Tourist Activities to Do in Serengeti National Park : Serengeti National Park is one of the most famous wildlife areas in the world and one of the oldest national parks in Africa. It’s the world-renowned wildlife sanctuary that hosts the largest remaining large mammal migration in the world. With its breathtaking species diversity and abundance, Serengeti is the land of the famous Big Five as well as rare and endangered species. Your visit to this magical place will leave you with the best wildlife experience you can rarely find anywhere!
Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s first and third largest national park, covering 14,763 square kilometers. Moreover, it’s one of the top-listed UNESCO World Heritage Sites as well as a Man and Biosphere Reserve since 1982. Serengeti offers a variety of fun tourism activities for visitors looking to enjoy the amazing experience! Some of these include hot air balloons, game drives, filming and photographic safaris, walking safaris, bush meals, and cultural tourism, as explained in detail below.
experiencing the Great Migration
Experiencing the Great Migration in Serengeti National Park is an unforgettable adventure and the main highlight of a safari in the park. This incredible event takes place every year from June to October, involving the movement of over 1.5 million wildebeests and thousands of zebras migrating from the southern parts of Serengeti National Park plains and Ngorongoro Crater to the southern parts of Masai Mara National Park in Kenya and back. The migration kicks off in early February or March in South Ndutu, just before calving season, when many baby wildebeests are born. While on a safari to witness the wildebeest migration, you’ll also meet with other carnivorous animals to ease their search for food, like hyenas, cheetahs, and lions. It is an unpredictable natural event that leaves a lasting impression on tourists.
Game drives
Game drives are a key highlight of a Tanzania wildlife safari, especially in the Serengeti National Park. This thrilling experience allows visitors to witness some of the planet’s most amazing animals up close. While on your game drive safari, you’ll have a chance to spot the “Big Five,” such as lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, and leopards. These amazing game drive safaris in the park are best done in the early morning and late afternoon hours. These safari game drives are done in all sections of the park, but most prominently in the Seronera Valley, with the highest concentration of animals.
The morning game drive starts at sunrise and ends at around 11:00 am. It is designed to allow tourists to spot nocturnal animals retreating back to their dens or observe herbivores going out to graze. While on this early morning drive, tourists have the chance to spot different wildlife species such as hyenas, wild dogs, lions, cheetahs, leopards, and hippos, among others. Depending on the time of year and the Great Migration, there’s a chance to see wildebeests, lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, monkeys, baboons, hippos, rhinos, antelopes, and a variety of birds and other creatures.
Night game drives also offer travelers a chance to observe zebras, hyenas, impalas, giraffes, jackals, and foxes. Lions, hyenas, and leopards are very active at night, making it an ideal time to watch them in action as they hunt.
Birding safari
One of the top spots for birding safaris in Tanzania is Serengeti National Park. This incredible park is home to more than 500 species of birds; among them, 100 are permanent residents of the park, while 11 are endemic to the Serengeti. While you’re on your birding adventure, you might see interesting birds. Decken’s toko, grey-breasted spurfowl, grey-headed sparrow, purple grenadier, red-backed scrub, rufous-tailed weaver, secretary bird, Kori bustard, variable sunbird, white-bellied go-away bird, white-crowned shrike, yellow-throated sandgrouse, great African ostrich, vulture, black-headed heron, D’Arnaud’s barbet, dark chanting goshawk, and more. Birding safaris in the park are best done during the wet months of November and April. This time is when the migratory birds visit the park.
Guided nature walks
Guided nature walks provide a special opportunity to discover the Serengeti National Park in a way that’s different from a typical game drive. During your guided nature walks, your guide will lead you to a rich spot where you’ll see reptiles, birds, insects, and other rare plants along the way. Most nature walks are organized by some of the accommodation facilities. You will be escorted by an armed ranger who is experienced in the terrain and knows about the different species in the park.
Camping
Camping in the wild is a favorite adventure activity while on a safari in the Serengeti. Your hotel will set you up with everything you need for camping, including gear, a chef to cook for you, and security guards. Camping is even more exciting if you travel in a group. You would have fun with your groupmates as you party under the African sky.
Visit the Maasai.
The Maasai people lead a fascinating life as semi-nomadic herders, mainly residing in Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania. They are one of the most recognized tribal groups in East Africa. Known for their tall figures and colorful attire, the Maasai have inhabited the Serengeti plains for about 300 years after migrating from Sudan. They continue to hold onto their ancient traditions and values. Visiting one of their villages, called a “boma,” offers a wonderful opportunity to dive into their culture. The Maasai are friendly and welcoming, excited to share their way of life with visitors. During your cultural visit, you can learn how they hunt, milk their animals, prepare traditional meals, and much more. Besides touring their homes, you can also check out local schools, enjoy traditional dance performances, and shop for handmade crafts.
Best Time to Visit:
The ideal times to explore Serengeti National Park are during the dry months of January to February and again from June to October. During these periods, animals flock to rivers and waterholes to drink. It’s also the peak of the Great Migration, giving you a great chance to see the amazing river crossing.
Serengeti National Park has various places to stay that cater to different tastes and financial plans. Some of the lodging options available include Lamai Camp, Singita Faru Bush Tops Camp, Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Melia Serengeti Lodge, Mbali Mail Soroi Serengeti Lodge, Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Singita Sasakwa Lodge, Mwiba Lodge, Namiri Plains, Sanctuary Kichakani Camp, and Serengeti Bushtops Luxury Tented Camp, among others.
How to Get There:
To get to Serengeti National Park, most people take a flight from either Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport to one of the park’s airstrips. Another option is to enjoy a beautiful road trip from Arusha, which usually takes around 10 to 12 hours. For an easier experience, you can also join a guided tour.
