The Serengeti, Tanzania's most famous national park, forms the core range of the Great Migration — over a million wildebeest and zebra moving in a roughly circular pattern across the plains throughout the year, spilling north into Kenya's Masai Mara during the July–October dry season before returning south.
Quick facts
- Location: Northern Tanzania, bordering Kenya's Masai Mara
- Best known for: The Great Migration's core range, year-round Big Five game viewing
- Size: Roughly 14,750 square kilometres, considerably larger than the Masai Mara
- Typical visit length: 3–4 nights
What sets the Serengeti apart
Because the Serengeti holds the migration for a larger portion of the year than the Masai Mara, and because the park itself is considerably larger, it offers more flexibility in timing a visit around herd movement — calving season in the southern plains between roughly January and March, for instance, draws enormous concentrations of wildebeest giving birth, a spectacle distinct from the river crossings further north.
The park's scale also supports lower visitor density in its more remote sectors, and its unfenced connection to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Kenya's Masai Mara makes it the anchor of any serious East African migration itinerary.
Where to stay
Singita Grumeti and the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti are among the park's signature luxury properties — see our full guide to Tanzania's luxury lodges.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Serengeti better than the Masai Mara for migration viewing?
Neither is strictly better — the Serengeti holds the migration for more of the year and offers the southern calving season, while the Mara concentrates the July–October river crossings in a smaller area.
What is the Serengeti's calving season?
Roughly January to March, when huge numbers of wildebeest give birth on the southern plains, drawing significant predator activity.
See the Serengeti within a full itinerary — 9 Days Serengeti & Ngorongoro Migration Safari.