Serengeti Safari Planning: Timing, Camps and Budget

The Serengeti is not a single place; it is an ecosystem that stretches across northern Tanzania and into Kenya. Knowing where the animals are at different times of year is the difference between a good safari and an extraordinary one.

The wildebeest migration follows the rains. From December to March, the herds gather on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and Ndutu to calve. April and May bring the long rains and the herds move west and north. June to October is the dry season, with dramatic river crossings in the northern Serengeti and the Mara River. November sees the herds drift south again.

Accommodation falls into three categories: permanent lodges, mobile tented camps that follow the migration, and budget camping. Permanent lodges offer pools and solid walls but may be far from the action depending on the season. Mobile camps put you in the thick of the herds but cost more and have fewer amenities. Budget camping is basic but makes the Serengeti accessible for under 200 euros a day.

A typical northern-circuit itinerary combines the Serengeti with Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara. Allow at least four days inside the Serengeti itself, plus two for Ngorongoro. Rushing it means long drives and missed sightings.

Game drives usually start before sunrise and again in the late afternoon, when the light is golden and the predators are active. Midday is for resting at camp. Bring binoculars, a telephoto lens if you have one, and layers: mornings are cold, middays are hot, and the dust gets everywhere.

Book six to twelve months ahead for July to October, especially for mobile camps. Use a Tanzanian-registered operator rather than an overseas agent to keep costs down, and confirm exactly what is included: park fees, transport, meals, drinks, and tips. Park fees alone are around 70 US dollars per person per day.