To the Kingdom of Wildlife you’ve dreamed about! Tanzania’s World Heritage Site: Serengeti National Park

Located in northern Tanzania, the World Heritage Site "Serengeti National Park" is truly a kingdom of wildlife. Most of the animals native to East Africa can be found here. If you want to experience an authentic African safari, this is the place to visit.

In addition to the classic four-wheel drive safari, you can also enjoy a balloon safari that lets you observe animals from the sky! The park offers comfortable accommodations and dining, making for a luxurious safari experience unique to this location.

Let’s now take a closer look at the allure of Tanzania’s World Heritage Site, Serengeti National Park.

What is Serengeti National Park?

Bordering the World Heritage-listed Ngorongoro Conservation Area and adjacent to Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve across the northern boundary, Serengeti National Park derives its name from the Maasai language, meaning “endless plains.” This vast area is home to an estimated 3 to 4 million animals representing the iconic wildlife of Africa.

Here, you can encounter the “Big Five” – lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, and buffalo – as well as over 40 other mammal species like hyenas, cheetahs, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests. More than 500 bird species, including ostriches, vultures, guinea fowls, and secretary birds, also inhabit the area. Notably, wildebeests make up around 30% of the park’s entire animal population.

Herbivores such as wildebeests and zebras migrate between Serengeti National Park and the neighboring Masai Mara National Reserve during the dry and rainy seasons in search of grazing land. The spectacle of hundreds of thousands of wildebeests crossing the 100-meter-wide Mara River is truly breathtaking! This massive movement, known as the “Great Migration,” is one of the main tourist attractions of the Serengeti. Keep an eye out for the dramatic life-and-death encounters between exhausted prey and carnivorous predators.

Serengeti National Park, the oldest and most renowned protected area in Africa, was designated a World Heritage Site in 1981. It is a precious place where ecosystems can be observed up close and stands as one of Earth’s natural treasures that must be preserved for future generations.

Access to Serengeti National Park

Arusha is the base town for visiting Serengeti National Park, and it's about an hour by bus or taxi from Kilimanjaro International Airport.

From Arusha to Seronera, the central part of Serengeti National Park, it's approximately 360 km and takes about 7 hours by car. Day trips are difficult, so plan your itinerary with time to stay overnight or camp within the park. Joining a local safari tour is a convenient option when visiting!

Recommended Highlights of Serengeti National Park

◆ The Great Migration of Wildebeests

When it comes to the highlights of visiting the World Heritage Site "Serengeti National Park," the world-famous wildebeest migration known as the "Great Migration" certainly takes the spotlight. This grand event happens twice a year—during the rainy season (May to July) and the dry season (November to January)—and is a life-and-death struggle for the wildlife. You can't speak of Serengeti National Park without witnessing this!

Herbivores like gazelles, zebras, and wildebeests head south from the Masai Mara area in Kenya into the Serengeti in search of grass once the dry season hits. The total migration distance is over 1,000 km! It takes nearly two months for between 1 to 3 million animals to travel this vast route—an astonishing feat. When the rainy season returns, the animals head back from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara. In other words, the "Great Migration" is an endless cycle.

As the herbivores graze on the vast savannah, they leave behind dung as they move across the land. The land uses the dung and water from the rainy season as nutrients, sprouting new grass in turn. At Serengeti National Park, you can witness this cycle of nature that has continued for thousands of years. On the other hand, for the herbivores, this migration is a matter of life and death.

The greatest challenge is crossing the Mara River, which spans about 100 meters in width. In this river, home to giant crocodiles over 7 meters long, you might witness shocking scenes of crocodiles swallowing wildebeests whole! Even if they manage to cross safely, carnivores like lions and cheetahs lie in wait on the opposite bank, making visitors keenly aware of the unforgiving nature of the wild. It’s said that most of the prey are young ones who lack strength.

This scene truly represents the "survival of the fittest." But the carnivores, too, are desperately hunting to survive. Serengeti National Park allows you to directly observe the intense will to live in these wild animals—an experience like no other.

◆ Balloon SafariOne of the rising attractions at the World Heritage Site "Serengeti National Park" is the balloon safari, where you can view wildlife from the sky. If you take off at dawn, when the winds are calm, a large orange sun rising over the horizon welcomes you. Unlike vehicle safaris, a balloon allows you to enter areas inaccessible by car, giving you the chance to see even more animals. Only birds and humans participating in a balloon safari can view large animals from directly overhead. Seeing a massive herd of wildebeests from the air is truly awe-inspiring. It’s a sight few ever get to witness! Since you've come all the way to Africa, take this opportunity to gaze down at the wild kingdom from above. Balloon safaris are somewhat pricey, and most include a champagne breakfast package. Don’t you think it’s amazing to enjoy an English-style breakfast under the acacia trees of the savannah? This breakfast-included balloon safari is a hit with tourists precisely because it offers an extraordinary experience. For that reason, it’s highly recommended to book early if you’re interested.

One of the rising attractions at the World Heritage Site "Serengeti National Park" is the balloon safari, where you can view wildlife from the sky. If you take off at dawn, when the winds are calm, a large orange sun rising over the horizon welcomes you. Unlike vehicle safaris, a balloon allows you to enter areas inaccessible by car, giving you the chance to see even more animals.

Only birds and humans participating in a balloon safari can view large animals from directly overhead. Seeing a massive herd of wildebeests from the air is truly awe-inspiring. It’s a sight few ever get to witness!

Since you've come all the way to Africa, take this opportunity to gaze down at the wild kingdom from above.

Balloon safaris are somewhat pricey, and most include a champagne breakfast package.
Don’t you think it’s amazing to enjoy an English-style breakfast under the acacia trees of the savannah?
This breakfast-included balloon safari is a hit with tourists precisely because it offers an extraordinary experience. For that reason, it’s highly recommended to book early if you’re interested.

Important tips for visiting Serengeti National Park

Many animals, including dangerous carnivores, inhabit the park. Be sure not to exit your vehicle without permission. Solo exploration is strictly forbidden. Rest stops and similar areas are predetermined, so please follow your guide’s instructions to enjoy your trip safely.

◎ Summary

It is said that “if you want a once-in-a-lifetime safari, go to the Serengeti,” and truly, you can observe a wide variety of plants and animals in Serengeti National Park. A safari camp in the untouched wilderness—is definitely worth the challenge! This once-in-a-lifetime adventure may very well change your entire worldview.

Also, it's worth extending your trip a bit to visit a Masai village, the "Ngorongoro Conservation Area," or the "Masai Mara National Reserve." Each has unique features and is fascinating in its own way.

To the Kingdom of Wildlife you’ve dreamed about! Tanzania’s World Heritage Site: Serengeti National Park