Serengeti National Park

Location: Northern Tanzania, Arusha Region
Area: 14,763 km² (5,700 sq miles)
UNESCO Status: World Heritage Site since 1981
Best Known For: Great Migration, Big Five
Annual Visitors: ~350,000 per year
Wildlife: Over 70 mammal species, 500+ birds
Terrain: Open savannah, woodland, kopjes
Closest City: Arusha (4–5 hours drive)

Exploring the Wonders of Serengeti

Serengeti National Park spans approximately 5,700 square miles (14,763 km²) — one of the largest wildlife conservation areas in the world. Its name, derived from the Maasai language, translates to "endless plains," a fitting description for its vast, sweeping grasslands that stretch to the horizon.

The Serengeti is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to the world's most famous wildlife event — the Great Migration. Over 1.5 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebras, and 350,000 gazelles move in a clockwise circuit following the rains, creating one of the most extraordinary natural spectacles on Earth.

The Great Migration — A Natural Phenomenon

The Great Migration is a year-round event, with different zones of the Serengeti offering drama in every season. January–March: calving season in the south (Ndutu area) — hundreds of thousands of calves born, attracting cheetahs and lions. July–October: the famous Mara River crossings in the north as the herds move into Kenya's Masai Mara and back.

The Big Five and Beyond

Serengeti is one of the few places on Earth where all Big Five species — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros — can be found. Additionally, it boasts the world's densest population of lions, the highest concentration of cheetahs in Africa, and is home to wild dogs, hyenas, jackals, and over 500 bird species.

Best Time to Visit

The Serengeti can be visited year-round with excellent wildlife viewing at all times. Dry season (June–October): best predator sightings around waterholes; best time for the Mara River crossings. Wet season (November–May): green and beautiful, fewer crowds, calving season action in the south.