The Best Serengeti National Park Tours

When planning a wildlife-viewing adventure in Tanzania, planning your trip will be easier once you know which animals you want to see. If witnessing Africa’s big cats in action is on your bucket list, a Tanzania Serengeti tour may be just the trip for you. From lions to cheetahs to leopards, the Serengeti National Park is home to Tanzania’s fiercest feline predators.

Where Is Serengeti National Park?

Before you embark on a Serengeti National Park Tanzania tour, you may want to know where your guide will be taking you. Serengeti National Park sits among the vast, undulating plains of Tanzania, which are known simply as The Serengeti. This area is one of the most well-known savanna regions in all of Africa, stretching 11,583 square miles from Kenya’s Maasai-Mara game reserve to the eponymous national park.

While you may think the Serengeti’s plains are flat, the area is part of East Africa’s high interior plateau system. The altitude in Tanzania’s Serengeti region ranges from 3,740 feet to 6,886 feet and features a handful of still-active volcanoes. The different altitude levels lend themselves to exciting Tanzania Serengeti tours, where guests can discover native wildlife hidden in valleys or on top of ancient rock formations.

The Best Time To Go On Safari In The Serengeti

In general, the Serengeti has a moderate and pleasant climate. Temperatures usually range from 54 to 87 °F, depending on the time of year and the altitude in Tanzania’s Serengeti region. However, tourists need to be aware that the country has a rainy season, during which many Serengeti National Park tours in Tanzania do not operate. It’s best to visit during the drier months, especially if you are planning a safari.

• The best time to visit Tanzania is from July to October, during the dry season.
• The months of March and April bring heavy rains to Tanzania, making many roads impassable. During this time, tour operators do not offer safaris, and many safari lodges close.
• The months of November and December make up the “short rain” season. During this time, tourists may see intermittent showers throughout the day, but they do not produce enough rain to flood roads.
• Tanzania’s dry season coincides with the river crossings of the Great Migration.
• The dry season is also a popular time for Tanzania Serengeti tours because the grass and bush are not as dense or lush as during the rainy months, making wildlife sightings much easier.

Finding Tanzania’s Big Cats On The Serengeti

All three big cats can be found in Serengeti National Park – lions, leopards, and cheetahs. If seeing these furry felines is on your bucket list, make sure your tour operator knows so he can plan game drives to the areas where the cats can be found. The best areas of the park for big-cat viewing are listed below.

• Cheetahs – Cheetahs can be found on the Namiri Plains, in the eastern part of the park. This area was closed to tourism for many years but has recently opened back up. During this time, the population of cheetahs expanded and now visitors can see the magnificent cats in their natural habitat during on Tanzania Serengeti tours that include game drives or guided hikes. Known for its unmatched speed and striking coat pattern, the cheetah is agile and quick as it hunts its prey. Learn about these incredible cats from a knowledgeable guide on a game tour or walking tour across the plains.
• Leopards – If you’re looking for a leopard in the Serengeti, don’t look down – look up! Leopards can typically be found lazing in one of the big trees along the Seronera River in the park. These elusive cats even drag their prey into the trees, so that lions and hyenas cannot steal it. Leopards are the shiest of the three cats and are excellent at playing hide and seek. They can be perfectly camouflaged if they don’t want to be seen. Spotting these reclusive cats on a Serengeti National Park tour in Tanzania is very lucky!
• Lions – This apex predator is the easiest cat to spot in the Serengeti, mainly because it lives in various habitats such as the park’s grasslands, dense shrubs, and open woodlands. The Serengeti is home to one of the largest lion populations in Tanzania, with approximately 3,000 of them scattered across the region. Lions spend most of their day napping under trees, but an experienced guide knows when to schedule a game drive to see the pride in action on a hunt. Seeing the king of the African savannah in his natural habitat is usually a highlight for first time, as well as seasoned, safari-goers.

Tanzania’s Big Cat Safaris posted

If seeing big cats in their natural habitat is your goal, Tanzania’s Serengeti tours are a perfect opportunity to make your dreams come true. There are many other nearby parks where big cats can be found, too – and many opportunities to create a personalized itinerary for game drives in these parks or game reserves during your Tanzania adventure. Check with your tour operator about combining a Serengeti National Park tour in Tanzania with other parks for a truly spectacular trip.

Tanzania adventure. Check with your tour operator about combining a Serengeti National Park tour in Tanzania with other parks for a truly spectacular trip.