The Serengeti

Although ten times the size of Kenya’s Masai Mara (with which it is combined to form the huge Mara-Serengeti ecosystem), the Serengeti receives only a fraction of the Mara’s tourists, leaving much of the park wonderfully unspoilt.  Derived from the Masai for “endless plains”, Serengeti National Park actually has a surprisingly diverse landscape, savannah being found only in the south and east towards the Ngorongoro crater. The central Seronera area is hilly with granite outcrops know as kopjes and forested river valleys harbouring year-round wildlife. Up to the Kenyan border, the lightly forested northern Serengeti holds plenty of resident game and forms the crucial Northern Corridor during the migration. Following the Grumeti River almost to the shores of Lake Victoria, the Western Corridor is especially remote and attracts plentiful wildlife since it normally contains water throughout the dry season. During the migration, the Grumeti River has spectacular crossing points where the massing animals run the gauntlet of waiting crocodiles and lions.

The Migration

The annual migration of over two million animals through the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem is certainly one of the world’s great wildlife spectacles.  Dominated by wildebeest but also involving zebras, gazelles and expectant carnivores, its timing varies according to the annual rains. The short rains begin in late October or November, drawing the herds from the Mara through the Northern Corridor towards the plains of the south.  By late December the migration usually settles in the southern plains, often spreading as far as Ngorongoro. The animals remain here for a number of months bearing their young in late January and February.  Around April, the migration passes through central Seronera, spilling into the Western Corridor by May or June. The herds usually return along the Northern Corridor in July, revisiting the Mara in August and September. Despite its size, the Serengeti is relatively easy to traverse enabling interception of the migration wherever it occurs: however, for the most rewarding spectacle it is best to choose a lodge close to the migration route.

Mbuzi Mawe

Set in a beautiful granite outcrop (kopje), the small tented camp is well away from the main safari circuit and larger lodges.  Its central location is ideal for exploration of the whole park and observing the migration. The spacious safari tents all feature en suite facilities and private veranda.

Serengeti Serena Lodge

With a breathtaking position on a hill close to the central Seronera area of the park, this lodge offers superb game viewing throughout the year.  There are a swimming pool, bar and restaurant, with accommodation in traditional African rondavel huts with luxury bedrooms and superb views.