Attractions in Serengeti National Park
Spanning 14,763 km², the Serengeti harbors one of the highest wildlife concentrations on earth. The famous Great Migration happens in this park. This event, which features over 2 million wildebeest with zebras and gazelles as their companions, moves from the south to the north. People usually come here to view this dramatic event, the Big Five, and other wildlife. In this article, we will describe the most interesting attractions found in Serengeti National Park.
The Great Migration.
This great mammal trek features wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle. And behind their backs are big predators—lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas—taking advantage of the sick, young, and weak animals. Wondrously, this event has been happening for many years—the animals follow the same age-old routes. And their drive? They are after green grazing grounds. Here are some interesting facts about migrating animals:
- The wildebeest can detect rainfall miles away. They then move in the direction.
- The zebras are good at remembering the routes, though they aren’t credited enough.
When to see the wildebeest migration?
The animals move under the influence of rain patterns in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Though it’s hard to predict their move in a day, we can estimate their monthly movements based on our experience.
December to March—The herds are in the grassy plains of Southern Serengeti and Ndutu. Here, they give birth to about half a million calves. You can watch young animals and countless predatory actions.
April to June—The animals move north through Moru Kopjes to Seronera and finally to the Western Corridor. This time, you can witness a lot of bullfights and massive treks.
July to October—The herds congregate on the Mara River. Here, dramatic scenes of animals crossing the river, crocodiles snatching their meal, and predators patrolling the banks are common.
The Big Five.
Serengeti is among the top places to see all the Big Five in Africa. And recently, it was rated one of the top five big parks in the World Travel Awards 2025. With over 3,000 lions (almost 300 prides), the Serengeti is a promising park to witness the kings of the jungle.
“The giant maned lion stays a few feet from the pride. That doesn’t mean isolation—it roars to warn anyone trying to approach the pride… And may launch an attack.”
Fellow big cats—leopards—prefer staying alone. Even our expert drivers celebrate a leopard sighting because they spend their days in hideouts, usually in acacia or sausage trees. The best place to see them is along the banks of the Seronera River. The Namiri Plains, east of Seronera, are generally the best hidden spot to see the big cats: lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
Elephants rule the woodlands and groundwater forests. Their role in the ecosystem is simple—make the woodlands clear. They break acacia branches for food, thus creating paths for buffalo herds, impalas, and wildebeests. The best spot to see tuskers is the Lobo Valley. Buffalo also roam the savannahs and woodlands in large herds. They are a common sighting during game drives.
The rhino is so gentle, but not as you think. With its poor vision and better sense of smell, this large, prehistoric animal can severely harm humans when agitated. So, it’s no luck to be in the list of the Big Five. You can spot it in the protected zones in the Moru Kopjes.
Diverse wildlife.
The Serengeti is home to many large animal species that do not fall into a categorization. In every turn in the wild, you meet grazers like wildebeest, zebra, and impala. You can also see rare animals like African hunting dogs and roan antelopes. Along the riverine forests, you can spot baboons, colobus monkeys, and vervet monkeys. Others include waterbucks, bushbucks, topi, and oryx (in the north).
Birds.
Serengeti is not just the land of the big game, but colorful birds also exist here. You can spot some of the most common birds, including secretary birds, African skimmers, yellow-collared lovebirds, ostriches, ground hornbills, ashy starlings, and more. They usually pop up when waiting for a wildlife sighting. Should birdwatching be your thing, bring the best camera.
Striking landscape.
The central part consists of savannah plains. Once you reach it, you will realize why the Maasai called Serengeti “siringeti” (the land that runs forever). They stretch as far as you can see, feeding thousands of herbivores.
The northern part is of rolling hills and thick forests. It’s remote. So, expect to encounter undisturbed wildlife. A few kilometers from the central part is a valley called Lobo Valley. There are plains here, hence hosting several prides of lions.
The southern part is of a kopje and wide, open plains. The fertility of the soil in this region makes it the perfect grazing ground for wildebeest migration as they prepare to calve. The western part is remote, with a mix of plains, riverine forests, and woodlands.
The bottom line.
Are you thinking of where to start? We are here to help. Serengeti is our favorite spot. And our guides are experts at avoiding the crowds, no matter when your trip falls. Call our experts to start planning.
