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Top 20 Best Serengeti Safaris - Compare 5,797 Tours

If I could choose one place to go on safari in Africa it would be Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. One of East Africa’s largest protected areas, the Serengeti is a wildly magnificent world of sweeping savannah grasslands framed by umbrella acacia trees, mysterious, boulder-strewn kopjes, tree-lined river valleys and distant mountains. Across this remarkable stage roams some of the greatest wildlife populations on the planet, some of which make up the great migration, and a year-round cast of astonishing abundance. So vast is the park that it’s always possible to leave the crowds behind and find something special.

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6 Questions About Best Serengeti Safaris

 
 

6 Questions About Best Serengeti Safaris

Answered by Anthony Ham

Why should I choose the Serengeti above all other parks when deciding where to go on safari?

“The Serengeti never disappoints. For at least six months of the year, nearly two million animals (wildebeest, zebra, Thomson’s gazelle and others) pass through the park in one of the natural world’s most breathtaking spectacles. Nowhere does the great migration spend more time than here. And even before the migration arrives or after it moves on, the Serengeti’s wildlife is incredible, with lion, leopard and cheetah stalking countless antelope species, while elephant and buffalo stir up the dust. Then there’s a hyena’s den, an incredible sunset and a sundowner as the endless grasslands turn golden. Put simply, there are many memorable moments to look forward to. As an added bonus, the Serengeti has some of Tanzania’s best lodges and tented camps. Most of these occupy privileged positions in wildlife-rich areas and boast fabulous views. And many of them represent the height of luxury.”

1

When should I visit the Serengeti if I want to see the great migration?

“The simple answer is that the great migration is usually in the Serengeti for the first six months of the year. It is, of course, more complicated than that. For a start, nothing is guaranteed when it comes to the natural world. This means that it is impossible to predict exactly where the animals of the migration will be at any one time. Sometimes the wildebeest and zebra stay in one area longer than usual. On other occasions, they take a different route altogether. This makes it difficult to plan, especially if you don’t have much flexibility when it comes to the dates when you can take your holiday. However, it does make it all the more exciting when you catch that first glimpse of the massed herds. In most years, the migration is in the Southern Serengeti (and just outside the park boundary in the adjacent Ndutu area) in January and February. This is when many wildebeest give birth to babies (that can walk within a couple of hours!). March and April usually coincide with an increase in rainfall in the Serengeti, and during these months the herd often moves north through the Central Serengeti. By May, the herd (which sometimes splits into two main groups) is often in the Serengeti’s west, near the Grumeti River, while others move north, where they are later joined by those who detoured west. As a general rule, the migration will be in the park’s north sometime in June and start the spectacular crossing of the Mara River into Kenya’s Masai Mara any time between late June and early August. The animals often remain in Kenya until September or October, before returning south along the eastern boundary of the Serengeti during November and December.”

2

Which is the best area of the park for seeing animals in the Serengeti?

“At certain times of the year, some parts of the Serengeti are better than others because of the great migration. That said, every region of the Serengeti is fantastic for seeing animals year-round. The most popular area of the park – especially for those on tours – is Central Serengeti, which is known as Seronera. Close to the airstrip and with lots of accommodations to choose from, this is the Serengeti at its finest, and is known for its big cat sightings and classic savannah landscapes. The western Serengeti is similar but much quieter, while out on the plains in the east you have a good chance of having any wildlife sightings to yourself. Even when the migration is elsewhere, the north of the park still has great wildlife. It feels deliciously remote, with some stirring scenery and very few travelers. Down in the south is similar, but with horizons so far away that it feels a little like staring at eternity. The southwest deserves special mention – it’s around here that the park’s rhinos are concentrated.”

3

Should I base myself in one area on a Serengeti safari?

“If you have the time, I strongly recommend that you plan to spend two or three days in one area of the park, and then move on to another. Basing yourself in three different areas is my version of the best Serengeti safari – and it’s how I always plan my trips. After all, the Serengeti is extremely large and using a number of different bases is the only way to cover so much territory and see the park well. Although the time of year and the location of the great migration may influence your plans, I always like to spend three days in and around Seronera, a couple of days up in the north, and two further days in the east, west or south. If I had more than a week, then I would very happily stay in each area longer.”

4

What kind of accommodations can I choose from?

“The Serengeti has excellent accommodations, including camping, safari lodges and tented camps. The only place where you can camp in a traditional sense is in the Seronera region in the Central Serengeti. For lodges and tented camps, however, you’ll find excellent choices in all areas of the park, even if Seronera has the widest choice. Visiting the Serengeti doesn’t come cheaply. Quite apart from the entrance and other park fees, most accommodations fall within the luxurious or high-end price category. All of these offer all-inclusive packages that include not just accommodations but also all meals, game drives and other activities. A more affordable option is to stay at one of the park’s mobile camps that occupy two or three different locations every year, usually to follow the migration. Prices at some of these can be surprisingly reasonable, even if the safari tents are much simpler than those with a permanent location (which cost a lot more). I prefer tented camps over lodges – there is no better feeling on safari to be lying in bed at night and hear lions roaring right outside your tent.”

5

How much does it cost to go on a Serengeti safari?

“There are many decisions to be made about your safari before the total cost can be known, but most will start at US$150 to US$200 per person per day (for a basic camping safari) and range up to US$500 and well beyond (for a high-end luxury trip). The cost of your accommodations will play a big role in deciding how much you pay. Simple camping safaris will, of course, cost significantly less than those that include a luxury lodge or tented camp. The same applies to when you travel (the high-season period of July to March will always be more expensive than other months) and the type of safari you choose (private safaris cost more than group or self-drive ones). And make sure you understand what’s included in quoted prices before you hand over any money. Most costed safaris should include accommodations, park entry and camping fees (US$100 and US$150 per person per day, respectively), guide, driver, vehicle, meals and game drives.”

6

Serengeti Safari Reviews

4.9/5 579 Reviews
Expert
Mary Fitzpatrick  –  
United States US

Mary is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including South Africa, Tanzania, East Africa and Africa.

One of Africa's Greatest Parks & the Annual Wildebeest Migration
5/5

Serengeti is Tanzania's most visited park, and with good reason. Almost from the moment you enter the gates, wildlife surrounds you in astounding numbers and variety, together with an incomparable sense of space. The headline event is the...

Full Review

Expert
Lizzie Williams  –  
South Africa ZA

Lizzie authored many guidebooks, including Footprint guides to South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

A quintessential ecosystem of endless plains and spectacular rivers with awe-inspiring numbers of African animals
5/5

With its natural splendour and greatest concentration of game you are ever likely to see, the Serengeti is faultless as a safari destination. The vast ecosystem features rolling golden plains, intricate river systems, the Big Five, and the...

Full Review

Deeba Rai  –  
Canada CA
Reviewed: Apr 30, 2026
5/5

The serengeti when I went was just after the rainy season so the grass was very tall and it was lush and green. It literally felt like we were driving in the middle of a grass ocean with these little rock Islands that would pop up. It was...

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Pierre Andre Plotkins  –  
Canada CA
Reviewed: Mar 23, 2026
4/5

Endless grasslands, stretching to the horizons, provided the stage for the great migration of wilderbeast and zebra ! Due to wet season abundance, there were great exspances of flowers carpeting the ground. Close encounters with wild life...

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Cagla  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Feb 11, 2026
5/5

Serengeti was honestly one of the most surreal places I’ve ever been. The landscape feels endless and every game drive felt like something incredible was about to happen. We saw elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs — and even a leopard...

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Sabrina Stella Marchesin  –  
Italy IT
Reviewed: Dec 23, 2025
5/5

The biggest and most important Park in Tanzania, we saw cheetas, lions, leopard and much more animals (and yes, I cried because of so much beauty).
We had a great time there and our stay has been amazing too.

Full Review