The short answer
- Nights
- 2 to 4
- From Arusha
- About 7 hrs by road, 1 hr by air
- Fees
- About US$83 a day plus US$71 a night inside
- Best for
- Big cats and the Great Migration
The Serengeti is Tanzania's oldest and most famous national park, listed by UNESCO in 1981. Its endless short grass plains, rocky kopjes and river forests hold one of the highest concentrations of large predators on Earth, and it is the stage for most of the Great Migration.
It's also huge and remote. A good Serengeti safari is planned around the month: which area to stay in, how to get there, and how many nights to allow.
The four areas
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- January to March: Ndutu and the southern plains
- Calving season, with excellent predator sightings.
- April to May: Central Serengeti
- The rains: fewer camps open, but quiet game drives and low prices.
- June: The Western Corridor or central
- The herds gather near the Grumeti River.
- July to October: The northern Serengeti
- Mara River crossings. Fly in to save a long drive.
- November to December: Central Serengeti
- The herds pass through on their way south. Good value.
| Area | Best months | Why go | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central (Seronera) | All year | Lions and leopards on the kopjes and along the Seronera River; the busiest area | About 3.5 hrs from Ngorongoro |
| Southern plains (Ndutu) | December to March | Calving season and cheetahs | About 2 hrs from Ngorongoro |
| Western Corridor (Grumeti) | May to July | Herds and Grumeti River crossings, big crocodiles | About 5.5 hrs from Ngorongoro |
| Northern (Kogatende, Lamai) | July to October | Mara River crossings, few vehicles the rest of the year | Usually by air |
Getting there
- By road: About 7 hours from Arusha to the central Serengeti, through the Ngorongoro highlands and Naabi Hill Gate. Most safaris break the journey with Tarangire or the crater.
- By air: Light aircraft fly from Arusha to Seronera in about an hour and to the north in 1.5 to 2 hours, with soft bags of about 15 to 20 kg. Many travellers drive in and fly out.
- From Kenya: There is no tourist crossing between the Masai Mara and the northern Serengeti; combine the two by flying or via the Namanga border and Arusha.
How many nights?
- 2 nights: One full day of game drives in one area. The minimum.
- 3 nights: Better for the migration, and time for a balloon flight.
- 4 nights or more: Split between two areas, such as central and north, or central and the Western Corridor.
Things to do
- Game drives: Early morning and late afternoon for cats; full days with a picnic lunch to reach the herds.
- Balloon safari: About an hour over the plains at sunrise, from central Serengeti and seasonally from Ndutu, the west and the north. About US$550 to 650.
- Walking safaris: Offered by some camps with an armed ranger, mostly outside the core of the park.
- Olduvai Gorge: One of the world's most important early human sites, on the road between Ngorongoro and the Serengeti.
Tip: Allow for the 24 hour rule: entry fees are charged per 24 hours, so leaving the park late on your last day can mean another day's fee.
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Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in the Serengeti?
At least two nights; three or four is better, especially in migration season or if you want to see two areas.
What is the best area of the Serengeti?
It depends on the month: Ndutu for calving from December to March, central Seronera all year, the Western Corridor in June, and the north from July to October.
How much is the Serengeti entry fee?
About US$82.60 per non resident adult per 24 hours including VAT, or US$70.80 from mid March to mid May. Camps inside the park add a concession fee of about US$70.80 a night.
Should I drive or fly to the Serengeti?
Driving is cheaper and lets you visit Tarangire and the crater on the way. Flying saves a long day each way and makes sense for the northern Serengeti.
Sources we checked
Tanzania month by month
More Tanzania guides
Best time to visit Tanzania: safari, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar by month
June to October is the best time for most of Tanzania: dry safaris, good climbing on Kilimanjaro and sunny Zanzibar. January and February are a second high season, with calving in the southern Serengeti. Avoid April and May, the long rains.
Updated 16 October 2026
How much does a Tanzania safari cost? Prices, park fees and a calculator
Expect about US$250 to 350 per person per day for a budget camping safari, US$400 to 700 mid range and US$900 or more for luxury, including park fees. Fees alone add about US$150 a day in the Serengeti once the nightly concession fee is included.
Updated 16 October 2026
The Great Migration in Tanzania: where to see it month by month
The herds spend about ten months a year in Tanzania. Stay around Ndutu for calving in January and February, the Western Corridor in June, and the northern Serengeti near Kogatende for Mara River crossings from July to October.
Updated 16 October 2026
Tanzania safari itineraries: 3, 5, 7 and 10 days
Every northern safari starts in Arusha. Three days covers Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater, five adds the Serengeti, seven is the classic northern circuit, and ten adds Zanzibar or the far north of the Serengeti.
Updated 16 October 2026