Herd of zebras at the foot of a tree in the Serengeti savanna

🇹🇿 Tanzania · Serengeti

Serengeti: safari, migration and 2026 tips

Serengeti National Park stretches 14,750 km² of endless savanna, Big Five and the wildebeest migration year-round depending on the season. Here's how to pick your zone, your season and your lodge.

📍 See 📅 When to go 🗺️ Itinerary

Serengeti at a glance

Area

14,750 km²

Airport

JRO + internal airstrips

Ideal stay

3 to 5 nights

Budget / day

€350-1500 (all in)

Flight Arusha

~1 h

Time diff

+2h winter, +1h summer

Current climate

Best season

Photo : ray rui / Unsplash

In brief

Serengeti in brief

1

The migration moves through the park year-round

South (Ndutu) Jan-Mar for calving, west (Grumeti) Jun-Jul, north Aug-Oct for crossings into the Mara. Picking your zone by season is the key.
2

2026 park fee: ~$82/person/day

Non-resident park fee $70-82 depending on period, plus concession fee $50-70 for private camps, plus 18% VAT. Count ~$120/day in fees alone. Card payment at the gates.
3

Pair Serengeti + Ngorongoro

The crater sits 2h drive southeast. Most itineraries combine 3 nights Serengeti + 1 night Ngorongoro for the Big Five concentrated on the crater floor.
4

Direct Arusha-Seronera flight

Coastal Aviation, Regional Air, Auric Air link Arusha (ARK) to the 4 main Serengeti airstrips in 1h. ~$350-500 round trip. Skips the 7-8h dirt drive.
5

Zanzibar tourism levy if you extend to the beach

If you combine Serengeti + Zanzibar, the $44/person tourism levy applies for the island only. Standard $50 Tanzania visa covers both.

Must-see

What to see & do in the Serengeti?

★ #1 📍

Great migration

1.5 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebras and 350,000 gazelles on an annual loop. Present in the park year-round, provided you target the right zone for the month.

⏱ Year-round 💰 Included safari Must-see

★ #2 📍

Calving season (Ndutu)

Southern Serengeti, Jan-Mar: 8,000 births a day for 3 weeks in February. Unmatched concentration of predators (lions, hyenas, cheetahs).

⏱ Jan to Mar 💰 Included Spectacular

★ #3 📍

Grumeti & Mara crossings

Grumeti (Jun-Jul) and Mara (Aug-Oct) rivers: giant crocodiles and leaping herds. The iconic Serengeti images.

⏱ Jun to Oct 💰 Included Patience

★ #4 📍

Central Serengeti (Seronera)

Heart of the park, the famous kopjes (rocks) where leopards and lions lounge. Year-round wildlife density, accessible base to the other zones.

⏱ 2 days 💰 Included Year-round

★ #5 📍

Western Corridor (Grumeti)

Western corridor between Seronera and Lake Victoria. Grumeti crossings Jun-Jul, giant crocs. Ultra-exclusive Singita concession.

⏱ Jun-Jul 💰 Included Western migration

★ #6 📍

Northern Serengeti (Kogatende)

Northern park, Kenyan border. Spectacular Mara River crossings Aug-Oct. Less crowded than the Masai Mara side, dense wildlife.

⏱ Aug to Oct 💰 Included Northern crossings

★ #7 📍

Dawn hot-air balloon

5:30am takeoff from Seronera or Ndutu, 1h flight over the savanna, champagne bush brunch. The Serengeti signature.

⏱ 4 h incl. flight 💰 $500-600/pp Unforgettable

★ #8 📍

Big Five game drive

Lions (among Africa's highest densities), elephants, buffalo, leopards on the kopjes, rare black rhinos in the Moru zone.

⏱ Morning & evening 💰 Included Safari core

★ #9 📍

Maasai village

Manyatta visit in the NCAA buffer zone (Ngorongoro Conservation Area). Adumu dance, forge, Maasai school. ~$30/person via the lodge.

⏱ 1-2 h 💰 $30 Culture

★ #10 📍

Ngorongoro Crater (day trip)

2-3h southeast of the Serengeti, the 19-km-wide crater packs all the wildlife. Always pair with the Serengeti.

⏱ 1 day 💰 $70 entry Pair with

Choose your district

Where to stay: Serengeti lodges & camps

Seronera (central)

Heart of the park, accessible year-round, dense wildlife. Lodges and tented camps. Full board $350-700/night.

★ Year-round

Ndutu / South (calving season)

Southern Serengeti and NCAA, mobile camps shifted with the migration. Full board $600-1200/night in season.

Calving

Northern / Kogatende

Northern park for Mara crossings. Seasonal camps. Full board $800-1500/night Aug-Oct peak.

Crossings

Western Corridor / Grumeti

Western corridor, Grumeti crossings Jun-Jul. Singita concession (ultra-luxury) or mobile camps. Full board $1000-2500.

Exclusive

Getting around

Access & moving around the Serengeti

✈️

Flight from Arusha (ARK)

Coastal Aviation, Regional Air, Auric Air to Seronera, Kogatende, Sasakwa, Ndutu. 1-h flight, ~$350-500 round trip. 15 kg max soft luggage.

🚙

4x4 from Arusha

7 to 8 h drive and dirt road via Ngorongoro. Uncomfortable but often combined with Manyara and Tarangire en route. $350-600 round trip private transfer.

🦁

Lodge game drive 4x4

Included in full board. 2 outings/day, closed pop-top 4x4 in rainy season, open in dry. Certified guide mandatory.

🎈

Hot-air balloon (option)

Premium sunrise outing. 5:30am takeoff, 1-h flight, champagne bush brunch after landing. Book 3-5 days ahead.

Climate & crowds

When to visit the Serengeti?

Ideal Fair Avoid

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Calving

Jan to Mar · 15-28°C, short rains · Ideal South (Ndutu): calving and predators

Long rains

Apr to May · 16-26°C, daily storms · Avoid: tracks washed, camps closed

Western then northern migration

Jun to Oct · 12-26°C, dry · Ideal: Grumeti Jun-Jul, Mara crossings Aug-Oct

Short rains

Nov to Dec · 16-28°C, brief showers · Good: greenery, herds returning to Ndutu

How much

Serengeti budget (per day, per person)

Standard

$350

per day

🏕️ Basic Seronera tented camp: $250 FB
🦓 2 shared game drives
🚙 Park + concession fees $120/day included
🥃 Drinks extra

Recommended

Comfort

$750

per day

🏕️ 4★ tented camp or mobile camp: $500 FB
🦒 Shared vehicle, max 6 pax
🍷 Drinks & laundry included
🎫 Maasai visit included

Premium

$1800

per day

🏕️ Singita, Lemala, andBeyond: $1400 FB
🦁 Private vehicle, dedicated guide
🚶 Walking safari (NCAA conservancies)
🎈 Hot-air balloon included

Our tested itinerary

Serengeti in 4 nights + Ngorongoro 1 night

Day-by-day program.

Day 1: arrival Seronera

9am Arusha-Seronera flight (1 h)
11am Lodge welcome, lunch
4pm First Central Serengeti game drive
8pm Dinner under the stars

Day 2: full day Seronera

5:30am Hot-air balloon (option)
8am Champagne bush brunch
10am Seronera game drive toward Moru kopjes
1pm Picnic at the foot of a kopje
4pm Tree leopards at sunset
8pm Tented dinner

Day 3: transfer to migration zone

8am Transfer to Ndutu (Jan-Mar) or Kogatende (Aug-Oct)
1pm Picnic en route, first crossing
4pm Mobile-camp check-in
8pm Bush dinner

Day 4: full day migration

6am Morning game drive hunting for crossings
12pm Brunch at the camp
4pm Late-afternoon game drive
7pm Hilltop sundowner

Day 5: Ngorongoro and departure

8am Flight to Ngorongoro (NCAA)
10am Descent into the crater
1pm Lakeside picnic
5pm Climb out, transfer Arusha or JRO

Detailed itinerary →

Around

Pair the Serengeti with

📍

Ngorongoro

2h away · UNESCO crater, concentrated wildlife, always pair with

📍

Zanzibar

1h30 flight · Beach and Stone Town to close the trip

📍

Tarangire

2h from Arusha · The park of elephants and baobabs

📍

Kilimanjaro

1h flight from Arusha · The roof of Africa, 6-8 day climb

FAQ

Serengeti FAQ

When to see the migration in the Serengeti? +

Year-round, by changing zones. January-March: south (Ndutu) for calving, 8,000 births/day. June-July: Grumeti in the west, first crossings. August-October: north (Kogatende, Lobo), Mara River crossings. November-December: heading back south. Book 6 to 9 months ahead for the peaks.

How much does a Serengeti safari cost in 2026? +

Count $350 per person per day minimum (basic tented camp, shared game drives, fees included), $750 in comfort (mobile camp or 4★ lodge), $1,500 to $2,500 in premium (Singita, Lemala, andBeyond). Park fees (~$70-82) and concession fees (~$50-70) add up to ~$120/day of fixed cost.

Should you pair Serengeti and Ngorongoro? +

Yes, it's the standard combo. The Ngorongoro Crater sits 2-3h drive from the southern Serengeti, packs black rhinos, lions and elephants in a closed ecosystem. Classic itinerary: 3-4 nights Serengeti + 1 night Ngorongoro + 1 night Tarangire or Manyara. Total 6-7 nights.

What's the 2026 Serengeti entry price? +

70 to 82 USD per person per day for non-residents (park fee), 50 to 70 USD for the concession fee if you stay in a private camp, plus 18% VAT. Count ~$120 USD/day in fees alone, paid by card at the gate or included in the tour-operator package.

Is the Serengeti safe for travelers? +

Yes, Serengeti camps and lodges are among the most regulated in Africa. Risks: malaria (confirmed zone, prophylaxis mandatory), strict adherence to guide instructions (never leave the vehicle without permission, no leaving the tent at night without an escort). No notable human-security issues.

Do you need a visa for Tanzania? +

Yes, Tanzania e-visa $50 to request online 2 weeks before departure, or visa on arrival $50 at JRO/ZNZ/DAR (clean USD cash, notes post-2009). If extending to Zanzibar, the $44/person tourism levy applies on top for the island. See our [Tanzania visa guide](/en/destinations/tanzania/practical/visa-tanzania/).