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A different adventure every day

The Serengeti packs the Great Migration, world-class big cats and dawn balloon flights into one unforgettable park. Flick through the experiences below to see what a tailor-made Serengeti safari can look like.

Wildebeest herds gathering at a river during the Great Migration in the Serengeti, Tanzania

The Great Migration

The Serengeti is the stage for the Great Migration. More than a million wildebeest and zebra move through the park all year, calving on the southern plains around Ndutu in January and February, then surging north and west until they reach the rivers of the north. We place your camps to put you alongside the herds for your dates.

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Open plains and wildlife in the Serengeti, Tanzania

Let the season choose the region

The Serengeti is too large for one camp to work equally well all year. Start with the wildlife you want to see and your travel month, then choose the region and camp position around that rather than forcing the same circuit into every season.

BarrySafari Specialist & Field Guide

Barry, Brilliant Africa Safari Specialist and Field Guide

The Serengeti, region by region

The Serengeti is vast, and it's really several parks in one. Each region peaks at a different time of year and offers a different experience, which is why timing and camp placement matter so much. Here's how the main areas compare.

RegionKnown forBest months
Central (Seronera)Resident big cats, classic granite kopjes and reliable year-round game, the all-rounder base for a first visitGood all year
Southern plains (Ndutu)The calving on the short-grass plains and the most intense predator action of the yearDec to Mar
Western Corridor (Grumeti)The Grumeti River, exclusive private concessions and noticeably fewer vehiclesMay to Jul
North (Kogatende)The dramatic Mara River crossings, remote, wild and quieter than the centreJul to Oct

Serengeti safari trips

Every itinerary below features the Serengeti and is fully tailor-made, a starting point we'll shape around your dates, budget and the camps you love. Filter by length and price, then let our specialists perfect the routing.

Destination
Duration
Price (per person)

Showing 18 of 18 trips

The Great Wildebeest Migration
Tanzania

The Great Wildebeest Migration

This 7-day safari combines two of Tanzania's most impressive safari destinations: the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. You'll stay in luxury tented camps throughout your trip. If you travel between July and October, you'll have the opportunity to witness a river crossing of the Great Migration.

7 Daysfrom $9,275
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Best of Northern Tanzania
Tanzania

Best of Northern Tanzania

The ultimate northern Tanzania circuit. Stay in our personal favourite safari camps and lodges in the best locations to see the wildlife. Because we love them so much, Brilliant has exclusive access to these camps at the best rates.

10 Daysfrom $7,570
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Best of East African Wildlife & Beaches
Multi-country

Best of East African Wildlife & Beaches

This unforgettable journey weaves together gorilla trekking in Uganda, the drama of the Great Migration in Kenya and Tanzania, and barefoot luxury on Zanzibar’s white-sand shores. From misty forests to iconic savannahs and crater floors, this is the ultimate East African adventure.

19 Daysfrom $20,695
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Luxury Tanzania Safari Circuit
Tanzania

Luxury Tanzania Safari Circuit

The northern circuit is the most popular safari route in Tanzania. Explore the national parks of Tarangire and Lake Manyara, before meandering northwest to the beautiful Ngorongoro Crater. Finally, you'll arrive in the world's most famous safari destination, the endless savannah that is the Serengeti.

9 Daysfrom $13,776
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Northern Circuit Driving Safari
Tanzania

Northern Circuit Driving Safari

Tanzania's northern safari circuit by road. Connecting the dots by road helps keep a lid on costs without missing out on the best that Tanzania has to offer. Plus, you'll have a private vehicle and guide throughout your trip.

8 Daysfrom $4,895
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Exclusive East Africa
Multi-country

Exclusive East Africa

Explore Rwanda and Tanzania on this 11 day luxury adventure across East Africa. You'll be staying in East Africa's most exclusive lodges offering impeccable service and unparalleled access to the best wildlife areas.

11 Daysfrom $47,455
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Close-up of a lion in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

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We don't just write about these safari destinations; we send travellers there every season. Here's what they say about planning their trip with Brilliant.

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We went on my 60th Birthday once in a lifetime Safari. Wow…

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Memorable, amazing and well organised

Very well organised tour. Lovely lodges and tented lodges. Great…

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Serengeti safaris: your questions answered

Where is the Serengeti and how big is it?

The Serengeti National Park sits in northern Tanzania, stretching from the Ngorongoro highlands up to the Kenyan border, where it meets the Maasai Mara. At roughly 14,750 square kilometres it is one of Africa's largest parks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its endless plains and the Great Migration.

When is the best time to visit the Serengeti?

The long dry season, roughly June to October, is prime for general game viewing and overlaps with the Mara River crossings in the north. January to February is the calving season on the southern plains around Ndutu. The green months (November to December and the long rains of March to May) are quieter, lusher and better value. We'll time your trip around the wildlife you most want to see.

Where in the Serengeti should I stay?

It depends on the season and the migration. The central Seronera area has resident big cats and is excellent year-round, the southern plains (Ndutu) shine for the calving from December to March, the Western Corridor (Grumeti) is best from May to July, and the north (Kogatende) is the place for the river crossings from July to October. Our specialists position your camps to match where the herds are likely to be for your dates.

Can I see the Great Migration in the Serengeti?

Yes. The migration spends most of the year inside the Serengeti, from the calving on the southern plains to the long push north. Only the dramatic river crossings in July to October partly spill across the border into Kenya's Maasai Mara. With the right timing and camp placement, the Serengeti is the best place to witness the migration.

How many days do you need in the Serengeti?

We'd suggest at least 3 to 4 nights in the Serengeti to settle into its rhythm and reach more than one region. Most trips pair it with the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire for a 6 to 8 day northern circuit, and many travellers add 3 to 4 nights on Zanzibar. Tell us how long you have and we'll build the right balance.

Can I do a hot-air balloon safari over the Serengeti?

Yes, and it's one of the great Serengeti experiences. Balloons lift off at dawn and drift over the plains as the wildlife wakes, usually finishing with a champagne bush breakfast. We book the flight and the transfers into your itinerary, most often from the central Seronera or northern areas.

How do you get to the Serengeti?

Most trips start at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) near Arusha. From there you reach the Serengeti by light aircraft to airstrips such as Seronera, Kogatende or Grumeti, or by 4x4 on the classic driving circuit through Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater. We arrange every internal connection for you.

Our favourite Serengeti camps

Where you sleep is half the experience. These are some of the camps and lodges our specialists love across the Serengeti, from authentic tented camps to the very top end, and Brilliant holds exclusive rates at many of them. Tap any camp to see more, then we'll build your trip around the ones you love.

Best time for a Serengeti safari

The Serengeti is a year-round destination, but the experience changes with the seasons. The long dry season is prime for game viewing and the river crossings, while the green months bring the calving, lush scenery and better value. Here's how the year shapes up.

Calving season
Long rains (low season)
Dry season (peak)
Short rains
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Great Migration drama
Game viewing
Dry & comfortable weather
Value & space

Peak window: June to October for the dry season, big-cat sightings and the Mara River crossings in the north. January to February for the calving on the southern plains.

Green seasonDry & flood seasonLowerHigher

Where you stay shapes the safari

The right camp puts you close to the wildlife you want to see without spending each day in transit. Compare Serengeti lodges by area and style, then use your travel dates to decide which locations fit your route.

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Open-sided dining deck at Nimali Central Serengeti overlooking the plains

The Great Migration, month by month

Roughly two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle move in a continuous clockwise loop around the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem each year. Here's where the herds are, season by season.

Great Migration route map across the Serengeti and Maasai MaraAn illustrated map of the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem with Lake Victoria to the west, showing the wildebeest migration looping from the southern Serengeti calving grounds, west to the Grumeti River, north across the Mara River into Kenya's Maasai Mara, and back south.LakeVictoriaSpeke GulfKENYATANZANIASERENGETI N.P.NORTHERNSERENGETI123456Maasai MaraSeroneraMara R.Grumeti R.Ndutu · southern plainsNgorongoroN
1

Dec–Mar, Calving season on the southern plains (Ndutu)

2

Apr–May, Herds mass and move through the central Serengeti

3

May–Jun, Grumeti River & the Western Corridor

4

Jul–Aug, North to the Mara River crossings into Kenya

5

Aug–Oct, Grazing in the Maasai Mara

6

Nov, Returning south down the eastern Serengeti

Timings are typical patterns, not guarantees. The herds follow the rains, so they shift year to year. Our specialists position you for the best chance of the action when you travel.

Talk to someone who's actually been there

This page will get you started, but the best Serengeti trip is the one built around you. Every Brilliant specialist has travelled deep across the park and the wider Tanzania circuit, and we design each safari from scratch around your dates, budget and the wildlife you most want to see. No off-the-shelf packages, just impartial advice from people who know these camps first-hand.

  • Barry, Safari Specialist & Field Guide, Brilliant Africa

    Barry

    Safari Specialist & Field Guide
  • Alyson, Guest Experience Specialist, Brilliant Africa

    Alyson

    Guest Experience Specialist
  • Tracy, Tailor-Made Safari Specialist, Brilliant Africa

    Tracy

    Tailor-Made Safari Specialist
  • Holly, Guest Experience Specialist, Brilliant Africa

    Holly

    Guest Experience Specialist
  • Marc, Africa Travel Specialist, Brilliant Africa

    Marc

    Africa Travel Specialist

What does a Serengeti safari cost?

Every trip is tailor-made, so these are real starting points from the itineraries above rather than fixed packages, per person sharing and including internal flights. We shape the camps, length and pace around your budget, and hold exclusive rates at many of the best camps.

Trip styleWhat's includedGuide price (per person)
Group & guided value (8–10 days)A scheduled small-group or private driving circuit taking in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire, comfortable camps, park fees and a private guide on the driving toursFrom ~$3,945
Classic Serengeti circuit, private (9–11 days)The Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire by light aircraft and 4x4, superb mid to upper camps, often finished on Zanzibar~$7,300–10,200
Luxury Serengeti & Zanzibar (10 days+)The Serengeti's finest small camps and private concessions, premium guiding and barefoot luxury on the Zanzibar coast$12,000–20,000+
A smiling Brilliant Africa guide beside a branded safari vehicle

Ready to plan your Serengeti safari?

Share as much or as little as you like, even just a rough idea is enough to start. One of our Tanzania specialists will come back with first thoughts for your trip, with no obligation.

Speak to an Expert

Tell us a few quick details and one of our specialists will come back to you with ideas. Every trip is designed from scratch, so there are no wrong answers, just a starting point.

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Forbes
USA Today
CNBC
Nature
University of Cambridge

Ready to plan your African adventure?

1
Listen

Listen

We start by getting to know you: your dates, who's travelling, your budget and the wildlife and moments you're dreaming of.

2
Match

Design

Then we design your safari from scratch, hand-picking the camps, routing and pace to suit you. No off-the-shelf packages, just impartial expert advice.

3
Reserve

Refine & reserve

We fine-tune every detail with you, then place a 24 hour hold on your preferred camps, with no obligation, before you confirm.

Whatever your budget, group size, length of stay, preferred activity or appetite for adventure, we can help.

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