How to Get to Serengeti National Park. Planning your journey to Serengeti National Park is an important step in preparing your safari. Although the park sits in a remote part of Tanzania, reaching it is straightforward. Most travelers begin their safari from Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha town, which serves as the main starting point for northern Tanzania safaris. Others choose to start from Dar es Salaam.
Travelers can reach the park by road or by air. Flying from Arusha Airport directly to one of the park’s airstrips is the fastest and most convenient option. Alternatively, travelers can drive from Arusha using 4×4 safari vehicles, stopping at destinations like Tarangire National Park or the Ngorongoro Conservation Area along the way.
Furthermore, some travelers combine both options by driving to the park and flying back to Arusha.
Contact Anthill Safaris today to plan your perfect route to Serengeti National Park.
Getting to Serengeti National Park by Road
Serengeti National Park, how to get there, and is often accessed by road, which is, coincidentally, the most popular way to get to the park. In general, getting to Serengeti National Park by road often starts from Arusha town, with drives for about 7-8 hours through well-tarmacked roads and short distances of murram.
Most a times, travellers do break this long distance of almost full day driving from Arusha town to the Park, by taking detours of other national parks of northern safari circuit say Tarangire National Park, as well as Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and when returning from the Park one may break the long drive by taking a day or two in Lake Manyara National Park which is famous for the millions of pink flamingos and tree climbing lions among others. You can use any of the different Park gates to access the park, like Klein’s gate, Ndabaka gate, Bologonya gate, and Naabi Hill gate.
Getting to Serengeti National Park by Air
Travelers who prefer air travel should fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). This airport sits between the towns of Moshi and Arusha, approximately 320 kilometers from Serengeti National Park. Several international airlines serve this airport, including KLM, Turkish Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines.
From Kilimanjaro, travelers can connect to Arusha Airport and board a local flight directly into the park. Local airlines such as Flight Link, Coastal Aviation, and Grumeti Air operate regular flights to various airstrips within the park. Furthermore, the Seronera Airstrip connects travelers to other destinations, including Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar.
Beyond game drives, visitors can enjoy hot air balloon safaris and bird watching within the park. Additionally, combining Serengeti with destinations like the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Zanzibar creates a richer Tanzania safari experience.
Contact Anthill Safaris today to plan your perfect Serengeti adventure.
Things to Do
Witnessing the Great Wildebeest Migration
Arguably one of the world’s top Natural wonders, this annual event sees over one and a half million wildebeest. They are accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebras and numerous antelope species. These animals move in search of greener pastures. Their movement covers about 500 kilometers in a clockwise direction from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara. The highlights of the Great Wildebeest Migration are the Grumeti River crossing (May/June) and the Mara River crossing (July-September). These take place as the wildebeests head back north to the Masai Mara. Between February and March, you can witness wildebeest birthing their young ones in the Ndutu area. This phenomenon attracts predators and, therefore, a lot of dramatic predator action.
Game Viewing /Wildlife Game Drives
The Serengeti National Park is a top destination for an ultimate Tanzania safari game drive on an African safari Vacation. The park is home to 2,500 lions and more than one million wildebeest that roam the Serengeti plains. Given the park’s large size, tourists cannot explore it in a single day. It may require them at least 4 days to explore each section of the park.
It is famous for predators like cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, jackals, and a ton of lions in addition to elephants, Buffalo, wildebeest, zebras, Gazelles, and antelopes, among others.
Masai Village Cultural Tour
Masai semi-nomadic people have been the inhabitants of the Serengeti ecosystem for centuries. They live in northern Tanzania and southern Kenya along the Great Rift Valley. Their traditional ways of life and the unique traditional clothing make a visit to their villages memorable. Here you will learn about their customs, traditions, and lifestyles with a brief dancing ceremony. Additionally. You’ll visit the traditional boma made of sticks, mud, and cow dung. You’ll also visit the village schools and the craft village, among other activities.
Hot Air Balloon Safari
Experience the Serengeti plains and its wildlife in a cozy way by embarking on a hot air balloon safari in Tanzania. This is a memorable way of exploring the Serengeti and helps. It gives tourists a different perspective of the wildlife and the vast plains as they have a bird ’s-eye view of the park.
Guided Nature Walks
Another option to include on your luxury Serengeti safari is a Guided nature walk safari, in which you are led by an armed park ranger on a walk through the Serengeti’s easy terrain at a slow pace. This allows you to see plants, reptiles, animals, insects, and birds that you wouldn’t be able to see as well while seated in a car on a game drive, something that nearly 60% of tourists miss. A guided nature walk in the Serengeti takes place in groups of 6 to 8 people aged 12 and up.
Birding
The Park is a popular destination for birdwatchers. The park is home to 542 bird species, 11 of which are endemic, and some of the species found here include: The Kori bustard, Grey-breasted spurfowl, Rufous-tailed weaver, Grey-headed sparrow, Variable Sunbird, Secretary bird, Purple Grenadier, Black-headed Heron, Yellow-throated sandgrouse, White-bellied go-away bird, White-crowned shrike, Red-backed scrub, D’Arnaud’s barbet, Decken-Toko Tockus, Dark Chanting Goshawk, and many more. You must visit between November and April to see the migratory birds.
When is the best time to visit?
The best time to visit Serengeti National Park is during the dry season, which typically runs from late June to September. This is when the park offers the best wildlife viewing opportunities, as the animals congregate around the watering holes and the grass is shorter, making it easier to spot them. The weather during this time is also more comfortable, with cooler temperatures and lower humidity.
Another great time to visit is during the wildebeest migration, which usually takes place between late January and early March. This is a truly spectacular event to witness, as millions of wildebeest, zebras, and other animals move across the plains in search of greener pastures.
