Things to Do in Serengeti National Park

Tanzania is endowed with the world-famous destinations, with the Serengeti being a top wildlife destination. This 14,763-sq-km expanse is well-known for the wildebeest migration, the Big Five, and the highest concentration of predators. What can I do in this classic national park? Relax, we got you covered. In this blog, we explore the top things to do while you’re in the Serengeti.

Game drives.

Many safari-goers think of game drives in the Serengeti. Simply put, every visitor coming to this park must do a safari drive. As per our experience, this activity is remarkably rewarding – think of a lion finishing up a kill in the vast plains of the Seronera or a leopard hiding in a sausage tree along the banks of the Seronera River. The Serengeti allows game driving only during the day. With that in mind, we normally offer 2-3 drives per day: first in the morning, second in the afternoon, and the last in the late evening.

Morning drives often start early in the morning at around 7:00 a.m., when it’s cool. The wildlife is very active in early mornings due to cooler conditions. Elusive predators like leopards are on their search for a morning meal before the heat sets in. Nocturnal predators like hyenas, lions, foxes, and jackals are returning from their nighttime hunts. And the birds are actively flying near their nests before they fly over.

Sometimes, you can go for a drive in the afternoon. However, this is the time when many animals retreat to the shade to avoid the sun and the afternoon heat. But if you’ve just arrived at the Serengeti, this drive will make your first impression. Plains game like zebras, wildebeest, and buffalo rest in the vast savannahs. During the evening, the heat drops, and animals come out again. This is the perfect time for an evening drive. If you’re lucky, you may catch a leopard stalking its prey for a possible dinner.

Trekking the Great Migration.

A special package is dedicated to trekking the wildebeest migration. But as a guest, you have to be specific here because there are plenty of events happening during this dramatic event. For instance, you can start with the calving season, happening from January through March. This period comes with a lot of happenings in the south, including the birthing of half a million calves and predatory actions.

River crossings always happen from May to June on the Western Corridor (on the Grumeti River) and from July to October in the north on the Mara River. The wildebeest scramble to find a way through these crocodile-infested rivers, searching for green grazing grounds. Be aware that encountering a river crossing may take a while.

Balloon safaris.

Flying on a colorful balloon above the African savannah is exhilarating, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This unique adventure goes beyond normal game drives: it gives you a bird’s eye view of the wilderness, but it is not always included in the normal safari package. You can get it at an extra cost of around $500 per person. Expensive. Yeah, because this adventure is led by expert pilots and crew members. Here’s how.

The guide will pick you up from the lodge at around 4:30 a.m. So, it’s important to wake up early in the morning. From the lodge, you will be taken to the launch site. Keep an eye out for any nighttime wildlife encounters as nocturnal animals make their way to their hideouts. At the launch site, you will be given a short briefing regarding safety during this aerial experience.

After you board the basket, the pilot starts to fill the balloon with hot air from the burners. Soon, the balloon begins to rise off the ground. As this happens, the wind catches it. Depending on the wind, you may fly at a lower or higher elevation. The glide usually takes an hour before the descent. And after landing successfully, you’ll celebrate this achievement with a champagne toast and a bush breakfast.

Walking safaris.

There are those creatures we can’t see from the height of a safari van. Be it a mouse, rabbit, snake, or a dung beetle. And there are beautiful flowers and important plants for medicinal purposes. To discover them, we need to do an immersive nature walk. This adventure brings insects, flowers, reptiles, and amphibians up close, making it a closer connection.

This can be as simple as a nature walk around the lodge with a staff member or guided 90-minute walks accompanied by a ranger and a guide. The walk is the best way to engage little ones while on a family trip. But first, bring long pants and long sleeves to protect them from insect bites and scratches from grass and thorny trees.

Bush meals.

It’s an unforgettable moment to eat outdoors in the bush. Whether it’s a bush breakfast after a successful balloon flight or a bush dinner after an evening game drive, there’s magic in eating a meal in the bush. Most camps offer candlelit bush dinners at a secluded setting. For families on safari, this is a must-do thing as it connects, refreshes, and makes your trip unforgettable.

The bottom line.

There you have it. There are a lot of things to do in Serengeti National Park. And you can combine this wonderful destination with other places such as Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, and Lake Manyara National Park.