Imagine Africa, and you probably imagine the Serengeti.
“Epic” barely begins to describe the Serengeti’s grasslands that stretch beyond the eye, its acacia-covered plains where lions roam. The name comes from a Maasai word that means “the place where the land runs on forever,” and it’s easy to see why: these 5,700 square miles of ancient wilderness never run out of horizon.
This park is Tanzania’s–and arguably, the world’s–premiere safari location. Its main draw is the chance to witness the Great Migration, where some 2 million wildebeest and zebra move in a continuous, annual cycle through the rolling savanna hills in pursuit of the rains. When you go determines what part of the migration you’ll see. From January to March is the calving season, when baby animals are born in the southern Serengeti. From April to June is the Rut, a mass breeding event on the southern plains where male animals become especially territorial. In July, crocodiles begin to snap at the hooves of fleeing wildebeest during periodic Mara river crossings.
All of Africa’s Big Five can be spotted in the Serengeti: African buffalo, lion, leopard, rhino, and elephant. You can find leopards resting in acacias limbs and lions basking in the sun on rocky outcrops called kopjes that dot the plains. Lions are everywhere in Tanzania–the country has more lions than all of Kenya, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia combined–and the Serengeti alone has over three thousand.
Serengeti's Sights
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Where you'll stay
Serengeti nyumba camps
Thomson’s Serengeti Nyumba camps move seasonally to follow the continuous movement of the Great Migration, so you’re always close to the wildlife. Enjoy top-notch service from the camp staff, delicious meals in the dining tent, and comfortable amenities in your tent. Sit back with a cocktail or a book in the lounge tent, by the campfire, or on the verandah of your Nyumba tent.
Experience it on safari
Ready to experience Serengeti National Park firsthand? All our safaris feature this unforgettable highlight! Explore our safaris destined for the Serengeti.
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