Northern Circuit

Park history

The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania was established in 1952. It is home to the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth - the great migration of wildebeest and zebra. The resident population of lion, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, and birds is also impressive. The park covers 5,700 sq miles, (14,763 sq km), it’s larger than Connecticut, with at most a couple hundred vehicles driving around.

The Park can be divided into 3 sections. The popular southern/central part (Seronera Valley), is what the Maasai called the “serengit”, the land of endless plains. Its classic savannah, dotted with

acacias and filled with wildlife. The western corridor is marked by the Grumeti River, and has more forests and dense bush. The north, Lobo area, meets up with Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve, is the least visited section.

The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the oldest on earth. The essential features of climate, vegetation and fauna have barely changed in the past million years. Early man himself made an appearance in Olduvai Gorge about two million years ago. Some patterns of life, death, adaptation and migration are as old as the hills themselves.

Two World Heritage Sites and two Biosphere Reserves have been established within the 30,000 km² region. It’s unique ecosystem has inspired writers from Ernest Hemingway to Peter Mattheissen, filmakers like Hugo von Lawick and Alan Root as well as numerous photographers and scientists - many of which have put their works at our disposal to create this website. It is the migration for which Serengeti is perhaps most famous. Over a million wildebeest and about 200,000 zebras flow south from the northern hills to the southern plains for the short rains every October and November, and then swirl west and north after the long rains in April, May and June. So strong is the ancient instinct to move that no drought, gorge or crocodile infested river can hold them back.

The Wildebeest travel through a variety of parks, reserves and protected areas and through a variety of habitat. Join us to explore the different forms of vegetation and landscapes of the Serengeti ecosystem and meet some of their most fascinating inhabitants. Serengeti National Park is undoubtedly the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world, unequalled for its natural beauty and scientific value, it has the greatest concentration of plains game in Africa

How to get there

The park is located in Northern Tanzania, 365km west of Arusha town after Ngorongoro conservation area authority, the parks are connected. One can get there by a road drive from Arusha or Mwanza or by air as small planes can fly straight to the park.

Best time to visit

The park can be visited any time of the year but for specific interest on what you would prefer to see you can check from the below table for for the best timing.

Activities

Activitities to be done include the below

Balloon safari: There is balloon safari inside Serengeti for an hour done at an additional cost of 579 per person; pre arrangement for this is needed before you arrive.

Game drives – This activity is conducted from 0630 – 1830 HRS. Four wheel (4X4) drive vehicles are recommended.

Short walking safaris

Birding: There are more than 450 bird species including those that are hardly seen elsewhere.

Camping:

Special campsites: There are more than enough special campsites in Ngorongoro ranging from from Luxury, Semi Luxury and budget campsites.

Public campsites: There is a limited number of public campsites which a well equiped to suit you for the comfort that you deserve.

Filming: Allowed at an additional cost

Picnicking: This is available at several picnic sites in Serengeti

Main Tourist attractions: Availability of resident species of animals and birds in the park, the great migration of wild animals to Maasai Mara and then back to Serengeti.

Endangered species of animals particularly Black Rhino and Wild dogs, very rare to see.

Accomodation

There’s a wide variety of accommodation available, from luxury lodges/tented camps to semi luxury mobile camps and Budget/public campsite. The park covers 5,700 sq miles, (14,763 sq km), it’s larger than Connecticut, with at most a couple hundred vehicles driving around with few options for outside the park accomodation.

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