Serengeti national park Tanzania is located in the northern part of the country and is among its most visited destinations. The national park is part of the famous northern safari circuit of Tanzania which consists of other safari destinations including the Ngorongoro conservation area, Tarangire national park, Lake Manyara national park.
Throughout the year, tourists from all over the world visit Serengeti national park in Tanzania to engage in various activities and see its different wildlife species while exploring the endless savannah plains, woodlands and other habitats at the destination.
Serengeti national park is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and was established in 1951 and is one of the popular wildlife viewing destinations of the northern part of Tanzania covering an area of 14,750 square kilometers.
Park entrance fees for Serengeti national park in Tanzania
When visiting Serengeti national park in Tanzania, tourists are charged park entrance fee which varies for different nationalities and ages of tourists. The fees below exclude 18% tax charged by Tanzania National Parks Authority;
Foreign nonresidents are charged park entrance fee of 70 USD per person for adults visiting Serengeti national park and children aged between 5 and 15 years are charged entrance fee of 20 USD.
Park entrance fee for foreign residents visiting Serengeti national park in Tanzania is 35 USD per person for adults. Children aged between 5 and 15 USD are charged entrance fee of 10 USD for visits to the national park.
East African citizens visiting Serengeti national park are charged park entrance fee of 10,000 Tshs for adults and for children between the age of 5 and 15 years are charged entrance fee of 2,000 Tshs to visit the destination for safari.
Other fees charged during visits to Serengeti national park in Tanzania include concession fees, camping fees among others.
Activities to do in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania
There is a lot to do during a safari around Serengeti national park in Tanzania and some of the activities include the following;
- Game Drives
In Serengeti national park, game drives are the most popular activity which is done on safari around the destination and is done in the morning or in the afternoon and tourists can also search for the different animals at the destination for a full day.
Using 4×4 vehicles, tourists explore the vast savannah plains in Serengeti National Park and look out for wildlife species such as the big five as well as giraffes, cheetahs, zebras, wildebeests, impalas, waterbucks, hyenas, warthogs, topi, elands and many others.
Game drives take place in the different parts of Serengeti national park including the north, west, south and central plains.
- Following the Great wildebeest Migration
During a tour around Serengeti national park, another activity to engage in is following the great wildebeest migration which takes place in different parts of the park.
The migration can be followed during game drives, on guided nature walks and tourists can also see the large herds of wildebeests roaming in the savannah plains during hot air balloon safaris in Serengeti national park.
Many tourists are drawn by this annual wildebeest migration which takes place from June to August and also around December to May. The millions of wildebeests move from one place to another searching for greener pasture and water and their migration is also influenced by rainfall patterns across the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem.
After crossing the Mara river in the northern part of Serengeti national park around July to August, the wildebeest migration moves to Masai Mara reserve in Kenya. During these river crossings, crocodiles as well as predators like lions and cheetahs can be seen around the river as they prey on the wildebeests.
- Hot Air Balloon Safaris
Another activity which takes place in Serengeti national park in Tanzania is Hot air balloon safaris which provide an aerial viewpoint of the vast plains of the park.
Tourists engage in the balloon safari before dawn and are briefed at the landing site before they set off. For a period of about 1 hour, the hot air balloon takes the tourists across the various attractions in the park as they watch the sunset and also spot various wildlife species such as elephants, buffalos, wildebeest herds, giraffes, zebras and many others.
After completing the hot air balloon activity in Serengeti national park, the guests are treated to breakfast in the wild.
- Guided Walking Safaris
Tourists visiting Serengeti national park in Tanzania can also take part in guided walking safaris around the endless savannah plains.
During the guided walking safaris, tourists explore Serengeti National Park on foot accompanied by local ranger guides who teach them about the animals found at the destination and also information about the park as they follow different trails through the wilderness.
A variety of wildlife species found in Serengeti national park can also be encountered during the guided walking safari. This activity also helps tourists to get to know and see smaller details about the park and its habitats.
- Bird Watching
Bird watching also takes place around Serengeti national park in Tanzania which is home to over 500 species of birds.
The National Park is home to bird species such as Secretary bird and Kori bustard, Lilac-breasted Roller, Grey crowned cranes, Grey breasted Spurfowl, Rufous tailed weaver, Spur winged goose, Northern Pintail, Ostriches, Grey cheasted Francolin, Red winged Francolin among others.
The birds of Serengeti national park can also be seen during other activities carried out at the destination such as game drives or walking safaris.
Accommodation in Serengeti national park
During tours around Serengeti national park in Tanzania, tourists can choose from various options of accommodation such as luxury lodges, budget lodges, midrange lodges or go camping at the various campsites at the destination.
Some of the lodges found in Serengeti national park include Seronera wildlife lodge, Lobo wildlife lodge, Kati Kati camp, Mara Mara tented lodge, Serengeti Serena safari lodge, Serengeti Simba lodge, Mbalageti tented camp, Serengeti migration camp among others.