Serengeti

The Serengeti is a large savannah ecosystem in northern Tanzania famous for its expansive plains and large migratory herds. The core protected area, Serengeti National Park, covers about 14,750 square kilometres and forms part of a broader ecosystem that extends into Kenya’s Maasai Mara.

The landscape is characterized by open grassland, seasonal swamps, acacia woodlands and granite kopjes. The area is internationally significant for its wildlife densities and the annual Great Migration, when vast numbers of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle move across the plains.

The modern protection of the area dates to the mid-20th century and the park was established to safeguard the migration and resident wildlife; it was later inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Management over time has balanced tourism, pastoral uses at the margins and wildlife conservation.

Geographically the Serengeti occupies northern Tanzania and links to the Maasai Mara across the Kenyan border; it contains distinct zones from the southern calving grounds to the northern river-crossing plains and central Seronera valley.

• Size: The Serengeti National Park covers about 14,750 square kilometres; the wider Serengeti ecosystem extends to roughly 30,000 square kilometres across Tanzania and into Kenya.
• Great Migration timing and scale: The annual Great Migration involves over one million wildebeest (commonly quoted as about 1.5 million) with large herds of zebra and gazelle following a roughly clockwise circuit; calving peaks in February-March and river crossings concentrate in July-September.
• Best area for wildlife viewing: Seronera in the central park is the most reliable area for year-round predator sightings due to permanent waterholes and lodges clustered there.

What to See #

• Seronera (central area): The Seronera area in the central Serengeti is a year-round wildlife hotspot with permanent water sources and high densities of lions and other predators.
• Northern plains (Mara/Grumeti): Northern Serengeti includes the Mara and Grumeti regions where the Great Migration often crosses rivers; crossings are most likely in July to September.
• Southern plains / Ndutu (calving grounds): Southern Serengeti and the Ndutu/Ngorongoro plains are the main calving grounds for the migrating wildebeest population during February and March.