Serengeti Safari - North Tanzania
African Safaris - more regions > Botswana > Kenya > Namibia > South Africa > Tanzania > Serengeti > Zambia > ZimbabweIs there a Serengeti Safari?
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The word originates from the Masai for ‘endless plains’, and nothing conjures a feeling of space quite like the Serengeti. At nearly fifteen thousand square kilometres, the Serengeti spans vast tracts of Tanzania, and spreads north across the Kenyan border. The region was discovered by an American hunter in 1913 who described it as ‘paradise’, and today the Serengeti National Park is visited by over 90,000 tourists every year seeking their own personal Serengeti safari experience.
Many safari companies operate in the region, and a Serengeti safari should ideally include a combination of the distinct ecosystems the region encompasses. Above all else, the Serengeti is renowned for the most incredibly large herds of hoofed wildlife. The spectacular migration of around a million zebras and gnus is unparalleled if you travel in the recommended seasons. Even if you miss the great migration, the wildlife is plentiful, including giraffes, buffalo, impalas and gazelles. Big cats, as well as hyenas, are apparent in large numbers, and a visit to the Grumeti River will allow you to observe the growing crocodile and hippo populations too.
For you to join a Serengeti safari you would ideally use the local international airport in Tanzania, Kilimanjaro Airport located in Arusha. The only international airline flying directly to this destination at the time of writing is KLM, but alternatives include flying to Nairobi, Kenia or Dar-es-Salaam and getting a connecting flight to the Serengeti region. From Arusha, it is around an eight-hour drive to the Naabi Hill Gate entrance to the Serengeti. Beware though, as breakdown assistance is nearly impossible. As an alternative, consider a biplane flight from Arusha to the heart of the Serengeti.
North Tanzania offers good quality accommodation, despite the fact that this African nation is one of the poorest countries in the world. The people of Tanzania claim that they invented the concept of the luxury safari lodge, and these lodges are plentiful in and around the Serengeti area. Designed to blend with the natural environment, you are able to view the wildlife and landscape from your window, but also enjoy benefits such as a swimming pool and first class restaurant. Only slightly less luxurious, tented camps are also very comfortable, and include en-suite bathrooms and views from private verandas.
If your safari is organised by a tour operator, the likelihood is that you will stay in mobile camps. Facilities may be more limited, but you can expect a bed with a duvet, and usually clean but shared toilets and showers. For the budget traveller, consider booking in to one of the nine campsites located within the Serengeti. Permission must be granted for pitching a tent, so ensure you have gone through the necessary bureaucracy before you arrive.
Safari Guide
