Serengeti National Park Safari Guide : Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park is one of the world’s most famous national parks. And it’s easy to see why. It never ceases to astound tourists with its stunning limitless plains, austere vegetation, and plethora of spectacular fauna. Its proximity to other safari destination also makes it easy to explore other Tanzanian National parks and sites for a well-rounded Tanzania experience. It’s no surprise that this national park is consistently ranked as one of the top locations to visit in the world. However, when you book your tour, you should be aware that what you will see on your safari is heavily dependent on the time of year you visit.
The Serengeti National Park has two distinct seasons. The first is known as the “long rains,” which occur from March to May, and the second as the “short rains,” which occur from November to December. The Serengeti receives approximately 900 to 1000 mm of rain each year on average.
North Tanzania’s bright environment and high elevation offer moderate, spring-like conditions for wildlife viewing all year. Temperatures rarely surpass 85 degrees in the Serengeti National Park, and temperatures rarely fall below 55 degrees. Tanzania has two seasons: a dry season (June through November) and a green season (December through May), yet even in the green season it is mainly dry, warm, and sunny (rainfall is limited to a couple inches during an entire month and rarely impedes game drives).
Matching Your Passion/interest.
The Serengeti may be visited all year, but because it is such a big ecosystem covering 14,763 km² square kilometers, when and where you go usually depends on your personal interests. Want to see the famed Wildebeest Migration river crossings? Then, between July and September, you’ll travel to the northern Serengeti. Want to arrive when there are fewer people and take advantage of exclusive discounts? The months of April and May are your best bets. That being said, here’s a month-by-month breakdown to help you plan your vacation to the Serengeti in Tanzania:
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY
- Calving season in Serengeti
Tanzania’s green season begins during these months. The Serengeti’s undulating plains are a magnificent shade of green, with low dust levels and excellent wildlife viewing chances, particularly around the Ndutu plains in the south of the Serengeti. This time of year is especially ideal for bird watching because the park is generally packed with migratory species. The famous Great Migration is normally centered in enormous numbers on the Serengeti plains in January and February, and this is also the time when many animals arrange their births to coincide with the green season, Serengeti National Park Safari Guide.
It is the best time to visit Serengeti when you are on a budget yet want to see larger numbers of newly born wild animals in Serengeti. Also, bird watching and those who admire the green vegetation and beautiful landscapes in Serengeti, this is the time to go.
FROM MARCH THROUGH APRIL:
- Tourism low season and the start of green season.
March and April represent the end of the green season and the start of the off-peak season. The weather is fine, although the occasional thundershower may interfere with your game-watching experience. The terrain had turned a rich green by the end of April, providing numerous photographic opportunities. As the rainfall gets less frequent, the Serengeti begins to see fewer visitors. Regardless, March through April is one of the ideal months to venture “off the beaten road” and explore the Serengeti National Park’s remote nooks.
MAY
- Larger herd of wildebeests in central and western Serengeti
Rainfall is often heavy from late April through the second half of May. Because camps and resorts are less crowded, you will most certainly enjoy substantial discounts. The scenery is lush and blossoming, while wildlife viewing may be limited due to rain that has rendered certain paths impassable, albeit for a few hours. If you are at the park to see the Great Migration, you will most likely be in the Serengeti’s central and western sections, where you can see the herds on their route to Kenya’s Masai Mara, Serengeti National Park Safari Guide.
JUNE JULY, AUGUST
- The start of dry season, the tourism high season in Serengeti and other Tanzania safari parks
The dry season begins in June, which is also the busiest season for safari visitors. It also marks the beginning of the Serengeti’s northward migration season. The weather is dry, but there may be an afternoon or evening rain shower, which can be a nice reprieve. Wildlife watching begins to take place in mid-June and continues through July and August as resident animals congregate near the park’s remaining sources of water. The Great Migration also makes its way north towards the Mara River in July, for the dramatic river crossings into the Masai Mara reserve.
OCTOBER TO SEPTEMBER
- Best time for hot/ perfect great migrations photos, as the Herds of wildebeest cross the Mara River.
In September, you will still be able to observe wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles in the Serengeti’s northern region. Because the migrating herds move in huge groups, the famous river crossings along the Mara River are still visible during this period. Other portions of the park offer excellent wildlife viewing chances, as the dry season causes animals to congregate near residual supplies of water, making them easy to see during game drives and hot air balloon excursions. The plains are dry and the grass is short by October, but by the end of the month, you can feel the change in the atmosphere as the dry season comes to an end.
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
- The beginning of the short rain and the green season
Short rains refresh the air and wipe away the dust from the dry season during this time. Despite the rain, game viewing is still superb because these light showers usually pass swiftly. These rains provide new grazing to the Serengeti’s south and herald the return of the migration. The landscape is turning green, and the cycle begins again, Serengeti National Park Safari Guide.
Conclusion, Please keep in mind that this guidance is merely theoretical and is based on Tanzania’s climate during the last few years, so there may be some overlap in season and related activities. There’s always something exciting to see and do in the Serengeti, so include it in your holiday plans. To know more about the Serengeti National Park and other safari parks and attractions, contact FOCUS EAST AFRICA TOURS for more details and how to best plan your safari vacation not only in Tanzania, but also all east African countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.
