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Carnivores Safaris
serengeti

National park / reserve · in Tanzania

Serengeti National Park

Open grass plains, granite kopjes and the year-round movement of the wildebeest herds, from the Seronera River to the Mara.

At a glance

Our journeys here
5 safaris
Time spent here
1–4 days
Journey length
5–15 days

About Serengeti National Park

The name comes from a Maasai word for "the place where the land runs on forever", and on the central plains it is easy to see why. Grass runs to the horizon, broken by acacia trees and granite kopjes where lions rest in the shade.

Where we spend time

  • Seronera: the river here holds water all year, so the wildlife stays. Our early drives often start at a hippo pool, arriving as the hippos come back to the water after a night of grazing.
  • The north: the Mara River, near the Kenyan border, is where the herds cross between July and October.
  • Lobo and the Grumeti: rolling hills dotted with kopjes to the north-east, and the Grumeti River in the west.

The migration

Wildebeest and zebra follow the rain around the Serengeti and into Kenya's Maasai Mara. The calving season runs from January to March, the rut from April to June, and the river crossings from July to October. Exact timing changes every year with the rain.

Getting there

By road from Arusha through Tarangire or the Ngorongoro highlands, or by scheduled light aircraft from Arusha to the Serengeti airstrips.

Plan your time

Through the year

  • Calving season Jan–Mar

    The herds gather on the southern short-grass plains to give birth.

    Calving season

    Calving season: January, February, March

  • The rut Apr–Jun

    The breeding season, as the herds start moving.

    The rut

    The rut: April, May, June

  • Mara River crossings Jul–Oct

    The herds reach the northern Serengeti and cross the Mara River.

    Mara River crossings

    Mara River crossings: July, August, September, October

Things to do here

tanzaniasafaris

5 days · Private · Comfort

5-Day Tanzania Safari

A private five-day safari from Arusha to the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park, staying in mid-range lodges and tented camps.

Questions travellers ask

When are the Mara River crossings in the Serengeti?

Usually between July and October, when the herds reach the Mara River in the north. The exact timing changes every year with the rain.

When is the calving season in the Serengeti?

From January to March, when the herds gather on the southern short-grass plains.

How do we get to the Serengeti?

By road from Arusha through Tarangire or the Ngorongoro highlands, or by scheduled light aircraft from Arusha to the Serengeti airstrips.

Plan a journey that includes Serengeti National Park

Tell us when you would like to travel and what matters to you. We will suggest how long to give Serengeti National Park and what to pair it with.