Serengeti National Park

What can you? It's THE place to see African wildlife... if you were lucky as we were, you'll even see a cheetah walk within 5 meters of our truck. Stunning.

If you have ever seen a documentary on the Serengeti....it is nothing compared to the real thing!!

I was somewhat concerned about going in May, as it is the end of the rainy season. We could not have asked for a better trip though. No rain, temperature was about 80 during the day, the Park was not too crowded and it was baby time in the park (which was awesome to see). I stayed 2 nights at the Serena Serengeti Lodge and really enjoyed the accommodations and especially the thrill of staying right in the park. Our guide Justin (Ranger Safaris) was terrific. He knew exactly where to go and always made sure we got our "shot". We were sad to leave him at the end of our trip. He really took care of us. Highlights were the Hippo Pool, seeing a pride of lions on a large rock and spotting a leopard and it's kill in a tree. We also did a hot air balloon ride. The scenery was beyond words and eating breakfast under a huge tree in the park made me feel like I was in a brochure. Words cannot describe the beauty here.

The migration and leopards!

Ndutu is amazing, our best safari experience. Being able to get so close to the animals is a once in a lifetime experience.

Serengeti during the dry season is the image the people have when they think safari. It is The Lion King brought to life. Brown grasses as far as the eye can see, sometimes with a tree breaking the monotony.
We decided to spend a morning viewing the Serengeti from a hot-air balloon. It was expensive, but well worth the money we spent for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Everyone’s experience in the Serengeti will be different. Some will see a kill. Others may see a stampede, or a display of dominance, or a cheetah running, or a lion cub playing. We saw a juvenile elephant discover three lions stalking him, and then turn the tables on them. But everyone will see something that few other people in the world have seen, and that’s what makes Serengeti so fascinating.

Many, many animals and many people too! Get a guide that will help you experience it the way you want

Beaten track, but beaten for a reason.

Unfortunately we missed the migration at the park, but it was still busy with tourists. The landscape is open and expansive, meaning you're not constantly surrounded by other vehicles - unless you come across a pride of lions, in which case expect a steady build up of tourists.

There's a great number of animals to be seen at the park, and you'd have to be pretty unlucky not to come away with several decent sightings. Being driven around certainly makes for a relaxing tour, and there are plenty of extras to consider including camping or staying at a hotel within the park and balloon tours.

Our guide was interesting, we really liked him though I would imagine more professional ones are available. He was good at spotting wildlife but wasn't overly knowledgeable about each species. He compensated for this by being a fun and hardworking guide. The food provided was ok - not exactly fine dining, but we weren't expecting that anyway.

The weather during our time there was good - hot but not too hot, and sometimes cloudy. It didn't rain.

The highlight was probably the lions, as we saw them close up and with the male, who came and lay down right next to our vehicle. Just as we were about to leave a female arrived and called to her cubs, who arrived through the long grass. They were very cute. I also loved the hippo pool, where there was loads of activity.

All in all we had a fantastic time at the park, and would thoroughly recommend it to others who have an interest in wildlife.

its a must in Tanzania but make sure where you go at what time of the year. in June the north (around Lobo) was quite boring

Vast plains, huge concentrations of wildlife. The great migration of course. If you want to see as much as possible, go here. All the big cats, all the undulates. Great landscapes, koppies and oasis like rivers. Downsides are the amount of tourists. You see many vehicles standing around a group of lions or that cheetah.

A Trip of a Lifetime

The Serengeti National Park was one of 4 parks we visited in Tanzania. The incredible expanse of grasslands is overwhelming and it's teeming with wildlife. We were able to watch a huge pride of lions as the moved into position for the night's adventures. Our guide knew just where to find every animal on the plains. We saw leopards (plural) with their kills in the trees on both days. Cheetah were the first animals we saw as we entered the park - how beautiful! Elephants, giraffe, monkeys, hippos, birds (the Rollers are beautiful), were also everywhere.

The Serengeti Serena lodge was one of my trip favorites. I thought the food was excellent and you really felt like you were right among the landscape as we were. If having two Cape Buffalo right outside your hut is not enough excitement, you're just jaded. The service and accommodations were excellent too.

The weather was dry and not too hot. If it rained, we didn't see it.

Our guide and LandCruiser through Leopard tours were first rate. He knew so much and was so gracious explaining the land, the wildlife and the culture of his much loved country.