privilege to visit, and I feel my life was enriched immeasurably by being able to view the animals in their natural habitat. In addition, the landscape of the park itself is stunning. I would highly recommend a visit at any time and for any age of traveler. It is my greatest hope to be able to return sometime in my life.

A tremendous safari with film permits in the Serengeti with Ethan Kinsey Safaris

This was our second time in the Serengeti with Ethan Kinsey (ethan-kinsey.com) as our amazing guide. This time around we had film permits which allowed us off-road access to the wildlife. The wildlife was as expected with great opportunities in both the Northern Serengeti and in the Namiri Plains area. The two locations provided good variety of scenery and different environments for the wildlife. We mixed wilderness camps with the Namiri Plains Lodge and both types of camp were great - a blend of privacy with luxury. You can view some of my photos at https://www.flickr.com/photos/scottseyephotos/ to see what you can expect - an unbelievable experience!!