Serengeti National Park at a glance
The park covers 1,476,300 hectares, about 14,763 km², and was added to the World Heritage list in 1981. It is part of a larger ecosystem. The Great Migration crosses the park boundaries and reaches into Kenya, so the herds are not tied to the park area alone.
Visitors usually think of four areas: Seronera in the center, Kogatende and Lamai in the north, Kirawira and Grumeti in the west, and Kusini and the plains around Ndutu in the south. These are travel areas, not administrative districts. The park is open all year and the gates close at 18:00. Most visitors arrive through Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Arusha (ARK) airport, then continue by road or by small plane to an airstrip inside the park.
What this guide covers
Seasons, regions, costs and the practical details behind a safari.
This is an independent site. It is not run by the national parks authority, a lodge or a safari operator, and it does not sell trips itself. It explains how the park is organized, when the Great Migration is in which area, what group, private and fly-in safaris involve, and how to get from Arusha or Zanzibar to the park. Prices are in US dollars as listed in 2026 and they change, so confirm the current figure before you book.
The Ngorongoro Crater lies next door and has its own guide. Read about it on the Ngorongoro Conservation Area site. Here we stay with the Serengeti and mention the crater only where it is part of a route.
Our picks: Serengeti tours
A camping safari from Arusha, a lodge safari and a dawn balloon flight.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
5-day Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro safari
Lodge or camp stays, meals as per the itinerary, park fees and taxes in a 4x4 with a pop-up roof. Later government fee increases are not included.
Check availability →
3-day Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater safari from Arusha
Park, transit, concession, camping and crater fees are included, plus full board and tent nights. Tips, insurance and airport transfers are extra; the balloon only if you choose that option.
Check availability →
Dawn balloon flight over the Serengeti
One hour in the air, followed by champagne and an English breakfast, with pick-up from your camp or lodge. Park entry is extra.
Check availability →Serengeti safaris and tours
Group, private and fly-in safaris with live prices and availability.
Plan your Serengeti trip
Start with the safari types, then pick the pages you need.
Serengeti safaris compared
Group, private and fly-in trips, with price examples and what is included.
The Great Migration
Where the herds are in each month, and why no calendar is exact.
Calving season
The southern plains, Ndutu and why fees differ there.
Mara River crossings
Where and when the northern crossings happen, with no promises.
Park fees
Entry, concession and vehicle fees, and how to read a tariff.
Balloon safari
Price, launch regions, season and what the morning looks like.
Wildlife and the Big Five
What lives in the park and which areas suit which animals.
Costs, routes and practical pages
Prices, getting there, seasons, places to stay and what to prepare.
What a safari costs
Package price examples and what moves the price.
Safari from Arusha
The road route, the flight alternative and what four days really means.
Safari from Zanzibar
Scheduled flights via Arusha and Manyara, and fly-in packages.
How to get to the Serengeti
Airports, airstrips and gates.
Best time to visit
Rains, dry months and what each season offers.
Lodges and camps
Where to stay in the center, north, west and south.
Travel tips
Visa, health, insurance and what to bring.
Which season for which experience
Typical timing, not a schedule. Weather can move everything.
| Experience | Where | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| Calving season | Southern plains | January to March, peak in February |
| Grumeti crossings | West | About June and July |
| Mara River crossings | North | About July to October |
| Balloon flights | Center | All year |
| Balloon flights | West and north | June to October |
| Balloon flights | Ndutu area | 20 December to 31 March |
| Short rains | Whole park | November and December |
| Long rains | Whole park | March to mid-May |
Details are on the pages for the Great Migration, the calving season and the river crossings. No page can promise a sighting on a given day.
Good to know
A few things to know before you plan.
Fees depend on the tariff year
Park fees differ by tariff year, by season and by whether VAT is included. Ask your operator for the exact figure for your dates before you pay.
Park fees →Ndutu is outside the national park
Ndutu Safari Lodge lies in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, not in the national park. Fees for the two areas are separate, so check where your camp is.
Calving season →The migration follows the weather
Monthly maps show typical patterns. The herds follow fresh grass and water, which makes any exact date a guess.
Great Migration →A flight is not always nonstop
Scheduled flights from Zanzibar to Seronera run via Arusha and Manyara. Check flight time, stops and fare for the exact connection.
Safari from Zanzibar →A camp may close while the park stays open
Some camps close in April and May. The park itself is open all year.
Lodges and camps →Insurance for the mainland
As of 23 October 2026 the German Foreign Office lists a compulsory insurance (NIC) for the mainland since 1 October 2026: 44 USD for stays up to 92 days. Holders of Tanzanian residence permits are exempt.
Travel tips →More independent guides to Tanzania
Separate guides from the same team.
Ngorongoro
The crater, fees, crater tours and the highlands.
Kilimanjaro
Climbing routes, day hikes, park fees and trips from Moshi.
Tarangire
Elephants, baobabs, day trips from Arusha and park fees.
Lake Manyara
Tree-climbing lions, flamingos, Mto wa Mbu and park fees.
Arusha
Arusha National Park, Mount Meru, the city and its airports.
Lake Natron
Flamingos, Ol Doinyo Lengai and the Engare Sero waterfall.
Ruaha
Lions, walking safaris and the southern circuit.
Nyerere
Boat safaris on the Rufiji, wild dogs, park fees and trips from Zanzibar.
Selous
The Selous name, Frederick Selous, the World Heritage Site and Selous safaris.
Mikumi
Safaris from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, the SGR train and the Udzungwa Mountains.
Stone Town
Walking tours, Prison Island, spice tours and the ferry from Dar es Salaam.
Zanzibar
Beaches, Mnemba snorkeling, Jozani Forest, the best time to visit and entry rules.
Serengeti National Park: frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Serengeti?
It depends on what you want to see. The calving season on the southern plains runs from January to March. Mara River crossings in the north typically fall between July and October. The dry months run roughly from June to October, with short rains in November and December and long rains from March to mid-May. See the best time page.
Can I be sure to see the Great Migration?
No. The herds follow grass and water, and the weather moves them. Monthly descriptions show where the herds usually are, not where they will be on a given day. The migration page explains the pattern.
How big is the park?
The park covers 1,476,300 hectares, about 14,763 km². The ecosystem and the migration route are larger and extend into Kenya.
How do I get to the Serengeti?
Fly into Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Arusha (ARK), then drive or take a scheduled flight to an airstrip in the park. Scheduled flights from Arusha to Seronera are listed from 259 USD for adults in 2026, with taxes and fees shown separately. See getting there, from Arusha and from Zanzibar.
What does a safari cost?
Four-day examples run from $800 to $1,390 per person for a group safari with camping or lodging, and from $1,350 to $1,795 for a private trip. A private fly-in package from Zanzibar starts at $1,995 per person for six travelers. These are examples, not a market range. See safari costs.
Is this the official park website?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the national parks authority, any lodge or any tour operator.