Serengeti National Park, in northern Tanzania, is the setting for the great migration of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle: UNESCO, which listed it as a World Heritage Site in 1981, describes one and a half million hectares (3.7 million acres) of savanna. The migration is not an event on a fixed date: it follows the rains, and the Tanzanian national parks authority (TANAPA) points out that the herds spend most of the year in the Serengeti.
This page helps you choose the time and the area of the park according to what you want to see, understand official safety guidance and prepare for your safari. For the rest of the country, see our guide to visiting Tanzania and our page on safaris in Africa. For passports and visas, see entry requirements for Tanzania.
Our travel deals for Serengeti
Affiliate links: we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
FlightsKiwi.comCompare flights and airline combinations to Serengeti.Compare flights- eSIMAiraloData plan to install before you leave (eSIM-compatible phone).See plans
Serengeti: the essentials
- Status: national park, UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, listed property of 1,476,300 ha (3,648,000 acres) — checked 24 October 2026 on whc.unesco.org
- Manager: Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), tanzaniaparks.go.tz.
- Entry fees: set by TANAPA and charged per 24-hour period; we could not read the official tariff online on 24 October 2026. Your operator should itemise them in the quote.
- Migration: annual movement of herbivores towards permanent water, followed by predators (UNESCO); the calendar varies with the rains.
- Safety: see the UK FCDO notes below on national parks, tour operators and roads.
- Day length: almost constant all year, around 12 hours (our calculation).
The great migration: what is certain, what is not
UNESCO describes the annual migration of huge herds of herbivores (wildebeest, gazelle, zebra) towards permanent water, followed by their predators, as one of the most impressive natural spectacles in the world. What varies every year is the calendar: the herds follow the grass, and therefore the rains.
In 2019, TANAPA replied to an article that presented the Serengeti as a mere breeding stop: according to its spokesperson, the migrating herds spend « 10 months out of 12 » in the Serengeti (statement relayed by the Tanzanian embassy). In other words, you can see the migration on the Tanzanian side for most of the year, provided you are in the right area of the park.
Decision tree: which area, which season?
- You want to see wildebeest births: ask the operator when and in which area calving takes place, and where the herds are at the time of your stay.
- You want river crossings: they happen when the herds move north towards Kenya; this is the most requested period, and therefore the most expensive for accommodation.
- You want to avoid the crowds: choose the transition seasons and a less busy area of the park, accepting a little more rain.
- You have only one possible date: choose a mobile camp or an operator that follows the herds rather than a fixed lodge.
We do not give a figure-based month-by-month calendar: no official source publishes one, and the sites that do put forward dates that the rains often contradict.
Organising your safari in the Serengeti
The Serengeti is almost always visited on an organised safari, in a 4×4 with a driver-guide, often combined with other parks in northern Tanzania.
Booking a safari: what to check
Park entry fees, concession fees for lodges and camps and VAT are often added to the price of the vehicle. An honest quote itemises them line by line, with the number of nights in the park.
Also check: the operator’s licence, the number of passengers per vehicle (and access to a window seat), the pop-up roof, insurance and medical evacuation, and what happens in case of a breakdown. Online agencies often resell the same safaris as local operators: compare what is included, not just the price.
Safety and official guidance
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), in its Tanzania travel advice (GOV.UK, updated 20 October 2026, read 26 October 2026), says: « If you’re visiting game reserves and national parks, always follow park regulations and advice from wardens. » It advises using only reputable tour operators and not buying safari tours from touts, and says the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) maintains a list of licensed tour companies. On wildlife, it warns of the risks of viewing animals, particularly on foot or at close range, and says some parks are extremely remote, so emergency access and evacuation can be difficult. It also says that roads in national parks, mainly dirt tracks, can become hazardous or impassable after heavy rain, that a 4-wheel drive vehicle may be essential, and to avoid driving outside major towns and cities at night.
- Never get out of the vehicle outside authorised areas.
- Respect the distances required from animals and your guide’s instructions.
- Do not travel on the roads at night.
- Keep your medication and your insurance details with you.
Safari quote checklist
- Number of nights and safari days in the park itself.
- TANAPA entry fees and concession fees: included or not, and on what basis.
- Type of vehicle, maximum number of passengers, pop-up roof.
- Language of the driver-guide.
- Insurance, medical evacuation and breakdown procedure.
- Cancellation and deposit terms.
The sun at the equator
The Serengeti is about 2° south of the equator. As a result, the day is almost the same length in every season, and the best viewing hours (dawn and late afternoon) fall at almost the same time all year.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:41 am | 6:57 pm | 12 h 16 min |
| February | 6:48 am | 7:00 pm | 12 h 12 min |
| March | 6:45 am | 6:53 pm | 12 h 07 min |
| April | 6:39 am | 6:42 pm | 12 h 03 min |
| May | 6:37 am | 6:36 pm | 12 h 00 min |
| June | 6:42 am | 6:39 pm | 11 h 58 min |
| July | 6:47 am | 6:45 pm | 11 h 59 min |
| August | 6:44 am | 6:45 pm | 12 h 01 min |
| September | 6:33 am | 6:38 pm | 12 h 05 min |
| October | 6:21 am | 6:31 pm | 12 h 10 min |
| November | 6:17 am | 6:32 pm | 12 h 14 min |
| December | 6:27 am | 6:44 pm | 12 h 17 min |
Our calculation: day length varies by only 19 minutes over the year (from 11 h 58 min to 12 h 17 min).
When to go
For the rainy seasons, climate normals and our month-by-month verdict, see our page on the best time to visit Tanzania. To compare with the neighbouring Masai Mara, see our comparison Kenya or Tanzania.
Preparing your trip
- Entry rules: see entry requirements for Tanzania.
- Health: malaria and travel vaccines; consult a travel health clinic.
- Insurance: travel insurance guide (check medical evacuation).
- Luggage: our what to pack list.
Common mistakes
- Booking a fixed lodge far from the herds on the assumption that the migration « passes everywhere ».
- Comparing quotes without knowing whether they include park fees and concession fees.
- Neglecting repatriation insurance.
- Planning night journeys.
What to see nearby
- Kilimanjaro.
- Zanzibar, to finish on the Indian Ocean.
- Neighbouring Kenya.
- The map of Tanzania.
Frequently asked questions
When can you see the migration in the Serengeti?
It depends on the rains and changes every year. According to TANAPA, the herds spend about 10 months out of 12 in the Serengeti: the key is to be in the right area of the park. Ask the operator where the herds are on your dates.
How big is the Serengeti?
UNESCO describes one and a half million hectares (3.7 million acres) of savanna; the listed property covers 1,476,300 hectares (3,648,000 acres).
How much does it cost to enter the Serengeti?
Fees are set by TANAPA per 24-hour period. We could not read the official tariff online: insist that they appear in your quote.
Is the Serengeti safe?
The UK FCDO advises following park regulations and wardens’ advice, using reputable tour operators, and avoiding driving outside major towns and cities at night (GOV.UK, updated 20 October 2026).
Serengeti or Masai Mara?
Both are part of the same ecosystem on either side of the border. See our comparison Kenya or Tanzania.
Our sources
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: « Serengeti National Park » listing (no. 156), consulted on 24 October 2026
- Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), official website tanzaniaparks.go.tz, consulted on 24 October 2026 (tariff not readable)
- Embassy of Tanzania in Israel: statement « TANAPA: Real Wildebeest Migration Still in Serengeti » (7 June 2019), consulted on 24 October 2026
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Tanzania travel advice, Safety and security (GOV.UK, updated 20 October 2026), text downloaded on 26 October 2026
- Sunrise and sunset: calculation by Destination de Voyage, NOAA solar algorithm, Africa/Dar_es_Salaam time zone, coordinates of the park (UNESCO), 15th of each month (year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.