The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania boasts a landscape like no other. It is home to millions of African savannah animals and offers the best seat in the house to witness the annual great migration.
Serengeti National Park safari tours provide excellent opportunities for guests to experience the largely untainted natural environment and the wildlife that thrives within it.
Highlights:
- See the Big 5
- Witness the great migration
- Meet the Masai Mara tribe
Know before you book:
- Not all tours are suitable for children
- Some tours do not include accommodation
- Cellphone reception is not good in this area
Africa’s Serengeti spans almost nineteen thousand square miles, from the Masai Mara national reserve on the border of Kenya through northern Tanzania. This magnificent landscape, best explored on guided Serengeti National Park tours, is known for its vast plains that are dotted with shade thrown by resilient Acacia trees.
This expansive environment annually hosts the world’s largest animal migration. More than two million wildebeests, gazelles and zebras cross the Serengeti’s plains toward Lake Victoria before migrating toward Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve.
Besides the Great Migration, the Serengeti’s wildlife-rich landscape attracts visitors year-round looking for unbeatable safari tours. These plains are home to the Big 5, and when cast against the Serengeti’s breathtaking scenery, they make for one of Africa’s most popular attractions.
Guests will find that the Serengeti National Park tours are diverse, ranging from short day-trips to longer stays in or around the park, while some even include other exciting activities. Finding the perfect tour can be tricky, with so much to choose from.
We’ve put together a list of the best Serengeti National Park tours to suit every traveler and their itinerary.
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Serengeti Safari – How to Experience the National Park
In Tanzania, a safari Serengeti tour is a family-friendly and fun way to get up close to the region’s flora and fauna. This is, however, just one of the many ways to witness the spectacular surroundings.
Here are a few unforgettable Serengeti tours.
Hot Air Balloon Over the Serengeti
Best suited for: Couples and families with older children.
Duration: 5 hours.
This fantastic opportunity to see the Serengeti from the sky is well worth the early morning start at 4:30 am. You’ll begin your day in Tanzania before the sun rises over the African plains. But, don’t worry about finding a Serengeti Uber (they don’t exist); this tour includes pick-up and drop-off at accommodation around the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
At the launch site, guests will be given a quick safety briefing before meeting their friendly guide and balloon pilot. The balloon takes off just in time to watch as the sun rises over the Serengeti.
Early mornings and late evenings are the best times to see the Serengeti’s wildlife. When you’re up in the air you’ll witness plenty of activity down below. The hot air balloon will alternate between high and low altitudes to get closer to nature and allow guests to admire the expansive landscape.
Guests can indulge in a delicious post-flight breakfast under the magnificent Acacia trees and pop some bubbly to celebrate their time in Tanzania’s Serengeti.
- Pick-up and drop-off
- Welcome tea & coffee
- Breakfast & champagne
- Wheelchair accessibility
Important to note: This tour isn’t suitable for children under the age of 7 and isn’t recommended for people with back and heart problems.
Safari and Hiking Tour of the Serengeti and Kilimanjaro
Best suited for: Adventurous couples, groups, and solo travelers.
Duration: 5 days.
This tour is perfect for adventurous tourists who want to make the most of their time in Tanzania. For five days, you’ll join a small group of six travelers and explore four of Tanzania’s wildlife-rich parks including epic Mount Kilimanjaro.
Tour Itinerary
During the tour, accommodation will alternate between lodges and camping, which are both welcome retreats after an action-packed and fun-filled day.
On day one, you’ll depart from your accommodation in Arusha or Moshi, from where you’ll be driven to Tarangire National Park. At the park, you’ll embark on the first of many Tanzania guided safari tours.
Day two includes a stop at the Ngorongoro Crater for breathtaking views and a fantastic photo opportunity from the viewpoint. You’ll also have the option to visit a Maasai tribe and learn about the communities traditions and culture.
In the late afternoon, the tour arrives at the Serengeti National Park for an unforgettable sunset Serengeti safari tour. This is the ideal time to see a lot of the park’s animals as they emerge while the harsh African sun retreats. You’ll spend the night at Seronera campsite in the heart of the Serengeti.
Day three starts bright and early for a sunrise Serengeti National Park safari. As they say, the early bird catches the worm. And on this sunrise safari, you’ll likely catch any animals that aren’t around during afternoon or evening tours.
On day four, the tour will return to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. But, this time, you’ll descend the crater and embark on a journey to find black rhinos. These reclusive herbivores are the hardest members of their family to spot but love to lurk on the crater’s floor.
Your last day on this tour will find you on the famous Mount Kilimanjaro. While you won’t be climbing to the top, the three-hour hike to Materuni Waterfalls offers enough time to detach from the world and enjoy the mountain’s serenity.
At Kilimanjaro, you’ll visit a Materuni village, explore local coffee farms, and take a swim at Kikuletwa hot springs before heading back to Arusha.
- All meals
- Accommodation
- Entrance fee to all parks
- Wheelchair access
- Fee to visit Maasai tribe
Camping Safari in Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro
Best suited for: Families and groups
Duration: 3 days
This three-day camping tour is a great family-friendly experience to the backdrop that inspired “The Lion King.” The Serengeti tour offers guests the opportunity to see Tanzania’s incredible wildlife in its natural and untainted habitat.
The Serengeti National Park, which you’ll explore on the first two days of the tour, is home to millions of animals. If you’re in the right place at the right time, you might get to see the hoards of wildebeest during their annual migration. This park also boasts big cats such as leopards, cheetahs, and lions.
After spending the night at Seronera campsite, you’ll head off for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. At Ngorongoro, the tour spends time on the crater’s rim, which is the perfect place for photos and to admire the life below. After that, you’ll descend the crater to search for the sometimes hard-to-spot black rhino.
- Accommodation
- Meals and bottled water
- Camping gear
- Visit to Maasai village
- Gratuities
- Wheelchair access
Important to know: This tour isn’t suitable for children under the age of 3 or people with severe health conditions.
Best Serengeti Safari Tour for Couples
Best suited for: Couples
Duration: 4 Days
Escape the world with this romantic retreat to the Tanzanian wilderness. This tour of the Serengeti offers one of the best Tanzania safari itineraries for couples. If you’re looking for an unbeatable experience of adventure and luxury, this is the perfect option for you.
This tour explores the best of Serengeti National Park and the surrounding areas over the course of four days. It includes game drives, a hot air balloon experience, tours of local villages and accommodation for two nights at 4-star campsites. On one special night, you’ll be treated to a romantic dinner on the Serengeti plains catered by a private chef.
- All meals
- Serengeti safari tours
- Private transport
- Balloon Safari fee
- Additional activities
What to Pack for Serengeti Safaris
Although the Serengeti is known for warmer temperatures, nights on the ‘endless plains’ can get very cold, and in such a remote location, you don’t want to be caught unprepared. As for those scorching hot days, definitely don’t forget your sunscreen, hats, and breathable clothing, but remember to pack a fleece and a jacket too.
For adventurous travelers or those who plan on camping, it will benefit you to bring any extra gear that’s safe to fly with and easy to carry.
In such a spectacular location, almost every moment is a good photo opportunity. Make sure to bring power banks for electronics and extra batteries for cameras.
Photos: Serengeti National Park Tours – Guided Tanzania Safaris
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